Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received next week’s Minichamps delivery a weekday early!

This was another Minichamps delivery that almost filled up our warehouse, such were the numbers of pre-orders that we had on certain replicas.

The most hotly anticipated replica had to be Minichamps’ latest 1:12 classic bike, the BSA Gold Star DBD34 Clubman (P130001). Then, from 1:18 2009 Formula One cars, there were Jenson Button’s ‘standard’ Brawn BGP001, which is completely sold out to pre-orders (DC2922), and Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull RB5 (DC2915).

From 1:43 Formula One cars, there were the Mark Webber 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Red Bull RB5 (DC29414C), which is a limited edition of 2,016 pieces, and James Hunt’s 1977 McLaren M26 (P774301), which is a limited edition of 3,600 pieces.

We also received the Mercedes Dealer Edition 1:43 Minichamps replicas of the 2009 McLaren MP4/24s of Lewis Hamilton (DC29401M) and Heikki Kovalainen (DC29402M).

Then, from endurance racing, there was the latest subject in Minichamps’ 1:43 Le Mans Winners collection, the 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 of McNish, Aiello and Ortelli (P986926).

Away from Minichamps, True Scale Miniatures announced some exciting 1:18 subjects today.

The first of these is the infamous six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 from 1976. True Scale will be replicating Jody Scheckter’s Tyrrell P34 that won the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix (TSM10185), and the test car with the tall airbox (TSM10184). The 1976 Swedish Grand Prix was the only occasion that a six-wheeled car won a Grand Prix, and we are delighted that we can also offer this replica signed by Jody Scheckter himself (TSM10185S).

The other exciting 1:18 subject from True Scale is the 1979 Le Mans winning Porsche 935 K3 (TSM10182).

I hope these new True Scale replicas will be on show at Nuremberg so that we can do features on them for future issues of Diecast Monthly!