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Herpa Wings is a die-cast model airplanes trademark, owned by the Herpa corporation of Germany. Like main competitor Schabak, Herpa Wings in addition to their 1:500 scale models also produce model airliners in the 1:200, 1:400, 1:1000, and 1:160 scales.
Herpa Wings has produced model aircraft for many of the world's international airlines. The Herpa Wings collection includes 17 different aircraft manufacturers and 75 aircraft types in airline liveries past and present.
History
1949- The company HergenrÖther und Patente is founded in Bellingries by inventor and patent holder Wilhelm Hergenrother to produce accessories for model trains. The initials of the company's name make up the word, "Herpa". Among other things, he set up the production for model train accessories like artificial turf, modular train arrangements, etc.
1961- On March 15 1961, Fritz Wagener establishes the company "RIWA-Plastik" in Nuremberg for the production of plastic parts for the photo and record industry. Because of the huge demand, the production facility in Nuremberg quickly becomes too small, and Fritz Wagener starts searching for a larger area outside of the city.
1965- On July 12 1965, the topping out ceremony is held in Dietenhofen, Germany. The company, "Herpa", is taken over. However, Fritz Wagener continues to produce plastic parts for the photo, record and auto industry under "RIWA" while accessories and model trains are still manufactured under "Herpa", in Dietenhofen.
1967- Herpa presents accessories for car-racing tracks as the first producer in this field.
1968- Herpa presents its first ever assembly kits for buildings in the 1/160 scale, at the International Toy Fair at Nuremberg. Herpa garners even more recognition in the market from this.
1986- Herpa starts to develop the idea of producing aircraft miniatures.
1987- The first plastic samples of Boeing 747-200s in the 1/500 scale is produced. In contrast to the competition, these plastic samples were printed and not decalled. Herpa presents these models to Lufthansa German Airlines at an initiation ceremony for a Boeing 737-300 at Nuremberg Airport. They are excited about the great precision and detail of these models and order the production of the Lufthansa Model-Edition in the 1/200 scale exclusively for the airline.
1988- Herpa launches the Lufthansa Model-Edition with a highly detailed replica of the Boeing 737-300. In addition to several other replicas of contemporary aircraft in the fleet, plans for historical models like the Junkers J-52 were in the pipeline.
1989- Development and form construction are greatly modernized with the advent of new computer technology. Together with a partner company in the far east, a new concept was in the works that would make the same detail and precision available to the smaller 1/500 airplane models.
1990- Plane miniatures sport authentic minaturizations of the engines from the various manufacturers. Herpa became one of the few producers of miniatures featuring authentic replicas of engines from the originals. Another special feature of the miniatures is that of their rolling landing gear.
1992- New model series "Herpa Wings" is born. First 1/500 plane miniatures are presented to the public at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Several airlines place orders for planes in their respective colours.
1995- Herpa Wings range is constantly enlarged with new models. A licensing contract with aircraft manufacturer Boeing is signed.
1996- Herpa offers propeller driven planes for the first time in the 1/500 scale with the release of a ATR-72 model. It receives the permission of Condor Flugdienst GMBH for the production of a replica of their anniversary plane, the "Rizzi Bird"-up till today still one of the most difficult models in the Herpa Wings range. The first set of airport accessories are produced.
1997- Issue 1 of the first international magazine for collectors of airplane models, "WingsWorld", is released in June. New range of airplane replicas in the 1/200 scale is released.
1998- Many industrial customers start to discover Herpa Wings as an advertising instrument and order airplane models imprinted with their company's logo. Several airlines have Herpa Wings models stocked onboard flights for in-flight sales.
1999- Introduction of the Herpa Wings Club. First models of airport buildings in the 1/500 scale are produced. Herpa turns 50.
2001- Herpa initiated the "Herpa eXtra" concept with 50 retailers.
2005- Herpa introduces the "MAGIC" Collection featuring model aircraft in the scale 1:600, aiming to directly contend with direct competitor Schabak. In September Herpa released a 1:1000 scale A380.
External links
Shops that sell Herpa Wings models
Germany: Modelglobe
The Netherlands: ScaleModelStore.com Luchtvaart Hobby Shop
Belgium: MicroWings - Aviation Hobby Store
"Herpa Wings"