Schabak Modell
Schabak is a die-cast toy producer based in Nurnberg, Germany. The company is well known for its line of German cars and commercial airline models.
German Origins
Schabak was formed in 1966 by Max Haselmann, Gerhard Hertlein, Horst Widmann and Wolfgang Stolpe (Force 1990; Rixon 2005, 76). The company began as a toy distributor, mainly for Schuco Modell toys – and not as a producer (Bickford Diecast website). When Schuco went out of business in the late 1970s, Schabak acquired most of Schuco's tooling (cars and airplanes) and made agreements with many airlines to continue producing model aircraft (Bickford Diecast website).
The company reissued many of Schuco's own diecast airplanes before producing miniature cars (Force 1990, 211). Schabak then carried on the Schuco tradition of model cars (Johnson 1998, p. 209).
In the early 1980s, Schabak largely replaced Schuco, but it should be remember that Gama Toys acquired dies from Schuco and reproduced many of Schuco's 1:43 scale line as well.
Model Lineup
Schabak models were a range of exclusively German vehicles first in 1:43 scale (Bickford Diecast website). A Volkswagen Jetta was the company's first car, and Volkswagens, Audis, BMWs, and German made Fords were the company's common offerings. Many cars were offered as promotional models in manufacturer approved packaging with official logos.
Later diecast cars were offered in 1:24 scale – so Schabak was one of the earlier model manufacturers to move up to the larger sizes, in the mid-1980s. Vehicles offered in the larger scale were: Ford Sierra Cosworth (the Sierra also offered in police livery), Granada, Orion, and Fiesta XR2i; Audi 80 Quattro, BMW 750, BMW 850, and Z1; Mercedes S Class, and VW Golf VR6.
Over time, Schabak has carved a respectable name for itself in the die-cast car market, although it is not well known outside of Europe. Outside Germany, competitors Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Maisto, and Corgi were more popular.
Similar to Schuco which preceded it, Gama Toys, and NZG, Schabak car models have excellent detail and proportion usually with all apertures opening. Fit and finish of Schabak vehicles often seemed superior to the other German toy brands.
Also similar to other German 1:43 scale products, headlights are usually done in chrome rather than jeweled. Tail lights were most commonly red plastic lenses. Model bases are diecast as similar to Schuco, but often in a darker 'gun-metal' color. Unlike Schuco, Schabak Models usually did not have basic specifications of the real cars on their bases. Often models came in two different kinds of packaging – window boxes for the retail toy market (see photo here) or a smaller container with a photo of the car, but sans plastic window.
Similar to the trend set by Mattel's Hot Wheels, and as a cost saver, tires were hard plastic, though wheel designs were often unique to the particular model, a feature that Solido had pioneered in the 1970s. For example, Audi's four "Auto Union" rings appear on Schabak wheels.
Aircraft
Schabak, perhaps more than anything, is known for its diecast airplanes, mostly commercial airliner models in 1:600 scale. As mentioned earlier, Schabak's first planes were taken directly from Schuco.
Schabak has well over 200 airlines as customers, and even produces the liveries of some defunct airlines. Thus, the company has become a competitive name in the world of airline promotionals, and their offerings are in a consistent state of change. Schabak was, for a long period during the 1990s, the only company known to have a contract to produce models of Iraqi Airways, having produced a Boeing 747 of that airline in the 1:250 scale.
Today, Schabak represents nearly 100 different airlines in 1:250 and 1:600 scales. Aircraft manufacturers in the Schabak line are the old Junkers JU52, Concorde, Vickers Viscount, Ilyushin IL 86 and 96, Tupolev 154, McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 and MD-11, Boeing 737, 747 (including Air Force One), 747 short fuselage, 747-400, 767, 777, 787, Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340 and also the A380.
Sale to Schuco
Schabak was purchased by Schuco in January 2006. Schuco had been a part of the Simba Dickie group, since 1999. Ironically enough, Schuco now once again possessed Schabak's aircraft line – which Schuco itself had originally started and surrendered to Schabak.
With a revived Schuco, a situation occurred similar to Mattel's acquisition of Matchbox, or Solido being acquired by Majorette (which was also purchased by, Simba-Dickie, but previously these were together for some time). This issue is two respected lines brought together within one company that must be distinguished to avoid profit loss resulting from internal competition.
Schabak's car line, as a part of Schuco, for a while focused on German vehicles, while Schuco's lines focused on more toy-like scales (like the Piccolos), wind up cars, and autos from other countries. During the 1990s and beyond, for example, Schabak has added Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes to its mix, but by 2010, perusal of the Schuco website shows that Schabak car lines have been eliminated, leaving the Schabak focus solely on airplanes.
References
The Bickford Diecast Research Center. Diecast Oddities website. [1]
Force, Edward. 1990. Classic Miniature Vehicles Made in Germany. Schiffer Publications.
Johnson, Dana. 1998. Collector's Guide to Diecast Toys & Scale Models. Second Edition. Padukah, Kentucky: Collector Books, A Division of Schroeder Publishing. ISBN 1-57432-041-6
Rixon, Peter. 2005. Miller's Collecting Diecast Vehicles. London: Miller's, a division of Mitchell Beasley.
