About Me

Leigh PhotoHi there, my name’s Leigh Hobden and I’d like to welcome you to my diecast blog. Every day I’ll be updating these pages with interesting new developments and gossip from the world of diecast plus, as a massive motorsport fan, anything else that catches my eye!

I’ll be telling everybody about all of the latest diecast releases and gossip, as well as images and maybe the odd video or two! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

I work for Grand Prix Legends as the Diecast Manager. It’s probably the largest online retailer of Diecast in the world, so all the models I list in the diary should link through to the Diecast Legends site in order for you to see images and then be able to purchase the model. GPL is a ‘proper’ company with huge stocks that are all looked after by the team. I want all of the customers of GPL to receive their models in pristine condition including the packaging. GPL has even had bespoke packaging boxes created so that models can be sent out without getting damaged.

I need you! The more people who comment, Digg the stories, rate the vidcasts on iTunes and YouTube, the more traffic the diary will generate. The more traffic, the more time I will be ‘allowed’ to spend on the diary. That could mean longer vidcasts, even maybe audience participation vidcasts, with the audience being made up of the followers of Leigh’s Diary who Digg us, rate us and write comments.

I will always try and answer comments and questions but please bear in mind that if I know a release date it WILL be in the diary. Just do a search at the top right to see if the model has been listed yet. If you ask when will a model be out the answer will probably be ‘Still don’t know yet’.

There are currently 28 responses to “About Me”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone else's, so come on... let us know what you think.

  1. 1 On October 9th, 2007, Gareth said:

    Excellent that they’ve spun the blog off into a proper space of its own.
    Thoroughly deserved - look forward to following all the news and podcasts here.
    Nice one :)

  2. 2 On October 10th, 2007, Kate & Harry Bicknell said:

    Really enjoyed the webcast, We thought it was very infomative and described all products in good detail. Look foward to next week.

  3. 3 On October 12th, 2007, Darren said:

    Leigh’s Diecast Diary the first page i visit everyday when i get home from work.
    The Diary keeps you informed on all diecast news in one page that used to take hours to find all over the internet.

    Keep up the Good Work Leigh.

  4. 4 On October 23rd, 2007, chris curtis said:

    I would like firstly to congratulate you on your daily diaries which keep us all well informed.could you help maybe with a request to minichamps regarding more of their figures especially the mugello (Hawaiian flower design) and the Austin Powers liveried leathers from valencia 03 to compliment their already released bikes-regards chris curtis

  5. 5 On October 23rd, 2007, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    I’m also very keen to see Minichamps release these figures! I was hoping that the second Mugello bike would come with a figure like the 2000 Donington bike did, but obviously that didn’t happen. I would be surprised if Minichamps did not eventually announce these, but I think they are currently concentrating on producing what they have announced so far before announcing any more new subjects.

  6. 6 On December 17th, 2007, peter cavellini said:

    Hi Leigh.
    i’d be very interested too to hear your opinion on EXOTO because they think British diecast sellers are last to get the important models/or are they more loyal to their home market?

  7. 7 On December 18th, 2007, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    I wasn’t aware of that, did Exoto tell you that themselves?

  8. 8 On December 18th, 2007, peter cavellini said:

    It was an assumption on my behalf because some of the diecast we’re waiting for is for sale on they’re web site which i imagine bugs a lot of diecast collectors because it can take a year to get here.I did get an e-mail from EXOTO saying they were trying to get their build times down which is fare enough but being the respected company they are this should have been seen at production meetings and it puts companies like you in awkward positions to your customers.

  9. 9 On December 18th, 2007, laurence said:

    hiya leigh - please can you push the manufacture’s to make a 1/6th foggy pre season testing 1999 black ducati as it was a stunner - many thanks

  10. 10 On January 7th, 2008, peter cavellini said:

    Happy new year to you Leigh.I hope this year is going to be a bumper year for us collectors,i just hope market forces don’t put prices up to high.Look forward to reading your diary in 2008 it’s really going from strength to strength.

  11. 11 On February 10th, 2008, peter cavellini said:

    Hi leigh can you explain to me and probably a few million others why companies like EXOTO realease their new stuff at home and seem to take forever to let the rest of the planet!have theirs!.Is it badly estimating the demand or just they know we’ll wait?

  12. 12 On February 12th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    I’m afraid not! I ‘m not sure we’re THAT far behind Exoto’s ‘home’ countries, but with an Exoto I now automatically expect wait of years rahter than months. And, like all the other diecast manufacturers’ offerings, what choice do we have but to wait? It’s not as if we can find exactly the same thing available elsewhere.

