Wiking Modellbau
German maker of HO and N scale model vehicles since 1932.
Wiking Modellbau is a German maker of scale-model cars and trucks, primarily in 1:87 (H0) and 1:160 (N) scales, originally created as accessories for model railways. The company was founded in 1932 by Friedrich Karl Peltzer and is now owned by Siku Toys, based in Lüdenscheid. Its models typically cover vehicles from the 1950s to the present day.
Before the war, Peltzer, who built ship models from cigar boxes as a youth, started Wiking by producing 1:1,250-scale ship models. These were made from lead-based zamac and used by the German military for training and tactical planning, often marked "Wiking Modell" on their bases. The ships came with wooden "Modell-Hafen" (model harbors) representing piers, buildings, and oil facilities for attack training. From 1934–35, the company also made 1:200-scale plane models, and from 1937–38, it issued 1:200-scale "Wehrmachtsmodelle" of military vehicles and artillery. By 1938, some planes and ships were made of plastic. Wiking also produced a few civilian vehicles based on the Wehrmachtsmodelle, but their production stopped at the start of World War II.
During the war, Wiking focused on producing models for military identification training of planes and ships. The company reportedly used forced labor, including workers from the USSR.
After the war, before returning to car models, Wiking experimented with plastics for items like a Noah’s ark model, combs, and buttons, and also used clay. A small series of Berlin Airlift models (1948–1949) included five planes and two car models in 1:400 scale. The company opened workshops in Buer and Kiel. In 1947, it began making simple plastic car models, usually a single piece with no windows or chassis, in roughly 1:100 scale. Axles were wire with flat pinched ends that, when pressed into warm plastic wheels, could not rotate—so the axles rolled with the wheels. Later models added chassis bases, and the scale eventually changed to 1:90.
During the 1950s, Wiking expanded its line to include trucks and cars, such as Henschel stake and cement trucks, Magirus trucks, the Borgward Arabella, and a DKW two-door sedan, often sold in packs of five trucks or ten cars. In the early 1960s, Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant commissioned 1:40-scale vehicles with unique packaging; these are now rare and often worth over $100, though some have been reissued.
- Founded
- 1932
- Founder
- Friedrich Karl Peltzer
- Headquarters
- Lüdenscheid (current)
- Owner
- German Siku Toys
- Scales
- 1:87 (HO), 1:160 (N), also 1:1250, 1:200, 1:100, 1:90, 1:40
- Notable model
- Mercedes tank truck from 1962 (Thyssen advertising article), sold at auction in June 2006
Lore & Background
Wiking was founded in 1932 by Friedrich Karl Peltzer, who had built ships from cigar boxes in his youth. Its beginnings were in producing ship models in 1:1,250 scale. Before and during World War II, these models, made of lead-based zamac, were used by the German military for training and tactical planning. The military also used plane models in 1:200 scale beginning in 1934–35, and the Wehrmachtsmodelle (1937–38) of military vehicles and artillery were issued in 1:200 scale. Beginning in 1938, the planes and some ships were made of plastic. During the war, Wiking mostly produced models for military identification training; reportedly, the company employed forced labor, including workers from the USSR.
After World War II, Wiking experimented with plastics, producing a Noah's ark model, plastic combs, and buttons. A small series of the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949) consisted of five planes and two car models in 1:400 scale. In 1947, Wiking started producing simple car models in roughly 1:100 scale, made of plastic with wire axles. The scale eventually changed to 1:90. In the early 1960s, Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant commissioned vehicles in a larger 1:40 scale with unique packaging; a notable model was a clear plastic Beetle labeled 'Das Gläserne Auto'. Transparent windows were added around the early 1960s, and interiors in the 1970s. Since 1969, Wiking has produced car models in 1:160 (N) scale. Between 1949–50 and 1974–75, Wiking again produced ship models. The company also tried to sell plane models in the 1960s but this effort was cancelled.
Peltzer died in 1981 at age 78. In 1984, Wiking was sold to Sieper Lüdenscheid, known for its Siku model cars. In September 2008, it was announced that the traditional factory home would close and all production would transfer to the Siku/Sieper works in Lüdenscheid.
Reader's Guide
Wiking Modellbau holds a significant place in the history of scale modeling, having originated as a producer of military training aids before transitioning to civilian model vehicles. Its early post-war car models, simple one-piece plastic castings with wire axles, represent a formative era in affordable toy manufacturing. The company's willingness to experiment with scale and materials—from 1:1250 ships to 1:40 promotional cars and clear plastic bodies—demonstrates a flexibility that kept it relevant across decades. The shift from producing stylized, railroad-oriented models to highly detailed miniatures after the 1984 sale to Siku reflects broader trends in the collector market. Old Wiking models are often expensive collector items; the most expensive ever sold is a 1962 Mercedes tank truck produced as an advertising article for Thyssen, which achieved a record price at auction in June 2006. The company's legacy includes influencing other manufacturers, as the clear plastic Beetle concept was copied by several others, including in Britain. Today, Wiking models are collected in their own right, independent of model train sets.
Did You Know?
- Wiking's pre-war ship models in 1:1250 scale were used by the German military for training and tactical planning.
- The company reportedly employed forced labor from the USSR during World War II.
- In the early 1960s, Wiking produced a clear plastic Volkswagen Beetle promotional model called 'Das Gläserne Auto'.
- The most expensive Wiking model ever sold is a 1962 Mercedes tank truck made for Thyssen, auctioned in June 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Wiking Modellbau?
Wiking Modellbau is a German company that has been casting scale-model vehicles since 1932. It was started by Friedrich Karl Peltzer and is now a brand under Siku Toys, operating out of Lüdenscheid.
What scales does Wiking produce models in?
The company is best known for its 1:87 (H0) and 1:160 (N) scale trucks and cars, originally conceived as scenery accessories for model railways. Over the years it has also offered vehicles in 1:1,250, 1:200, 1:100, 1:90, and 1:40 scales.
What did Wiking make before it became known for vehicle models?
Peltzer's first Wiking products were 1:1,250-scale ship models cast in a lead-based zamac alloy. The German military purchased these for use in training exercises and tactical planning, and many carried a military marking.
Who owns Wiking Modellbau today?
The brand is currently held by Siku Toys, the German toy maker based in Lüdenscheid. Wiking continues to operate as a dedicated scale-vehicle line within the Siku group.
What era of vehicles do Wiking models cover?
The catalog generally spans automobiles and trucks from the 1950s through the present day. One well-known early piece is a 1962 Mercedes tank truck that was featured in a Thyssen advertising article and later appeared at auction in June 2006.
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