Leigh’s Diecast Diary

For today’s last blog entry of the year we received a new delivery from Minichamps and some Mattel samples.

The Minichamps delivery contained their first 1:43 2011 F1 race cars: namely Nick Heidfeld’s Renault R31 (DC211409) and Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber C30 (DC211416). You can click here to see all of Minichamps’ latest new releases.

Mattel sent us samples of their 1:18 Ferrari FF in blue (HW1118) and their 1:43 Ferrari FF in red (HW1187). Hopefully this means that we will see them released pretty early in 2012.

All that remains is for me to wish all Diecast Legends customers and Leighs Diary readers and forum users a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May everything under your tree be 1:18, 1:12 or 1:43!

Today, Mattel released two fantastic 1:18 TV and Film replicas.

We received the 1:18 A-Team Van (HW7439), and the 1:18 Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (HW1176). Our first delivery of ECTO-1 was completely sold out to pre-orders, and we expect to receive our next batch at the end of January.

TrueScale Miniatures released several new 1:43 replicas today. Chief amongst them was Graham Hill’s 1960 Porsche 718 F2 from the Solitude Grand Prix (TSM114310); we also received the Porsche 718 F2 that was driven to victory by Jo Bonnier in the 1960 German Formula 2 Grand Prix (TSM114308), which was held at the Nurburgring Sudschleife circuit.

The 1968 Porsche 911 from the London to Sydney Marathon (TSM10437), the 1979 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II in champagne (TSM114318) and the 1972 Rolls Royce Corniche in dark blue are also worthy of mention.

Today, Amalgam released the 1:4 2011 Red Bull RB7 steering wheel (AML1123). This, of course, is the steering wheel used by this year’s world champion, Sebastian Vettel.

We also received some release dates for Minichamps’ forthcoming 2011 Formula One replicas.

On the 28th of December we should see the 1:43 Kamui Kobayashi 2011 Sauber C30 (DC211416), as well as the 1:43 2011 Lotus Renault R31s of Nick Heidfeld (DC211409) and Vitaly Petrov (DC211410).

A week after that on the third of January, we will be receiving the 1:43 Sebastian Vettel 2011 Red Bull RB7 (DC211401).

Today, Sun Star announced an exciting new subject and we took delivery of four Burago replicas.

Sun Star has announced the 1:18 1984 Ford Escort RS Turbo in black (SS4962). More importantly, they are replicating the very car that was driven Princess Diana. It is also the only Series 1 Ford Escort RS Turbo that was sprayed black by the factory; all the rest were diamond white.

From Burago, we received four 1:32 scale Formula One replicas: the 2011 Red Bull RB7s of Sebastian Vettel (B41202A) and Mark Webber (B41202B), and the McLaren MP4/26s of Jenson Button (B41203B) and Lewis Hamilton (B41203A). For just £14.99, we think that they look pretty good.

Today, we received several new replicas from AUTOart.

The highlight of the December shipment has to be the 1:18 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 (AA70196); it looks gorgeous!

Other replicas of note include the 1:18 Jaguar XJS cabriolet in red (AA73572) and white (AA73571), as well as the 1:18 Jaguar XJS coupé in black (AA73577); the 1:18 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 in yellow (AA74621), and the 1:18 Signature Collection Willys Jeep (AA74006).

There was also an announcement from CMC today: they are now going to be producing a bespoke 1:18 Ferrari transporter display case (CMC084C).

In other news, Spark’s 1:18 1963 Jim Clark Lotus 25 (SPA18S038) replica, which was originally due in just before Christmas on the 23rd of December, has been delayed, and is now scheduled to be released in the middle of January.

Today we received two new 1:12 Valentino Rossi bikes, as well as new releases from Mattel and Spark.

The two Rossi bikes in question are the 1:12 2011 Valentino Rossi Ducati Desmosedici GP11 launch bike (PO110846), and the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103046) which arrived a week earlier than expected!

Mattel released just one replica today: the 1:43 Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (HW1194).

Spark sent us the 1:43 Narain Karthikeyan 2011 Hispania HRT F111 (DC211422), Jurgen Barth’s Porsche 911 SC from the 1983 Monte Carlo Rally (SPK2090), and the 1:43 1937 Talbot Lago T150C SS Teardrop coupé Figoni & Fallaci (SPK2705).

Click here to see the rest of Spark’s new releases.

Today, CMC sent us their stunning 1:18 Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti Ferrari racing team transporter (CMC084). Despite its hefty price tag, our first delivery is already on the brink of selling out!

We will be receiving restocks in January.

Today, we received over 30 new releases from IXO, and one new release from Mattel.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an IXO delivery without a new La Storia release, which came on the form of Alberto Ascari’s 1951 German Grand Prix winning Ferrari 375 F1 (IXSF29).

There were also several fantastic new rally releases, including the Ford Fiesta S2000 that Mikko Hirvonen drove to victory in the 2010 Monte Carlo Rally (RAM418), Francois Duval’s 2009 Skoda Fabia S2000 from the Ypres Rally (RAM388), and the Peugeot 207 S2000 that Kris Meeke drove to second in 2010 Rally Azores (RAM442).

Other notable replicas on the delivery were the 1964 MGB cabriolet in blue (CLC230), the 1989 BMW Alpina B6 3.5S in metallic silver (CLC073), and the Audi R15 TDI that won the 2009 Sebring 12 Hours (GTM088). Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen, and Rinaldo Capello drove the car.

For something a bit different, check out the Aston Martin DBRS9 Gendarmerie police car (MOC085)!

Click here to see all of IXO’s new releases.

We also received one new replica from Mattel today, and what a replica it was: the 1:18 Fernando Alonso 2011 Ferrari F150 Italia (DC21105).

Today we received a fantastic delivery from Minichamps.

Rossi collectors will be pleased to hear that Minichamps released both the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1996 riding figure (P960146), and the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1997 Brno figure (P970246).

Other exciting replicas include the 1:18 Lewis Hamilton 2010 McLaren MP4/25 (DC21002), and the special edition 1:43 McLaren MP4/25 which Jenson Button drove to victory in the 2010 Australian Grand Prix (DC210401A).

Minichamps also sent us the 1:18 Hubert Haupt 1992 Audi V8 Quattro DTM car (PG921045), and the 1:18 Porsche 904 GTS that Eugen Bohringer drove in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. He finished fourth overall, and first in class (PG656750).

Today, we received news of a new delivery from Mattel next week.

Next Wednesday (21st December) Mattel will be sending us the 1:18 A-Team van (HW7439), the 1:18 Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (HW1176), and the 1:43 Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (HW1194).

Minichamps’ 1:18 replica of the 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental (PG139420) is now due on the 23rd of December.

Of course, we will despatch as many of your orders as we can, but we cannot guarantee delivery for Christmas Eve.

One Bizarre replica was released today: the 1:43 EMKA C/83 from the 1983 Le Mans 24 Hours (BZ0408). Tiff Needell, Steve O’Rourke and Nick Faure drove the car.