Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Minichamps have just confirmed 1:18 and 1:43 specials of Lewis Hamilton’s championship winning McLaren MP4/23 from the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.

It will include the specific aerodynamic package that Lewis’s McLaren ran with in that race, notably including the ‘horns’ mounted on the nosecone. We also hope that it will have the wet tyres that Lewis finished the race with.

In 1:18 scale (DC2822B) it will cost £69.99 and in 1:43 scale (DC28422B) it will cost £29.99. Although we do not expect to see these replicas until very late in 2009 at the earliest, remember that if you pre-order before the end of the year then your order will be protected against any future price rises.

Today we received GMP’s highly detailed 1:18 replica of the Ferrari 330 P4 raced by Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon in the 1967 BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch (GMP1967). The front and rear bodywork is removable and there is a tool to keep the rear bodywork hinged open as well.

There were also some more new 1:43 announcements from IXO. The first of these is their next Le Mans 24 Hour winner, the 1928 Bentley Sport of Barnato and Rubin (LM1928).

Then there were several 2008 rally cars, including the Suzuki SX4s of Toni Gardemeister (RAM345) and Per-Gunnar Andersson (RAM346), and the new-shape Subaru Imprezas of Petter Solberg (RAM341) and Chris Atkinson (RAM344). Just a shame that we’re not going to see those cars in the championship next year!