40 YEARS OF SCAMORA

### The Model-Building Hotspot in the Zurich Oberland

In his comprehensive anniversary brochure, company founder Ruedi Iff discusses not only “40 Years of Scamora,” but also about the 20 years leading up to it—how he came to expand his technical interests, skills, and sense of precision during his training as a machinist at Sulzer Winterthur. This can be seen as the foundation of his career.

It all began with an 8-lane slot car track in Uster. On the 50-meter Carrera track, intense races were held with 1:24-scale cars, and tuning was essential for the fastest drivers. The big—and almost everything-defining—step came in 1973, when the first Swiss championship race for 1:8-scale RC gasoline-powered cars with 3.5-cc methanol engines took place. A veritable RC car racing boom broke out. Numerous friends supported Ruedi in his efforts to get things up and running. Thus, using the simple means available at the time, the first exciting races with spectators were held on Gerd Vollenweider’s property. This laid an important foundation for Ruedi and his Samora Racing Team, as it enabled him to later celebrate major successes both nationally and internationally. For example, Roland Iff became the 2000 European Champion in the 1:5 RC car category.

Deciding between becoming an importer or a retailer must not have been easy for Ruedi. He didn’t want to deal with what could sometimes be long shipping distances. So his decision was made: “We’ll build a model shop from the ground up.” He was able to take over a storefront on Bahnhofstrasse in Wetzikon—albeit in a somewhat run-down condition—for what was, at the time, a high rent. Ruedi wrote:

“Every beginning is hard;
you’re a nobody”;

because there was no shortage of obstacles. Some importers and manufacturers, both domestic and international, refused to supply Scamora. The situation was quite different with Tamiya’s importer, WITECO (now Arwico), led by managing director René Keller. Since Robbe, Graupner, and others were still in their infancy in this sector, Tamiya came along at just the right time. Friends in the RC car scene also provided a major boost—an extremely important network. Championships with up to 90 participants were held, with Gerd Vollenweider and his colleagues once again playing a leading role in the organization.

Daniel, the son who had trained as a precision mechanic, brought a wealth of experience in working with computers. And Oliver Lohkamp, a computer scientist, helped the company transition to computer-based inventory management and a point-of-sale system. Thanks to these innovations and the inventory planning system at the time, minimum stock levels could be calculated; because, as was customary in the toy industry back then, companies that required annual orders to be placed as early as January in Nuremberg were removed from the list of suppliers. Later, a modern online store was launched, and the two sales consultants—both trained auto mechanics—ensure a strong online presence and continuity. The extensive product range is impressive: from 2-mm screws to helicopters or Ferraris. This also explains, among other things, the broad spectrum of customers—ranging from teenagers accompanied by their parents to seniors.

Upon entering the store, customers are greeted with friendly, direct eye contact from the sales associates. Managing Director Daniel Iff places great emphasis on providing reliable customer service. He has kept the company stable for decades, making small, incremental expansions and improvements.

No grandiose expansion plans. Instead, he operates his own repair shop, which, along with the warehouse and office, is located directly below the store—everything in one place. The setup and repair service is ideal for beginners. You see teenagers and adults leaving the store with happy faces after their models have been successfully fixed—a small gesture that builds great trust. Customers are notified via text message when orders arrive or repairs are completed.

Emil Giezendanner, based on Rudi’s “60-Year History,” an interview with Managing Director Daniel Iff. Images: Scamora 2025.