Wiking Ships – Finishes

Introduction

Cruise ships are repainted many times during their lives, and sometimes this is more than a fresh coat of the same paint. New ownership will usually require an entirely new livery, and of course a changed colour scheme can breathe new life into a jaded liner. Modelmakers will sometimes follow suit, updating the colours on their models to keep them up to date – but they will also sometimes change the colour schemes for other reasons. Wiking were no exception in this, and we can see how they rang the changes by taking as an example their model of a relatively humble yet long-lived ship, that began life as the SS Sierra Salvada.

Minic Ships – Sets

Sets

Toy manufacturers often group items from their ranges together and sell them in sets. Minic was no exception and immediately the range was launched, began producing a number of boxed bundles. So, what is it about sets that would tempt the prospective buyer? Several reasons suggest themselves. Perhaps there will be a cost saving; a set might contain something unique that cannot be purchased separately; or maybe the boxed presentation is just more convenient and attractive in some way.

Minic Ships – Introduction

Minic Ships

Everyone has memories of toys from their childhood, but my most vivid recollection is of a toy that I never possessed. I can’t have been much older than a toddler when, visiting an older child’s house, I was allowed to view their latest possession. Set out on the floor of their living room stretched a magnificent sea scene of ships and port facilities. I remember being totally amazed by how realistic and detailed at all looked. Obviously, these were toys for sophisticated older kids! I wanted them, but by the time I might have been old enough, the range was gone.

Many decades later, recalling the memory, I did a little online delving and discovered that what I had seen was a collection of Tri-ang Minic ships.