Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received several new 1:43 HPI replicas spanning four separate subjects; the Toyota Celica Turbo rally car, the Toyota Celica GT-4 rally car, the Toyota GT-One Le Mans car, and the Nismo GT-R Le Mans car. You can click here to see HPI’s latest releases.
 
There were also some new announcements from Minichamps. The most interesting is a 1:43 two car set commemorating Minichamps’ 20th anniversary, which will contain a 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe in blue and a 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo in white (P902010). It will be a limited edition of only 2,020 pieces worldwide.

Also announced were a new 1:2 helmet, for Valentino Rossi from Barcelona 2008 (PO82086), and five new 1:43 2010 DTM cars. These are the Mercedes C-Classes of Gary Paffett (P103903), Bruno Spengler (P103904), Paul di Resta (P103907), Ralf Schumacher (P103908), and David Coulthard (P103817).

You can click here to see Minichamps’ latest new announcements.

Today we received some sample images from Minichamps of some of their forthcoming Moto GP replicas. Hopefully this means we will see them released soon.

The subjects are the 1:12 Valentino Rossi figure from Sepang 2005 (PO50176), the 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet from Mugello 2002 (PO20876), Valentino Rossi’s 2009 Estoril Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93096), Colin Edwards’ 1:12 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93005), and James Toseland’s 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93052).

There was a new delivery from Sun Star too. You can click here to see Sun Star’s latest releases. Highlights include Hannu Mikkola’s Fiat 124 Abarth from the 1975 Monte Carlo Rally (SS4947), and Graham Coffey’s Subaru Impreza WRC from the 2009 Rally Catalunya (SS4480).

We also received Universal Hobbies’ latest 1:16 tractor, the Nuffield Universal 4 Row Crop (J2885).

Minichamps provided us with a lot of exciting news this afternoon, in the form of several new 1:12 Moto GP announcements.

First up is a new Valentino Rossi special, which is his winning Yamaha YZR-M1 from the 2008 Indianapolis race (PO83146). It will come with wet tyres and a race-aged dirty effect. What was significant about this race was that Vale won his 69th Grand Prix in the top class, setting a new record for premier class victories.

Another special is Casey Stoner’s winning Ducati Desmosedici from the 2009 Phillip Island Moto GP, which will come complete with a figure (PO90127). In this race he sported a one-off white livery.

Finally, Minichamps announced six 2010 1:12 Moto GP replicas. These are Valentino Rossi’s 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103046), Jorge Lorenzo’s 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103099), Casey Stoner’s 2010 Ducati Desmosedici (PO100027), Nicky Hayden’s 2010 Ducati Desmosedici (PO100069), Colin Edwards’ 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103005), and Ben Spies’ 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103011).

We can also offer Jorge Lorenzo’s 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 signed by the man (and probable 2010 Moto GP Champion) himself (PO103099S).

Somewhat dwarfed by these new announcements, we received a new Spark delivery today. You can click here to see Spark’s latest releases. Highlights are the 1:43 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster (SPK2006), and the 1:18 Dauer Porsche 962 that finished third at Le Mans in 1994 (SPA18S035).

Today we received the week’s new Minichamps delivery. It included their first ever 1:12 Moto GP replica to feature the on-board camera on the tail, which is Nicky Hayden’s 2009 Ducati Desmosedici (PO90069).

The delivery also included five 1:43 Formula One cars. These are Jody Scheckter’s 1973 British Grand Prix McLaren M23 (P734330), Jochen Mass’s 1977 USA Grand Prix West McLaren M23 (P774392), Ivan Capelli’s 1990 Leyton House C901 (P900016), Nico Rosberg’s 2008 pre-season test Williams FW30 with the team’s world champions’ signatures on it (DC28407T2), and Kazuki Nakajima’s 2008 pre-season test Williams FW30 with the team’s statistics on it (DC28408T3).

Today’s diecast news is mainly to do with AUTOart.

Most excitingly, they have announced a 1:18 replica of Jim Clark’s winning Lotus Cortina from the Crystal Palace round of the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship (AA86438).

