RAF, a company based in Riga, the Latvian capital, produced small buses for the Sowjet market from 1955 onwards. These buses were known under the name of "Latvia", according to their place of origin. Two of the most important products of the company, the RAF 977 and its successor RAF 2203, were modelled by the Russian manufacturers Dvigatel and Radon as diecast models in 1/43rd scale in many different versions. Models of other RAF buses have been released as handbuilt models by several small Ukrainian and Russian companies. Radon also made various 1/43rd scale models of the Russobalt cars built in Riga before World War I. A manufacturer of model vehicles made in Latvia is Miniaturmodelle, established in Riga in 1993. Besides accessories for model trains, this company has produced several 1/87th scale models of classic Russian trucks. Another company, Modela, offered 1/43rd scale resin handbuilt models, including various versions of the Latvian-built OSCar rally car.
Latvia