28th
November
2008
After Minichamps and Universal Hobbies, we received a 1:12 motorbike replica from a third different diecast manufacturer of the year today.
That manufacturer is the Japanese company WIT’S, and this is the first subject that we have imported from them, so you will not find their replicas available from anyone else. This first bike is the Kawasaki Z1000 Mk.II (WH001), and it compares very favourably with Minichamps’ two-wheeled offerings in 1:12.
In other news, we had a bit of a clearout today, and have put some ‘last ones’ and damaged replicas on our eBay account. You can click here to see them in all their glory. There are some fantabulous bargains to be had!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
27th
November
2008
Today we received the new Sun Star delivery. It had the latest 1:18 2007 Ford Focus WRC replicas on it; Marcus Gronholm from Finland (SS3923), Mikko Hirvonen from Japan (SS3924), Henning Solberg from Japan (SS3925), and Jose-Luis Companc from Argentina (SS3922).
The other highlight was Sun Star’s second 1:12 Volkswagen subject, the Kombi in dove blue (SS5061).
Aside from that, Leigh’s Diary can now be found on Twitter, something I had never heard of before today! Basically, Twitter is an online application whereby you can post short text updates to let the other people know what you’re up to. So if you’re interested in hearing about the daily going’s on at GPL, literally as they happen, Twitter is the place to be.
All you have to do to become a part of the phenomenon, is visit www.twitter.com to sign up, and then enter ‘FOLLOW LEIGHSDIARY’ (in capitals) as a Twitter entry. You will now receive live GPL updates throughout the day! You can even set Twitter up to send you SMS updates, so you don’t even need to be near a computer to find out the latest Minichamps announcement! For a taster, visit www.twitter.com/leighsdiary.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
26th
November
2008
We received the new Minichamps delivery today. Mark Webber’s 1:43 2008 Red Bull RB4 (DC28410) wasn’t on the original monthly schedule, and we also received Minichamps’ next two 1:18 Bentleys; the Continental GTC in silver (PG139031), and the Continental Flying Spur in black (PG139462).
We also received a new AUTOart delivery that contained a few new 1:18 replicas. These were the Citroen C4 WRC in plain red (AA80736), the Shelby GTR-1 Concept in silver (AA73072), the Toyota FJ Cruiser in blue (AA78855), and the Mercedes C-Class limousine in white (AA76262).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
25th
November
2008
As Amalgam’s 1:8 replica of Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren MP4/23 from the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix (AML834) comes close to selling out, they have now announced a new version of his championship clinching car from this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix (AML857). As you would expect, it will have the specific aerodynamic package from that race, including the new ‘horns’ on the nosecone.
Amalgam also released their third 1:12 nosecone from the 2008 grid, of the BMW F1.08 (AML839). As the race numbers on the BMWs this year were too high up the car to feature on the nosecone, you can happily buy this regardless of whether you are a Nick Heidfeld or a Robert Kubica fan!
The last thing to tell you about today is about a very limited signed replica that we have available. When we met up with the ‘caped crusaders’ Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin) to sign Mattel’s 1:18 Elite and Foundation replicas of the 1960s TV series Batmobile, we had just seven of the extra special Super Elite version in stock. So we got them signed too, in a very exclusive limited edition of just seven examples (HW7131S). These were signed at the top of the metal base that the car sits on. Of the other two signed versions, by the way, the Elite edition (HW7130S) is now sold out, while the Foundation version (HW7132S) is currently available.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
24th
November
2008
You may have heard the Chancellor announce today that, from next Monday, the rate of VAT will be cut from 17.5% to 15%.
Well, we thought, why wait until next Monday? So as of now all of our prices now reflect the new VAT rate, and you can take advantage of them straight away, without having to wait for a week!
Away from politics, today we received a sample of CMC’s first Ferrari Sharknose. It is Phil Hill’s winning car from the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix (CMC070). As you would expect from CMC, the level of detail is something else. Comprising of 1,450 parts, the rear bodywork lifts up as it did on the original Sharknose, and the front nose can be removed as well.
CMC have announced a price rise today however, as they join the growing list of diecast manufacturers to have taken this course of action. All of their new subjects have now gone up by £30 to retail at £229.99 (although, of course, with the new VAT rate, that now works out at £225.10!). Even still, those of you who have pre-ordered any of their new subjects before today, have saved a significant sum of money!
