Just in time for Christmas, Mike Pigott presents a diecast model based on a real promotional vehicle used by a famous Christmas decoration shop in Germany.
Occasionally it’s possible to find unique diecast models in unusual places, and one of these would have to be a miniature bus in a German shop that specialises in Christmas ornaments.
Kathe Wohlfahrt is a shop that sells Christmas decorations and nothing but Christmas decorations. Founded in 1964 by Wilhelm and Kathe Wohlfahrt, the couple originally sold wooden Christmas music boxes at market stalls, before setting up a permanent, all-year store that sold all types of Christmas products including ornaments, nativity scenes and wooden nutcrackers. The shop proved successful and soon stores were opened in all major cities, as Germans love their traditional Christmas decorations. In later years stores would be opened in many European and American cities. In addition, ‘pop-up’ stores are featured at many Continental Christmas markets every December. The company is based in the picture-postcard Medieval town of Rothenberg-Ob-Der-Tauber, and the head office features a Christmas Museum that is a major tourist attraction of the region.
WEINACHTS-EXPRESS
The Weinachts-Express, or Christmas Express, is a small vintage-style bus run by Kathe Wohlfahrt. It is based at the head office in Rothenberg, but often makes promotional appearances at stores in other locations. Although it looks like a vintage vehicle, it is actually a modern ‘replicar’ made in the old-fashioned style. It is painted red and black, and carries a load of wrapped presents on its roof-rack.
MODEL WEINACHTS-EXPRESS
A diecast scale model of the Christmas Express was produced by Kathe Wohlfahrt to sell in its shops. The model was reasonably accurate and very eye-catching. It had a diecast body which, like the real vehicle, was painted red with the upper section in black. The window frames were painted in yellow, an imitation green wreath was printed on the body sides, and accurate pinstriping was finished in black and yellow. Attached to the roof was a large roof-rack loaded with plastic imitation gifts painted red, blue, green and orange. There was a head-board above the cab with the company name.
The base was black plastic, and included the fenders and bumpers; the bumpers were fitted with accurate number plates. The interior was in black plastic but was not very detailed. The wheels were red plastic with black rubber tyres, although the hubs were oversized. This was generally a good model, although the grille was extremely crude and the headlights were just bumps moulded on to the front fenders. No scale was given, but it appears to be around 1/55.
PACKAGING
There were two versions of the Weinachts-Express produced: one was intended as a model car, and the other was a tree ornament. The ornament had a metal hook attached to the roof-rack with a loop of ribbon to attach it to the tree, and was sold unboxed.
The other version, intended as a toy, was sold in an attractive window box with header card. The header featured pictures of the real vehicle and photos of picturesque Rothenburg, while there was a colourful winter street-scene backdrop behind the model.
I bought my Weinachts-Express at the Bremen Christmas Market around ten years ago. However, the model is still in production and can be bought from Kathe Wohlfahrt stores (or website) for the same price of €9.95.
This is an original article for Mike Pigott’s Diecast Toys and Models.
Text and model photos © Mike Pigott 2021
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