Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received the last AUTOart delivery before Christmas, and there were several very exciting subjects on it.

We received the 1:18 McLaren F1 in black (AA76002B), and also at last restocks of the 1:18 McLaren F1 in silver (AA76001).

Other new releases on the delivery were the 1:18 John Whitmore Lotus Cortina from Hungary in 1964 (AA86427), the 1:18 Honda NSX in red (AA73271), and the 1:18 1997 Nissan R390 GT1 Le Mans test car (AA89778).

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

In other news, I was very surprised today to see that the Mattel 1:18 Nick Mason Ferrari 512S (HW6253) is completely sold out. I knew it would be popular, but not that popular! We still have a few pieces left unsold from our exclusive version signed by Nick Mason (HW6253S), but that may not remain the case for much longer. He will be signing for us later this week, by the way.

Finally today, we only have ten examples left of the Minichamps 1:43 Sebastian Vettel 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC210405P) before it will be sold out. Once they’re gone, that’s it!

Today we received Shelby Collectibles’ 1:18 replica of Stirling Moss’s Aston Martin DBR1 from the 1959 World Sportscar Championship (DC559B). It represents great value at just £49.99. We will also be able to despatch our exclusive version signed by Stirling Moss (DC559BS) towards the end of next week once we have met up with him.

Another new release today was the Amalgam 1:12 2010 Mercedes MGP W01 nose cone (AML1012). This completes Amalgam’s range of 1:4 steering wheels and 2010 nose cones from the 2010 Formula One season. As with the Red Bull RB6 nose cone, the Mercedes version does not feature a race number as it was too high up the bodywork to be incorporated. Therefore you can buy it regardless of whether you are a Michael Schumacher or a Nico Rosberg fan!

We also received two Mattel 1:18 samples, of the Ferrari 599XX in black (HW6252) and the bright green #83 Ferrari Dino 246 GT from the 1971 Nurburgring 1000km (HW6260). Both look extremely impressive, continuing Mattel’s excellent run of form that we have seen in the second half of 2010.

Today we received a large delivery of Minichamps replicas that have been sold out for quite some time, which we were able to source recently. You can click here to see them all.

Formula One highlights include James Hunt’s 1:18 1976 McLaren M23 (PG761811), Michele Alboreto’s 1:43 Tyrrell 012 from the 1983 Dutch Grand Prix (P830003), and the 1:43 1976 March 2-4-0 six wheeler (P760699).

Endurance racing highlights include the American flag liveried #8 Porsche 956L from the 1986 Le Mans 24 Hours (PG866508), and the Boss liveried #18 Porsche 956L from the 1983 Le Mans 24 Hours (PG836918).

Two wheeled highlights include the 1:12 Valentino Rossi figure from Jerez 2007 (PO79146), Casey Stoner’s 1:12 2006 Honda RC211V (PO61027), and Kenny Roberts Jnr’s 2000 Suzuki RGV 500 (PO06202).

If you missed out on some of these models first time around, now you have another chance to acquire them.

Today it was confirmed that the TrueScale Miniatures 1:18 Jody Scheckter 1976 Tyrrell P34 (TSM10185) is ‘on the water’ and is scheduled to dock in the UK on New Year’s Eve.

That means that barring any delays we should receive this exciting replica in early to mid January, and hopefully we will able to have the version signed by Jody Scheckter (TSM10185S) completed before the end of the month as well. Watch this space!

In other news, Spark announced a 1:18 replica of the 2010 Le Mans winning Audi R15 of Timo Bernhard, Mike Rockenfeller and Romain Dumas (SPA18LM10).

Today we received a new Minichamps delivery, headlined by their 1:43 Nelson Piquet 1981 Brabham BT49C (P810005), Formula One Champion from the year I was born! It is a limited edition of just 2,304 pieces and is specifically his winning car from the German Grand Prix.

Other new releases on the delivery were the 1:18 Mercedes SLS AMG in red (PG039020), the 1:18 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in black and yellow (PG1108301), and the 1:12 Max Biaggi 1995 Aprilia RSV 250 (P950001B).

We also received our second delivery of the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2009 Estoril Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93096), so we can now supply it straight from stock! Not for long though!

As Christmas rapidly approaches the intensity of diecast news shows no sign of abating!

Today we are very excited to announce that we have been able to obtain a small number of this year’s Autosport Award table centres, signed by both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in an individually numbered worldwide limited edition of just 130 pieces (DC21001AA)! You can click here for full details.

We also received our most expensive and highly detailed 1:18 replica of 2010 today, in the form of the Bauer Bugatti Royale Roadster Esders (BA1990). It looks absolutely incredible, especially with its mirrored base to show off all the intricate engine detail!

On top of that we received new deliveries from Schuco and Premium Classixx today as well. You can click here to see Schuco’s latest new releases and here to see Premium Classixx’s latest new releases.

If all that wasn’t enough, we also received the latest Minichamps release schedule! You can click here to see it in its entirety.

The first week covers the week beginning 20th December, and we are scheduled to receive the 1:2 Valentino Rossi 2006 Moto GP helmet (PO62046) and 1:43 Hector Rebaque 1981 Brabham BT49C (P810006).

It gets more interesting the following week, with the 1:43 Aguri Suzuki 1990 Lola LC90 (P900030), the 1:43 Nelson Piquet Benetton B189B from the 1990 American Grand Prix at Phoenix (P900120), and another 1:2 Valentino Rossi helmet, from Mugello in 2006 (PO62076). We will also receive the fourth and penultimate subject in the 1:43 Ayrton Senna ‘15th Anniversary’ series: his 1984 Toleman TG184 (AS844319). 

The last week of the schedule covers the first week of 2011, when we are due to receive the 1:18 #40 Porsche 906LE from the 1967 Sebring 12 Hours (PG676140), and the 1:43 Eric Bernard 1990 Lola LC90 (P900029).

Another day, another set of new releases from no less than three different diecast manufacturers!

Starting with Mattel, we received the 1:43 2010 Ferrari F10s of Fernando Alonso (DC210408) and Felipe Massa (DC210407). We also received three new 1:43 Gilles Villeneuve Ferraris; the Villeneuve 1978 Ferrari 312 T4 (HW6271), the Villeneuve 1980 Ferrari 312 T5 (HW6273), and the Villeneuve 1982 Ferrari 126 C2 (HW6268). The latter is specifically the car from the 1982 US Grand Prix West with the infamous double rear wing, which led to the Canadian being disqualified from his third place finish.

As well as all that we received the most exciting release in Mattel’s 1:18 Elite In Music Collection: Nick Mason’s Ferrari 512S (HW6253). We can also offer this model signed by Nick Mason (HW6253S), and we hope to have the signing completed soon. Another new Elite In Music release was Eric Clapton’s Ferrari 250 GT (HW6254).

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

Minichamps’ new releases today were the 1:12 Honda CB1100R in turquoise, red and white (P161700), the 1:43 #173 BMW Z4 from the 2009 Nurburgring 24 Hours (P092773), and the 1:43 #176 BMW Z4 from the 2009 Nurburgring 24 Hours (P092776).

Finally, Kyosho’s new 1:18 releases included Gilberto Pianezzola’s Esso liveried Lancia Delta from the 1993 San Remo Rally (KY8346A), the Morgan 4/4 Sport in red (KY8115R), and the Lamborghini Urraco P250 Rally in orange (KY8442P). You can click here to see all of Kyosho’s latest new releases.

The last two weeks have certainly been exciting with all the new releases that have been turning up!

Today we received new deliveries from Spark, Bizarre and HPI.

The Spark delivery included their two latest 1:43 classic Formula One cars: Karl Wendlinger’s March CG911 from the 1992 Canadian Grand Prix (SPK1660) and Alex Soler-Roig’s BRM P160B from the 1972 Spanish Grand Prix (SPK1741).

We also received the Aston Martin One-77 in grey (SPK2160), the colourful #4 Peugeot 908 from the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK1294) and #70 Ford GT from the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK2576).

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

The highlight of the Bizarre delivery was Per Eklund’s Toyota Celica from the 1982 Ivory Coast Rally (BZ0398). You can click here to see all of Bizarre’s latest new releases.

Meanwhile, HPI released two new McLaren F1 GTRs; the #41 example that came second in the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours (HP8169), and the #39 example from the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours (HP8170).

Today we received a new signed replica into stock: the Minichamps 1:12 James Toseland 2008 Yamaha YZR-M1 signed by James Toseland himself (PO83052S). It is a limited edition of just 100 pieces worldwide, and after fulfilling all of our pre-orders we only have 28 examples left.

We also received sample images of some Minichamps subjects that we expect to see released in the very near future: Lewis Hamilton’s 1:43 2010 McLaren showcar (DC210402P), Jody Scheckter’s 1:18 McLaren M23 from the 1973 British Grand Prix (PG731830), and Alessandro Nannini’s 1:43 1989 Benetton B189 (P890019).

Today the news was all about 1:18 Sun Star classic rally Escorts (and the increasing amount of snow building up outside GPL Towers making us wonder if we’re going to be able to get home tonight)!

We received sample images of the Ari Vatanen ‘Black Beauty’ Ford Escort RS1800 from the 1982 Rally of Ireland (SS4449). It looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to see it released early next year.

Sun Star also announced a new 1:18 Ford Escort RS1800, of Ari Vatanen from the 1980 Monte Carlo Rally (SS4450).

Right, now where did I put my snow shoes?