17th
July
2008
There’s so much to talk about today I don’t really know where to start.
Oh wait, I know, a new Kimi Raikkonen replica! Amalgam have surprised us by already releasing their 1:12 2008 Ferrari F2008 nosecone (AML835). And, fortunately, it has the #1 on it!
Staying with Raikkonen, Mattel today provided us with a sample image of their forthcoming 1:18 2007 Chinese Grand Prix ‘Ferrari 200th Win’ special (DC2706C). It looks very encouraging, with all the different aerodynamic pieces that Ferrari used at Shanghai. These include the ‘pointy’ wings in front of the cockpit, the revised sidepod wings, the small wing on the bargeboard and even the revised engine cover profile.
Mattel also released some new 1:18 replicas from their Elite range. The first two are Michael Schumacher’s cars, his red Ferrari Enzo (HW2058) and black Ferrari FXX (HW2061). The Enzo has a nice touch in that it replicates everyone’s signatures under the bonnet who worked on the car, as the real one has. The other release is the silverblue Ferrari FXX (HW2065).
Premium Classics released two of their new 1:43 transporters as well. There is the 1970s Gulf Porsche example (PRE12203) and the famous Mercedes 1950s transporter, which was called the ‘Blue Wonder’ (PRE12225).
The last new release today was from Sun Star, who released their last ever 1:24 Routemaster bus replica, which is incidentally of the last ever Routemaster itself, from December 2005 (SS2914).
There won’t be a diary entry tomorrow or on Monday, as I’m off to Hockenheim for the German Grand Prix. I can’t say I’m feeling too confident though; the last three times I’ve seen Raikkonen race in Germany were Nurburgring 2007 (mechanical failure), Nurburgring 2005 (that last lap suspension failure), and Hockenheim 2004 (rear wing flew off). He doesn’t stand a chance, does he………..
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
16th
July
2008
Today was one of those special days where a new Kimi Raikkonen replica gets released! It is, of course, Mattel’s 1:18 metallic red Ferrari F2007 (DC2706B) of the Kimster, in the shade of red that was used from the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix onwards.
We also received a new delivery from Dutch manufacturer NEO today, which included several new 1:43 replicas. The highlights were the Jaguar Mk.VIII in black (NEO43141), and the Jaguar XJ Series III in green (NEO43145). NEO’s other new releases can currently be seen at the top of our ‘New Releases’ category.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
15th
July
2008
Today we received the new Minichamps delivery, the headliner being the 1:43 ‘Earth’ Honda RA107. This one seems to be a bit of a ‘marmite’ car, in that you either love it or you hate it, but either way, you can’t deny that its livery certainly makes an impact! We have both Jenson Button (DC27407) and Rubens Barrichello (DC27408).
Also on the Minichamps delivery were Christian Albers’ 1:43 2007 Spyker (DC27421), and the Moss/Gurney 1:18 1960 Maserati Birdcage that won the Nurburgring 1000km (PG601205).
There was a new delivery from Spark as well. The biggie on this one was their 1:24 replica of the winning Matra from the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours, of Graham Hill and Henri Pescarolo (SPALM005). There was also their next 1:43 transporter, the 1970 Gold Leaf Lotus example (SPK286).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
14th
July
2008
Today Norev confirmed its 1:43 2008 Formula One Renault R28s. They will be replicating both drivers, Fernando Alonso (DC28405NV), and Nelson Piquet Jnr (DC28406NV).
The main difference between Norev’s and Minichamps’ offerings will be that the Norev cars will have the drivers’ names on the packaging, as opposed to ‘Car #5’ and ‘Car #6’ which Minichamps will use. Both versions will come with driver figures and have the drivers’ names on the cars though.
Norev also confirmed that they will now be releasing a 1:18 car for Piquet Jnr after all (DC2806), after originally saying that they would only be replicating Fernando Alonso in that scale.
IXO also announced the latest subject in its Le Mans Winners Collection; the 1927 Bentley Sport 3.0 Litre of Davis and Benjafield (LM1927).
