16th
September
2008
Now fully dried out from Monza, it was unsurprising to see so many people clamouring for a Vettel First Win Special on our forum! That’s three that Minichamps will hopefully do from this year now, along with Kubica (Canada) and Kovalainen (Hungary).
You already know that we received the 1:43 Hamilton First Win (DC27402C) and 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1997 riding figure (P970146) while I was away.
Also on the new Minichamps delivery was the first 2008 Formula One race car, Fernando Alonso’s 1:43 Renault R28 (DC28405). I was impressed that Minichamps chose to replicate it complete with the ‘shark fin’ engine cover, as it wasn’t used at the very start of the season.
Another interesting release was the 1:43 Ice Speed Record Bentley Continental GT of Juha Kankkunen (P139026). There’s even a nice touch with an ice effect on the inlay!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
15th
September
2008
Welcome to the forty-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 46 [3:52m]:
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Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 46 [3:51m]:
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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:
1/18 Shelby Cobra Super Snake 1966 - Shelby Collectibles
1/18 Batmobile - Mattel Super Elite
1/18 Ferrari F2002 1st French Grand Prix 2002 #1 M. Schumacher - Mattel Elite
1/43 Thrust SSC - Spark
1/43 Mercedes Bionic Concept Car - Spark
1/43 Shadow DN4 1974 #101 J. Oliver - Spark (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Jaguar XJR8 Le Mans 1987 #6 J.Watson/M.Brundle/A.Hahne - Spark
1/18 Benetton B191B 1992 #20 M. Brundle - Minichamps
1/43 Chaparral 2F 1st BOAC 500 1967 #1 M. Spence/ P. Hill - Minichamps
1/43 Bentley Brooklands White Line - Minichamps
1/43 Opel Kadett C 1974 Yellow - Minichamps
1/43 Volkswagen 1302 1970 Yellow - 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.
posted in Podcast, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
12th
September
2008
Leigh is away causing havoc at the Monza Grand Prix but I have something to report The 1/43 model is now in stock and shipping has commenced for you guys who have had it on pre-order.
It looks great and has been limited to 9,999 pieces worldwide.
We have updated the website to reflect the real image this afternoon. 1/43 McLaren MP4/22 - 1st Canadian Grand Prix 2007 - #2 L. Hamilton - First Win
In other news, the new Rossi Superman caped figurine has also arrived in our warehouse today. 1/12 Rossi Riding Figure - 1997
Leigh will be back on Tuesday in time for the internal meeting on the issues concerning some of you in the diecast forum.
Have a great weekend.
Jon
posted in Diecast |
11th
September
2008
Today we supplied our latest diecast catalogue to the printers. It is our first one that is going to be entirely dedicated to just one manufacturer, which of course, is Minichamps. The catalogue should arrive on your doorsteps from about ten days’ time.
There’s been a bit of confusion about the Mick Doohan (PO17999) and Freddie Spencer (PO17998) test bikes that were featured in the diary last Friday, as people have been unable to find them on our website. Well, incredibly, we’ve sold out already!
We weren’t too enthusiastic when we first heard about them, as they were essentially ‘just’ promotional bikes, Rossi’s test bike that the other two riders took ‘for a quick spin’.
Minichamps then pulled a masterstroke, however, by limiting them to just 504 pieces each. This rarity value ensured that demand for them was huge, and consequently we were sold out of our allocation within just a couple of days. It will be interesting to see if Minichamps pioneers this approach again in the future!
Unless someone steps in for me, there won’t be an entry tomorrow or on Monday, as I continue my summer of Raikkonen jinxing at the Italian Grand Prix. This will be my fourth time at Monza, and so far I have seen Raikkonen get a second, a third, and a fourth there. I would say that it’s time to complete the set, but knowing his luck, and mine, that will end up being a fifth place instead of a win!
posted in Uncategorized |
10th
September
2008
Today we received the new Minichamps delivery. It’s good to see them catching up on their 1:18 classic F1 subjects; after Moreno’s 1991 Benetton B191 last week, this time around we received Martin Brundle’s 1992 Benetton B191B (PG920120). It’s just a shame that Minichamps are barely doing any contemporary 1:18 F1 anymore!
Also on the delivery was the latest 1:43 ‘White Line’ car, the Bentley Brooklands (P139621), and perhaps the Chaparral’s most famous ever race win, Phil Hill and Mike Spence’s high-winged 2F from the 1967 BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch (P671401).
