Mega Magnums at Eystrup

Forwarding company founder Bernhard Land discovered a soft spot for Renault trucks very early on. Their interest was first aroused at the market launch of the new “Renault AE”. By the standards of the time, the “AE” was not just a revolution in terms of looks, it was also a real miracle in terms of driver space.

The designers made full use of the maximum feasible external dimensions of the driver's cab. The famous “driver's tunnel” inside the cab was omitted, thus ensuring the greatest possible space. The vehicles were also impressive to look at from the outside due to their size. Consequently, the Renault AE soon moved in to Land’s fleet, which had previously been dominated by MAN and Mercedes Benz SK tractor units. Initially, two models were purchased, an AE 420 and an AE 430. They were not to remain the only ones, as the company was very satisfied with the performance of the vehicles, which had more than proven themselves in everyday use.

Advertising on the move

It didn't take long before the first Renault advertising truck was born at Eystrup. Bernhard Land Senior maintained very good contacts not only with his customers' logistics specialists, but also with their marketing departments. The special feature of Land’s advertising trucks has always been that the tractor unit (as well as the trailer) be painted in the color of the brand whose advertising it carries on the curtainsider. With the appearance of the successor to the Renault AE, the “Renault Magnum”, Eystrup deployed further advertising trucks. Bernhard Land thought that the impressive appearance of the Magnums was virtually predestined for such occasions. And so various colorfully designed, attractive advertising trucks on wheels were created for major well-known brands such as hohes C, Metaxa, Chantré and Mariacron, to name but a few.

Of course, Renault Magnums in the forwarding color “RAL 1013 pearl white” were also procured over the course of time. Overall, it can be said that the Renault Magnums were primarily the flagships of the fleet, while MAN tractor units were and continue to be observed in large numbers as workhorses. Nevertheless, quite a few Renault Premium vehicles were added over time. Bernhard Land Senior, as well as Holger Land today, do not miss any opportunity to drive the last two Renault Magnums remaining in the fleet themselves.

An impressive series of models

The striking Renault vehicles of the forwarding company naturally did not go unnoticed by the Herpa product management. As is well known, Herpa has a tradition of maintaining a wide variety of manufacturers and models in its range. And so it transpired that some Renault Magnums of the forwarding company were even included in the Herpa catalog, i.e. in our Collection. Further Magnums of the forwarding company were created as exclusive models for the forwarding company or in cooperation with the Herpa Collectors Club of MASS:STAB. One model was even realized as an exclusive HCC print version. The Herpa Land model series comprises a total of 29 different models to date. Of these, an impressive 10 vehicles have so far been realized as Renault AE and Renault Magnums. Logically, the series has been complemented with the latest Renault vehicle of the forwarding company, the Renault T facelift, as number 11.

The original: the Renault T

It actually took some time before the new Renault T model was added to the Eystrup fleet. The reasons for this are complex. In addition to procurement costs and vehicle performance, owner Holger Land has important criteria: is there a good service package for the vehicle? Is there a workshop nearby? Is the service quick and uncomplicated? Can the dealer provide a replacement vehicle quickly and easily in an emergency? To name just a few considerations. Renault T test vehicles had previously been closely scrutinized by the forwarding company. In 2024, the time had come. A brand new Renault T joined the haulage fleet. More precisely: a “Renault T facelift high 480 Turbo compound”. The special feature: the vehicle represents the very latest facelift generation.

This is only visually recognizable from small details on the outside of the vehicle. According to the Renault dealer, Land was the first transport company to be supplied with the new facelift in northern Germany via this branch. The Eystrup original even has a few other special features. For example, the front axle is not a standard axle. It is designed for an increased load capacity of 9 tons, as opposed to the standard 7.5-8 tons. The reason for this is that the front axles are particularly stressed when carrying partial truck loads. To counteract this, new Land vehicles have a front axle with a higher load capacity installed ex works. Another detail is interesting for model builders. The saddle plate was moved back a few centimeters on the original. The reason was this increased the distance between the driver's cab or the aero package and the refrigerated trailer with its power unit. In everyday use, the distance was already somewhat tight. The vehicle is rounded off by its custom-made chrome storage boxes, as preferred country by country. Each driver stows their own load securing material here. This ensures that the driver always has all their equipment at hand when swapping trailers.

Compelling in so many details: the Herpa Renault T model

In partnership with product management and the forwarding company, another Land model with many impressive details has been created. The model was intended to be attractively priced and at the same time visually appealing to collectors. A special feature here is the printing on the body of the refrigerated box body. For the first time, the typical Schmitz panels have been realized with the finest double lines - completely in keeping with the original. A real challenge for the production department, which was able to implement this detail with great precision. A large number of print passes and details were also rendered on the rear of the semi-trailer. A very fine detail was the handles of the door locking mechanism implemented in black and silver, true to the original. The driver's cab also features fine two-tone detail prints almost impossible to see with the naked eye. The production team worked fastidiously in this regard. Last but not least, a roof air conditioning system was installed in the vehicle color, like the signal horns in chrome and matching mirrors.

Herpa Renault models of the Bernhard Land company (chronological order):

- 1st Renault AE, white, “Spedition B. Land” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 2nd Renault Magnum “Chantré” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 3rd Renault Magnum “Mariacron” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 4th Renault Magnum “Göbber” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 5th Renault Magnum '08 “Metaxa” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 6th Renault Magnum '08 “Metaxa II” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 7th Renault Magnum '08, pearl white house colors, “Spedition B. Land” refrigerated box semi-trailer

- 8th Renault Magnum “hohes C - Heimische Früchte” curtainsider semi-trailer

- 9th Renault Magnum '08, pearl white house colors, “Spedition B. Land” Krone curtainsider semi-trailer - with KRONE pallet box printing

- 10. Renault Magnum '08, pearl white house colors, “Spedition B. Land” Krone curtainsider semi-trailer - HCC version without pallet box printing

- 11. Renault T facelift refrigerated box semitrailer with printed Schmitz panels