AMG.
Staff Emeritus
- 3,116
- NL, Leiden
- GTP_AMG
Pocher
At the International Toy Fair of Milan in 1966, the Pocher stand astonished the world with its wonderfully detailed 1:8 scale model of the Fiat F2 130HP, the car which won the 1907 French Grand Prix driven by Felice Nazzaro. The model contained 144 high-resistance plastic parts, 173 in brass and 506 in steel, copper, leather, rubber and aluminium. The Company went on to produce ever more detailed models of motoring classics including the 1931–34 Alfa Romeo 2300 Ac Monza, the 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II Drophead Sedanca Coupe, the 1932 Alfa Romeo Touring, the Mercedes-Benz 500K/AK containing 2,378 part and then the Rolls Royce Torpedo Phanton II Convertible with 2,905 parts.
These kits were based on original plans from the manufacturer. Two features present on some models were spoked wire wheels that were assembled spoke by spoke, and engines with working crankshaft and piston assemblies. Assembly was mostly accomplished with threaded fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts) and very little glue. This created finished products that could theoretically be disassembled and repaired or modified. Kits came molded in color and ready painted. Finished preassembled versions were also sold.
In the 1970s Corrado Muratore sold his part of the company to Rivarossi, a bit later Arnaldo Pocher sold his part, too.
The product ranges
The earlier high piece and high detail kits were referred to as the Classic line, later a less assembly intensive line appeared and was called the Prestige line of cars. Classic kits were known for their high piece count and incredible detail such as working brake systems, engines with rotating crankshafts and moving pistons, windows that moved up and down, steering that operated, and when a tiny key was inserted into the dashboard the headlights lit up. Classic kits were produced that faithfully represented cars from Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls Royce. Many from the 1930s. Prestige kits were most often die cast metal bodies and 500 parts. They featured working suspension and opening doors and detailed engines. These kits were designed to provide attractive models you can build with little difficulty. They were mainly of the Ferrari Testarossa and Ferrari F40, with a few Porsches. A third line exists called Pocher Truck. These were two Volvo Trucks. Using the same assembly method as Prestige mainly press fit parts with superb detailing. Four separate engine kits were produced that were the engines from Ferrari Testarossa, F40, Volvo, and Bugatti. Of these four kits the Bugatti was the most complex as it had the moving crankshaft and pistons.
All model kits in this automobile line were produced in enormous one eighth scale. Cars that could be up to 22 inches (560 mm) long and weigh as much as 16 pounds (7.3 kg). The aftermarket products produced to support these kits is a thriving cottage industry and the remaining kits that are unassembled are a rare item. Often cherished, traded, and handed down these do exist today and are available through collector channels.
Hornby and Pocher
After the Lima group went into bankruptcy the Pocher brand was bought by Hornby in 2004. In December 2012 Hornby announced the "resurgence of a myth" on the official website of Pocher. An official presentation was held on the Nuremberg International Toy Fair on 30 January 2013. Pocher presented the new 1:8 model kit of the Lamborghini Aventador.
Pocher – Lamborghini Aventador 1:8 LP 700-4 - Arancio Argos
Pocher website
I was surprised to read that the Aventador would be produced and after waiting for nearly a year the model was finally available.
My model was bought second hand – the owner was moving house and needed money. The box contents were untouched.
It’s been a while, actually several years, since I put together a scale model and I decided to see if I would be able to add working lights in this model. So first step was to get myself immersed in the world of electronics, LEDs, SMDs, soldering and what not. Suffice to say I messed up quite a few SMDs.
They’re extremely small and need 2 wires to be soldered to them.
In the mean time I tried in vain to find out how to get indicator lights working and work out how to put together a wiring loom.
Through an electronics forum I found someone willing to help me with a circuit board containing a programmed chip and remote control. Turns out the guy was employed by the same company that I work for. He’s happy to help me out doing the ‘computer’ stuff so it’s up to me to actually add the lights.
So now it’s April and I’ve taken a week off to start this build. I suspect it’s going to be a very long process but here’s a couple of pictures of my slow progress so far. Don’t expect daily updates though if you decide to subscribe to this thread.
The box is a whopping 73/53/36 cm in size and weighs a tonne.
The parts.
Finished model.
Carpeting (mod) and seat tubs.
Interior light wiring
Roof lining (mod)
Central dashboard
22 fibre optics (mod) - if you look carefully you can see natural light coming through to light up the switches.
