Leigh’s Diecast Diary

It’s been another slow day in the diecast news department, so I will devote today’s diary entry to a warning about how essential it is to pre-order your Minichamps 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2008 Catalunya Yamaha YZR-M1 (DCL2008).

We have already pre-sold as many of this replica this month (and it’s only the 19th!) as we have left to sell before our entire allocation of it is sold out. The demand for this bike has only increased since the 2008 Catalunya figure (PO80086) sold out on release, so the bike is sure to go the same way. 

I will leave it at that!

I’m back! I really enjoyed the Bahrain Grand Prix, I loved how enjoyable it was not having a favourite to worry about – if I’d been a Vettel fan I’d have been tearing my hair out!

It was a pretty quiet day on my return in terms of diecast news, although I had plenty to do working on a Minichamps presentation that we are going out to their headquarters in Germany to give next Wednesday.

Spark confirmed some new 1:43 replicas that we will see from them next week, including Johnny Herbert’s 1991 Lotus 102B (SPK1677), the #50 Lancia LC1 from the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK661), and, under Bizarre, the Bluebird Speed Record Car from Bonneville 1935 (BZ0433).

Right, back to Powerpoint!

Leigh is back tomorrow so normal service will be resumed.In the meantime you still have me.

Before we start.

Many thanks to all those overseas customers who forwarded their order confirmations to me over the weekend in order to match the free UK postage offer. My inbox didn’t stop binging!! Your orders have been altered and shipped. I’m glad so many of you took up the offer and we may do something similar the next time a UK free delivery offer is running.

So the Rossi Barcelona figure has sold out on release and there is a chance the Rossi Barcelona bike is going to as well.

Talking of Rossi the next figure to be released is the 90th win twin set. That has an ETA of the 29th March.

The diecast bulletin today is full of news including the Ford Capri 2 car set and the Laverda Jota 180

Make sure you are subscribed to the bulletins. If you are not getting them every week and want to drop me an email jon@grandprixlegends.com and I will make sure you are added on to the list.

That’s it from me.It has been a pleasure.

Jon

Welcome to this week’s Diecast Legends Podcast, which brings you the latest releases in the world of diecast models. This week we have new releases from Minichamps, Mattel and SMTS. Minichamps has released no less than three 1:18 2009 F1 cars, while Mattel has released Ferraris and Lamborghinis in 1:43 scale and SMTS has released two 1:43 Aston Martins.

Keep the comments rolling in. You’ll need quicktime installed to view the video on this post.

 

 Diecast Legends Podcast - 15/03/2010 [2:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (98)

You can also view this podcast on youtube by clicking here

The diecast models featured on this weeks podcast are;

Minichamps 1/18 Alonso 2009 Renault R29
Minichamps 1/18 Barrichello 2009 Brawn BGP001
Minichamps 1/18 Bourdais 2009 Toro Rosso STR4
Minichamps 1/43 Buemi 2009 Toro Rosso STR4
Minichamps 1/43 #12 1983 Porsche 956L Le Mans
Minichamps 1/43 #59 1964 Cortina Mk.I Sebring
Minichamps 1/43 Ford Escort cabriolet
Minichamps 1/43 Alfa Romeo 75 V6
Mattel 1/18 Ferrari 612 Sesanta
Mattel 1/43 Ferrari F430 GTC
Mattel 1/43 Ferrari 330 P4
Mattel 1/43 Lamborghini Miura Concept green
Mattel 1/43 Lamborghini Miura Concept yellow
SMTS 1/43 #7 1960 Aston Martin DBR1 Le Mans
SMTS 1/43 #1 1959 Aston Martin DBR1 Nurburgring

Remember you can subscribe to the podcast by clicking the purple podcast icon at the top right or use this link if you wish to subscribe via itunes.

I hope you enjoyed watching the podcast. Please feel free to leave any comments on what you thought of it or anything you would like us to feature in future shows below.

Just gone live on the website. Greenlight Collectibles’ new 1:18th scale Steve McQueen ‘Bullitt’ is the ‘68 Mustang from the 1969 cult movie, all contained in great film themed box with Bullitt detailing!

So Leigh is away in Bahrain and I get the pleasure of hijacking his blog for a little while.

The F1 Practice times are pretty interesting with Schumacher bringing in a very respectable time. Hamilton is probably quietly pleased with himself with him beating his new team mate!!

This weekend is going to pretty interesting that is for sure.

So to launch the F1 seaon with a bang I manged to persuade the powers at GPL that a Free Shipping offer was in order so until Monday there is free UK shipping on anything in stock on our website on order over £30.

McLaren, Mercedes GP and Ferrari 2010 merchandise is now available on the website and as an added bonus for pre ordering the gear free Uk delivery will be applied at the basket.

Many thanks to those who answered my question regarding the hot model of the day on the forum.

I see the overseas delivery issue has been raised again by the usual suspects!! I agree it would be nice to reduce the postage for overseas customers when we have a UK free ship promotion on. Yes I am sure would increase sales, although at this point in time I cannot make the website give a discount on shipping. I can only set it to free - Sorry I cannot afford to do that for you guys!!

Therefore for the overseas readers of this blog and forum  I can do a deal for you.

