Fuerth, Germany - While the car industry is suffering a sharp decline, the model car industry appears unaffected by the downturn with collectors anxiously awaiting new products.

To keep up with developments, the model car manufacturers maintain close ties with car makers such as Mercedes and Opel.

Car makers themselves have a keen interest in seeing a model car of their new vehicle on the shelf and normally hand over secret construction plans under strict conditions.

"The model car makers in principle manufacture their products based on the same data that is used to assemble body panels and axles," says Daniel Stiegler, spokesman of the model car manufacturer Herpa.