19th
May
2008
Nothing new arrived today, but we did receive some significant restocks.
After a few months’ wait we received Spark’s re-supplies of their 1:43 Ecurie Ecosse transporter (SPK285), which we had built up quite a few backorders on.
We were also able to acquire a tiny number of the 1:43 Trofeu presentation of Colin McRae’s Subaru Impreza from the 1993 RAC Rally (TR003). This sold out on release a couple of months ago, so anyone who missed out then now has a chance to make amends, as long as you get your order in quickly!
Finally, while taking a tour of the warehouse this afternoon, I noticed that we still have a Sebastien Vettel 1:43 BMW F1.06 testcar left (DC26443V). It was also a sell-out on release, but a customer’s card must have declined because there is now just one sitting on the shelf all on its own. I’m sure that if it went up on our website we would oversell in an instant, so I’m offering it to one of you loyal diary readers out there! There is literally just one available though, so you’ll have to phone our Orderline on 0870 460 3456 quickly if you want to seize it!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
16th
May
2008
Today Minichamps announced the entire 2008 DTM grid in 1:43 scale, neatly bookending this week with popular new announcements! Ralf Schumacher’s Mercedes is bound to be a good seller (P083711), as will be the menacing 2008 shape Audi A4s of Ekstrom (P081801), Tomczyk (P081802), Kristensen (P081809) and Scheider (P081810). These and the rest of the grid can currently be found at the top of our New Announcements section.
Spark also announced some new subjects today, indeed a completely new collection. They have confirmed their own 1:43 Le Mans Winners Collection, so taking IXO on in this regard. The first cars announced are the winning cars from 1971 (SPA43L071), 1972 (SPA43L072), 1975 (SPA43L075), 1979 (SPA43L079), and 1994 (SPA43L094).
We also saw a new release today, in the form of Premium Classics’ fun 1:18 Snap-on garage display set (PRE99050).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
15th
May
2008
Today we received a new Norev delivery, headlined by their 1:18 replica of last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours winner, the Audi R10 of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner (NV188341).
We also received Mondo Motors’ new 1:18 releases; the sleek Lamborghini Concept S (MD50039), and the Maserati Gran Turismo, which is available in three colours; silver (MD50041), black (MD50041B), and white (MD50041W).
Our last new delivery was from Premium Classics, who released their 1:43 Snap-on garage twin post lift (PRE99052), which is quite a fun display piece. They will also be shortly be releasing Snap-on garage display sets, in 1:18 scale (PRE99050), and 1:43 (PRE99051).
Finally today, just a quick note that we have now also started doing auctions on Ebay, as well as ‘Buy It Now’ prices. All our auctions have rock bottom starting prices, so there are some great bargains to be had. It’s another method of getting rid of those pesky ‘ones and twos’ in our warehouse! You can go to our Ebay shop, GPL Direct, to see what is currently up for auction.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
14th
May
2008
There were no new deliveries today, so we were able to take a deep breath and catch up with everything that arrived yesterday!
From Minichamps, we had Robert Kubica’s 1:43 2006 BMW F1.06 from his Grand Prix debut in Hungary (DC26417K), and Adrian Sutil’s 1:43 2007 Spyker (DC27420).
Going back to AUTOart’s delivery from yesterday, in 1:18 we had also received the Lotus Exige S2 in orange (AA75362), and black (AA75363). There was also their monster 1:12 replica of the Bugatti Veyron in its pearl/blue livery (AA12533). It looks absolutely stunning, complete with the adjustable rear spoiler that pops up when you press the button underneath the car. The rear body panel around the engine bay also lifts off too. As if all that exterior detailing isn’t enough for you, the precision inside the cockpit is also out of this world. Look out for it on the webcast next week!
Also from IXO yesterday were four new 1:43 releases; Marcus Gronholm’s 2006 Rally Japan Ford Focus WRC (RAM231), and three new subjects in their Ferrari collection; the 1947 125S (IXFR49), 1948 166MM (IXFR47), and 1957 250 GT California (IXFR52).
Mattel confirmed today that their ‘New Ferrari’ replica (or 149, or whatever else it has been called recently!) will be the California, so in 1:18 it will be available in red (HW2042), and ‘Colour 2’ (HW2043), and in 1:43 in red (HW5592), and ‘Colour 2’ (HW5594).
Finally today, we have been informed of another set of price rises. This latest batch is from Sun Star, and takes effect immediately. To cut a long story short, most of their ‘standard’ 1:18 replicas have gone up by a significant £10, from £29.99 to £39.99. Fortunately, however, some forthcoming models, such as the 2007 Ford Focus WRCs, will still be available at the original, lower price. Their 1:24 OB Coaches have also increased from £79.99 to £99.99, and their ‘platinum’ 1:18 subjects have gone up to £69.99 from £59.99. A nice saving there for those of you who have already pre-ordered from us and ‘locked in’ at the lower prices!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
13th
May
2008
Today was massively busy; there were so many new deliveries we had lorries queuing up outside the warehouse!
We had a surprise new release from Mattel, that we hadn’t been expecting imminently as we hadn’t been given a confirmed release date for it yet, in the form of the 1:18 Michael Schumacher ‘Super Elite’ Ferrari F2004 Career Statistics presentation (HW6235).