We also received sample images of their forthcoming 1:18 replica of Per Stureson’s winning Volvo 240 Turbo from the Wunstorf round of the 1985 DTM (AA88592), and received an indication (although this has not been confirmed) that their Signature Collection 1:18 replicas of the McLaren F1 in silver (AA76001) and in black (AA76002B) will be priced at £199.99. 

Finally today, we have been able to obtain just another five examples of the Minichamps 1:18 Mark Webber 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Red Bull RB5 (DC2914C), which we sold out of almost as soon as it was released. If you did miss out originally, you now have a very small window of opportunity to make amends!

Today HPI announced a few new 1:43 replicas to start off the week. You can click here to see them all. Highlights include the McLaren F1 GTR presentation car (HP8182) and Colin McRae’s Subaru Legacy RS from the 1993 Acropolis Rally (HP8186).

We also received sample images of Sun Star’s next 1:18 Ford Escort rally car, which will be Pentti Arikkala’s example from the 1976 1000 Lakes (SS4447). We have been told to expect it in September.

Today we received the new Minichamps delivery to finish off the week. We normally receive Minichamps deliveries earlier in the week but this one was delayed in transit after leaving Germany.

It includes three new 1:43 Formula One cars, which are Paul Pietsch’s 1951 Alfa Romeo 159 from the German Grand Prix (P511278), Mauricio Gugelmin’s 1992 Leyton House C901 (P900015), and the orange two-seater Minardi F1×2 that ran at Fiorano in 2002 (P020510). You can click here to see the rest of Minichamps’ latest releases.

Today we received news of some new Spark replicas that will be released next week, and of some Minichamps cancellations.

The Minichamps cancellations are the two 2008 Moto GP Gresini Hondas of Randy de Puniet (PO81015) and Shinya Nakano (PO81056).

You can click here to see next week’s new Spark releases. Highlights in 1:43 include a Gulf sponsored Formula One car, which is Alessandro Pessenti-Rossi’s Tyrrell 007 from the 1976 Italian Grand Prix (SPK1648), the Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster (SPK2006), and the 99F GT9 R (SPK0748).

There is also a new 1:18 Spark replica which will be released next week, which is the third place Dauer Porsche 962 from the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPA18S035).

Today we received a new Spark delivery, which included restocks of the 1:18 1994 Le Mans winning Dauer Porsche 962 (SPA18L094).

The new 1:43s that were released included the aggressive Gumpert Apollo S Nurburgring lap record car (SPK0665), the BMW CSL ‘Batmobile’ in green (SPK1577), and the #21 Austin Healey from the 1961 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK807).

You can click here to see all of Spark’s new releases.

Today we received one of the most exciting Minichamps release schedules that I can remember, and I’m not just saying that because there are no less than ten models on it that I have on pre-order!

The first week covers the week beginning 16th August, and we will see the first 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet for several months, which is his 2005 Laguna Seca lid (PO50896). We will also see the 1:43 Nico Rosberg 2008 Williams FW30 test car from 25th-27th February (DC28407T3).

The week after that we will see the 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet from Assen 2007 (PO70866), Jorge Lorenzo’s 1:12 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93048), and Nico Rosberg’s 1:43 2008 Williams FW30 test car from 21st-24th January (DC28407T4).

In the third week of the schedule (week beginning 30th August) we will see Jenson Button’s 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn BGP001, in both 1:18 (DC2922SP) and 1:43 (DC29422SP) scale. That also means that we will be able to ship out the rest of our exclusive 1:18 2009 World Champion presentations (DC2009B) as well.

Also due to be released that week are Casey Stoner’s 1:12 2009 Ducati Desmosedici (PO90027), Sebastian Vettel’s 1:43 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC210405P), and the 1:43 Ayrton Senna ‘15th anniversary’ 1992 McLaren MP4/7 (AS924301).

In the last week of the schedule we are going to see Minichamps’ third 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet in four weeks, which is his example from Phillip Island 2004 (PO40896), along with Kevin Schwantz’s 1:12 1993 Suzuki RGV500 (P932034), and the 1:43 Ayrton Senna ‘15th anniversary’ 1985 Lotus 97T (AS854312).

For the full Minichamps release schedule, click here. It’s a corker!