
Yes, it's confusing, but they are all the same for the recent 1:43 models....read on!
DeAgnostini a European publisher established in 1901 by geographer Giovanni De Agostini in Italy. In the early years, the company produced maps and later, encyclopedias. The modern incarnation is know for producing DVD's, comics, collectibles, and partworks, individual publications designed to be bound together as a book. In 2003 the company produced a series of booklets and military models in 1/43 called VEICOLI MILITARI. In addition to the books/models, early collectors also received a wood bookcase for the models, a wrist watch, and diorama with a Kubelwagen.
40 models were released (see list below). Of
these, at least 22 were original models designed for De Agostini by
Criel
Models, and Italian modeling firm specializing in military
vehicles (best known for their 1/35 resin kits). The other 24
were re-releases of Vitesse's
Victoria lineup, released by
Vitesse in
1998 and 1999.
On a related note, DeAgostini is a subsidiary/associate of
Grupo Planeta, a global communications firm which also owns
Altaya Editions. Altaya released a
series of military vehicle booklets and 1/72 models in 2005/2006
under the name
"Carros de Combate"
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Grani&Partners actually managed production of the model line for DeAgostini. In doing so, they reserved rights to the IP (Intellectual Property) and now provide models for Schuco (Germany), Doyusha (Japan), and Edison Giocattoli (Italy). A little bit more on these releases below...
In 2005/2006 Schuco re-released both the Criel Models and the Vitesse models: Click here to see the Schuco re- releases at the Schuco website.


Edison Giocattoli was founded in in 1958. It is best
known for its toy pistols and cap guns. Lately it has introduced 1:43 armour,
re-releases of the DeAgostini line. These have been sold in the US through
Diecast Direct.
http://www.edisongiocattoli.it/index.php?company

Edison Giocattoli Catalog pages

![]() Doyusha Box -Top |
![]() Doyusha Box- rear |
![]() Doyusha Box-Side |
![]() Doyusha- Box Side |
Doyusha also has released 6 of these models.
| "Schwimmwagen" | Victoria re-release |
| Jeep Willys | Victoria re-release |
| SdKfz251 German halftrack | DeAgostini re-release |
| M3A2 US halftrack | DeAgostini re-release |
| LAV Piranha (tan) | DeAgostini re-release |
| LAV Piranha (tan/green camo) | DeAgostini re-release |
All in all, these models have Good to VERY GOOD detail, especially those created by Criel Models. Take a look at the detail on the the US halftrack, it is extraordinary, as is the detail on the TPZ 1 Fuchs! I would also that the re-releases appear to good quality.
| Number | Model | Origin |
|
1 |
JEEP WILLYS "LIBERATION OF PARIS" - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
2 |
CLOSED HUMMER COMMAND CAR THE U.S.A. "DESERT STORM" - 1991 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
3 |
COVERED OPEL BLITZ CANVAS "WEHRMACHT" - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
4 |
CLOSED VOLKSWAGEN SCHWIMMWAGEN "WEHRMACHT" - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
5 |
DODGE WC 51 - U.S.A. - 1945 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
6 |
ANSALADO AB 41 - ITAL IA - 1942 | Criel Models? |
|
7 |
TYP 82 KUBELWAGEN - GERMANY - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
8 |
CITROËN TRACTION AVANT - FRANCIA - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
9 |
TROPICAL WORK JACKET - ITALIA - 1942 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
10 |
VOLKSWAGEN HEBMULLER - GERMANY - 1948 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
11 |
231 SD KFZ - GERMANY - 1944 | Criel Models |
|
12 |
LANCIA LYNX - ITALIA - 1944 | Criel Models |
|
13 |
MERCEDES 170CV - GERMANY - 1943 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
14 |
SD KFZ 234/2 PUMA - GERMANY - 1944 | Criel Models |
|
15 |
LIGHT TRUCK MORRIS - GREAT BRITAIN - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
16 |
Iveco-oto BREDA B-1 CENTAUR | Criel Models |
|
17 |
TRACTOR TL 37 - ITALIA - 1942 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
18 |
LAV 25 PIRANHA - U.S.A. - 1944 | Criel Models |
|
19 |
FORD AMPHIBIOUS JEEP GPA - THE U.S.A. - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
20 |
PANHARD 178 - FRANC IA - 1942 | Criel Models |
|
21 |
HUMVEE AMBULANCE - the U.S.A. - 1991 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
22 |
M3 HALF TRACK - U.S.A. - 1944 | Criel Models |
|
23 |
M20 | Criel Models |
|
24 |
DODGE WC 57 - U.S.A. - 1944 | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
25 |
LANCIA IZ | Criel Models |
|
26 |
251 SD KFZ - GERMANY - 1939 | Criel Models |
|
27 |
LAND ROVER 90 | Criel Models |
|
28 |
FIAT AR76 - ITAL IA - 1982 | Criel Models |
|
29 |
VBL - FRANCIA - 1990 | Criel Models |
|
30 |
VAB - FRANCIA - 1978 | Criel Models |
|
31 |
GAZ 67 - 1943 | Criel Models |
|
32 |
TPZ1 "FUCHS" A6 ABC | Criel Models |
|
33 |
HALF TRACK WITH TUBE - 1940 | Criel Models |
|
34 |
FIAT 6614-6616 - ITAL IA - 1979 | Criel Models |
|
35 |
EDB - FRANCIA - 1950 | Criel Models |
|
36 |
AMPHIBIOUS JEEP GPA BRITISH ARMY | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
37 |
OPEL BLITZ TRANSPORT OF TROOPS | Vitesse/Victoria |
|
38 |
SD KFZ 251 WITH ROCKETS | Criel Models |
|
39 |
LAV 25 WITH ROCKETS | Criel Models |
|
40 |
JEEP WILLYS - AUSTRALIA | Vitesse/Victoria |
For more on the Victoria releases, go to my
Victoria/Sunstar
page

