Test report from CoMod JoergW on the Carrera DIGITAL 124 Auto Union Type C 'No.33', AVUS 1937 (23750)
Germany in the mid-1930s : the people are marching towards their eventual doom under state control, but in 1937, they still have no idea. The emerging nation likes to present itself to the world in the scientific and technological fields. Victories, such as at the 1936 Olympic Games, demonstrate the supposed superiority of the nation, and this is expected to be repeated in automobile racing. General motorization at this time was rather insignificant and primarily related to motorcycles. A traffic census in Halle in 1937 showed that approximately 3% of the population commuted to work using "other means of transport," which also included automobiles. The bicycle was the number one means of transport even before the railway, but even then, motor racing attracted the masses. The rulers provide substantial financial support to the racing and development departments of Mercedes-Benz and AutoUnion, more or less equally, in order to ensure that, through constant internal competition, a German vehicle would always be on the winner's podium.
Since 1934, the recently founded AutoUnion, a merger of the ailing companies Horch, Wanderer, DKW and Audi, has been in a constant battle with the already established Mercedes-Benz brand for the top spots in the world championship races. Unlike Mercedes, AutoUnion relied on a 16-cylinder engine, which was initially positioned behind the driver. The Type C had between 520 and 560 hp from its 6-liter displacement. Other brands were practically relegated to the role of supporting actors during this time, and the 'silver vehicles' fought it out among themselves to almost every finish. The winning nation was almost already decided; only the question of victory for AutoUnion or Mercedes and the driver in the winning car was a fierce battle on the racetrack and added to the excitement of the races.
In 1937, the AutoUnion Type C, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, competed against the Mercedes W125 designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. In May 1937, the world's fastest 'Free Formula' race to date took place on the AVUS (Automobile Traffic and Practice Road), with Hermann Lang as the winner, driving the first fully faired W 125 (the type tested here as a Carrera model), achieving an average speed of 261.7 km/h. The AVUS had been rebuilt in 1937, and the old north curve had been replaced by a banked, 43.6° banked, brick-built curve. This was intended to enable even higher speeds on the track, which, with its two long parallel straights and the hairpin bends at the end, was reminiscent of a basic Carrera track. The planned modification of the south curve was never completed due to the war. The Mercedes with starting number 35 was driven by Remagen native Rudolf Caracciola, but retired during the race. The Autounion C-Type was driven by Italian Luigi Fagioli, who retired in the second heat. From the already well-known Carrera Exclusiv series, the Mercedes with starting number 36, originally driven by Manfred Brauchitsch, also retired. The Carrera Exclusiv AutoUnion No. 31, originally driven by Bernd Rosemeyer, who later lost his life during a world record attempt, finished in 4th place. The AVUS presented grueling conditions for both car and driver. The tires, in particular, sometimes only lasted 4-5 laps, which is why both designs feature inspection windows in their streamlined fairings for tire inspection. The body and engines were later completely redesigned, polished to a high gloss, and optimized for high speed. The windshield of the W125 was given a rounded shape, and at the end of October 1937, it traveled to Frankfurt for the ONS "Record Week." The familiar problem from the AVUS (German Automobile Association)—the W125's front end lifting—recurred again, and an additional 90 kg of lead was added to the front of the car, ultimately enabling the W125 to reach 397 km/h (246 mph). But AutoUnion, with its Type-C streamlined car, had already set the benchmark at 406 km/h (251 mph). Extensive aerodynamic measurements, improvements to the outer skin, and the elimination of cooling problems, as well as fine-tuning in all areas of the engine, resulted in the new W125 with a sensational drag coefficient of 0.157. Rudolf Caracciola set a new record with this record-breaking car on January 28, 1938, on the Frankfurt/Main-Darmstadt Autobahn: the "Flying Kilometer," with an average speed of 432 km/h (268 mph). This mark has remained valid to this day: it is the fastest speed ever driven on public roads.
The motorsport enthusiasm and the technical developments of this era compensated for other deficits and were specifically exploited for the aggressive expansion plans already underway. But now enough of the contemporary historical considerations; let's turn our attention to model racing and the two Carrera-style cars.
