24th
July
2008
Today we received Mattel’s two car 1:43 set commemorating Ferrari’s 2007 Constructors’ Championship (HW6239). Both F2007s of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are in the metallic shade of red used in the second half of the season, and at just £39.99 it’s a very good value piece.
In other news, just to let anyone who missed out on Sebastien Vettel’s 1:18 2007 American Grand Prix BMW F1.07 (DC2710V) know that we now have one spare, after a customer’s card declined. It’s not on our website, as otherwise we would oversell, but it can be ordered over the phone on 0870 460 3456. First come, first served!
We’ve also reduced Felipe Massa’s 1:43 2007 Ferrari F2007 (DC27405) to clear our last half a dozen pieces. As our new self-imposed rule dictates, it has to be half price before it can go on our Sale site, so that’s what we’ve reduced it by!
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
23rd
July
2008
Today we received three samples from Mattel of forthcoming releases in their 1:43 Elite series. These were the Ferrari Testarossa (HW5593), Gilles Villeneuve’s 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 (HW5580), and Michael Schumacher’s black Ferrari FXX (HW5591).
I have to say that I was impressed with the quality of all three of them, especially at their £24.99 pricepoint. They were fully finished samples too, so hopefully we will see them released in the not too distant future.
We also received July’s AUTOart delivery today. The highlight was definitely the first colourway of the Bugatti Veyron production car in their Signature Collection, in black and red (AA70906). As with their 1:12 Signature Collection Veyron, the piece of bodywork around the rear of the car is removable and there is an adjustable spring-loaded rear spoiler.
Also on the delivery were two replicas of the Porsche RS Spyder that we have been waiting some time for; the carbon fibre testcar (AA80773) and the yellow DHL sponsored car (AA80774). There were also two new Japanese GT cars, both Honda NSXs, in the colours of Takata (AA80498) and Epson (AA80499).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
22nd
July
2008
The big news today was that Minichamps announced that they will be releasing the 2007 and 2008 Le Mans Peugeot 908s in 1:18 scale. Both cars from 2007 will be replicated, and all three from this year. All five will be limited editions, ranging from 1,207 pieces to 4,208 pieces. At £54.99 each I assume these will be ‘sealed bodyshell’ replicas. You can view all five at the top of our New Announcements section.
Trofeu also announced one of their neat 1:43 two-car sets. This one is of two Ford Capris from the 1971 Nurburgring 6 Hours (TR2391), the #12 car that took pole position and the #14 car that won the race.
As you may have read yesterday, the new Minichamps delivery arrived while I was away. As well as the two new 2006 Rossi figures there was also his next 1:8 helmet, his 1997 version (P970846), and Colin Edwards’ 1:12 2007 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO73005).
On four wheels we saw several new 1:43 releases, including the 1963 #193 Ford Cortina Mk.I from the Monte Carlo Rally of Taylor and Mella (P638293), the 1976 #40 Porsche 935 from Le Mans of Stommelen and Schurti (P766340), and the Queen’s 2002 Bentley State Limousine (P139700).
As for the German Grand Prix, what a race! Yes, it wasn’t great for us Raikkonen fans, but you’d have to be pretty pathetic to write off a weekend just because whoever you support didn’t do very well, especially when it had as much action as Hockenheim provided. Raikkonen did a lot of the overtaking too, but unfortunately it was only to get back to where he had started! As long as Mattel don’t end up re-releasing his 1:18 2008 Spanish Grand Prix win special as a ‘Last Win’ special!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
21st
July
2008
The warehouse received our Minichamps delivery for the week, and it’s certainly one for the Rossi fans! The highlights are the 2006 sitting figure (PO60046) and the 2006 Sachsenring standing figure (PO60296). Two brand new Rossi figures in one go…..that doesn’t happen every day!
We’ll wait for Leigh to come in tomorrow to see what other gems are inside!
posted in Diecast, Moto GP |
17th
July
2008
There’s so much to talk about today I don’t really know where to start.
Oh wait, I know, a new Kimi Raikkonen replica! Amalgam have surprised us by already releasing their 1:12 2008 Ferrari F2008 nosecone (AML835). And, fortunately, it has the #1 on it!
Staying with Raikkonen, Mattel today provided us with a sample image of their forthcoming 1:18 2007 Chinese Grand Prix ‘Ferrari 200th Win’ special (DC2706C). It looks very encouraging, with all the different aerodynamic pieces that Ferrari used at Shanghai. These include the ‘pointy’ wings in front of the cockpit, the revised sidepod wings, the small wing on the bargeboard and even the revised engine cover profile.
Mattel also released some new 1:18 replicas from their Elite range. The first two are Michael Schumacher’s cars, his red Ferrari Enzo (HW2058) and black Ferrari FXX (HW2061). The Enzo has a nice touch in that it replicates everyone’s signatures under the bonnet who worked on the car, as the real one has. The other release is the silverblue Ferrari FXX (HW2065).
Premium Classics released two of their new 1:43 transporters as well. There is the 1970s Gulf Porsche example (PRE12203) and the famous Mercedes 1950s transporter, which was called the ‘Blue Wonder’ (PRE12225).
The last new release today was from Sun Star, who released their last ever 1:24 Routemaster bus replica, which is incidentally of the last ever Routemaster itself, from December 2005 (SS2914).
There won’t be a diary entry tomorrow or on Monday, as I’m off to Hockenheim for the German Grand Prix. I can’t say I’m feeling too confident though; the last three times I’ve seen Raikkonen race in Germany were Nurburgring 2007 (mechanical failure), Nurburgring 2005 (that last lap suspension failure), and Hockenheim 2004 (rear wing flew off). He doesn’t stand a chance, does he………..
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
16th
July
2008
Today was one of those special days where a new Kimi Raikkonen replica gets released! It is, of course, Mattel’s 1:18 metallic red Ferrari F2007 (DC2706B) of the Kimster, in the shade of red that was used from the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix onwards.
We also received a new delivery from Dutch manufacturer NEO today, which included several new 1:43 replicas. The highlights were the Jaguar Mk.VIII in black (NEO43141), and the Jaguar XJ Series III in green (NEO43145). NEO’s other new releases can currently be seen at the top of our ‘New Releases’ category.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
15th
July
2008
Today we received the new Minichamps delivery, the headliner being the 1:43 ‘Earth’ Honda RA107. This one seems to be a bit of a ‘marmite’ car, in that you either love it or you hate it, but either way, you can’t deny that its livery certainly makes an impact! We have both Jenson Button (DC27407) and Rubens Barrichello (DC27408).
Also on the Minichamps delivery were Christian Albers’ 1:43 2007 Spyker (DC27421), and the Moss/Gurney 1:18 1960 Maserati Birdcage that won the Nurburgring 1000km (PG601205).
There was a new delivery from Spark as well. The biggie on this one was their 1:24 replica of the winning Matra from the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours, of Graham Hill and Henri Pescarolo (SPALM005). There was also their next 1:43 transporter, the 1970 Gold Leaf Lotus example (SPK286).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
14th
July
2008
Today Norev confirmed its 1:43 2008 Formula One Renault R28s. They will be replicating both drivers, Fernando Alonso (DC28405NV), and Nelson Piquet Jnr (DC28406NV).
The main difference between Norev’s and Minichamps’ offerings will be that the Norev cars will have the drivers’ names on the packaging, as opposed to ‘Car #5’ and ‘Car #6’ which Minichamps will use. Both versions will come with driver figures and have the drivers’ names on the cars though.
Norev also confirmed that they will now be releasing a 1:18 car for Piquet Jnr after all (DC2806), after originally saying that they would only be replicating Fernando Alonso in that scale.
IXO also announced the latest subject in its Le Mans Winners Collection; the 1927 Bentley Sport 3.0 Litre of Davis and Benjafield (LM1927).
Thank you to the diary readers who stopped by for a chat during the Goodwood Festival of Speed; it was nice meeting so many of you. And to the McLaren fans amongst you who suggested a collection for me to go to more Grands Prix and inflict my jinx on Raikkonen several more times; I reckon I might be up for that!
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
14th
July
2008
Welcome to the thirty seventh Leigh’s Diary Vidcast, reviewing all the new diecast replicas that were released last week.
As always, I’ve listed the products below that have been featured in this week’s vidcast. Keep the comments rolling in. You’ll need quicktime installed to view the video on this post.
Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 37 [4:18m]:
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Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 37 [4:17m]:
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You can also view this podcast on youtube by clicking here
These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:
1/12 Ducati 999 F06 WSB 2006 #21 T. Bayliss - Minichamps
1/12 Honda Gold Wing 1975 - Minichamps
1/43 Super Aguri SA06 Japanese Grand Prix 2006 #22 T. Sato - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Mercedes 190E DTM 1988 #41 R. Asch - Minichamps
1/18 BMW F1.07 USA Grand Prix 2007 #10 S. Vettel - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Ferrari F2003GA 1st USA Grand Prix 2003 #1 M. Schumacher - IXO
1/50 Renault Transporter - Universal Hobbies
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 or listening to the podcast. Please feel free to leave any comments on what you thought of it or anything you would like me to feature in future shows below.
posted in Podcast, Due Dates, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