At the International Toy Fair of Milan in 1966, the Pocher stand astonished the world with its wonderfully detailed 1:8 scale model of the Fiat F2 130HP, the car which won the 1907 French Grand Prix driven by Felice Nazzaro. The model contained 144 high-resistance plastic parts, 173 in brass and 506 in steel, copper, leather, rubber and aluminium. The Company went on to produce ever more detailed models of motoring classics including the 1931–34 Alfa Romeo 2300 Ac Monza, the 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II Drophead Sedanca Coupe, the 1932 Alfa Romeo Touring, the Mercedes-Benz 500K/AK containing 2,378 part and then the Rolls Royce Torpedo Phanton II Convertible with 2,905 parts.
These kits were based on original plans from the manufacturer. Two features present on some models were spoked wire wheels that were assembled spoke by spoke, and engines with working crankshaft and piston assemblies. Assembly was mostly accomplished with threaded fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts) and very little glue. This created finished products that could theoretically be disassembled and repaired or modified. Kits came molded in color and ready painted. Finished preassembled versions were also sold.
In the 1970s Corrado Muratore sold his part of the company to Rivarossi, a bit later Arnaldo Pocher sold his part, too.
The product ranges
The earlier high piece and high detail kits were referred to as the Classic line, later a less assembly intensive line appeared and was called the Prestige line of cars. Classic kits were known for their high piece count and incredible detail such as working brake systems, engines with rotating crankshafts and moving pistons, windows that moved up and down, steering that operated, and when a tiny key was inserted into the dashboard the headlights lit up. Classic kits were produced that faithfully represented cars from Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls Royce. Many from the 1930s. Prestige kits were most often die cast metal bodies and 500 parts. They featured working suspension and opening doors and detailed engines. These kits were designed to provide attractive models you can build with little difficulty. They were mainly of the Ferrari Testarossa and Ferrari F40, with a few Porsches. A third line exists called Pocher Truck. These were two Volvo Trucks. Using the same assembly method as Prestige mainly press fit parts with superb detailing. Four separate engine kits were produced that were the engines from Ferrari Testarossa, F40, Volvo, and Bugatti. Of these four kits the Bugatti was the most complex as it had the moving crankshaft and pistons.
All model kits in this automobile line were produced in enormous one eighth scale. Cars that could be up to 22 inches (560 mm) long and weigh as much as 16 pounds (7.3 kg). The aftermarket products produced to support these kits is a thriving cottage industry and the remaining kits that are unassembled are a rare item. Often cherished, traded, and handed down these do exist today and are available through collector channels.
Hornby and Pocher
After the Lima group went into bankruptcy the Pocher brand was bought by Hornby in 2004. In December 2012 Hornby announced the "resurgence of a myth" on the official website of Pocher. An official presentation was held on the Nuremberg International Toy Fair on 30 January 2013. Pocher presented the new 1:8 model kit of the Lamborghini Aventador.
Pocher – Lamborghini Aventador 1:8 LP 700-4 - Arancio Argos
Pocher website
I was surprised to read that the Aventador would be produced and after waiting for nearly a year the model was finally available.
My model was bought second hand – the owner was moving house and needed money. The box contents were untouched.
It’s been a while, actually several years, since I put together a scale model and I decided to see if I would be able to add working lights in this model. So first step was to get myself immersed in the world of electronics, LEDs, SMDs, soldering and what not. Suffice to say I messed up quite a few SMDs.
They’re extremely small and need 2 wires to be soldered to them.
In the mean time I tried in vain to find out how to get indicator lights working and work out how to put together a wiring loom.
Through an electronics forum I found someone willing to help me with a circuit board containing a programmed chip and remote control. Turns out the guy was employed by the same company that I work for. He’s happy to help me out doing the ‘computer’ stuff so it’s up to me to actually add the lights.
So now it’s April and I’ve taken a week off to start this build. I suspect it’s going to be a very long process but here’s a couple of pictures of my slow progress so far. Don’t expect daily updates though if you decide to subscribe to this thread.
The box is a whopping 73/53/36 cm in size and weighs a tonne.
The parts.
Finished model.
Carpeting (mod) and seat tubs.
Interior light wiring
Roof lining (mod)
Central dashboard
22 fibre optics (mod) - if you look carefully you can see natural light coming through to light up the switches.
Last edited:
