Volvo models by Maxichamps …

… the new low budget range by Minichamps. Minichamps has announced earlier this year at the Nürnberg toy fair that they will offer a selection of 1:43 and 1:18 scale models under the label Maxichamps. The name and price range is not the only difference between this new label and  Minchamps classic product range. A very obvious visual difference is the fact that each Maxichamps model is directed to the right whereas all Minichamps models always point to the left.

There is only a limited number of options a company can choose from to be able to offer more competitive prices for their scale model range. One would be cutting their profit margin. But that is most often the last option a company will opt for. Minichamps choose however to lower the details, amount of exterior trim, decals, prints, simplified interiors, etc. A less detailed model demands less handling and machining operations during the manufacturing process and makes it therefore less expensive.

The 1:43 scale Maxichamps models will probably be offered around € 30. That means that they were able to cut the retail price nearly by half. How good or bad the final quality shall be seen later this year. Maxichamps has announced so far six Volvo models. They consist of three different cars each available in two different colors. These diecast models are forms which Minichamps has offered for some time in their regular model program. The Lang family, owner of Minichamps, however pretends that both of her labels are not set up to create a potential competition against each other.

It is not the first time that Minichamps is trying to attract the novice collector with a cheaper product range. There has been a series of three-inch models in previous years which failed miserably. A total of 102 various youngtimer as well as modern street cars have so far been announced. They consist of 26 1:18 and 76 1:43 models which are all taken and known from Minichamps standard product range from the past.

It seems to me that they have not yet finished implementing their new brand and label strategy. I have noticed that not yet all of the announced and shown Maxichamps models point to the right. They still point to the left on their dedicated new website maxichamps.de as well as in the free catalog given away earlier this year at the Nürnberg toy fair. But the first hand-samples shown on Minichamps website point all to the right. Well let's wait and see.

Anyhow the so far announced Volvo scale models are:

Volvo 121 Amazon  (2-door)

• model year: 1966
• color: dark gray
• interior: red
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171000
  

Volvo 121 Amazon  (2-door)

• model year: 1966
• color: dark red
• interior: brown
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171001
  

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Volvo 240 GL estate

• model year: 1986
• color: red
• interior: black
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171410
  

Volvo 240 GL estate

• model year: 1986
• color: dark green metallic
• interior: ?
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171411
  

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Volvo 740 GL

• model year: 1986
• color: dark green
• interior: ?
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171700
  

Volvo 740 GL

• model year: 1986
• color: dark blue metallic
• interior: black
• scale: 1:43
• item number: 940 171701
  

As you may have noticed they didn't had much pleasure nor effort offering a lot of new paint schemes. Quite a shame. It's a pretty close copy-paste from Minichamps product range which we all know from the past years.

Sources:

• maxichamps.de
• minichamps.de/EN/Models/Supplier/MAXICHAMPS