Agenda

~ 2025 ~

Latest News:

July, 1

Bei meinem dreitägigen Fotoshooting in Landshut im Jahr 2009 konnte ich den grünen Gt 2x4/4 Nr. 5751 und die Reichsbahn-Version BR 96 (schwarz/rot) von Micro Metakit fotografieren.

Von dem ockergelb/schwarzen 5751 mit einer Auflage von nur 100 Stück (LE 1993, rel. II/1994) fehlte jedoch zu meinem großen Bedauern jede Spur.

Bis mir vor Kurzem dieses verschollene Modell vor die Linse kam. Zugegeben, eines der schönsten Modelle, die Fritz Passberger damals gebaut hat.

Und nach 32 Jahren immer noch in perfektem Zustand!

Micro Metakit 93501H

June, 27 - 28

Besides the 2009 Landshut Photoshoot (a three day shooting), I did the largest photoshoot of a private collector ever in the past two days.

My Picture Book will grow extensively in the months to come...

Pr. G 8.1 Münster 5273 (Fleischmann 415401) with H0-pur wheel made by Holger Gräler

June, 21

A beautifully converted bay. D XII from Trix by Gebhard Reitz

Trix 22430 (original | 30.5.2008)

... and the version of Gebhard Reitz (10.4.2025)

June, 19

A very strange and exoctic locomotive is this E 01

Westmodel 11082 | model adapted by Mario Menge | © Osterthun Photography 31.5.2025 at Fremo Cloppenburg

June, 15

From Era 1 (Andreas Lange's EP 216) into Mario Menge's Era 2 Baureihe E 42:

Scratch EP 216 by Andreas Lange, 2006

Mario Menge's E 42 16 on basis Westmodel (10094) | © Cloppenburg, 31.5.2025

June, 11

A truly fine Umbau of Baureihe 79 (basis Trix Fine Art) by Kay Silabetzschky...

June, 10

Out of the box... Kay Silabetzschky certainly takes care of his precious models (as everyone does), which does not alter the fact that, despite the utmost care, the extensive use on model railways and exhibitions also contributes to these models suffering damage.

June, 8

Where Jean Buchmann created an version for Alsace-Lorraine, Andreas Lange made a DRG 58 003 out of an eBay purchase of Westmodel's Prussian G 12¹.

I was fortunate to shoot this particular model at the Fremo meeting in Cloppenburg from 'der Meister' himself.

Westmodel10084 (original model)

Westmodel 10084 | Umbau by Andreas Lange in 2024 | © Osterthun Photography 30.5.2025 at Fremo Cloppenburg

June, 6

Beautifull picture of a pretty rare brand: Metropolitan's E 92⁷ as EG 571 a + EG 571b Preussen.

Metrop 245 | 10.4.2025 (Privatsammlung)

June, 5

Some marketing...

June, 3

Working on some pictures today, I also had this magnificent EP 209/210 Breslau to work on. Released in 2011 (2 years after my Landshut photography).

May, 30-31

Invited by Andreas Lange to visit the Fremo 2025 Cloppenburg, I was able to shoot so many exotic models, the world has not seen today (unless you know where to look).

From Kay Silabetzschky for instance I shot the marvelous DRG 18 001 (former Sächs. XVIII H).

Quote: Die Lok ist von Gützold und hat neben neuer Lackierung und Beschriftung sowie neuer Lampen mit Behälter auf dem Tender eine neue Treibachse mit richtiger Anordnung der Gegengewichten bekommen."

May, 27

I never got a left front shot (my favourite side) of the bay. G 5/5 5801 (93301H) in blue when I was in Landshut, don't ask me why...

But with help of a privat collector I was able to do a re-shoot 16 years later...

2009

2025

The same goes for the S 2/6 in Ablieferungsanstrich 1906 (95100H)...

2009

2025

... and the AA I (91001H):

2009

2025

May, 23

In 2009, only three of the Landshuter Vauclains S 2/5 came in front of my lens. Today, the missing green 2398 Bauart 1904 could be added...

98102H

... and out of the Vauclain S 2/5 came Anton Hammel's true Bavarian S 2/5:

TFA 22498 (H0pur)

May, 20

One of the models I've always wanted to see for my camera one day, was the Pfälzer P 4.

On April 10th this year, I got that opportunity with Von Frauendorfer.

08101H

May, 15

Even though I seem to be the one and only person in the world with the most extensive photo collection of Micro Metakit - in stylo osterthuniensis - it is particularly inspiring for me to be able to enhance the photos taken in 2009 (in themselves unique in their kind) with more recent shots, because collectors granted me access to their valuable collections.
Here is Micro Metakit's 02503H, the bay. S 3/5 no. 3353 (DRG 17.5) from 2009 (ret.) and then again form a private collector, taken in april 2025.

Just keep in mind: Light determines everything!

2009

2025

May, 8

For many years I only had this 'announcement picture' of Weinerts T 12 Berlin 7829 on my site, with some lean eBay pics lateron:

However, recently I had the real deal for my camera, which now makes a nice addition to my photo book.

Weinert 4618 | Frits Osterthun © 10.4.2025

The same applies for the pr. T 9.3, Weinert 4614:

Weinert 4613 | Frits Osterthun © 10.4.2025

April, 26

Writing and finishing the Torturm Story...

