Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today is dominated by Minichamps news. To start with, they have announced four new 1:43 2008 F1 showcars; the two McLarens of Hamilton (DC28422P) and Kovalainen (DC28423P), and the two Hondas of Button (DC28416P) and Barrichello (DC28417P). Pre-ordering these will be essential, as showcars often sell out on release. We have also been told that Minichamps expect to be in a position to announce their 2008 F1 race cars in about the middle of May.

Another new Minichamps announcement is the latest subject in the 1:8 Valentino Rossi Helmet Collection. This one will be the version he wore in the 2007 Phillip Island Moto GP, with the mosaic design (PO70896).

It wasn’t just new announcements from Minichamps, as we also received a huge delivery from them today too, with the 1:12 Mick Doohan 1997 Honda NSR 500 (P976101) and the rest of our 1:18 Lewis Hamilton 2007 McLaren MP4/22s (DC2702) on it.

Finally, we also saw CMC’s next massively highly detailed 1:18 release; the 1934 Mercedes-Benz W25 (CMC065).

Today we saw the latest 1:8 classic Formula One release from Amalgam, perhaps Ayrton Senna’s most iconic McLaren, his 1991 Honda powered MP4/6 (AML823). It is specifically the late Brazilian’s car from the Japanese Grand Prix, where he gave up the win to his team-mate Gerhard Berger at the very last corner, as second place was still enough for him to secure his third, and what would turn out to be final, world championship.

Today we received our first delivery of Minichamps’ 1:18 Lewis Hamilton 2007 McLaren MP4/22 (DC2702), a few weeks earlier than expected!

However, this was basically a ‘bonus’ early shipment, as it only made a tiny dent in the huge number of pre-orders that we have already taken on it. Next week we will receive what should satisfy all of our remaining pre-orders, whilst in May we will get a third and final delivery, when we should be able to supply it straight from stock. Be warned though, that such is the rate of sale on this replica that by then that delivery could well be sold out too, then Minichamps’ first ever 1:18 Hamilton replica will be consigned to the history books!

There’s a few things to get through today. First off, we were supplied with a sample image of Mondo Motors’ next 1:18 release, the angular Lamborghini Concept S (MD50039).

Next, Kyosho announced another couple of variants of the BMW 5 Series. These two are of the 550i saloon facelift, in black (KY8594BK), and grey (KY8594GR).

We also learnt of a new item that we will see from Minichamps in the next week or so that wasn’t on their original April release schedule, Sebastien Vettel’s 1:43 2006 BMW F1.06 ‘third driver’ car (DC26443V).

Finally, we received our delivery of converted 1:18 CMC Bugatti T35s (CMC063B). Our expert modeller has taken CMC’s original replica, and converted it to transform it into Williams’s winning car from the 1931 Belgian Grand Prix.

Fresh from getting completely soaked at the Rockingham BTCC yesterday, it was good to start the week with a brand new Minichamps delivery!

‘The big one’ was undoubtedly the Valentino Rossi 1:12 2007 Jerez victory riding figure (PO79146), as we had built up hundreds of pre-orders for that over the last 12 months.

From Formula One, there was Nick Heidfeld’s 1:43 2006 Hungarian GP BMW F1.06 (DC26416H), and from endurance racing there was the 1970 Le Mans #3 Porsche 917L of Larrouse and Kauhsen (P706103).

We also received a new delivery from Spark, headlined by the 1:43 Herbert/Gachot/Weidler Mazda MX-R01 from Le Mans 1992 (SPK798), and the 1950 Aston Martin DB2 coupe in green (SPK581).

