Leigh’s Diecast Diary

Today we received several new 1:18s from Kyosho, and a couple of 1:43s from Bizarre.

Kyosho have released several road cars. The most desirable of which is probably the BMW M3 cabriolet in black (KY8738RG). If black isn’t your colour, you could go in the opposite direction and get the white M3 cabriolet (KY8738W). Either way, both colours show dirt and are a nightmare to clean!

There is also the Caterham Super 7 (KY8222SC) and the Lamborghini Jota SVR in red, with a gold interior (KY8311RG).

Two Bizarre models also came through our doors today. There is the #49 Austin Healey Sprite which came 12th at Le Mans in 1965 (BZ0425). Then there is the simply beautiful BP sponsored Ligier JS3, which was driven at Le Mans in 1971 by non-other than Guy Ligier and Patrick Depailler (BZ0551) .

Let’s hope Leigh Armstrong, I mean Hobden, returns unscathed from the cycle ride! Hopefully he will be back with you on Monday.

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 I have another diecast warning for you! We currently have only eight examples left of the Minichamps 1:12 Jorge Lorenzo 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO93048), and then it is sold out. That’s probably got something to do with us keeping several of our Minichamps 2009 Jorge Lorenzo Yamahas back for our signing with him later in the year (PO93048S)! We still have some of these available to pre-order, by the way, but these are also selling fast.

SMTS announced their next four 1:43 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight cars today, complete with sample model images already. You can click here to see all the info. Once all 13 Lightweights have been released they are going to make a stunning collection!

Today’s diary entry starts with a warning! At the time of writing we only have 12 pieces left of Norev’s 1:18 Ford Capri (NV182712). At the rate we’re getting through them that will not be enough to last us until the Bank Holiday. If you’re thinking of getting one, act quickly!

We do know that there will be a second colourway of Norev’s 1:18 Ford Capri, however (NV182712B). We don’t know what colour it’s going to be yet, but if you like your Capris no matter what colour they are, and want to get your name down for one early, then please feel free to pre-order it!

Other news today is that we can now offer Minichamps’ 1:18 replica of Mark Webber’s 2010 Red Bull RB6 signed by the man himself (DC21006S). The 2010 Formula One World Champion, perhaps?

Today we received CMC’s latest stunning 1:18 replica; the 1955 Uhlenhaut Mercedes 300 SLR (CMC076). Our first delivery has been completely consumed by our pre-orders, but we hope to receive restocks in about four weeks.

We also received the TrueScale Miniatures 1:18 1979 Le Mans winning Porsche 935 K3 of the Whittington brothers and Klaus Ludwig (TSM10182).

It’s not often you see two highly detailed replicas like those get released in one day!

Our busy week was completed today by a new Kyosho delivery and some Minichamps samples of models that are going to be released soon.

Highlights on the Kyosho delivery were the beautiful blue and white 1:18 1980s Fiat 131s. We have received Walter Rohrl’s 1980 Monte Carlo Rally winning Fiat 131 (KY8373A), and Markku Alen’s 1981 Portugal Rally winning Fiat 131 (KY8373B). You can click here to see all of Kyosho’s latest releases.

The Minichamps samples include Casey Stoner’s 1:12 2009 Ducati Desmosedici (PO90027), Kevin Schwantz’s 1:12 1993 Suzuki RGV 500 (P932034), the ‘15th anniversary’ 1:43 Ayrton Senna 1985 Lotus 97T, which is #30 in the Ayrton Senna Racing Car Collection (AS854312), and the ‘15th anniversary’ 1:43 Ayrton Senna 1992 McLaren MP4/7, which is #33 in the Ayrton Senna Racing Car Collection (AS924301).

Today we received a very exciting new replica into stock; the 1:18 Mercedes dealer edition Mercedes SLR Moss in silver (PG038400B)! It comes presented in special packaging and has been manufactured by Minichamps.

These days the most desirable colourways of a roadgoing replica tend to be exclusive to the respective car manufacturers’ ‘dealer’ outlets, and the same is true of this model, but we have been able to obtain this special car in its most recognisable colour; silver. As you can see from the photos, it looks absolutely stunning. It doesn’t get much more exclusive than this!

Today we received the new Minichamps delivery for the week, and, very excitingly, samples of the Minichamps Button Brazil specials! You can click here to see the Minichamps 1:18 Jenson Button 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn (DC2922SP) and you can click here to see the Minichamps 1:43 Jenson Button Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn (DC29422SP).

In terms of new Minichamps releases, the highlight was the latest 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet, which is from Laguna Seca 2005 (PO50896). Also released were the latest two 1:43 2008 Williams FW30 pre-season test cars of Nico Rosberg (DC28407T3) and Kazuki Nakajima (DC28408T2), the 1:43 Rolls Royce Drophead cabriolet in brown and silver (P134732), and the 1:43 #40 Ford GT from the 2009 Nurburgring 24 Hours (P098440).

Today I have so much diecast news I’m not sure where to start!

First off, we are delighted that Ben Spies has agreed to sign Minichamps’ 1:12 replica of his 2010 Yamaha YZR-M1 exclusively for us (PO103011S). This, of course, is his first ‘full-time’ Moto GP bike. Once he takes Valentino’s seat next year, as everyone expects him to, and starts racing at the front consistently, this will be a signed replica to keep under lock and key!

We also received some interesting news today regarding Minichamps’ Jenson Button 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn specials. First off, they will NOT be part of the Minichamps World Champions Collection, as I thought they might be. We now know the limited editions in each scale as well. The 1:43 Jenson Button 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn (DC29422SP) will be a limited edition of 6,333 pieces, while the 1:18 Jenson Button 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn (DC2922SP) is limited to a mere 4,209. If you want either of these, particularly the 1:18 version, you’d better not wait for long!

We received the new IXO 1:43 delivery today too. Highlights include the latest 1:43 La Storia car, which is Rene Arnoux’s 1985 Ferrari 156 (IXSF24). We also received the first Kimi Raikkonen rally car replica, which is his Fiat Punto from the 2009 Rally Finland (RAM393). New endurance racing replicas on the delivery include the #008 Aston Martin LMP1 from the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (LMM167), and Bruno Senna’s #10 Oreca AIM 01 from the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (LMM170). You can click here to see IXO’s latest releases.

All in all, quite a day!

Today we received several new 1:43 HPI replicas spanning four separate subjects; the Toyota Celica Turbo rally car, the Toyota Celica GT-4 rally car, the Toyota GT-One Le Mans car, and the Nismo GT-R Le Mans car. You can click here to see HPI’s latest releases.
 
There were also some new announcements from Minichamps. The most interesting is a 1:43 two car set commemorating Minichamps’ 20th anniversary, which will contain a 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe in blue and a 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo in white (P902010). It will be a limited edition of only 2,020 pieces worldwide.

Also announced were a new 1:2 helmet, for Valentino Rossi from Barcelona 2008 (PO82086), and five new 1:43 2010 DTM cars. These are the Mercedes C-Classes of Gary Paffett (P103903), Bruno Spengler (P103904), Paul di Resta (P103907), Ralf Schumacher (P103908), and David Coulthard (P103817).

You can click here to see Minichamps’ latest new announcements.