The last item of news today concerns Mattel Felipe Massa Ferrari F2008s. At the beginning of the season there was no clue as to how successful Massa’s 2008 campaign would be, so comparatively not very many 1:18 and 1:43 cars were manufactured, as demand was not predicted to be that high.
Demand is obviously much higher now following the Brazilian’s stunning end to the season, and currently the 1:18 replica (DC2802) looks like it will sell out soon, while the 1:43 example (DC28402) could even sell out to pre-orders if it is not released shortly. So, if you’re thinking of getting one, don’t wait too long!
posted in Diecast, Formula 1 |
21st
November
2008
Today we received the Minichamps release schedule for the last three weeks of the year.
The first week of it (so we will receive the stock the week after next), we will see Gary Paffett’s 1:43 2008 DTM Mercedes (P083707), and, finally, restocks of Minichamps plastic base display cases, both 1:18 car (AA90001) and 1:12 bike (PC120011).
The next week sees Minichamps’ next 1:18 Bentley, the Brooklands in black (PG139600), and the next Valentino Rossi 1:12 bike, his 2002 black pre-season Honda RC211V test bike (PO27946). There will also be the re-release of Ayrton Senna’s first World Championship winning car in 1:18, his 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 (AS189).
For the last week of the schedule, it’s a relief to see Lewis Hamilton’s 1:18 2008 McLaren-Mercedes MP4/23 (DC2822) on there. There will also be the Queen’s 2002 Bentley State Limousine in 1:18 (PG139700), and the second colourway of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans in 1:12, silver/blue (P165301). Finally, there will at last be restocks of the 1:12 Vincent Black Shadow (P134500), which we have been waiting well over a year for!
So, although this new schedule ‘only’ encompasses three weeks, there is still quite a bit of meat on there!
posted in Due Dates, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
20th
November
2008
Today IXO confirmed all of their 1:43 releases for the first five months of 2009. In the past we have concentrated on IXO’s Ferrari and Le Mans Winners collections, but now, as with Minichamps and Spark, we will be offering all of their 1:43s to pre-order. Our ‘New Announcements’ section currently has all of these new subjects featured in it.
AUTOart confirmed today that we will now not see their 1:18 silver Koenigsegg CCX (AA79003) in time for Christmas. Moreover, the first colourway released will now not be silver, but orange (AA79001)! Hopefully we will see it on their January container.
Minichamps sent us a sample of their 1:18 Lewis Hamilton 2008 McLaren MP4/23 (DC2822), complete in its final packaging, so that it is a good sign that we will see it in time for Christmas. It is currently slated to be released on the Friday before Christmas, so it’s going to be close! That will obviously also have an impact on when we will be able to despatch our exclusive 1:18 F1 World Champion presentation (DC2008).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
19th
November
2008
Our Leigh had to step out for a meeting this afternoon, so back at the office we drew straws to see who would take care of his worldwide-famous diecast diary. And quite a bit happened today.
AUTOart’s delivery arrived, with such delights as the new Lotus Europa S in silver (AA75366) and black (AA75367), the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR finished in the Red Bull livery (AA80473), two colourways of the Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 VT; orange (AA74526) and yellow (AA74527) and three variants of the 2005 Nissan Fairlady Z GT car, the Calsonic (AA80579), Xanavi (AA80576) and carbon fibre cars (AA80580). There were also two versions of Sebastien Loeb’s 2007 Citroen C4 WRC, the Germany (AA80739) and Monte Carlo (AA80738) cars.
Just when we thought we had our fill for the day, Solido turned up. They delivered us Loeb’s 2008 Red Bull-liveried C4 (SL118015)! Quite an overwhelming day as you can see!
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
18th
November
2008
Today we received new deliveries from Minichamps and Mattel.
Minichamps released their next 1:43 2008 Formula One car, Nick Heidfeld’s BMW F1.08 (DC28403), and their first 1:18 Peugeot 908 replica; the 2007 second place car of Pedro Lamy, Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Bourdais (PG071208). There were also the 1:43 Quantum Of Solace Aston Martin DBS (P137622) and Alfa Romeo 159 (P120500B).
Mattel released Felipe Massa’s 1:18 2008 Ferrari F2008 (DC2802), and their 1:43 replicas of the Ferrari California; red (HW5592) and blue (HW5594). The blue version is almost sold out already however.
Finally today, Japanese manufacturer WITS announced their second 1:12 classic motorbike replica. It will be the Honda CB1100 RD (WH002), and we should see it released early next year.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
