Leigh’s Diecast Diary

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, 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 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, 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.

Today Mattel announced a very exciting 1:18 replica, which we have been campaigning to have replicated in that scale for a few years now.

It is none other than Stirling Moss’s winning Ferrari 250 SWB from the 1961 Goodwood Tourist Trophy (HW5489). We are also thrilled to be able to offer this very significant replica signed by Stirling Moss as well (HW5489S).

Other exciting news from Mattel today is that by the end of the month we are due to receive their 1:18 Ferrari FF in red (HW1105), and the 1:43 Jose Froilan Gonzalez 1951 Ferrari and Fernando Alonso 2011 Ferrari two car set (DC211405B2).

Today, we received a list of what we will be receiving from Spark next week.

And it’s an absolute corker! Firstly, we will be receiving the 1:43 2011 Adrian Sutil Force India VJM04 (DC211414K), as well as the 1:43 2011 Paul di Resta Force India VJM04 (DC211415K).

There’s just one classic Formula One subject on the delivery: the Ligier JS7 that Eddie Cheever drove to second in the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix (SPK1664).

Other replicas due to be released include Nasser Al-Attiyah’s 2011 Dakar winning Volkswagen Touareg (SPK0823), the 1:43 #1 Audi R18 TDI from the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPK2516) that was driven by Romain Dumas, Mike Rockenfeller and Timo Bernhard, and the 1:43 #009 Aston Martin AMR-One from Le Mans 2011 (SPK2537). This particular car was driven by Harold Primat, Adrian Fernandez and Andy Meyrick; it completed just two laps before retiring from the race.

Today, we received a new delivery from Minichamps.

The most exciting subject by far was the 1:12 Jorge Lorenzo 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103099). We expect Jorge Lorenzo to sign a limited number of this replica in early February (PO103099S).

For F1 fans, we received the 1:43 Vitaly Petrov 2011 Lotus Renault R31 (DC211410), and the 1:18 Lewis Hamilton 2011 McLaren showcar (DC21103P).

Other replicas of note include the 1:18 2010 Mercedes SLS AMG in blue (PG039021), and the 1:43 #25 BMW M3 GT2 which won the 2010 Nurburgring 24 Hours (P102925) in the hands of Jorg Muller, Augusto Farfus, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy.

In other news, we have heard that on 1st February there will be another set of Minichamps price rises. Increases will be between 6% and 11%.

Today we received the full new release schedule from Minichamps. You can click here to see every Minichamps replica that is due to be released over the next four weeks.

Highlights include the 1:12 Ducati 750 SS (P120750) and the 1:18 Button 2011 McLaren showcar (DC21104P), which are both scheduled to be released in the week beginning 23rd January.

Today, we received a fantastic delivery from Spark.

Easily the standout replica on this new consignment was last year’s Le Mans winning Audi R18 TDI of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer. (SPA43LM11).

We also received the infamous #3 Audi R18 TDI of Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish (SPK2517); it was an instant sell out to pre-orders.

Other endurance replicas of note include the Porsche 917K that Jackie Oliver and Pedro Rodriguez drove to victory in the 1971 Daytona 24 Hours (SPA43DA71), and the 2010 Lotus Evora Type 124 Cup (SPK2206). We also like the Jaguar XJ12C from the 1976 Tourist Trophy (SPK0779). Derek Bell and David Hobbs drove the car.

We received just one Formula One subject: Rene Arnoux’s 1980 Renault RE20 that won the Brazilian Grand Prix (SPK1758).

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