Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today it was confirmed that we will see Minichamps’ 1:18 1948 Land Rover (the famous ‘HUE 166′ example) released in the week beginning 26th March. That will make it a bumper week for new releases for us, along with the Minichamps 1:12 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 from the 2008 Indianapolis Moto GP (PO83146).

We also received a new delivery today from Norev, which was somewhat less exciting! You can click here to see all of Norev’s latest new releases.

Today we received an absolutely gorgeous new replica that we weren’t expecting.

It was none other than the Prodrive 1:18 2011 Aston Martin AMR-One presentation car (PD2011B). This bespoke replica, which is limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide, is produced by Spark and comes in Gulf Aston Martin themed packaging.

Another piece of good news was that Jay Kay has now signed a limited edition of just 50 examples of Mattel’s 1:18 replica of his Black Ferrari Enzo (HW6255S).

Also today, Minichamps sent us sample images of the 1:12 Barry Sheene 1976 Suzuki RG500 (P760007). The replica looks very authentic indeed, and we look forward to it being delivered early in the summer.

Today we had yet more announcements from Spark, as well as several new releases from Minichamps.

There were some fantastic new classic F1 subjects announced; our favourite was the Julian Bailey Lotus 102B from the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix (SPK1786), not least because it will come complete with wet tyres! Other F1 subjects include Juan-Manuel Fangio’s winning Mercedes W125 from the 1954 German Grand Prix (SPK1064) and the BRM P57 that Graham Hill drove to victory in the 1963 US Grand Prix (SPK1152).

We were particularly pleased that Spark announced the 1:43 Martin Tomczyk Audi A4 2011 DTM champion (SPK2518) and, for those into their record cars, Spark will be making the 1:43 Aussie Invader 5R 1000 MPH Project (SPK2573).

Click here to see all of Spark’s new announcements.

Three 2011 F1 cars arrived from Minichamps today: the 1:43 2011 Mark Webber Red Bull RB7 (DC211402), the 1:43 2011 Jenson Button Mclaren MP4-26 and the 1:43 Vitaly Petrov 2011 Lotus Renault R31 Australian Grand Prix podium special (DC211410A).

Minichamps also released the 1:2 Valentino Rossi 2008 Barcelona Helmet (PO82086), and Ayrton Senna’s 1983 Macau Grand Prix winning Ralt RT3 in 1:18 (AS833).

Today we received new releases from Mattel, Kyosho and Oxford, as well as new announcements from Ebbro.

By far the best release of the day was Mattel’s 1:18 replica of the winning Ferrari 512S from the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours (HW2046B). This was the car that Mario Andretti famously used to beat the Porsche 908 of Steve McQueen and Peter Revson in what was an epic race! They also released the 1:18 2011 Ferrari FF in Pearl White (HW1119).

Kyosho delivered a trio of replicas which took the form of the 1:43 Lamborghini Gallardo SE in silver (KY03752S) and green (KY03752GR), and the 1:43 #33 Nissan R390 GT1 from the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours (KY03421D).

We received just one replica from Oxford: the 1:43 Bentley S1 Continental Fastback in Dawn Blue (OXF038).

The pick of the Ebbro announcements includes the 1:43 John Surtees Honda RA301 from the Mexican Grand Prix (EB44266) and the 1:43 2011 Nissan GT-R Super GT Champion (EB44657).

Click here to see the rest of Ebbro’s announcements.

Today IXO announced a brand new Rossi rally car in 1:43 scale. We saw that it was coming on the next IXO delivery and, as it hasn’t been officially announced yet, it caught us by surprise!

The car in question is the Valentino Rossi Ford Focus RS WRC from the 2009 Monza Rally (RAM406). It is due in March, so you won’t have long to wait.

Ebbro announced the two Nissans that competed in 2011 World GT1 Championship last year. There’s the #22 Nissan GT-R GT1 of Peter Dumbreck and Richard Westbrook (EB44712), and last year’s GT1 World Championship winning #23 Nissan GT-R GT1 of Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm (EB44713).

In other news, Minichamps delivered several replicas today including the 1:12 1977 Ducati 900 SS (P120700C), the 1:8 Valentino Rossi 2003 Mugello helmet (PO30876), and the 1:43 Nick Heidfeld 2011 Lotus Renault R31 Malaysian Grand Prix podium special (DC211409M).

Today Minichamps released the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1999 Mugello GP 250 riding figure (P990076).

The German brand also announced several new 1:18 replicas today. Fast Ford collectors will certainly be pleased, as Minichamps will be making all five of the 2010 Ford Focus RS Le Mans Classic Editions. Each version has a special tribute livery, in reference to a car that raced at Le Mans. The Ford Focus RS 1968 Gulf GT40 tribute (PG080068) and the Ford Focus RS 1972 Ford Capri 2600 RS tribute (PG080072) are our favourites.

Minichamps also announced the 1:18 Jari-Matti Latvala Fiesta RS WRC from the Rally of France (PG110804, the one with the special black livery), and Mikko Hirvonen’s 2011 Rally Australia winning Fiesta RS WRC (PG110803).

Other top subjects include the 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster in metallic red (PG039030B), the 2010 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in red (PG110832), and the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 from the 2011 Zhuhai 6 Hours (PG113196); this is the car that was driven by Mika Hakkinen, Cheng Congfu and Lance David Armstrong.

Click here to see the rest of the Minichamps new announcements. 

Today we received the extremely exciting news news that the great Sir Jackie Stewart will be signing a limited number of TrueScale Miniatures’ 1:18 1973 Tyrrell 006 (TSM121804S) exclusively for us!  Signed by Stewart, this replica is bound to become a very valuable and sought after piece of Formula One memorabilia in years to come.

We also received some new releases from Minichamps. Replicas of note include the 1:43 Lewis Hamilton 2011 McLaren MP4-26 (DC211403), the 1:18 Frank Biela 1992 Audi V8 DTM (PG921001), the 1:43 1974 Opel Manta GT/E in red (P045506), and the 1:43 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS in red with silver wheels (P069408).

Minichamps also informed us that the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 1999 Mugello figure (P990076) will be arriving with us next week.

The big news of the day is that we are now offering to pre-order the 1:12 Valentino Rossi 2012 Ducati Desmosedici GP12 test bike (PO120876). Minichamps has not confirmed this model yet, but we understand that it will be announced in the future.

Minichamps also announced the 1:18 Ford Focus RS in metallic green (PG080001), as well as their 2012 Edition 1 Catalogue (MCCAT12).

We also received deliveries from Norev and Spark.

From Norev, we took delivery of the 1:18 Volkswagen Race Touareg that Giniel de Villiers drove to victory in the 2009 Dakar Rally. (NV188466).

Spark sent us the #56 2011 BMW M3 GT from the Le Mans 24 Hours as driven by Andy Priaulx, Joey Hand and Dirk Muller (SPK2540), the 1977 Daytona 24 Hours winning Porsche 935/77A of Peter Gregg, Rolf Stommelen and Hurley Haywood (SPA43DA78), and the Ligier JS-15 that Jacques Laffite drove to victory in the 1980 German Grand Prix. (SPK1725).

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.