Welcome to the twenty fourth 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 24 [3:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 24: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

1/18 Lamborghini Reventon 2007 Grey - Mondo Motors
1/18 BMW 320Si WTCC 2007 #1 A. Priaulx - AUTOart
1/18 BMW 320Si WTCC 2007 #2 J. Muller - AUTOart
1/43 Audi V8 1988 Black - Minichamps
1/43 Mercedes CLK DTM 2007 #5 J. Green - Minichamps
1/43 London Taxi TX1 2002 - Spark
1/18 Mercedes 280SE ‘Old Friend’ 1967 Cream - Maisto
1/18 Mercedes 190SL ‘Old Friend’ 1955 Red - Maisto
1/18 Ferrari 575 Superamerica 2005 Red - Mattel (PHONE ORDER ONLY)

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 Kyosho announced a couple of interesting new 1:43 replicas, in the Nissan 300 ZX TTs from the 1994 Daytona 24 Hours. We have the #75 (KY03217E) and #76 (KY03217F) cars.

From Maisto, we received a couple of 1:18 ‘Old Friends’ cars, clearly inspired by Revell’s ‘Barn Discovery’ Mercedes from last year! Available is a red 1955 Mercedes 190SL (R32104), and a yellow 1967 Mercedes 280 SE (R32103).

Finally today, it appears that AUTOart have decided to cancel their 1:18 replica of Andy Priaulx’s 2006 WTCC BMW 320Si (AA80646). As it would have been released at the same time as his 2007 car (AA80746, which is now available), AUTOart must have felt that this would have killed demand for the 2006 version, and so chosen not to release it at all. If Minichamps operated like that, they would never release anything! AUTOart’s 80646 code now applies to a plain white BMW 320Si, not quite as appealing!

Like on Tuesday, we have touring cars dominating the news again today.

AUTOart released their two 1:18 BMW 320Si replicas from the 2007 World Touring Car Championship, of champion Andy Priaulx (AA80746), and Jorg Muller (AA80747).

We also received Minichamps’ latest delivery, with the headliner being Jamie Green’s 1:43 2007 DTM Mercedes (P073705). Meanwhile, Spark released their 1:43 replica of a traditional TX2 London taxi (SPK279).

Finally, a new item has been added to Minichamps’ weekly release schedule for next week. It is Nick Heidfeld’s 1:43 BMW F1.06 from the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix (DC26416H), scene of the team’s first ever podium finish.

The most exciting subject is, finally, a 1:43 replica of a modern BTCC car! The manufacturer is Oxford Diecast, and the subject is Fabrizio Giovonardi’s 2007 championship winning Vauxhall Vectra (OXF2007).

OK, so we’re not talking a Minichamps or a Spark replica here, but as it’s half the price of Minichamps’ non-F1 race cars and less than half the price of a current Spark offering, it should still represent good value for money. As a massive BTCC fan, I’m definitely getting one for my collection!

Spark also announced some new replicas today; four new releases in their highly detailed 1:24 Le Mans Collection, and a couple of new Mercedes concept cars in 1:43. They also announced some new releases through their Bizarre brand, and I think it’s fair to say that these subjects are pretty obscure, although the brand name would suggest that anyway! All of these are now at the top of our ‘New Announcements’ section, which has had quite an overhaul so far this week!

In closing, just a quick note to say that I won’t be in the office tomorrow, so there won’t be a diary entry unless something truly dramatic happens and someone fills in for me. I’d quite like to come back into the office on Thursday and find that Minichamps have finally announced their 2008 F1 race car line-up!

Another weekend working at Brands Hatch, another snowstorm! The difference this weekend though was that the snow was heavy enough to force the cancellation of the race meeting in question, the opening rounds of the British Superbike Championship. It felt strange in the Megastore watching an F1 race in the desert with several inches of snow outside!

Norev announced some new 1:18 models today, the highlight being the 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Nera in black (NV187953). The rest of their new announcements from today can be found at the top of our ‘New Announcements’ category, ranging from classic subjects to modern ones.

Kyosho also announced a couple of new 1:18 replicas, the BMW M6 convertible in silver (KY8704S), and blue (KY8704BL).

Finally, Mattel provided us with sample images of a couple of their forthcoming 1:18 releases. These are the Ferrari F430 (HW2050) and the two-tone Ferrari 599 GTB (HW2067).