Thank you to the diary readers who stopped by for a chat during the Goodwood Festival of Speed; it was nice meeting so many of you. And to the McLaren fans amongst you who suggested a collection for me to go to more Grands Prix and inflict my jinx on Raikkonen several more times; I reckon I might be up for that!
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
14th
July
2008
Welcome to the thirty seventh 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 37 [4:18m]:
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Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 37 [4:17m]:
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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 Ducati 999 F06 WSB 2006 #21 T. Bayliss - Minichamps
1/12 Honda Gold Wing 1975 - Minichamps
1/43 Super Aguri SA06 Japanese Grand Prix 2006 #22 T. Sato - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Mercedes 190E DTM 1988 #41 R. Asch - Minichamps
1/18 BMW F1.07 USA Grand Prix 2007 #10 S. Vettel - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Ferrari F2003GA 1st USA Grand Prix 2003 #1 M. Schumacher - IXO
1/50 Renault Transporter - Universal Hobbies
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, Due Dates, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
10th
July
2008
Today Minichamps confirmed two new 1:43 replicas that we will see released next week. They are the two colourful 2007 Honda RA107s of Jenson Button (DC27407) and Rubens Barrichello (DC27408).
Meanwhile, Mattel announced that we will see their 1:43 ‘Ferrari 2007 Constructors Champions’ two-car set (HW6239) in the week beginning 28th July.
There won’t be an entry tomorrow as I’m going to be working on our red trailer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We have two sites there; our red trailer, which will be selling bike gear and our silver trailer, which will be selling F1 and motorsport merchandise and diecast. This weekend’s 10% password is ‘Mike Hawthorn’! Utter that at any of these locations and you will get 10% off everything you buy from us there!
posted in Diecast |
9th
July
2008
We received the new Minichamps delivery today, headlined by two 1:12 bikes that we have been waiting a long time for. These are Troy Bayliss’s 2006 World Superbike Championship winning Ducati 999 (PO60221), and the 1975 Honda Gold Wing (P161600).
Also on the delivery was Sebastien Vettel’s 1:18 2007 American Grand Prix BMW F1.07 (DC2710V), but we were pre-sold out on this before it even arrived with us.
Solido announced a new 1:18 subject today in Sebastien Loeb’s 2008 Citroen C4 WRC (SL118015). It will come complete with the Red Bull sponsorship that the team started running a few events into the season.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
8th
July
2008
Today we received the latest release in IXO’s 1:43 La Storia Ferrari collection, the fourteenth car in the series. It is Michael Schumacher’s winning F2003-GA from the 2003 American Grand Prix (IXSF14).
We also received a 1:50 replica, a scale that we don’t see very often. It is Universal Hobbies’ Renault Formula One transporter (J5652).
Amalgam also confirmed their 2008 F1 1:12 nosecone and 1:4 steering wheel line-up today. Three teams will get this treatment; Ferrari (AML835 and AML836), McLaren (AML837 and AML839), and BMW (AML839 and AML840). We hope to see these released towards the end of the summer.
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
7th
July
2008
Welcome to the thirty sixth 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 36 [4:40m]:
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Leighs Diary Podcast Episode 36 [4:39m]:
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Download (166)
These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:
1/18 McLaren MP4-21 Testcar 2006 L. Hamilton - Minichamps
1/43 McLaren Showcar 2008 L. Hamilton - Minichamps
1/43 McLaren Showcar 2008 H. Kovalainen - Minichamps
1/43 Mercedes C Class DTM 2007 #1 B. Schneider - Minichamps
1/43 Mercedes C Class DTM 2007 #6 M. Hakkinen - Minichamps
1/43 Creation CA07 Le Mans 2007 #9 J. Campbell-Walter/F.Ortiz/S.Nakano
1/43 Ferrari 250 GTO 1962 Red - Kyosho
1/18 Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole 1980 Red - Kyosho (SOLD OUT)
1/24 Dodge Charger NASCAR 2008 #40 D. Franchitti - 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 Due Dates, Podcast, Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
