Leigh’s Diecast Diary

We were very excited today to receive a sample of Minichamps’ 1:12 Rossi 2007 Fiat Yamaha (PO73046). It’s already been photographed and is now on our website. I say a sample, but it almost seems to be a finished model. It looks fantastic and even came in the proper 2007 labelled box. This leads me to think that the first batch has to be almost ready, and that the targeted release date of the end of August, which I originally thought was a little optimistic, may be attainable after all. Watch this space!

We also received Minichamps’ monthly schedule for the next four weeks. As ever, I expect this to be added to as the weekly release schedules come through.

Next week we are down to get the re-release of Fernando Alonso’s 1:43 2001 Minardi (P010020), and Christian Albers’ 1:43 2006 Midland-Toyota (DC26419). There will also be the 1:18 Mercedes SLK (PG033130), with the novel working opening roof which folds down into the boot!

The following week we are down to finally get the bike with the sexiest livery from the 2005 Moto GP grid, namely Makoto Tamada’s Konica Minolta Honda RC211V (PO51006). There is also Hahne’s 1:18 1968 Nurburgring Ford Escort ITC (PG688193).

The week beginning 29th July currently looks a bit quieter, with the re-release of Rossi’s 1:12 2005 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO53046) the headliner.

The biggie on the last week of the schedule (week beginning 6th August) is Nelson Piquet’s 1:43 1987 Williams-Honda FW11B (P870006). This has been one of our biggest sellers, as it has never been made by anyone before and those of you who collect all the F1 world champions have been clamouring for its release for months! Well, it’s almost here! There will also be the re-releases of Ayrton Senna’s 1:18 1994 Williams-Renault (AS187), and Carl Fogarty’s 1:12 1999 Ducati 996 (P1211), although technically the latter is at least a re-re-re-release!