Western Models

The company was started in November 1973 with the first model being released in January 1974 at the now Windsor Swap meet. The company was started by Mike Stephens, Bryan Garfield-Jones and Ken Wooton.  Their first customer for their first model, the Mercedes Benz 540K, were the Lang brothers of Danhausen in Germany and many models were produced for them over the following 10 years, as well as Western's own comprehensive range. Gunter Lang went on to produce the Minichamps range in China of which Western produced some early examples.

[A partial list of their 1/43 are at the bottom.]

Mike Stephens took full control of the company in 1975 and issued 1/4 scale models such as an Essex Lotus.

During the 1970s and 80s a strong link was forged with many F1 Teams and models were produced in lots of different scales from 1/87 through to 1/4.

Having started in Epsom, Surrey from an idea originally planned in Devon, the company moved to various larger premises in Redhill, Surrey and then a major move back west to Taunton. With Acre Ridge, the company was again based in a rural setting, and the company had gone back to its "Western" roots before being sold and moved "East".

Whilst in Taunton a new range of Aircraft was started in 1/200th scale and represented 50% of Western Models production. In 1994  Geoff Noble sold the very first Western Models aircraft, a Bristol Super Freighter, in Silver City markings. 

Route 66 Model Car Store purchased most or all of the American 1/43 model car range in 2007.  Models are still produced in England but have been upgraded with many more details.  The range is now called Western Models Collectors Editions or WMCE.

It seems that the original company then closed around 2012.

A partial list of 1/43 by Dick Browne, ca 2010 via Albrt Kopans:

Subject ID: 3322

Curators

Stroget

No Curators yet!
Love Western Models? Get involved in the hobbyDB project here.