It looks very impressive, with the car at an angle in amongst the raised plinths detailing Schumacher’s career statistics. As with Mattel’s other Super Elites it comes presented in a ‘flip lid’ box. It comes with the engine cover on the car, which you then can then remove and position behind the raised plinth on the left rear of the base yourself. The dirty effect on the engine and the other mechanical parts is also a nice touch.
We also had a new delivery from AUTOart, headlined by the beautiful 1:18 2007 Le Mans GT1 winning Aston Martin DBR9 of Darren Turner, Rickard Rydell and David Brabham (AA80706).
From IXO, we received the latest deliveries in their 1:43 La Storia and Le Mans Winners collections. These were Gerhard Berger’s 1987 Ferrari F187 (IXSF12), and the 2003 Bentley Speed 8 of Tom Kristensen, Guy Smith and Rinaldo Capello (LM2003).
Last thing we also received the week’s new Minichamps delivery, but we didn’t have a chance to photograph the new releases by the end of the day, so now you know what tomorrow’s entry will be about!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
12th
May
2008
Today was the big day; Minichamps announced their 2008 Formula One line-up!
They are essentially offering the same subjects as last year. In 1:18 scale, they will be replicating two teams, McLaren and BMW.
Their 1:43 coverage is as comprehensive as ever, as they are offering every team except Ferrari, even the now defunct Super Aguris! You can see everything now available to pre-order in our ‘New Announcements’ category.
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
12th
May
2008
Welcome to the twenty eighth 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 28 [3:40m]:
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Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 28 [3:39m]:
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You can also view this podcast on youtube by clicking here
These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:
1/12 Rossi Sitting Figure 2001 Season - Minichamps
1/43 Renault R26 2nd French Grand Prix 2006 #1 F. Alonso - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Volkswagen Golf GTI 1993 Black - Minichamps
1/43 France A1GP Car 2007/08 - Amalgam
1/18 Mercedes CLK DTM AMG Silver - Kyosho (SOLD OUT)
1/18 Mercedes CLK DTM AMG Black - Kyosho (SOLD OUT)
1/24 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR 2008 #48 J. Johnson - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR 2008 #24 J. Gordon - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR 2008 #29 K. Harvick - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Toyota Camry NASCAR 2008 #20 T. Stewart - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR 2008 #88 D. Earnhardt Jnr - National Guard Livery - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR 2008 #88 D. Earnhardt Jnr - Mountain Dew Livery - Motorsport Authentics
1/24 Dodge Avenger NASCAR 2007 #42 J-P. Montoya - Motorsport Authentics
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.
posted in Podcast, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
9th
May
2008
Today we received Carousel’s new 1:18 replica of Dan Gurney’s winning Eagle from the 1967 Race Of Champions (C4752). The importer only brought a few into the country, so it could well sell out quite soon.
We also uploaded some more 1:43 Scale Model Technical Services products onto our website. Within the next few days we will have their entire product range on our site, but couldn’t wait to put some of the ‘gems’ up, so went ahead with them today.
These are replicas like the winning Indy 500 cars of Jim Clark (SMTS072) and Graham Hill (SMTS083) from 1965 and 1966, Stirling Moss’s Lotus 18 from his famous drive at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix (SMTS075), Jim Clark’s 1966 RAC Rally Lotus Cortina (SMTS089), and the Mercedes W196s of Moss (SMTS091) and Fangio (SMTS092) from the 1955 British Grand Prix. As ever, SMTS’s main selling point is that you just don’t find their subjects replicated by anyone else. To see all the new models that we have just added, have a look in our New Announcements category.
Finally today, Mattel confirmed that their forthcoming 1:18 Michael Schumacher F1 specials will have five cards signed by the man himself randomly inserted into each one’s production run. Just to clarify, these are his 2000 Ferrari F1-2000 (HW2074), 2001 Ferrari F2001 (HW2075), 2002 Ferrari F2002 (HW2076), 2003 Ferrari F2003-GA (HW2077), 2004 Ferrari F2004 (HW2078), and 2007 Ferrari F2007 testcar (HW5423).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
8th
May
2008
Oh yeah boys let’s go racin’! If those words don’t mean anything to you, don’t worry, I haven’t lost the plot (at least not yet), but you obviously don’t watch NASCAR on the box either!
My opening tirade was, of course, a repeat of what one of the excitable NASCAR commentators yells out at the beginning of every race. And today, we received our shipment of 1:24 NASCAR replicas that we have imported from America ourselves, so you won’t find them anywhere else in the UK.
1:24 is THE collectible scale in America, with these replicas measuring about 21cm long. They all come with opening bonnet and boot and even flip-up air brakes on the roof as well, which come up when the car spins to prevent it from flipping over.
We’ve got all of the top contenders’ 2008 cars; Jimmie Johnson (SG0848), Jeff Gordon (SG0824), Tony Stewart (SG0820), Kevin Harvick (SG0829), and the two liveries that Dale Earnhardt Jnr campaigns, the National Guard (SG0888A), and Mountain Dew (SG0888B).
Juan Montoya’s car is from 2007 (SG0742), with his car commemorating his victory at Sonoma on 24th June with race dirty bodywork, worn tyres, and a tyre mark from where another car hit him behind the left rear wheel.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
