Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today Spark announced several cars from this year’s Monte Carlo Rally; we also received new releases from IXO.

Spark are, pretty much, replicating every WRC spec. car that competed in the event, including the winning Sebastien Loeb Citroen DS3 WRC (SPK3326), the Dani Sordo Mini Cooper WRC (SPK3312) that came second, and the third placed Ford Fiesta RS WRC of Petter Solberg. (SPK3340).

Also announced was Jari-Matti Latvala’s 2012 Ford Fiesta RS WRC (SPK3311), the Ford Fiesta RS WRC of Matthew Wilson (SPK3344), and the Mini Cooper WRC that was driven by Paulo Nobre (SPK3352).

Click here to see the rest of Spark’s 2012 Monte Carlo Rally announcements.

The highlights of our IXO delivery included the 1:43 Ken Done BMW M3 Art Car (CLC232), Sebastien Loeb’s ‘dirty’ Citroen DS3 WRC from the 2011 Rally GB (RAM464A), and the #1 Audi R15 from the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (LMM161) as driven by Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.

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

Tomorrow we’re off to Nuremberg once again for the annual Toy Fair. As ever we’ll let you know what happens!

Today we received new replicas from TrueScale Miniatures and Fujimi, with the latter also revealing their 2012 announcements.

Fujimi sent us the 1:43 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 presentation car (TSM11FJ017); it’s the first Ferrari replica that we have received from the brand.

From TrueScale, we took delivery of the 1:43 1950 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith (TSM104313) that was used by the Japanese Imperial Family, along with the 1:43 1953 Porsche 550 coupé that Jaroslav Juhan raced in the Carrera Panamericana (TSM114348).

Fujimi’s 2012 announcements are pretty exciting, especially for Ferrari collectors. Our favourites include the 1:18 Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan from the 1962 Guards Trophy (FUJ1218001), Fernando Alonso’s 2011 British Grand Prix winning Ferrari F150 Italia (FUJ1243014), and the 1:43 Ferrari 512M from the 1971 Daytona 24 Hours (FUJ1243009). Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons drove the car to a third place finish.

Click here to see the rest of Fujimi’s new announcements.

Today Norev gave us a heads up of what’s on their next delivery, which is due shortly.

The subjects that we’re most excited about are the 1:18 2009 Sebastien Loeb Citroen C4 WRC from the Rally GB (NV181550), and the 1:18 2010 Sebastien Loeb Citroen C4 WRC from the Rally of France (NV181551).

We will also be receiving the 1:18 Volkswagen Touareg that came 1st in the 2009 Dakar Rally (NV188466) in the hands of Giniel de Villiers.

In terms of road cars, Norev will be sending us the 1:43 1995 Renault Spider in silver (NV517909), the 1:18 1968 Mercedes 300 SL in black (NV183511), and the 1:18 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV 2010 China Edition (NV187964).

Today, we received new releases from Schuco, Premium ClassiXXs, Oxford and Universal Hobbies.

Premium ClassiXXs’ 1:12 1954 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing in silver (PRE10500) was by far the most beautiful model that arrived today.  It is limited to just 1,000 pieces worldwide.

Schuco sent us the 1:43 Audi S5 Sportback in white (SCH8807), while Oxford delivered the 1:43 Bentley S1 Continental in shell grey (OXF037).

We also received two tractors from Universal Hobbies: the 1:16 1960-1962 Fordson Dexta (J2898), and the 1:16 David Brown Selectamatic 990 (J4007).

Today, we received significant new releases from both Mattel and Minichamps.

The highlight of the day was Mattel’s 1:43 Jose Froilan Gonzalez 1951 Ferrari and Fernando Alonso 2011 Ferrari two car set (DC211405B2).

From Minichamps, we received our second delivery of the 1:43 2011 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull RB7 (DC211401), and the 1:18 Jenson Button 2011 McLaren showcar (DC21104P).

Minichamps also released their first classic bike in a long while: the 1:12 1974 Ducati 750 SS (P120750). The 1:18 1980 Citroen 2CV Charleston (PG111501), and the 1:43 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster in silver (P137430) also arrived on our shelves.

