Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received Minichamps’ next release schedule, which takes us right up into the middle of October.

Next week we are down to get the 1:18 Audi TT in silverblue (Product Code - PG015020), and the 1:18 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 in green (Product Code - PG120904). There are also a couple of 1:43 ‘third driver’ 2006 Formula One cars, Markus Winkelhock’s Midland (Product Code - DC26439) and Ricardo Zonta’s Toyota (Product Code - DC26442).

While that admittedly isn’t the most exciting set of releases of all time, the next shipment makes up for it, with the 1:12 Vincent Black Shadow at long last (Product Code - P134500), and the next 1:12 Valentino Rossi figure, the 2004 sitting without sunglasses version (Product Code - PO49046). There is also Minichamps’ first 1:18 Maserati Birdcage, Carroll Shelby’s 1960 example (Product Code - PG601298). We won’t see these released until 1st October though, as Minichamps are closed for stocktaking the weeks beginning 17th and 24th September.

The week commencing 8th October we are scheduled to receive the next 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet, his 2004 lid (Product Code - PO40846). There is also the popular 1:18 Ford Capri in silver and blue (Product Code - PG089074).

The following week sees probably the biggest release in the schedule, Rossi’s 1:12 2001 dirty Mugello Honda NSR 500 (Product Code - PO16186). We received a finished sample of it today, and it is good to see that it is not over-dirty, as the effect has been applied quite realistically. It comes with wet tyres as on the original release, and the box states ‘Dirty version’ and that it is limited to 10,999 pieces.

The only major release on the last week of the schedule (week beginning 22nd October) is the re-named 1:18 Porsche 911 Carrera in red (Product Code - PG063020). As ever, though, it is quite likely that other ‘bigger’ releases will join these shipments as and when we receive them. We already expect the 1:43 2006 Lewis Hamilton McLaren testcar (DC26484) next week, for example.

By the way, if anyone was brave enough to click on the link in yesterday’s entry to a photo of me half collapsed on the way back from Brighton on Saturday, it wasn’t my idea to include that on the website! It’s also been pointed out to me that I’m wearing the same Raikkonen T-shirt in that photo as the one that introduces the diary! I own more than one T-shirt, honest!