  13. 13 On March 20th, 2008, ian evans said:

    Hi Leigh, Could you use your mighty powers to force Sunstar to make a Police car version of their 1/12 scale morris minor (like minichamps do in 1/18 scale) Also, while your flexing your muscles, there’s never been any half descent Italian Job die-cast, just some rubbish from Corgi that can’t even get the number of spotlights right! I am placing my order now for 3 minis,2x E-Types,A silver DB4,A black Fiat Dino… Oh bugger-i”ll buy the lot in 1/18 scale!

    When can I expect delivery?

  14. 14 On March 31st, 2008, peter cavellini said:

    Hi Leigh.
    did you see the touring car racing from Brands hatch,did you see the bit of free advertising for your company?.

  15. 15 On April 1st, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    I was actually at Brands watching the racing, so didn’t see the coverage. I’m not sure what this piece of free advertising is!

  16. 16 On April 2nd, 2008, Brian Browne said:

    Hi Leigh,

    you’ve probably had this question many times in the past however, is there any sign of the Minichamps Honda RC30’s road & Joey Dunlop’s versions.

    I have had one on order as I’m sure others have for a couple of years

    Regards from the Land of Oz

    Brian

  17. 17 On April 3rd, 2008, Graham said:

    I notice that you have a sample of the Skoda Joyster concept, but will probably not feature it in the catalogue. Why not? Assuming the quality is good, is this because of the brand? Skoda has a very loyal following, and make cars every bit as good as their VW parent. It is about time Skoda was featured. The Octavia vRS, Superb, and Fabia vRS would be a start - I believe these are all manufactured by a company in the Czech republic.

  18. 18 On April 3rd, 2008, Darren said:

    I was there too, Leigh.

    How comes you guys are still selling the Hamilton 1st win model at your superstore there? I thought you got shot of it? (And rightly so!)

  19. 19 On April 4th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    We have had that question many times in the past! It’s Universal Hobbies who are making them, but they seem to be making so much money out of replicating tractors that the RC30s seem to keep getting put back on the production schedule. To be honest, they’ve missed so many release dates for them that until they arrive in our warehouse I’m not saying anything about a delivery date!

  20. 20 On April 4th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    It’s not just the subject, it’s the fact that the manufacturer of the Skodas doesn’t have an importer, and there is no way that we would sell enough to make it worth our while importing an entire container of them!

  21. 21 On April 4th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    Whenever we get a new release in, a couple of pieces automatically get sent up to our Brands Hatch Megastore. These have been recalled too now.

  22. 22 On April 11th, 2008, peter cavellini said:

    Hi Leigh.
    free advertising was your company legend sign was shown in the background while Steve Rider was talking to Steve Soper about that afternoons racing to come.Your company logo was shown quite clearly across the track from where they were standing-”free advertising”is inadvertantly having your company mentioned or your logo seen in what ever medium-TV/RADIO etc.

  23. 23 On May 17th, 2008, Dave Palmer said:

    Hello Leigh,
    Are any of the manufacturers going to make the GP2 series and Indycar series in 1/43 scale?
    How about F1 driver’s helmets in 1/8 scale?
    I would like to see a “Club 200″ subject of Lewis in the Shanghai gravel,complete with marshal,fence,bald tyre, and Lewis figure exiting the cockpit. It would make a superb diorama.
    What do you think?
    Regards,
    Dave.

  24. 24 On May 19th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    No-one’s announced any plans to do 1/43 GP2 or Indycars, although it would be great if these were available. Minichamps used to do 1/8 F1 helmets, but as they don’t anymore all I can think is that they felt that the demand wasn’t there, which is a shame. I think I can safely say that there are no plans to replicate Hamilton from the Chinese Grand Prix!

  25. 25 On May 31st, 2008, David Williams said:

    Hi Leigh, Does anyone make a 1:18 detailed model (as in CMC etc) of the Lancia D50. A model of the No 26 car that Ascari drove into the harbour at the ‘55 Monaco GP would be nice and a fitting epitaph to a great driver (and car). Would Fangio have won 5 word championships if Alberto had lived…I don’t think so.

  26. 26 On June 2nd, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    No-one’s announced anything yet in 1:18, however we will shortly be offering Revival’s 1:20 hand built kit of Fangio’s D50 from the Nurburgring in 1956.

  27. 27 On August 2nd, 2008, pete mcmorine said:

    hi leigh, i have been a regular customer for about 6 years and have been very pleased with your service, i have in the past purchase some signed models from you, you always supply the authenticity certificate , however, some companies that sell genuine signed memorabilia supply a photograph of the rider/driver signing the model, have you considered this, we all know that authenticity certificates dont really mean a thing , anyone with an ounce of sence can produce one or even copy yours.i just think that photo proof would encourage more customers , your comments please, cheers pete

  28. 28 On August 11th, 2008, Leigh 'Diecast' Hobden said:

    It’s something we’re looking at, but we can always e-mail a photo of the signing to you if required. Just contact customer.services@grandprixlegends.com and we will e-mail you what you need.

Leave a Reply


Search: