The Wiking-company started to produce ship models in scale 1:1250 at the beginning of the 30s. The very first models - sailing boats - were made out of wood. Then up to the end of the 50s most of the models were completely made of metal, from 1948 on plastic masts were used. Already during WW II models were made out of plastic using wire masts. Some of them were made in grey, many out of the same green plastic that was used for the planes. From the beginning of the 60s up to the end of the series all new models were made of coloured plastic. All metal models and some of the plastic models were fully painted.
During WW II the models were used for training, so nearly every german and foreign type was produced.
After 1945 some new types were produced, but at the end of the 60s the series was stopped. Counting all together more than 620 different types were produced.

For the ships it counts especially much that only models in very good condition have a high value. Ships with defects (broken masts, colour splintered off) reach a maximum of 10% up to 20% of the full collectors value.

It is very difficult to get information about these old models. So I would be very happy if you can help me with old catalogues (or copies of them), photos, selling-lists and everything else that gives additional information.

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