~ WAR ON A SMALL SCALE  ~ 

 COLLECTING 1/87TH HO SCALE MILITARY VEHICLES & ARMOR 

                          

Roco (now distributed by Herpa) Minitanks 1/87th HO scale military models from Austria is the best-known manufacturer of HO scale military models.  HO scale military models began as accessories for HO scale model railroading.  Military models cover the WWII, Cold War and recent Gulf/Iraq Wars’ tanks, APCs, jeeps, trucks and artillery.  They make great flat car loads.  Wargamers also appreciated the compact size of 1/87th military models - and drove the demand for military models in 1/87th scale. Traditional military model kits were produced in the larger 1/76th, 1/72nd , 1/48th and 1/32nd scales.

Herpa Miniaturmodelle  from Germany has acquired the distribution rights to the Roco Minitanks line as of October 1, 2007.  The good news is that Herpa plans to  continue to produce and distribute many of the classic Minitank models plus release new models each year as did Roco.   The bad news is that Herpa has assigned new product numbers - which will undoubtedly create some confusion amongst us long-term / hardcore Minitank collectors.  Herpa has put up the newly number Minitank line on their website:   The relabeled Herpa packaging is larger than the old Roco boxes and in a light grey / white scheme with Herpa  Minaturmodelle in small grey letters and "herpa in red letters on the bottowm right hand corner  - no mention of "minitanks" on the labelling.at all.

                                      
Trident and Preiser models are producing complimentary military and civilian HO scale models.  Both of these manufacturers are producing much-desired WWII German soft-skinned, halftrack and tank models.  Trident has issued a full series of MK V Panther variants – D, A, G, F, Jadgpanther and Coelian AA tank along with later SdKf 250 and 251 halftracks and Kettenkrad models.  Preiser has issued earlier SdKfz 251s , SdKfz 250s, along with 50mm and 75mm PAK and 105mm horse and tractor towed leFH 18 artillery pieces 20mm Towed AA guns, towed searchlight,and a full range of WWII German military figures.  Heiser’s Models has developed a wide list of resin US, British, German, Italian and Japanese WWII soft-skinned, halftrack and tank models – which are made to order or available through the Walters HO Catalog.
                                         
Other smaller/custom manufacturers of plastic, die-cast metal and/or  resin military models include Premo, Komo, Armourtec, H&K, MAC, SDV, Military Depot, Artitec, Artmaster, CMK, Z&Z,  Arsenal-M, adp, Petner Panzers, Hauler, Igra, ses, Nimix, Zylmex, CMSC, Dahlmann, Wespe, Imex and most recently Boley (which produces affordable die cast popular models.).  Some very fine, expensive, painted and ready to run plastic and/or resin models come from the Ukraine.  They don't have one specific brand name though, but are sold by higher-end dealers in Europe and in the US.  These models cover the rarer/specialized WWII Wehrmacht soft skin and armored vehicies.  Also from both the Ukraine and Russia are Soviet / Russian WWII and modern era Soviet / Russian plastic and resin military vehicles and armor.  Other manufacturers of HO 1/87th scale vehicles  include Wiking, Brekina, Busch, Herpa, Roskopf, Praline and Lilliput.  Some of these civilian automobile and truck models that  are adaptable for wartime military modeling. 

                                

Roco / Herpa Minitanks, Trident and Preiser models are now highly detailed HO scale military models.  Roco releases an average of 10 new models each year plus special / limited edition models. The earliest Roco releases are numbered 97 – 300. Roco’s distinctive dark yellow/blue for 1960s - 1970s production runs  an orange/blue color packaging scheme for 1980s-2000 production runs. Dealer’s / trade boxes containing original six models are also highly collectable. Roco product numbers are now over 1000.  Roco in the late 1980s began to improve the detail of their injection molding castings and included additional detailing and optional add-on parts to model specific variants of popular military vehicles and armor.  Roco and Trident both now have websites to view and Walthers HO Catalogue features of many these HO model lines as well.

                                        

SCARCE / PRIZED ROCO MINITANKS COLLECTIBLES

People collect HO military models for wargamming, HO model railroading accessories, investment and/or for modeling specific military TO&E.  Some of the most prized Roco Minitanks collectibles are the earliest 97 – 300 series models in their original 1960s/1970s unopened yellow/blue stripped blister packages.  Unfortunately, due to simple stapling --- loose parts like hatches, machine guns, and wheels slipped out of the blister packs over time --- so a 1960s era unopened blister package with all of the original parts intact is a rare find.   The earlier Roco Minitanks had additional wheels beneath tracked vehicles so that they could roll on tabletops / floors (so little and big kids could play with them...) Original earlier Roco z-97 through z-300 tracked models should have these wheels intact for collector's value.