Carrera models Mercedes W125 and AutoUnion Type-C optics
The basic shape and vehicle types are already familiar from the Carrera exclusive program. The design is largely faithful to the original. The new D124 models feature several details that further enhance the attractive appearance. The silver paint of the new releases appears more natural depending on the lighting and is cleanly executed. Newly designed, finely detailed rims, starting numbers in vibrant red, and black, contrast-enhancing borders on the Mercedes, as well as the red design elements on the AutoUnion, make the vehicles even more appealing.
The tires used aren't 100% true to the original, but they seem to fit. The mechanics and handling are exemplary, and the models lack any lighting, which at least makes digital refueling a bit more difficult. But that's just the way it is. You can tell that the fuel is running low by the stuttering and slowness of the vehicles, as well as the intermittent counting of the tower.
The swing arm has a significantly longer guide keel compared to the Exclusive model, which is noticeable in the tracking. The extended rotation angle and the limited suspension of the guide keel improve handling with and without a magnet. The swing arm is mounted without an adjustable height stop and is therefore limited in its up and down movement. The front axle turns easily and has a long caster. The rear axles and transmission are well adjusted and run smoothly.
There is a positive amount of lateral play. The vehicles run significantly smoother than the first models and are easier to control. The axles and rims are flawless on both models; only the tire fit should be checked. Sanding the grooves is definitely recommended. With a full set of magnets, it takes some effort to unsettle the vehicles. Without magnets, the tires don't have optimal grip. This creates an almost historic driving experience. I find one or two center magnets and the rear magnet very convenient.
Tuning tires (okay, if they're available) are an alternative. Otherwise, you can certainly have exciting races here. But these fairly long vehicles are also perfect for simply cruising and drifting. The new, significantly improved chassis can also be mounted on the two streamlined bodies of the Exclusive series (be careful, these bushings don't have a brass core). This way, you can build a starting field of four cars without requiring any special painting or DIY skills.
Driving is always fun and racing with four silver vehicles, or perhaps a burgundy-red streamlined vehicle of Italian origin, is certainly fun.
CoMod JoergW
Germany in the mid-1930s : the people are marching towards their eventual doom under state control, but in 1937, they still have no idea. The emerging nation likes to present itself to the world in the scientific and technological fields. Victories, such as at the 1936 Olympic Games, demonstrate the supposed superiority of the nation, and this is expected to be repeated in automobile racing. General motorization at this time was rather insignificant and primarily related to motorcycles. A traffic census in Halle in 1937 showed that approximately 3% of the population commuted to work using "other means of transport," which also included automobiles. The bicycle was the number one means of transport even before the railway, but even then, motor racing attracted the masses. The rulers provide substantial financial support to the racing and development departments of Mercedes-Benz and AutoUnion, more or less equally, in order to ensure that, through constant internal competition, a German vehicle would always be on the winner's podium.
Since 1934, the recently founded AutoUnion, a merger of the ailing companies Horch, Wanderer, DKW and Audi, has been in a constant battle with the already established Mercedes-Benz brand for the top spots in the world championship races. Unlike Mercedes, AutoUnion relied on a 16-cylinder engine, which was initially positioned behind the driver. The Type C had between 520 and 560 hp from its 6-liter displacement. Other brands were practically relegated to the role of supporting actors during this time, and the 'silver vehicles' fought it out among themselves to almost every finish. The winning nation was almost already decided; only the question of victory for AutoUnion or Mercedes and the driver in the winning car was a fierce battle on the racetrack and added to the excitement of the races.