Today, we received a few new releases from Kyosho.

In 1:18 scale, we took delivery of the Mini Cooper 1275S in red (KY8108R) and the Mini Cooper 1275S in blue (KY8108BU).

Kyosho also released their 1:43 Audi A1 replica in three colourways: white (KY03801AW), red (KY03801SR), and brown (KY03801TBR).

The 1:43 Lamborghini Miura Jota SVR in black/silver also arrived (KY03201BKS), as has the 1:43 Lamborghini Miura Jota SVR in blue/black (KY03201BLK).

Today we received news that the 1:18 Jim Clark 1963 Lotus 25 (SPA18S038), which was due for a January release, has now been delayed until March.

In other news, Minichamps announced more than 15 new road car subjects. There was just one 1:18 model: the 1976 Citroen 2CV in green (PG111502).

Highlights in 1:43 include the 2009 BMW Z4 in red (P028131), the 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS in white with silver wheels (P069405), the 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RS in metallic blue (P069101), and the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 in black (P069102).

Today, IXO gave us details of the replicas that are due to be released in February.

Obviously, there are a myriad of rallying subjects with highlights including a ‘dirty’ version of Sebastien Loeb’s DS3 WRC (RAM464A), and a Citroen DS3 WRC which comes with a French flag adorned with the number ‘8’ draped over the windscreen (RAM464B). Both are from the 2011 Rally GB.

Other replicas of interest include the 1:43 Ken Done BMW M3 Art Car (CLC232), and the 1:43 McLaren F1 GTR from the 1996 Spa 24 Hours (GTM084), which was driven by Thomas Bscher and John Nielsen. There is also the 1:43 #1 2009 Audi R15 from the Le Mans 24 Hours (LMM161) that was driven by Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.

Click here to see everything due from IXO in February.

Today, we received yet another quality delivery from Spark.

F1 fans will be pleased to hear that they have released the 1:43 2011 Adrian Sutil Force India VJM04 (DC211414K) and the 1:43 2011 Paul di Resta Force India VJM04 (DC211415K).

They also released one classic F1 subject, in the form of the Ligier JS7 that Eddie Cheever drove to second in the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix (SPK1664).

Other prominent releases include Nasser Al-Attiyah’s 2011 Dakar Rally winning Volkswagen Touareg (SPK0823), the 1:43 #009 Aston Martin AMR-One from Le Mans 2011 that was driven by Harold Primat, Adrian Fernandez and Andy Meyrick (SPK2537), and the Lola T70 MK.IIIB from the 1969 BOAC 500 (SPK1468). Robin Widdows and Ulf Norinder were the wheelmen.

Today Mattel announced all of their new 2012 subjects, and we had a small delivery from Minichamps.

There were a number of Film and TV subjects confirmed this year: our favourite was the 1:18 Batpod from The Dark Knight Rises (HW5471).

Ferrari road car collectors will be pleased to hear that Mattel will be making the 1:18 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta in red (HW5477), the 1:18 Ferrari 348 TS in black (HW5481), the 1:18 Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder in matt black (HW5485), and the 1:18 Ferrari 308 GT4 in red. (HW5482).

One of the most interesting announcements was without doubt the 1:18 2003 Ferrari Enzo Monza test car (HW5488).

Mattel also announced a new 1:43 Nigel Mansell Monography collection, with subjects including Mansell’s 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix winning Ferrari 640 (HW5517), and the Ferrari 641/2 that Nigel Mansell drove to 1st in the 1990 Portuguese Grand Prix (HW5519).

Click here to see the rest of Mattel’s new announcements.

Minichamps sent us the 1:43 2011 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull RB7 (DC211401). Our first delivery has sold to pre-orders, but we will be receiving more next week so you won’t have long to wait if you haven’t ordered yet.

Other replicas on the Minichamps delivery included the 1:18 2010 Porsche 918 Spyder (PG060030) and the 1:43 Sergio Perez 2011 Sauber C30.