In the 1990’s the German company Märklin produced a large series of models of truck and bus models from the very early 20th century. Such early vehicles are difficult to find in model, but unfortunately the Märklin models were a bit crude in their detailing.

The series consist of several versions of the same basic models, and one of my favorite types is the models depicting a truck from 1903 made by the German company Büssing, which had set up shop in Braunschweig in the same year.

The blue version above is a part of Märklin set #1899 from around 1990, also consisting of a Benz truck from around the same time.

The two-tonne truck was the first truck of the new Büssing company and its gasoline engine developed a grand total of nine HP.

Searching the web, I found this photo by Wikimedia user MartinHansV, showing a similar truck at the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum in Munich. After seeing the photo of this preserved specimen, I knew the plastic-looking blue model had to be repainted.

I tried to match the colours of the truck from the museum, but with a more worn look. The short-legged driver is from a Preiser set.

I had planned to add some cargo to the truck instead of the cover, but I seemed to have run out of crates, barrels and sacks, so instead I just painted and weathered the cover.

Seeing the pictures above I think I have to add a handle to start the engine and perhaps add a bit of weathering powder to the wheels, but otherwise I like how much better the old Märklin model look with a bit of paint. A fun and quick little project.

Now I just need to repaint the rest of the many Märklin trucks and busses! 🙂