• Order anything in stock over the weekend from now 1500 GMT Friday  and  before 0900 GMT Monday where the order value is over £30.
• Forward to me jon@grandprixlegends.com, your order confirmation with a little note saying Cheers Jon
• and I will reduce the postage by £5 if the order is under £80 and £8 if the order is more than £80.

I am looking forward to a barage of email confirmations come Monday morning.

Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.

Jon

Today we received the new Minichamps schedule, and an exciting new Mattel replica was announced!

For the complete Minichamps schedule you can click here. The first week of it covers the week beginning 22nd March, and we are due to receive two 1:18 2009 Formula One cars, Romain Grosjean’s Renault R29 (DC2908G) and Rubens Barrichello’s Australian Gran Prix Brawn BGP001 (DC2923A).

The following week we will see the first Rossi two figure set, which will be of the Italian and Fonsi Nieto from the victory lap at Le Mans 2008, complete with 90+90 flag (PO80190).

Moving into April (week beginning 4th), the 1:18 #8 Peugeot 908 that finished second at Le Mans in 2009 will be released (PG091208).

Finally, in the last week of the schedule we will see the ‘second version’ of the 1:12 Laverda Jota, without the front fairing (P122501).

The exciting new Mattel announcement was a 1:43 replica of the Ferrari F430 GT3 raced by Valentino Rossi at Vallelunga in 2009 (HW6683).

That’s it for today, and that will be my last blog entry for a week, as I’m off to Bahrain tomorrow for the opening Grand Prix of the 2010 season. The blog will still be maintained in my absence however, so this will still be the place to come for all the diecast news!

Welcome to this week’s Diecast Legends Podcast, which brings you the latest releases in the world of diecast models. This week we have new releases from Minichamps and Kyosho. Minichamps has released its latest 2009 Formula One car, Adrian Sutil’s Force India. Meanwhile Kyosho has released Carlos Sainz’s 1:18 1993 Lancia Delta.

Keep the comments rolling in. You’ll need quicktime installed to view the video on this post.

 

 Diecast Legends Podcast - 08/03/2010 [2:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (68)

You can also view this podcast on youtube by clicking here

The diecast models featured on this weeks podcast are;

Minichamps 1/18 Kinnunen 1972 Porsche 917/10
Minichamps 1/43 Sutil 2009 Force India VJM02
Minichamps 1/43 #7 2009 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Nurburgring
Minichamps 1/43 Ford Escort XR3i
Minichamps 1/43 Aston Martin Lagonda
Minichamps 1/43 Opel Manta SR
Minichamps 1/43 JFK 1963 Dallas Lincoln Continental
Kyosho 1/18 Sainz 1993 Lancia Delta Acropolis
Kyosho 1/18 original Morris Mini Minor
Kyosho 1/43 Mercedes CLK DTM AMG cabriolet
Kyosho 1/43 Mercedes CLK DTM AMG coupe

Remember you can subscribe to the podcast by clicking the purple podcast icon at the top right or use this link if you wish to subscribe via itunes.

I hope you enjoyed watching the podcast. Please feel free to leave any comments on what you thought of it or anything you would like us to feature in future shows below.

Today we received new deliveries from both Minichamps and Mattel.

On the eve of the 2010 Formula One season, Minichamps has released no less than four new 2009 Formula One replicas. In 1:18 these were Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn BGP001 (DC2923), Fernando Alonso’s Renault R29 (DC2907), and Sebastien Bourdais’ Toro Rosso STR4 (DC2911). These were joined in 1:43 by Sebastien Buemi’s Toro Rosso STR4 (DC29412).

For 1:43 road car diecast models we received the Ford Escort Mk.III cabriolet in black (P085031) and the Alfa Romeo 75 V6 in silver (P120461).

Mattel released its latest 1:18 Elite TV & Film replica, which was the Ferrari 360 Spider that was featured in the remake of The Italian Job (HW9905). Its other new 1:18 replica was the Ferrari F40 Le Mans test car (HW9922).

The new 1:43 Mattel releases were the Ferrari 430 GT2 (HW9950), the Ferrari 330 P4 (HW9956), and the Lamborghini Miura concept car in green (HW4881) and in yellow (HW4882).

Today Spark confirmed what we will see on its next delivery, which we are due to receive in the week beginning 15th March.

Its 1:43 classic Formula One range will continue to go from strength to strength, when we will see the release of Mika Hakkinen’s 1992 Lotus 102D (SPK1674), Patrick Tambay’s 1985 Renault RE60 (SPK1702), and Eddie Cheever’s 1984 Alfa Romeo 184T (SPK1712).

There won’t be a diary entry from me on Monday as I’ll be off to glamorous Coventry for The Model And Hobby Show! It’s basically a breakaway from the London Toy Fair from all the diecast importers and distributors, which is great news for us in the diecast business as we know that everything on display there will have an interest and relevance to us!

The highlight of today was that we got all of Spark’s 2010 announcements up on our website! You can click here to view them in all their glory, complete with nice pictures!

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, yes it’s another short entry because of the Nuremberg catalogue – but the good news is that we supplied it to the printers today, so I won’t use it as an excuse again…well, until next year!