Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received the latest Spark delivery. You can click here to see Spark’s latest releases.

Highlights were the Signature Aston Martin LMP1 from the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK2559), the Tyrrell F1 team’s Ford Transit van (SPK0276), and Ari Vatanen’s menacing 205 T16 from the 1987 Pikes Peak Rally (SPK1265).

Today we received no less than five Red Bull F1 cars from Minichamps, as well as sample shots of Mattel’s new Ferraris.

If you are a Red Bull fan you will have a field day, as we received the 2010 1:18 Red Bull showcars of Mark Webber (DC21006P) and Sebastian Vettel (DC21005P). We also took delivery of Webber’s 2010 showcar in 1:43 (DC210406P), as well as the Toro Rosso showcars of Jaime Alguersuari (DC210417P) and Sebastien Buemi (DC210416P). Dani Pedrosa’s 2008 Honda RC212V (PO81102) was cheekily nestled amongst them.

We also received sample images of the first release from Mattel’s Elite in Music collection: Jay Kay’s 1:18 Ferrari Enzo. This model looks fantastic (HW6255), but will be even better signed! (HW6255S). There is also a couple of very menacing 1:18 Ferrari FXX Evoluziones. One in red (HW6247) and the other in black (HW6249).

Today AUTOart provided us with some sample images of their black 1:18 Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir (AA70961). It looks as dramatic as any supercar replica I’ve ever seen!

At nine o’clock this morning we started our latest 24 hour offer, which is 20% off all replicas that are in our Last Chance Saloon. The Last Chance Saloon, of course, is the section on our website where we only have one example remaining of a replica before we are sold out of it. Incredibly there are currently some 250 models in it, and we would really like to get rid of these before our annual stock take at the end of the month. You can click here to reach the Last Chance Saloon.

Hence our fantastic offer to empty it! To take advantage of this offer, simply enter LCSTWE into the offer code box at the basket page.

We didn’t receive any brand new replicas today, but we do now have a few available of some subjects that had been sold out!

The first of these is our exclusive 1:18 2009 F1 World Champion presentation with Jenson Button’s Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn BGP001 on the base (DC2009B). Having now fulfilled all of our pre-orders for this model, we have found that we still have 20 left over. So if you did miss out originally, you now have another chance!

Next up is the Minichamps 1:12 Mick Doohan 2001 Honda RC211V summer test bike (PO17999), which is a limited edition of just 504 pieces. We have been able to acquire just another five of these, and had sold two before I even got to writing this blog entry! You really will have to be quick if you want one of those!

Today we were very excited to receive our latest signed replica into stock; Minichamps’ 1:12 Jorge Lorenzo 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1, signed by Lorenzo himself (PO93048S)!

It is a limited edition of only 150 pieces worldwide as we were only able to get hold of that many replicas, and half of these were already pre-sold before they arrived in our warehouse today. Like the Lorenzo signed 2008 Minichamps Yamaha YZR-M1, it will probably not be around on our shelves for long.

AUTOart also announced a new 1:18 racing Lotus Cortina today; the winning car of John Whitmore and Peter Proctor from the 1964 Brands Hatch 6 Hours (AA86439).

Today we received the latest Spark delivery, and there were quite a few new replicas on it. You can click here to see Spark’s latest releases.

The highlight was Ronnie Peterson’s 1:43 Lotus 76 from the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix (SPK1769), as Spark’s classic Formula One range continues to go from strength to strength. The 1:43 Pagani Zonda R in carbon (SPK2005) also looks fantastic.

We also received some AUTOart sample images today, of the 1:18 Bugatti Veyron Centenaire in blue (AA70951). If the images are anything to go by, the model is going to be a stunner!

Today we received the latest Minichamps delivery, headlined by Kevin Schwantz’s 1:12 1993 Suzuki RGV 500 (P932034). This replica of the 1993 500cc World Champion is Minichamps’ most exciting classic race bike in a long time.

Also on the delivery was the latest release in the 1:43 Ayrton Senna Racing Car Collection, which is his 1985 Lotus 97T in the ‘15th anniversary’ packaging (AS854312). This is #30 in the series and is a limited edition of 5,280 pieces worldwide.

Finally we received Minichamps’ first ever Bugatti Veyron replicas: the 1:43 Veyron in black and grey (P110820), and the 1:43 Veyron Grand Sport in grey and purple (P110830).

Today we received a new delivery from Norev. You can click here to see Norev’s latest releases.

Highlights were the 1:18 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI in white (NV188490) and the two car set commemorating victory in the 2008 FIA GT3 teams’ championship for Aston Martin (NV270510).

We also received Minichamps’ latest box of samples of some of their forthcoming replicas. The most exciting was the 1:18 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport (PG110830), the first time this has ever been replicated by anyone.

As well as that we had the two 1:18 2010 Red Bull showcars of Sebastian Vettel (DC21005P) and Mark Webber (DC21006P), and Dani Pedrosa’s 1:12 2008 Honda RC212V (PO81102).

Today’s news is dominated by Minichamps Moto GP subjects!

First off, there has been a slight delay with their 1:12 Kevin Schwantz 1993 Suzuki RGV 500 (P932034). It is still due with us imminently, but it has missed our signing date with Kevin Schwantz, which was yesterday in Misano. We are now working to get a revised signing date with the 1993 500cc World Champion as soon as possible (P932034S).

The next Valentino Rossi 1:8 helmet, from Phillip Island in 2004 (PO40896), has also experienced a delay, but this one will be in the region of weeks rather than days. As soon as we have a revised release date we will let you know.

The good news, though, was that we were informed of release dates of three 1:12 Valentino Rossi replicas!

The first of these is the Minichamps 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 from Estoril (PO93096), which we expect to see in the week beginning 25th October.

The month after (the week beginning 22nd November to be precise), we will see the 1:12 Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards winning Honda VTR 1000 from the 2001 Suzuka 8 Hours (PO11446), and the 1:12 Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo two bike and two figure set commemorating their famous battle at Barcelona in 2009 (PO94699).

We also received sample images from Kyosho of their two forthcoming 1:18 Austin Healey replicas. These are Paddy Hopkirk’s winning car from the 1964 Alpine Rally (KY8145A), and the #23 example from the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours (KY8146A). Hopefully this means that we will see these models released soon. Don’t forget that we also offer the Hopkirk car signed by its famous driver (KY8145AS).

Today we received several new 1:18s from Kyosho, and a couple of 1:43s from Bizarre.

Kyosho have released several road cars. The most desirable of which is probably the BMW M3 cabriolet in black (KY8738RG). If black isn’t your colour, you could go in the opposite direction and get the white M3 cabriolet (KY8738W). Either way, both colours show dirt and are a nightmare to clean!

There is also the Caterham Super 7 (KY8222SC) and the Lamborghini Jota SVR in red, with a gold interior (KY8311RG).

Two Bizarre models also came through our doors today. There is the #49 Austin Healey Sprite which came 12th at Le Mans in 1965 (BZ0425). Then there is the simply beautiful BP sponsored Ligier JS3, which was driven at Le Mans in 1971 by non-other than Guy Ligier and Patrick Depailler (BZ0551) .

Let’s hope Leigh Armstrong, I mean Hobden, returns unscathed from the cycle ride! Hopefully he will be back with you on Monday.