April, 10

Which really made my day: a friend of mine has found another collector of many models from Micro Metakt and Gebhard Reitz. Some of them are meant for the calendar to come, others will undoubtedly find their way into my photo book. From noon to sunset I sat behind my camera, shooting some 50 plus gems out of four of his cabinets... still six more cabinets to go, but that's for just another time. New friends are being made...

Trix/Reitz

Lemaco H0-060

Lemaco H0-034/1

Trix Fine Art 22527

Brawa 0815.1 | Hofzug Salonwagen

Brawa 0815.4 | Hofzug Heizwagen

Brawa 0815.2 | Hofzug Terrassenwagen

Brawa 0815.3 | Hofzug Gefolgewagen

Trix Fine Art 22423 | Pfälzische Crampton Nr. 60 POELNITZ | Hofzug Gefolgewagen

TFA 21222.1 | Salonwagen mit Bremserhaus | Mannheim 76

TFA 21222.2 | Hauptsalonwagen | Mannheim 93

TFA 21222.3 | Salonwagen | Mannheim 94

TFA 21222.3 | Gepäckwagen mit Bremserhaus | Mannheim 95

TFA 22717 | Sächsische XVIII H | Nr 196

PMT 30201

April, 10

Dortmund Intermodellbau... this year rather disappointing. I had written to Mr. Peschel (Märklin) for again the opportunity to shoot some models on diaplay. He agreed most kindly.

However, the ponytail guy at the Märklin Stand didn't agree by all means and was only capable of opening the cabinet door... which resulted in very poor quality pictures.

One day later, Mr. Peschel appologized per mail on my notice and he will respond Monday accordingly.

Märklin 38950

Brawa 40396

Märklin 38059

Brawa 70116

ESU 31651

Märklin 81221

March, 21

Most kind words by Christian Hruschka (aka Bahngarfield) on Stummiforum, after he modified one of my photos for his article (as he did in the past, with my permission):

March, 20

Working on the Storchenturm-Story

March, 10-11

On Monday, March 10th, a shipment form DIT Modell arrived, containing one of Gebhard Reitz's unique models of a S 10.1 for photoshooting and filming.

This model is one of the Rare Prusians that will appear in the Calendar 2026. On Tuesday I made a video clip of this model on the Cochemer Bahn for publication.

March, 5

Starting with Kibri's B-8480, a kit which was given to me by my dealer for permitting him using one of my pictures for his shop. 'still don't know whether I use it on the COchemr Bahn or will make a small diorama like Yuri Kovalev's. All buildings are part of the Old City aka Cochem Altstadt for many years.

Kibri B-8480

February 22, 2025

Neuzugang of 4 Brawa models

Brawa 45619

Brawa 50648

Brawa 50791

Brawa 50969

February 22

Photoshoot at my dealer with a.o. the gray Flying Scotsman

Märklin 39969

Märklin 37086

Märklin 39787

Märklin 37939

Roco 79096

Roco 7510078

February 14-15

Working on both the Lustgarten and the Abyss. A flower bed to fill in the final open space, as well as vegetation on the lower part of the Abyss and creating a miniature like 'the cave'.

February 12-13

Today I received a shipment with several models. To start with the BR 89 by Westmodel on Fleischmann basis with wheels designed by DIT Modell.

Trix Fine Art 22535 | pretty damaged (stairs, handles and bars) by the previous owner | © Osterthun Photography | 13.2.2025

TFA 22535 on the Cochemer Bahn

SMF C 309 C / 30701 | Fliegende Hamburger 877A/877B der DRG

February 12

From Flexwebhosting migrated to Versio with permanent SSL certificate.

February 6

Perfect shot...

January 20-23

Working on all information that Westmodel provided - f.i. the website of Andreas Lange, moreover all CD's and leaflets I received from Karin Wirtz-Bachmann from 2004-2011 - I feel humble gratitude but also a sort of pride that I wrote to so many companies in the earlier days, companies that do not exist anymore today. In a certain and unforeseen way they made me the heir to special photographic material. The firm Westmodel, run by Klaus and Karin Bachmann, released several models from 1973 to 2016.

In mid-2016, toolmaking and the production of plastic models were relocated from Vienna to Altdorf, to the Rietze company.

Since 2017, the Westmodel company has also been part of Linie8 GmbH as an independent product line.

I wrote on Facebook (23.1.2025):

Als ich in meiner Bibliothek stöberte und nach Informationen zu besonderen preußischen Altbau-Elloks suchte, stieß ich auf zahlreiche Umschläge, die ich im Laufe der Jahre über Karin Wirtz-Bachmann (die Frau von Klaus Bachmann) erhalten hatte.
Sie schickte mir nicht nur die Neuheiten-Broschüren, sondern auch mehrere CDs mit sämtlichen Originalfotos im Großformat. Diese Fotos wurden von Klaus Bachmann selbst aufgenommen.
Dankbar darf ich feststellen, dass ich durch meine Recherchen, die ich vor Jahren durch Anschreiben verschiedener Firmen erhielt, in einmaliger Weise zum Erben von heute verschwundenem Original-Fotomaterial diverser Kleinserienhersteller geworden bin. Aus diesem Grund bin ich auch Frau Wirtz-Bachmann zu großem Dank verpflichtet.
Gleichzeitig sehe ich dem Treffen mit der Fremo in Cloppenburg, zu dem ich eingeladen bin, mit großem Interesse entgegen, um dort als Gastfotograf verschiedene handgefertigte, größtenteils einmalige Lokomotiven abzulichten. 2025 wird ein sehr interessantes Jahr.

Herbert Schmidt wrote a nice comment on this issue: