Collection Passion

The military makes his appearance on third page of the thin catalogue of the mark in 1993. Twelve models are distributed under "the armoured tanks" and "logistics" recognizable by tinted treads and green boxes. Only three variants and some republications are proposed (with a higher tariff). Will be added to this first offer a resumption of the contents of chest "B" of 1985.

The following year, a second box "La Force Armée" is added with a new tractor Renault, a semi truck with lowerable cabin. The number of the models suggested in the above mentioned series passes to twenty, among which one counts the republication of the Saviem (Renault G260 truck in 1:60 scale) but in a canvas cover version. Verem must prematurely cease the production of ACMAT trucks for French army, only the firemen versions are preserved. One notices the temporary series "Forces de la paix" of vehicles delivered in white color of the United Nations, which is the heiress of the Solido variants of the previous decade.

A commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the second world war delivers two tanks whose the Zamak was especially treated to produce an effect "old metal". The event of the year however remains the amphibious GMC, a DUKW in resin, stray under the heteroclite label "Mondial Intervention", of a good quality of moulding, to compare with its ancestor from Dinky Toys. For the collectors, it is only one regression which tarnishes the brand image. For others, it means a positive change.

The catalogue 1995 gathers the whole military production on the central pages, a more rational presentation. Verem upgrades the paint of the models (camouflag by airbrush made by the disabled) and confirms its choice of the use of the resin with the White Scout Car ('Mondial Intervention'). Among the republications, we find a field kitchen trailer (another reminiscence of Dinky) and the first appearance of the Land-Rover Defender. It seems that there were inversions of the turrets between VAB and AMX-10p.

In 1996, a new series "VLM" allows the re-use in the range of other models in 1:43 scale (Volkswagen Combi and Range Rover). It is the turn of the the GMC to benefit from the resin this year, with a travelling workshop. The following year, it is the turn of one Dodge 4x4.

But 1997 remain the year when collaboration with the British of Stretton Models becomes official with fourteen vehicles advertised on the catalogue (SMxx numbers). The distribution is done in new closed cartons. Handbuilt, these vehicles preserve a Solido base of which the chassis obligatorily. On some, one finds only one accessory (projector, gun or armoured skirts of protection) and on others a new turret (M36b1) or a casemate of replacement (Stug-IV by example). The third category preserves only chassis (SturmTiger or M32) and all the other parts are in resin or White Metal. The aspect of the model is generally well finished to justify a price more than three times superior to the standard production. Manufacture is however far from offering qualities of the Zamak models (deformation of the resin, not very functional elements). With these artisanal contributions, the collection still moves away from accuracy. Moreover, the presence of a Tiger modified wrongfully called BergeTiger, remains a surprising choice, and Schürzen are not particularly "aesthetic".

In 1998, the Stretton collection becomes simply the Tank Museum. At side of classical models (M36b2 and StukaVoss), we still finds surprising models like the German project Coelian and the KugelBlitz prototype. The imitation of Zimmerit on the new Stug-IV is an undeniable error.

The French production changes name on all the ranges (Military to 1 to 5) including the helicopters for the first time. The resin models see the arrival of two new trucks GMC and one new Dodge. The offer of cars in 1:43 also increases. The PT-76 launch-rocket is back again but the mechanism is not usable any more, preventing to correctly position the missile ! A new gun (howitzer) for Sherman represents the first "made by Solido" modification in Zamak for the tanks since 1992.

In 1999, a Sandford model becomes a Solido/Verem standard item (the Half-track with turret). On other models like the nonmetal Mehari, the boundary between the productions of SN SOLIDO and the Verem models tends to disappear following the merge of 1996. As usual, variants comes from other ranges. Only the Tank Museum delivers new things with a slapdash SU122 (on basis SU100) and two PZ-4 AA. But these two FlakPanzer will undergo regrettable modifications in the course of their publication. The Scout Car M8 will be also corrected without reaching the quality of its ancestor in Zamak (item 200). Let us specify that the references numbers are now preceded by "V".

In 2000 the military range remains similar at the previous years, with its batch of republications and a strange armoured Destroyer (mount shield). We discover only three new models with the Tank Museum, whereas the production of Stretton Models abounds in innumerable parts (Prime Mover on Sherman, T34 on basis SU-100, PZ-4 with schürzen, painted figurines, etc.) reserved admittedly for export. Indeed, the English workshop designs much more models than Solido/Verem presents (or buys ?) on its catalogue. Some "limited editions" aim only american market. The problem seems to be that the new management privileges the German armoured tanks. In addition the selling price almost doubled in four years. Let us note that errors persist, like a Russian M4A3 Howitzer!

To be continued