Leigh’s Diecast Diary

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster week for diecast news; nothing on Monday, plenty on Tuesday and yesterday, and then back to Monday levels again for today!

That’s my long-winded way of saying that it’s been a bit quiet again today! We filmed the webcast in the morning, a day earlier than usual, as I’m away tomorrow and on Monday through a (well deserved I hasten to add!) long weekend off. Perfect for enjoying the season opening Australian Grand Prix! I trust you’re all setting your alarms for 3am on Saturday and 4:30am on Sunday………..

So, unless we have some exciting diecast news in the meantime via someone in the office filling in for me, the next entry will be on Tuesday.

Today Spark announced a new 1:87 (that’s right, 1:87!) Le Mans Winners collection. The reasoning behind it is that collectors are starting to run out of options in terms of finding room to house all of their diecast replicas (I know I am!), so why not make the replicas smaller?

Initially Spark have announced 12 Le Mans winners in this new collection, which can all be found at the top of our ‘New Announcements’ category. I think it’s a very interesting concept, and am looking forward to the first few releases to see how they ‘measure up’ (boom boom!) to Spark’s 1:43 replicas.

Not to be outdone by Spark, IXO announced a new subject for their 1:43 Le Mans Winners collection. It is the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C of Sommer and Chinetti (LM1932).

Finally, Minichamps announced another couple of 1:43 2008 F1 showcars in the two Williams-Toyotas, of Nico Rosberg (DC28407P), and Kazuki Nakajima (DC28408P).

Today was much more like it, as we had new deliveries from Minichamps, Mattel, Spark, and Maisto.

We just had the one new release from Minichamps, which was the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2006 riding figure (PO60146). Its limited edition is 7,546 pieces.

Mattel had four new 1:18 releases; the Ferrari 575 GTZ Zagato in black (HW2983), and silver/grey (HW2961), the gorgeous Ferrari F430 Scuderia in Avio blue (HW2468), and the Ferrari Mondial 8 in the ‘Sixtieth Anniversary’ red (HW2984). The silver/grey 575 GTZ is an instant sell-out though, unusual for a Mattel replica, but it just goes to show the importance of getting your pre-orders in before models are released.

There were also two new 1:43 replicas from Spark; the Le Mans Peugeot ‘Supercopter’ (SPK1274), and the 2007 Morgan Aero 8 in white (SPK374).

Finally, Maisto provided us with their two 1:18 replicas of the Audi R8, in silver (R36143S), and blue (R36143BL), although the blue version was a lot less blue than I had expected it to be!

I really need to get the diecast manufacturers to appreciate the intense pressures of a daily diecast blog and weekly webcast, because on days like this when not much has happened and the vast diecast public expects, the stress can be almost too much to bear!

But enough of my problems. We did have one new delivery today, of the absolutely magnificent Amalgam 1:8 replica of Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 97T from the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, his very first F1 win (AML712). Other than that, I was counting the hours until the Australian Grand Prix!

Welcome to the twentieth 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 20 [3:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 20 [3:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:

1/18 BMW F1.07 2007 #10 R. Kubica - Minichamps
1/43 Toro Rosso STR1 2006 #20 V. Liuzzi - Minichamps
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Monte Carlo 2006 #3 M. Gronholm - Sun Star
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Rally GB 2006 #9 M. Wilson - Sun Star
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Rally GB 2006 #3 M. Gronholm - Sun Star
1/43 Signed Honda NSR 500 1989 #1 E. Lawson - Minichamps

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.

Today I am pleased to announce a new signed replica that we are now offering to pre-order. It is AUTOart’s 1:18 model of the GT1 winning Aston Martin DBR9 from last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, signed by its three victorious drivers Darren Turner, Rickard Rydell and David Brabham (AA80706S). We offered the 2005 #59 car signed by its three drivers and it was one of our best selling signed replicas, so the earlier you pre-order, the further up the queue you will be.

Other than that, it’s been a pretty quiet day on the diecast front. Which has suited me just fine today, as it’s given me time to get distracted by the Moto GP season starting this weekend, with the championship’s first ever night race!

First off, we received a new Sun Star delivery with their three new 1:18 2006 Ford Focus WRCs on it. That’s Gronholm from Monte Carlo (SS3915) and Rally GB (SS3917), and Wilson from Rally GB (SS3916).

Then, we got a new signed replica in, Eddie Lawson’s 1:12 1989 Honda NSR 500 on which he secured the 1989 500cc World Championship (P890001S).

Finally, Mattel provided us with some preview shots of a few of their forthcoming 1:18 releases. These are Michael Schumacher’s 2001 Ferrari F2001 (HW2075), the aluminium Ferrari 599 GTB (HW2066), and three Super Elite replicas; the F430 Scuderia (HW7121), Mondial 8 (HW7119), and 575 GTZ Zagato (HW7122).

We received the new Minichamps delivery today, which had just two new items on it; Robert Kubica’s 1:18 2007 BMW F1.07 (DC2710), and Vitantonio Liuzzi’s 1:43 2006 Toro Rosso STR1 (DC26420).

We were also advised today of a Minichamps ‘postponement’. It is of the Maserati Birdcage campaigned by Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney in the 1960 Nurburgring 1000km (PG601205). Originally scheduled for next week, it has now been put back to a release date ‘to be advised’. When we know, you will know!

Mattel confirmed their replicas of the 2008 Ferrari F2008s today. In 1:18 scale, Kimi Raikkonen (DC2801) and Felipe Massa (DC2802) will each cost £54.99, and in 1:43 scale (DC28401 and DC28402), each will cost £24.99.

Interestingly, Mattel only announced replicas of the Ferraris. We know that Norev will be picking up the Renault licence in 1:18, so this may unfortunately mean that Williams could join Honda, Red Bull, Toyota etc in not having a 1:18 licensee. Hopefully Minichamps will announce their 2008 F1 line-up soon and then we will know what’s what!

Today Amalgam announced what will surely be a top seller for them, in a 1:8 replica of the evocative Gulf liveried Aston Martin DBR9 from this year’s running of the Le Mans 24 Hours (AML828).

Trofeu also announced a new subject, the fifth release in their 1:43 British Rally Legends Collection. It will be Roger Clark’s famous gold Esso sponsored Ford Escort Mk.I that he campaigned to victory on the 1972 Dunkeries Rally (TR005).