Review by CoMod JoergW of Carrera DIGITAL 124 the Auto Union Type C 'No. 33', AVUS 1937 (23750)
Germany in the mi, d -1930s , : the people are marching toward their eventual downfall under state-imposed conformity, but in 1937, they are still unaware of this. The rising nation likes to present itself to the world in the scientific and technical sectors. Victories, such as those at the 1936 Olympic Games, demonstrate the nation’s supposed superiority, and this is to be repeated in automobile racing. General motorization was rather insignificant at that time and primarily involved motorcycles. According to a 1937 traffic survey in Halle, approximately 3% of the population commuted to work using “other modes of transportation,” which included automobiles. The bicycle was still the number one mode of transportation, ahead of the railroad, but motor racing was already drawing the masses even back then. The ruling powers provided substantial funding to the racing and development departments of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union in more or less equal measure, so that, through constant internal competition, they could always see a German car on the winner’s podium.
Since 1934 , ,the newly founded Auto , Union , —a merger of the struggling companies Horch, Wanderer, DKW, and Audi— has been locked , in a constant battle with the already established Mercedes-Benz brand for the top spots in the World Championship races. Unlike Mercedes, Auto Union opted for a 16-cylinder engine, which was positioned behind the driver for the first time. The Type C produced between 520 and 560 hp from its 6-liter displacement. Other brands were virtually relegated to a supporting role during this period, and the “silver cars” dominated nearly every race finish. The winning nation was practically a foregone conclusion; the only question was whether Auto Union or Mercedes would take the victory and which driver would be behind the wheel of the winning car—a fierce battle on the track that fueled the excitement of the races.
In 1937, the Auto Union Type C, designed by Ferdinand Porsc he, faced W125 off against the MercedesW125 designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. In May 1937, the Avus (Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße) hosted the world’s fastest race to date under the “Open Formula” rules, in which Hermann Lang emerged victorious in a fully-fairing W 125 (theCarrera model being tested here Carrera ) for the first time, Carrera 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° steep curve built of brick. This was intended Carrera to allow for even higher speeds on the track, which Carrera , with its two long parallel straights and the hairpin bends at the end Carrera , resembled a basic circuit Carrera layout Carrera . The planned modification to the south curve was never completed due to the war. The Mercedes with start number 35 was driven by Rudolf Caracciola, a native of Remagen, but he retired from the race. The Auto Union C-Type was driven by the Italian Luigi Fagioli, who retired in the second heat. From the already well-known Carrera Exclusiv series, the Mercedes with start number 36—originally driven by Manfred Brauchitsch—also retired. The Carrera Exclusiv Auto Union No. 31, originally driven by Bernd Rosemeyer—who later lost his life during a world record attempt—finished in 4th place. The AVUS track imposed grueling conditions on both the car and the driver. In particular, the tires sometimes lasted only 4–5 laps, which is why both designs feature viewing windows in their streamlined fairings to monitor the tires. The bodywork and engines were later completely overhauled, polished to a high gloss, and optimized for high speeds. The windshield of the W125 is given a rounded shape here, and at the end of October 1937, the team heads to Frankfurt for the ONS “Record Week.” The problem familiar from the AVUS—the front of the vehicle lifting off the ground— W125 , occurs here as well, and an additional 90 kg of lead is installed in the front of the vehicle, ultimately allowing the W125 to W125 reach 397 km/h W125 . But AutoUnion, with its Type C streamlined vehicle, had already set the mark at 406 km/h. Extensive aerodynamic measurements, improvements to the outer skin, and the resolution of cooling issues, as well as fine-tuning in all areas of the powertrain, resulted in the new W125 achieving a sensational drag coefficient of 0.157. On January 28, 1938, Rudolf Caracciola set a new record with this record-breaking car on the Frankfurt/Main–Darmstadt highway: the “Flying Kilometer” at an average speed of 432 km/h. This record remains valid to this day: it is the fastest speed ever achieved on public roads.
The enthusiasm for motorsports and the technical developments of that era compensated for other shortcomings and were specifically leveraged for the aggressive expansion plans that were already being pursued at the time. But enough of this historical overview—let’s turn our attention to model racing and the twoCarrera high-performance
Carrera modelsW125: the MercedesW125and the Auto Union Type C. Carrera
Carrera W125
The basic shape and vehicle types are alreadyCarrera familiar from the Carrera - Exclusive Program. The design is largely faithful to the original. The new D124 models feature several details that further enhance their already impressive appearance. The silver paint on the new releases looks more natural depending on the lighting and is applied with precision. Newly designed, finely detailed rims, race numbers in bold red, and black, high-contrast borders on the Mercedes, as well as the red design elements on the AutoUnion, make the cars even more appealing.
While the tires used aren’t 100% true to the original, they look appropriate. The mechanics and handling are exemplary, and the models have no lighting, which at least makes digital refueling a bit more difficult. But that’s just how it is. However, you can tell that the “fuel” is empty by the vehicles’ stuttering and slow movement, as well as by the tower’s intermittent counting.
