Faller

Lore & Background

From the 1960s into the 1980s, Faller produced the Auto Motor Sport (AMS) slot cars, based on existing patents and similar to the Aurora Model Motoring system. The Faller controller and the car had a small selenium rectifier on board so two cars could run independently on the same track on the positive or negative half wave AC. The cars were in 1:65 scale but could be used with 1:87 H0 scale model railways.

Faller's Car System (FCS) is available in both H0 and N scale. It consists of battery-powered road vehicles, made by other manufacturers such as Wiking, that have a magnet attached to the front steering. The magnet follows a steel wire hidden under the road surface, resulting in trucks and buses that behave realistically without guide rails or a slot in the road. This system is extensively used by the Miniatur Wunderland model railway attraction in Hamburg, Germany. Mechanisms are available to stop vehicles and to switch them from one route to another, as at an intersection, and these can be integrated with sensors and working traffic lights. In September 2013, Faller released their Digital Car System allowing computer control of the system.

Faller has produced amusement park fairground models for over 20 years, with well over a hundred different models. Many have been discontinued as newer models have been introduced. Faller offers models in H0 scale and a limited number of amusement park fairground models in N scale as well.

Reader's Guide

Faller's significance lies in its long-standing role as a specialist in model railroad scenery and accessories, particularly its innovative Car System. The Car System, using battery-powered vehicles with a magnet following a hidden steel wire, eliminated the need for slots or guide rails, allowing realistic road traffic on model layouts. This system gained notable use at Miniatur Wunderland, one of the world's largest model railway attractions. The introduction of the Digital Car System in 2013 further extended its capabilities by enabling computer control. Faller's history also includes the Auto Motor Sport slot car system, which allowed two cars to run independently on the same track using half-wave AC, a design that bridged slot car racing and model railroading. The company's acquisition of the Pola brand in 1997 expanded its reach into G scale structures. With decades of production of amusement park fairground models—over a hundred different models in H0 scale and a limited number in N scale—Faller has become a key supplier for modelers seeking detailed, operating scenery.

Did You Know?

• The Faller Car System uses a magnet attached to the front steering of battery-powered vehicles to follow a hidden steel wire.
• Faller's Auto Motor Sport slot cars used a selenium rectifier on board to allow two cars to run independently on the same track.
• Since 1997 Faller has owned the Pola brand, which is devoted to G scale structures.