Victoria by Vitesse

Summary
Victoria
Sun Star
Maxi Car
Schuco/Doyusha/Edison Giocatolli
New Millenium
Listing

Summary

In 1998 and 1999 the Vitesse group released a line of 1:43 scale military models called the  "Victoria series". In 1998 approximately fifty-eight models were released, and in 1999 five additional models were released. Since then, the series has had an interesting, if confusing, journey.

In April of 2001, Sun Star purchased the assets of Vitesse. Sun Star appears to have released a limited number of vehicles, as seen in the listing below. In 2003, DeAgostini released a series of 1:43 diecast models. Many of these were new models created by Criel Models of Italy, but several were re-releases of the Victoria series. 2003 also saw the release of 7 of these models from Maxicar, a subsidiary of Golden Dragon Group created in 2001.

In 2005/2006, 2 of the models were released by Doyusha (along with four of the Criel Models), and 4 were released by Schuco (along with many of the Criel Models).

Finally, a line of 1:43 vehicles was released in 2005/2006 by New Millennium Toys. Although these MAY be re-releases, there are a lot of similarities, there are some notable differences as well. More about this later.

Victoria

RVictoriaBox.jpg	Jeep GPA Amphibian US Army R032	Jeep GPA Amphibian US Army R032
Jeep GPA Amphibian US Army R032	Heep Willys United Nations, Lebanon '78 R023

Sun Star

 

Sun Star Box	Hummer	Hummer	Hummer
Dodge WC57 Open Command Car "D-Day" 1944 #11055	Dodge WC57 Open Command Car "D-Day" 1944 #11055	Dodge WC57 Open Command Car "D-Day" 1944 #11055	Dodge WC57 Open Command Car "D-Day" 1944 #11055

MaxiCar

Insert Cover

MaxiCar Military Collection

Maxicar Liberation De Paris Jeep

Maxicar Amphibious Jeep

Schuco/Doyusha/Edison Giocatolli

In 2005/2006 Schuco re-released DeAgostini lineup (both the Criel Models and the Vitesse models):  Click here to see the Schuco re- releases at the Schuco web site. You can also visit my DeAgositini page

In addition to the Schuco re-releases, these models have also been released by Edison Giocattoli and Doyusha.

Doyusha Box -Top

Doyusha Box- rear

Doyusha Box-Side

Doyusha- Box Side

Doyusha Liberation De Paris Jeep

Comparison Maxicar and Doyusha

New Millenium

New Millennium Box	New Millenium Amphibious Jeep	New Millenium Amphibious Jeep	New Millenium Amphibious Jeep
New Millenium Amphibious Jeep	New Millenium Jeep	New Millenium Jeep	New Millenium Jeep

Finally, Several of the models, have a very striking similarity to those produced by New Millennium, and sold at Wal Mart.

New Millennium Comparison

Victoria vs New Millennium	The manifold at the front is cast as part of the chassis on the NM version. Hatches are different, as are the seats.	note the difference in the way t he suspension is cast
Suspension and chassis differences	more difference in the undercarriage.	pretty similar from side view

I have examined models from Victoria, Sun Star, Maxicar and New Millennium. The first three are identical. New Millennium, however, has differences. The Jeep, for example, has a very different undercarriage, although the remainder of the model is very close, if not identical. The Amphibious Jeep, however, appears to have an identical undercarriage, but numerous difference in the main part of the model. This seems to suggest access and copying of the moulds, with modification made, rather than using the actual, original molds.

Conclusion - These are not the exact same models, but they appear to have origins in the original molds, with modifications.

Victoria - Listing

www.mikes-tanks.com

Home