Leigh’s Diecast Diary

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, Minichamps informed us that the 1:18 2011 Lewis Hamilton Mclaren showcar (DC21103P) and the 1:12 2010 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha YZR-1 M1 (PO103099) have been added to next week’s delivery!

We also received new releases from both Premium ClassiXXs and Schuco.

Premium ClassiXXs sent us their monstrous 1:12 2009 Mercedes SLS AMG in silver (PRE10600). This replica is limited to just 1,000 pieces worldwide.

Highlights from the sizeable Schuco delivery include the 1:43 Audi R8 V10 in blue (SCH4917), the 1:43 Rothmans Porsche Volkswagen LT van (SCH3683), and the 1:43 1973 Porsche 911 2.8 RSR from the Targa Florio (SCH3712); Gunther Steckonnig and Giulio Piucci took the car to sixth place on the event.

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

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 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).

It was quite a quiet day at DCL HQ today, but we did receive two more new releases from Minichamps.

They sent us the 1:12 2010 Ducati Desmosedici GP10 of Casey Stoner (PO100027), as well as the 1:12 2010 Ducati Desmosedici GP10 of Nicky Hayden (PO100069).

In other news, we’ve been informed by Minichamps that their 1:18 2010 Ford Focus RS500 in matt black (PG080000), which was originally due for a January release, has been delayed and now looks set to arrive with us in May.

Today, we received new releases from Minichamps and Paragon.

The highlight of our Minichamps delivery today was the long awaited 1:18 2010 Jenson Button McLaren MP4/26 (DC21001). We also received the 1:43 2011 Jenson Button McLaren showcar (DC211404P). Also worthy of note is a 1:43 replica of Jacques Laffite’s 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix winning Ligier JS11 (P790126).

New diecast brand company Paragon released their first ever subject today, in the form of the 1:18 1968 Rolls Royce Mulliner Park Ward Coupé in silver (PA98201).

In other news, Minichamps revealed that their 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1997 Brno figure (P970246) will be arriving next week!

Today, we received the exciting news that Jorge Lorenzo will be signing Minichamps’ 1:12 replica of his 2011 Yamaha YZR-M1 Moto GP bike exclusively for Diecast Legends! (PO113001S)

We also took delivery of some new 1:43 HPI rallying replicas.  Highlights include Sandro Munari’s 1975 Lancia Stratos HF from the Safari Rally (HP8234), and the Lancia Delta HF Integrale that was driven by Tommi Makinen in the 1993 Rally of Finland (HP8224).

HPI also delivered two Colin McRae subjects: McRae’s 1993 Subaru Legacy RS from the Rally of Portugal (HP8294) and Colin’s Subaru Legacy RS from the Rally of Sweden (HP8275) the same year.

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

Finally today, we have had a few customers contact us regarding the fitting of the Minichamps Rossi Estoril figure to the Rossi Estoril bike. You can find instructions on how to fit your figure by clicking here.

Today we took delivery of Minichamps’ latest 1:12 Valentino Rossi release, which was the Italian’s 2010 Ducati from the end of season Valencia test (PO110876). It is a limited edition of just 4,999 pieces worldwide. It features the correct carbon fibre finish and tail-mounted on-board camera.

After receiving the test bike a week early, it has now been confirmed that next Monday we will receive another new Minichamps release a week early: Jenson Button’s 1:18 2010 McLaren MP4/25 (DC21001).

Today, Minichamps cancelled over 60 subjects; we also received a new delivery from Spark.

There were several popular subjects on this recent raft of Minichamps cancellations, these include Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Ford Sierra RS500 test car (AS852), the 1:12 replica of Ben Spies’ 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO103011), the 1:12 John Surtees MV Agusta (P606001), and the Joey Dunlop Honda RC45 from the Isle of Man (P951503).

Customers who had any cancelled subjects on back order will be informed shortly.

In other news, we received another great delivery from Spark. Two classic F1 subjects were the stars of the show. They came in the form of Dan Gurney’s 1968 Eagle T1G  from the Italian Grand Prix (SPK1798), and Martin Donnelly’s Lotus 102 from the Belgian Grand Prix (SPK1783).

Other releases of note include the Jaguar E-Type that won the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours (SPA43LM56) in the hands of Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart, the 1986 Juha Kankkunen Peugeot 205 T16 from the Monte Carlo Rally (SPK1284), and the 2010 Morgan Aero 8 Supersport in black (SPK2181) which comes complete with a removable roof!

We also took delivery of one Bizarre replica: John Cobb’s 1939 Railton Land Speed Record car (BZ0240).

Today, we received new releases from Minichamps and Model Icons, as well as an announcement from New Ray.

Two subjects stood out on the Minichamps delivery: the 1:12 2009 Rossi Estoril figure (PO90146), and the 1:18 replica of Ayrton Senna’s 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix winning McLaren MP4/8 (AS190B).

Other releases from Minichamps include the 1:43 Paul di Resta 2011 Force India showcar (DC211415P), Jamie Green’s 2009 Mercedes C-Class DTM, and the Ligier JS11 that Jacky Ickx drove in the 1979 Italian Grand Prix. (P790125).

Model Icons also released their fabulous 1:18 replica of Inspector Morse’s Jaguar Mk.II 2.4 (MI701001). It’s only a part shipment though, so place an order if you would like your example sooner rather than later.

In other new, New Ray announced a new 1:12 model today: Marco Simoncelli’s 2010 Honda RC212V (NR57343). It is due into stock next week.