Many Roco Minitanks models have been discontinued – making them more collectable.  The z-97 [Caterpillar Road Scrapper] is a highly prized early collectable. Other prized earlier unopened models include the z-159 M29 Weasel, z-186/88 Sfh18 100/150 canon, z-191 Corbitt Gun Tractor, z-267 Churchill Tank (pictured above), z-268 Cromwell Tank and # 455 - DUKW. Recently pre-painted and decaled Roco models have become 'collectible investments. For example, #606 is a US WWII  2  1/2 ton hard cab CCKW 353 truck which has become very collectible and valuable.  #646 is the painted/decaled version of the same CCKW 353 2 1/2 ton truck  Now with Herpa's acquisition of the Minitank line - the original Roco labeled Mintank packaging will be even more collectible - especially the discontinued, special edition, and rarer  Roco Minitank  models.

THE EVOLUTION OF ROCO MINITANK PACKAGING

In the 1980s, Roco began to use foldover flaps on their blister packs with staples and changed the color scheme to orange and blue stripes.  In the 1990s, Roco produced a much better closed-end box design with plastic windows with the models set into a white plastic holder.  And in 2005 – Roco changed their packaging color scheme to dark yellow and white along with light muddy brown tank track dropping perpendicularly from left to right along with a redesigned Roco Minitanks logo.

CONDITION LISTING CODES

Quite often you will see abbreviations / acronyms in ebay listings referring to the condition of unopened / new Roco Minitanks and other HO armor and vehicles. 

MOC = Mint on Card, MIP = Mint in Package, MIB = Mint in Box, NIB = New in Box. MIBP = Mint in Blister Pack.

A GOOD INVESTMENT...?

In the early 1990s, I started collecting the Roco Minitanks Desert Storm series – mostly reissued existing then modern-era US Abrams, Bradley, M113, 2 ½ ton and 5 ton trucks and HUMVs molded in dark yellow plastic instead of the usual OD color plastic.  I held on to them for 10 years and sold many off on ebay (to support my hobby/habit] at a higher return on investment over the same 10 year period that the hottest dotcom stock accrued in value!  Like any investment project - you need to know the demand and the scarcity factor of Roco Minitanks and other lines.  Trident for example has cut back on producing the Panther series models recently, making these models more valuable over time.

Roco Minitanks also issues each year limited or special edition sets.  Recently - these include pre-painted models sporting appropriate camoflauge schemes.  Other are special sets of older models and/or of newly issued models.  Roco Minitanks issued a three set D-Day commemorative set.  Roco also issues special editions that combine models with period HO flat cars for WWII and modern era German military trains. And as previously noted, the pre-painted/camouflaged and decaled models are becoming more collectible investments due to their limited runs/releases.


USE MANUFACTURER BRAND NAMES AS SEARCH WORDS

Type in Roco, Roco Minitnks, Trident, Preiser and the other above-listed manufacturers listed in bold to see what’s up for auction this week. Roco Minitanks and Trident catalogs and brochures are also good collectibles.   Look for auctions of original sealed packages to collect or for loose lots on ebay to build up your 1/87th HO scale mobile and armored forces cheaply and quickly.  The other manufacturers I have mentioned above are harder to find... you'll have to look into ebay seller stores and go to ebay's foreign language sites - particularly the German ebay site to find some of these kits/models.

HUNTING AND BIDDING ON RARE MODELS

Some of the more interesting - = unique and hard to find models can be found on the German7 ebay site.   Austria / Germany is the home of Roco Minitanks, Trident and most of the small production, rarer model lines.  The bidding is tough and the last fraction of section sniping is expert.  So, if you spot a gotta-have model on the German ebay pages - be prepared for tough bidding.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK/ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS

The guide has over 3,100 hits....so far ... I would welcome any suggestions / additions / corrections to this guide, please feel free to email me.  It is an evolving reference as our hobby grows I hope to keep this reference guide up to date.  Positive ratings are also appreciated.

About the Author

Craig S. Coleman [korwar50] – I have been an ebay member since 2000 – and have been collecting HO 1/87th armor and vehicles since the 1960s. ebay has greatly enabled me to buy and sell these models globally.  I am a long-time WWII reenactor with the California Historical Group's Easy Company, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.  I go by my WWII reenactor nom du guerre Sgt. Rock [see photo] and also collect / sell HO model railroad equipment, WWII and Korean War era military gear, equipment, uniforms and books on ebay.  In the real 1:1 world, I am a college professor with a specialty in modern East Asian affairs.  Go figure.