In 1937, the AutoUnion Type C, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, competed against the Mercedes W125 designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. In May 1937, the world's fastest 'Free Formula' race to date took place on the AVUS (Automobile Traffic and Practice Road), with Hermann Lang as the winner, driving the first fully faired W 125 (the type tested here as a Carrera model), achieving an average speed of 261.7 km/h. The AVUS had been rebuilt in 1937, and the old north curve had been replaced by a banked, 43.6° banked, brick-built curve. This was intended to enable even higher speeds on the track, which, with its two long parallel straights and the hairpin bends at the end, was reminiscent of a basic Carrera track. The planned modification of the south curve was never completed due to the war. The Mercedes with starting number 35 was driven by Remagen native Rudolf Caracciola, but retired during the race. The Autounion C-Type was driven by Italian Luigi Fagioli, who retired in the second heat. From the already well-known Carrera Exclusiv series, the Mercedes with starting number 36, originally driven by Manfred Brauchitsch, also retired. The Carrera Exclusiv AutoUnion No. 31, originally driven by Bernd Rosemeyer, who later lost his life during a world record attempt, finished in 4th place. The AVUS presented grueling conditions for both car and driver. The tires, in particular, sometimes only lasted 4-5 laps, which is why both designs feature inspection windows in their streamlined fairings for tire inspection. The body and engines were later completely redesigned, polished to a high gloss, and optimized for high speed. The windshield of the W125 was given a rounded shape, and at the end of October 1937, it traveled to Frankfurt for the ONS "Record Week." The familiar problem from the AVUS (German Automobile Association)—the W125's front end lifting—recurred again, and an additional 90 kg of lead was added to the front of the car, ultimately enabling the W125 to reach 397 km/h (246 mph). But AutoUnion, with its Type-C streamlined car, had already set the benchmark at 406 km/h (251 mph). Extensive aerodynamic measurements, improvements to the outer skin, and the elimination of cooling problems, as well as fine-tuning in all areas of the engine, resulted in the new W125 with a sensational drag coefficient of 0.157. Rudolf Caracciola set a new record with this record-breaking car on January 28, 1938, on the Frankfurt/Main-Darmstadt Autobahn: the "Flying Kilometer," with an average speed of 432 km/h (268 mph). This mark has remained valid to this day: it is the fastest speed ever driven on public roads.
The motorsport enthusiasm and the technical developments of this era compensated for other deficits and were specifically exploited for the aggressive expansion plans already underway. But now enough of the contemporary historical considerations; let's turn our attention to model racing and the two Carrera-style cars.
Carrera models Mercedes W125 and AutoUnion Type-C optics
The basic shape and vehicle types are already familiar from the Carrera exclusive program. The design is largely faithful to the original. The new D124 models feature several details that further enhance the attractive appearance. The silver paint of the new releases appears more natural depending on the lighting and is cleanly executed. Newly designed, finely detailed rims, starting numbers in vibrant red, and black, contrast-enhancing borders on the Mercedes, as well as the red design elements on the AutoUnion, make the vehicles even more appealing.
The tires used aren't 100% true to the original, but they seem to fit. The mechanics and handling are exemplary, and the models lack any lighting, which at least makes digital refueling a bit more difficult. But that's just the way it is. You can tell that the fuel is running low by the stuttering and slowness of the vehicles, as well as the intermittent counting of the tower.
The swing arm has a significantly longer guide keel compared to the Exclusive model, which is noticeable in the tracking. The extended rotation angle and the limited suspension of the guide keel improve handling with and without a magnet. The swing arm is mounted without an adjustable height stop and is therefore limited in its up and down movement. The front axle turns easily and has a long caster. The rear axles and transmission are well adjusted and run smoothly.
There is a positive amount of lateral play. The vehicles run significantly smoother than the first models and are easier to control. The axles and rims are flawless on both models; only the tire fit should be checked. Sanding the grooves is definitely recommended. With a full set of magnets, it takes some effort to unsettle the vehicles. Without magnets, the tires don't have optimal grip. This creates an almost historic driving experience. I find one or two center magnets and the rear magnet very convenient.
Tuning tires (okay, if they're available) are an alternative. Otherwise, you can certainly have exciting races here. But these fairly long vehicles are also perfect for simply cruising and drifting. The new, significantly improved chassis can also be mounted on the two streamlined bodies of the Exclusive series (be careful, these bushings don't have a brass core). This way, you can build a starting field of four cars without requiring any special painting or DIY skills.
Driving is always fun and racing with four silver vehicles, or perhaps a burgundy-red streamlined vehicle of Italian origin, is certainly fun.
CoMod JoergW
