Rietze Auto Modelle (Rietze GmbH & Co. KG) of Germany is a family-owned business that has been making HO and N scale model vehicles for more than 35 years. In the latter half of 2023 the company announced the addition of N scale modern articulated trams to their products. These, it turns out, are a reincarnation of the Hödl Linie8 models of Siemens Combino trams. The Linie8 tram models and the tooling to produce them were originally made for Linie8 by Leopold Halling of Austria. Business issues have more recently caused Halling into a period of facing an uncertain future. In this period, some tooling was sold off, including that needed for Linie8's tram models. Günther Hödl was able to reach an arrangement to have the dies and molds transferred to Rietze, where they were refurbushed, improved and missing tooling recreated.
The result is that unpowered decorated models have now been issued by Rietze. As with the original Linie8 models, the various detailed liveries are simply painted onto clear plastic bodyshell sections. Combino models of 3 and 5 articulated sections have been offered so far. In addition, the wider-windshield end bodyshell section formerly used for the Linie8 Hiroshima (Japan) "Green Mover" model has been adapted to serve in a reasonable stand-in model of the Düwag 6MGT tram design.
While the Rietze models are static models, they can be powered by ordering the appropriate motorized chassis from Linie8. This split of responsibility avoids additional issues and costs with licensing certificates and fees. Hödl has indicated that he is modifying the N-gauge power chassis design to eliminate its known motor overheating issue. Unfortunately, while Rietze products are available worldwide, Linie8 does not export its products to countries outside of the European Union. - R. D. Kerr
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Product: | STRA01200 Siemens Combino ViP Potsdam 100 Years 5-Section |
| Year Made: | 2023-2024 | |
| City/System: | Potsdam | |
| Colors: | White/yellow/light blue | |
| Vehicle No.: | 407 | |
| Writing: | (Special 100th anniversary motif) | |
| Notes: | | |
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Product: | STRA01201 Siemens Combino Nordhausen 3-Section |
| Year Made: | 2023-2024 | |
| City/System: | Nordhausen | |
| Colors: | White/black | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Writing: | Seniorenwerk Asternhof / Sonnenhof | |
| Notes: | | |
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Product: | Siemens Düwag 6MGT Mannheim 5-Section |
| Year Made: | 2024 | |
| City/System: | Mannheim | |
| Colors: | White/blue/black | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Writing: | ||
| Notes: | | |
