Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Yes, we do know that Rossi is running a special colour scheme in Assen this weekend and no, Minichamps haven’t confirmed a 1:12 replica of it yet! It’s been a whole 18 months since Rossi’s last special in Valencia 2005, and his paint job this weekend looks really dramatic, in light blue with the Italian flag down the front. It’s to promote Fiat’s new 500 road car.

As soon as anything is confirmed by Minichamps it will be featured on the front page of several of our websites. It will be so in your face that there will be no chance of you missing it! I’m sure our phones will be busy in the next few days though with customers anxiously enquiring as to whether we are going to see it replicated in 1:12. It wouldn’t hurt if Rossi actually won the race on Saturday too, he’s only been on that top podium step twice so far this season and Stoner’s gapped him quite a bit.

On the new delivery from Minichamps today we also got Fangio’s 1:43 1951 Alfa Romeo (P511224), which we weren’t expecting, along with Makinen’s 1:18 1973 Ford Escort (PG738113), de la Rosa’s 1:18 2006 Hungarian GP McLaren (DC2604H), and Alonso’s 1:43 2007 McLaren showcar (DC27401P). Hopefully the release of Alonso’s showcar will mean that we can expect to see Hamilton’s (DC27402P) before long, but it was not featured on Minichamps’ latest delivery schedule.

In about a month’s time you will be able to see a video of GPL staff going about their daily business on our website. It was filmed today at our office and warehouse in Guildford so we just had to act ‘normal’ while we had cameras thrust in our faces recording our every move! The idea behind it is to show that we are a ‘genuine’ company, not a ‘one man in his bedroom’ internet company.

It will be 2 – 3 minutes long and show our warehouse, offices and 25 or so staff working away. It’s just a bit of fun really, but with a serious message to show the huge amount of resources and effort that go into the running of Grand Prix Legends.

There won’t be an entry from me tomorrow or on Monday as I’m off on my next F1 trip of the season, to the French Grand Prix. Obviously that means that Raikkonen is going to have a disastrous race! As ever, if something truly groundbreaking is announced in that time then someone will fill in for me.