Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received the latest Minichamps release schedule, which takes up until the end of September. Minichamps then closes for two weeks for its annual stock take.

In the first week of the schedule, for the week beginning 13th September, we will receive Mark Webber’s 1:18 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC21006P), Sebastian Vettel’s 1:18 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC21005P), Mark Webber’s 1:43 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC210406P), and Dani Pedrosa’s 1:12 2008 Honda RC212V (PO81102).

The following week we will see the 1:18 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in grey/purple (PG110830), and the re-release of Keke Rosberg’s 1:43 1982 Williams FW08 in the World Champions Collection (P820106).

In the final week of the schedule (week beginning 27th September), we will receive the next 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet, from Mugello 2002 (PO20876), Nicky Hayden’s 1:12 2008 Honda RC212V (PO81169), and Bruno Spengler’s 1:43 2009 DTM Mercedes C-Class (P093909).

You can click here to see the complete Minichamps release schedule.

I’m not in the office tomorrow as we’re having our annual torture drive, I mean management cycle ride! Matt will be keeping you up to date though with all the diecast news!

Today we arranged signing dates for two of our most popular signed motorbike replicas of the year! Kevin Schwantz will be signing the Minichamps replica of his 1993 500cc championship winning Suzuki RGV 500 (P932034S) for us at the Misano Moto GP on Sunday 5th September. Thatís only two days after the model gets released, which will surely be a record for getting a model signed after its release! Then, just a few days later, Jorge Lorenzo will be signing the Minichamps replica of his 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 for us (PO93048S). We hope to receive this by Friday 10th September.

Today HPI announced a few new 1:43 replicas to start off the week. You can click here to see them all. Highlights include the McLaren F1 GTR presentation car (HP8182) and Colin McRae’s Subaru Legacy RS from the 1993 Acropolis Rally (HP8186).

We also received sample images of Sun Star’s next 1:18 Ford Escort rally car, which will be Pentti Arikkala’s example from the 1976 1000 Lakes (SS4447). We have been told to expect it in September.

Today we received news of some new Spark replicas that will be released next week, and of some Minichamps cancellations.

The Minichamps cancellations are the two 2008 Moto GP Gresini Hondas of Randy de Puniet (PO81015) and Shinya Nakano (PO81056).

You can click here to see next week’s new Spark releases. Highlights in 1:43 include a Gulf sponsored Formula One car, which is Alessandro Pessenti-Rossi’s Tyrrell 007 from the 1976 Italian Grand Prix (SPK1648), the Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster (SPK2006), and the 99F GT9 R (SPK0748).

There is also a new 1:18 Spark replica which will be released next week, which is the third place Dauer Porsche 962 from the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPA18S035).

Today we received one of the most exciting Minichamps release schedules that I can remember, and I’m not just saying that because there are no less than ten models on it that I have on pre-order!

The first week covers the week beginning 16th August, and we will see the first 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet for several months, which is his 2005 Laguna Seca lid (PO50896). We will also see the 1:43 Nico Rosberg 2008 Williams FW30 test car from 25th-27th February (DC28407T3).

The week after that we will see the 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet from Assen 2007 (PO70866), Jorge Lorenzo’s 1:12 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93048), and Nico Rosberg’s 1:43 2008 Williams FW30 test car from 21st-24th January (DC28407T4).

In the third week of the schedule (week beginning 30th August) we will see Jenson Button’s 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn BGP001, in both 1:18 (DC2922SP) and 1:43 (DC29422SP) scale. That also means that we will be able to ship out the rest of our exclusive 1:18 2009 World Champion presentations (DC2009B) as well.

Also due to be released that week are Casey Stoner’s 1:12 2009 Ducati Desmosedici (PO90027), Sebastian Vettel’s 1:43 2010 Red Bull showcar (DC210405P), and the 1:43 Ayrton Senna ‘15th anniversary’ 1992 McLaren MP4/7 (AS924301).

In the last week of the schedule we are going to see Minichamps’ third 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet in four weeks, which is his example from Phillip Island 2004 (PO40896), along with Kevin Schwantz’s 1:12 1993 Suzuki RGV500 (P932034), and the 1:43 Ayrton Senna ‘15th anniversary’ 1985 Lotus 97T (AS854312).

For the full Minichamps release schedule, click here. It’s a corker!

Today we received the new Norev delivery, which had several exciting new releases on it.

In 1:18 these included Mike Rockenfeller’s 2009 DTM Audi A4 (NV188328), the #5 Porsche RS Spyder from the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (NV187529), and the 2010 Renault Formula One showcar (DC21011NV).

In 1:43 Norev’s new releases included the #3 Aston Martin DBRS9 from the 2009 FIA GT3 Championship (NV270513), Juan Manuel Fangio’s Mercedes 300 SLR from the 1955 Mille Miglia (NV351108), and the 2010 Renault Formula One showcar (DC210411NV).

We also received news today that the Minichamps 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93046) has been delayed. It was originally due to be released next week. Hopefully the revised release date won’t be too far away!

Today our signings man, Jason, confirmed that Mark Webber will be signing Minichamps’ 1:18 replica of his 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Red Bull RB5 for us on Wednesday (DC2914CS).

Out of the limited edition of just 100 pieces, we have already pre-sold 65. It’s very unlikely that the remaining 35 will last for long once we get the cars back complete with Mark’s signature!

Today we received our latest exclusive signed replica into stock, which is Minichamps’ 1:18 2009 Le Mans winning Peugeot 908, signed by all three drivers David Brabham, Alex Wurz and Marc Gene (PG091209S). Out of the limited edition of 100 pieces, we only have 23 left after fulfilling all our pre-orders.

We also received full details of everything that will be on the next AUTOart container at the end of the month, along with the 1:18 Koenigsegg CCX in orange (AA79001). Other highlights are the Steve McQueen and Peter Revson Porsche 908/2 from Sebring in 1970 (AA87072), Walter Rohrl’s Audi Quattro from the 1984 San Remo Rally (AA88405), and the Alfa Romeo Montreal in dark brown (AA70173). You can click here to see everything on the next AUTOart delivery.

There’s plenty to cover today, starting with the good news that we will finally see AUTOart’s 1:18 Koenigsegg CCX in orange (AA79001) at the end of the month! It’s only been three and a half years since we started taking pre-orders!

We also received a new delivery from Minichamps. This included their second 1:43 2010 Formula One showcar, which is Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes (DC210404P). Surprisingly this is almost an instant sell-out on release; in fact, we only have three remaining after fulfilling our pre-orders!

Spark released a new 1:43 replica today too, which is Innes Ireland’s Lotus 25 from the 1965 Belgian Grand Prix (SPK1620).

Going back to Minichamps, they advised us of a cancellation today, which is unfortunately their 1:12 Troy Bayliss 2008 Ducati 1098 (PO80221). This is a great shame as we had taken a vast amount of pre-orders on it, and know that there were a lot of people out there looking forward to its release.

Finally today, Minichamps and Mattel have both advised us of a set of price rises which will kick in on 1st August. The reasons given have been more currency fluctuations and rising Chinese labour and production costs. All of the new prices have now been uploaded onto our website. We obviously won’t increase the price of any replicas that have already been released and are in stock until we need to order restocks in at the higher prices.

Today Norev confirmed that its forthcoming 1:18 Ford Capri (NV182712), which is due to arrive with us in the next couple of weeks, will be a limited edition of just 1,002 pieces. This will be the right hand drive version which will be exclusive to the UK.

We also had a new release today from Mondo Motors, in the form of their 1:18 Pagani Zonda Cinque (MD50094). This is another exciting 1:18 subject that is exclusive to them.

The last piece of diecast news today is that Minichamps have announced a whole host of 1:43 cars from the 2010 Nurburgring 24 Hours, which will be released in their ‘Evolution’ resin series. You can click here to see them all.