Meanwhile, from Mattel we saw their first 1:18 Michael Schumacher Elite Championship car, his Ferrari F2002 from the 2002 French Grand Prix (HW2076).
posted in Uncategorized |
9th
September
2008
We received the new Minichamps schedule today. It covers the second week of September; then, as expected, there is nothing for the rest of the month while Minichamps does their stock take, then it covers the first three weeks of October as well.
Next week we will see the first 2008 Formula One race car, Fernando Alonso’s Renault R28 (DC28405). This is the first time in a few years that Mattel haven’t been the first manufacturer to get a Formula One race car out!
There will also be the re-release of Valentino Rossi’s 1:12 2002 Honda RC211V (PO27146), Stefan Bellof’s 1:43 Tyrrell 012 from the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix (P840104), and Nelson Piquet’s 1:18 1991 Benetton B191 (PG910020).
Then, after the stock take (week beginning 6th October), we will see a whole host of 1:43 road cars, including the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo in yellow (P103502), and the 2006 Ford S-Max in metallic green (P085401).
The week beginning 13th October is dominated by Valentino Rossi. We will see the re-release of his 1:12 2003 Honda RC211V (PO37146), his 2001 1:8 helmet (PO10846), and the 1999 Aprilia ‘knee down’ riding figure (P990146). There will also be the next 1:12 classic bike, the Triumph Hurricane (P133600), as well as Marco Melandri’s 1:12 2002 Aprilia RSV 250 (PO20003).
The last week of the schedule (week beginning 20th October) will see Michael Schumacher’s 1992 Benetton B191B released in two scales, 1:18 (PG920119) and 1:43 (P920119).
As for the Belgian Grand Prix, the last four laps were absolutely fantastic (despite a Finnish-driven Ferrari hitting the wall!), although there was something a bit unsatisfactory about coming home Sunday night and getting a text message from a friend saying that the guy who had crossed the line first was now not the race winner after all!
posted in Due Dates, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
8th
September
2008
If there weren’t enough turns and spins during the closing stages of yesterday’s Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA then whip the victory away from Lewis! In the office we wait for Leigh’s opinion when he returns tomorrow, but he may not be in much of a mood to talk about it, considering what happened to Kimi!
Today though we saw the delivery of the 1:18 Super Elite Batmobile (HW7131). As we’ve come to expect from the Super Elite range, the detail is pretty good. The base is quite an eye-catcher too!
We also received Spark’s 1:43 Thrust SSC replica (SPK001S), which we will be soon sending off to Andy Green so that he can add his signature, and then it’ll be ready to ship!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
5th
September
2008
As Mr Diecast himself steps out to enjoy the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, new announcements from both Minichamps and Kyosho step in. So it’s up to us in the office to spill the beans!
From the Minichamps corner, there are two new 1:12 Honda RC211V replicas. These are the bikes that were ridden by Freddie Spencer (PO17998) and Mick Doohan (PO17999) in a demonstration at Motegi in 2001. Each bike will be a limited edition of only 504 pieces worldwide, so there’s not much time to waste thinking about pre-ordering them!
Kyosho have confirmed that they’ll be throwing their name into the 1:18 scale Nissan GTR hat with two colourways, black (KY8473BK) and silver (KY8473S).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP |
4th
September
2008
We received an interesting new 1:18 Shelby Collectibles replica today. It is of the Shelby Cobra ‘Super Snake’ (DC42707), the famous car that Carroll Shelby built to see just how fast he could get it to go, with a twin supercharged 800 horsepower engine! Regardless of how fast it went, it was guaranteed to turn heads anyway with its unique shade of metallic blue.
Whilst having a wander (and a wonder) through the warehouse today, I noticed that we had one of the 1:18 Michael Schumacher ‘Super Elite’ Ferrari F2004s (HW6235) left on our shelves. It was a sell-out just a couple of days after we received it, even though it had an expensive price tag, so I’m just giving diary readers a head’s up that we still have one available in case any of you missed out originally.
Brace yourself Raikkonen fans, but this will be my last diary entry until Tuesday as I head off to Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix. This will be my fourth Belgian Grand Prix, and even though Raikkonen has won on my previous three visits, after what has happened so far this summer I think there’s a fair chance that the pattern could be broken this time around! Here’s hoping I’m wrong!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