Compared to the Exclusiv model, the swingarm has a significantly longer guide keel, which is noticeable in terms of tracking. The increased steering angle and limited suspension travel of the steering keel improve handling with and without a magnet. The swing arm is mounted without an adjustable height stop, which limits its up-and-down movement. The front axle turns easily and has a long caster angle. The rear axles and transmission are well-tuned and run smoothly.
There is a positive amount of lateral play. The cars run significantly smoother than the first models and are easier to control. The axles and rims on both models are reliable; you should simply pay attention to how the tires sit. Sanding down the grooves is certainly worth considering. With a full set of magnets, you have to work hard to throw the cars off balance. Without any magnets at all, the tires don’t have optimal grip. This almost evokes a historic driving feel. I find 1–2 center magnets and the rear magnet to be very pleasant.
Tuning tires (if they ever become available) are an option. Otherwise, you can certainly have some exciting races here. But these fairly long cars are also perfect for just cruising and drifting to your heart’s content. The new, significantly improved suspension can also be mounted on the two streamlined bodies from the Exclusiv series (note: these bushings do not have a brass core). This way, you can build a starting grid with 4 cars without needing any special painting or model-building skills.
Driving is definitely fun, and racing with 4 silver cars—or perhaps a burgundy-red streamlined car of Italian origin—is sure to be a blast.
CoMod JoergW
Germany in the mi, d -1930s , : the people are marching toward their eventual downfall under state-imposed conformity, but in 1937, they are still unaware of this. The rising nation likes to present itself to the world in the scientific and technical sectors. Victories, such as those at the 1936 Olympic Games, demonstrate the nation’s supposed superiority, and this is to be repeated in automobile racing. General motorization was rather insignificant at that time and primarily involved motorcycles. According to a 1937 traffic survey in Halle, approximately 3% of the population commuted to work using “other modes of transportation,” which included automobiles. The bicycle was still the number one mode of transportation, ahead of the railroad, but motor racing was already drawing the masses even back then. The ruling powers provided substantial funding to the racing and development departments of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union in more or less equal measure, so that, through constant internal competition, they could always see a German car on the winner’s podium.
Since 1934 , ,the newly founded Auto , Union , —a merger of the struggling companies Horch, Wanderer, DKW, and Audi— has been locked , in a constant battle with the already established Mercedes-Benz brand for the top spots in the World Championship races. Unlike Mercedes, Auto Union opted for a 16-cylinder engine, which was positioned behind the driver for the first time. The Type C produced between 520 and 560 hp from its 6-liter displacement. Other brands were virtually relegated to a supporting role during this period, and the “silver cars” dominated nearly every race finish. The winning nation was practically a foregone conclusion; the only question was whether Auto Union or Mercedes would take the victory and which driver would be behind the wheel of the winning car—a fierce battle on the track that fueled the excitement of the races.
In 1937, the Auto Union Type C, designed by Ferdinand Porsc he, faced W125 off against the MercedesW125 designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. In May 1937, the Avus (Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße) hosted the world’s fastest race to date under the “Open Formula” rules, in which Hermann Lang emerged victorious in a fully-fairing W 125 (the
The enthusiasm for motorsports and the technical developments of that era compensated for other shortcomings and were specifically leveraged for the aggressive expansion plans that were already being pursued at the time. But enough of this historical overview—let’s turn our attention to model racing and the two
The basic shape and vehicle types are already
While the tires used aren’t 100% true to the original, they look appropriate. The mechanics and handling are exemplary, and the models have no lighting, which at least makes digital refueling a bit more difficult. But that’s just how it is. However, you can tell that the “fuel” is empty by the vehicles’ stuttering and slow movement, as well as by the tower’s intermittent counting.
Compared to the Exclusiv model, the swingarm has a significantly longer guide keel, which is noticeable in terms of tracking. The increased steering angle and limited suspension travel of the steering keel improve handling with and without a magnet. The swing arm is mounted without an adjustable height stop, which limits its up-and-down movement. The front axle turns easily and has a long caster angle. The rear axles and transmission are well-tuned and run smoothly.
There is a positive amount of lateral play. The cars run significantly smoother than the first models and are easier to control. The axles and rims on both models are reliable; you should simply pay attention to how the tires sit. Sanding down the grooves is certainly worth considering. With a full set of magnets, you have to work hard to throw the cars off balance. Without any magnets at all, the tires don’t have optimal grip. This almost evokes a historic driving feel. I find 1–2 center magnets and the rear magnet to be very pleasant.
Tuning tires (if they ever become available) are an option. Otherwise, you can certainly have some exciting races here. But these fairly long cars are also perfect for just cruising and drifting to your heart’s content. The new, significantly improved suspension can also be mounted on the two streamlined bodies from the Exclusiv series (note: these bushings do not have a brass core). This way, you can build a starting grid with 4 cars without needing any special painting or model-building skills.
Driving is definitely fun, and racing with 4 silver cars—or perhaps a burgundy-red streamlined car of Italian origin—is sure to be a blast.
CoMod JoergW
