Leigh’s Diecast Diary

The big news today was that we received one of the most popular models in the history of Diecast Legends!

It was, of course, the 1:43 Lewis Hamilton ‘First Podium’ special, of his McLaren MP4/22 from the 2007 Australian Grand Prix (DC27402A). It is a limited edition of 9,999 pieces worldwide. And, while that may not seem like the lowest limited edition of all time, it is already an instant sell-out with the UK importer, and we will probably have to remove it from our website by the end of tomorrow.

We also received several pre-production sample images from Mattel. The first two are from the 1:43 ‘Ferrari 200 Wins’ collection. They are Niki Lauda’s 1974 312 B3 (win number 50, HW5601B), and Alain Prost’s 1990 F641 (win number 100, HW5602B).

Then in 1:18, there were the Dino 246 GT (HW2044), the Coca Cola F430 Challenge (HW2069), and the Super Elite Mondial (HW7119) and Batmobile (HW7131).

We weren’t expecting some of these cars in time for Christmas, so the fact that we have already seen pre-production samples now may mean that some will make it in time for this year. We’ll see!

Maisto released a new replica today too, although it’s fair to say that it was overshadowed by the new Hamilton release! Maisto’s 1:18 replica is of the 2008 Hummer HX concept car (R36171).

The last diecast news today is that we are now accepting pre-orders for a 1:12 motorbike from a new diecast manufacturer. That is to say, new to the UK, not new to the diecast industry! It is a Japanese company called WIT’S, who seem keen (and able) to take on Minichamps in the world of high quality bike replicas. Their first subject that we will be importing is the Kawasaki Z1000 Mk.II (WH001), and we expect to see it released towards the end of the year.

Finally today, just to say that there will not be a diary entry tomorrow (unless something exciting happens during my absence, which, let’s face it, is often the case!), as I’m off to Valencia for the European Grand Prix. Normal service will be resumed on Tuesday after the Bank Holiday.  

It’s been one of those quieter days today, but I suppose we were due one after all the diecast that has been released so far this summer!

We did receive one new release though, Revell’s 1:18 Opel Manta 400 presentation car (RV8819), so there was still something going on!

Today we received the new Minichamps delivery. It included two new subjects in the ever more popular 1:43 White Line collection; the Porsche 911 Carrera (P063021), and the Bentley Continental GTC (P139031). There was also the 1:18 Mercedes 300SL Roadster (PG039030), and Takuma Sato’s 1:43 2002 Jordan EJ12 testcar (P024399).

Meanwhile, we finally received the signed Freddie Spencer 1:12 1985 Honda NSR 500 (P850004S). There had been a delay getting the panels through customs, but now the signed bikes are on our shelves!

Today Minichamps officially confirmed the two new Valentino Rossi figures that were in their ‘Edition 2’ catalogue recently.

However, they have come through at £29.99 each, not £26.99 as we had assumed, so those of you who have pre-ordered from us early have saved £3 each on those two figures! Just to clarify, these are the 2004 ‘kissing’ figure (PO40246), and the 2002 Donington figure (PO20146).

Minichamps also confirmed three 1:12 Casey Stoner figures. The first is a 2006 riding figure, from his days on the white LCR Honda RC211V (PO60127).

The second figure has confused us slightly, as it’s from the 2007 Phillip Island race (PO70127), which Casey won in his championship year. But Minichamps have already announced a ‘special’ 1:12 Ducati Desmosedici replica for Stoner from that race that comes complete with a riding figure (PO70097), so we’ll have to wait and see how that one develops.

The final figure is a ‘podium celebration’ (PO70227), so we assume that it will be along the lines of the Rossi Materazzi standing figure, which was the one that had him spraying champagne. 

Other new announcements from Minichamps were the 1:12 Yamaha Vmax (P163700), and a 1:2 replica helmet for Nico Rosberg (P080007).

Away from Minichamps, Dutch brand NEO confirmed a couple of exciting new 1:18 subjects, both classic Jaguars that have never been replicated before. These will be the 1957 Jaguar Mk.VIII in black and pewter (NEO18035), and the 1960 Jaguar Mk.IX in two-tone grey (NEO18036).

Welcome to the forty-second Leigh’s Diary Vidcast, reviewing all the new diecast replicas that were released last week.

As always, I’ve listed the products below that have been featured in this week’s vidcast. Keep the comments rolling in. You’ll need quicktime installed to view the video on this post.

 

 Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 42 [4:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 42 [4:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:

1/18 Ford Focus WRC Rally Of Sweden 2007 #3 M. Gronholm - Sun Star
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Rally Of Norway 2007 #4 M. Hirvonen - Sun Star
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Monte Carlo Rally 2007 #10 H. Solberg - Sun Star
1/18 Ford Focus WRC Monte Carlo Rally 2007 #16 M. Wilson - Sun Star
1/24 Signed Routemaster Bus Winston Briscoe - Sun Star
1/18 Bentley Continental GT 2008 Red - Minichamps
1/8 AGV Rossi Helmet - Pre Season 2007 - Minichamps
1/43 McLaren MP4/5 Honda Raceday 2002 #2 T. Sato - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 March 792 Euro F2 1979 #7 D. Daly - Minichamps
1/43 Mercedes CLS White Line - Minichamps
1/43 McLaren Mercedes SLR White Line - Minichamps
1/43 Sauber Mercedes C8 Le Mans 1986 #61 J. Nielsen/M. Thackwell - Spark
1/43 TVR Cerbera Speed 12 2005 Red - Spark
1/43 Lotus 19 1st Karskoga 1960 #1 S. Moss - Spark
1/43 Jaguar XJR14 Le Mans 1991 #4 - Spark
1/43 Porsche 356 Speedster Le Mans 1957 #36 M. Slotine/ R. Bourel - Spark (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Jaguar XJR8 Le Mans 1987 #5 J.Watson/J.Lammers/W.Percy - Spark
1/43 Ferrari 250 GTO 2nd Le Mans 1962 #20 - Red Line
1/43 Ford Capri 2600RS Two Car Set - Nurburgring 6Hr 1971 - Trofeu
1/43 Lotus 18 Dutch Grand Prix 1960 #6 J. Clark - SMTS
1/43 Lotus 18 1st Monaco Grand Prix 1961 #20 S. Moss - SMTS
1/18 Ferrari 125S Piacenza 1947 #56 - Mattel Elite

Remember you can subscribe to the podcast by clicking the purple podcast icon at the top right or use this link if you wish to subscribe via itunes.I hope you enjoyed watching or listening to the podcast. Please feel free to leave any comments on what you thought of it or anything you would like me to feature in future shows below.

Another day, another Sun Star delivery!

Today we received their two new 1:18 1982 Audi Quattro rally cars, of Malcolm Wilson (SS4192) and Franz Witmann (SS4191). Also on the delivery were the bronze (SS4976) and blue (SS4977) colourways of the 1:18 Ford Escort Mk.III, and the next 1:24 Bedford OB Coach, in the Southdown livery (SS5007).

SMTS released a new replica too, in Stirling Moss’s 1:43 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato that he raced in the 1961 Goodwood TT (SMTS196).

Meanwhile, Minichamps provided us with a few sample images of models that we hope to see in the near future; Valentino Rossi’s 1:8 2001 (PO10846) and 2007 Phillip Island (PO70896) helmets, and Andy Priaulx’s 1:43 2006 BMW 320Si (P062601) that he used to take his second WTCC title.

Today we received the new 1:18 Ford Focus WRCs from Sun Star. These are the ones that have come through at the ‘old’ retail price of £29.99, so will probably sell out quite quickly before the other versions become available, which will be at the ‘new’ retail price of £39.99.

Today’s releases were Marcus Gronholm’s winning car from Sweden (SS3920), Mikko Hirvonen’s winning car from Norway (SS3921), and the two Monte Carlo cars of Matt Wilson (SS3918), and Henning Solberg (SS3919).

Today it was Spark’s turn to give us a new delivery. Probably our biggest seller from it was Stirling Moss’s 1:43 1960 Lotus 19, that he used to win the Karlskoga sportscar race (SPK259). Another popular subject was the 1:43 TVR Cerbera Speed 12 in metallic red (SPK233).

Meanwhile, from Le Mans there were two new 1:43 subjects; the #61 Sauber Mercedes from 1986 (SPK1259), and the #5 Jaguar XJR8 from 1987 (SPK759).

Today’s entry is a quickie as I’m out of the office this afternoon at a meeting with one of our suppliers.

We received Trofeu’s 1:43 two car Ford Capri set from the 1971 Nurburgring Six Hours (TR2391). The cars featured are the #12 pole position car of Stomellen and Soler-Roig, and the winning #14 car of Glemser and Marko. It is a limited edition of just 404 pieces worldwide.

We also received this week’s Minichamps delivery. The headliner was the next 1:8 Valentino Rossi helmet (they’re coming thick and fast now!), his 2007 pre-season testing version, in black with the sword down the front (PO79046).

Welcome to the forty-first Leigh’s Diary Vidcast, reviewing all the new diecast replicas that were released last week. As we managed to upload and finish it all early this week, we thought we would treat you by showing it a couple of days earlier!

As always, I’ve listed the products below that have been featured in this week’s vidcast. Keep the comments rolling in. You’ll need quicktime installed to view the video on this post.

 

 Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 41 [5:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Leighs Diary Vidcast Episode 41 [5:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

These are the products featured on this week’s podcast:

1/12 Honda NSR500 Test Bike 2000 V. Rossi - Minichamps
1/8 AGV Rossi Helmet - Mugello 2007 - Minichamps
1/12 Yamaha YZR500 1979 #1 K. Roberts - Minichamps
1/12 Signed Ducati 999 F06 2006 #21 T. Bayliss - Minichamps
1/43 Williams FW14 1991 #5 N. Mansell - Minichamps
1/43 Super Aguri SA07 2007 #22 T. Sato - Minichamps
1/43 Super Aguri SA07 2007 #23 A. Davidson - Minichamps
1/43 BMW Showcar 2008 N. Heidfeld - Minichamps
1/43 BMW Showcar 2008 R. Kubica - Minichamps (SOLD OUT)
1/43 Jaguar XJR15 1990 Orange - Spark
1/43 TVR Grantura Mk 3 1962 Red - Spark
1/43 Porsche 911s 2nd Monte Carlo Rally 1972 #4 - Spark
1/43 Ferrari 250 GTO 2nd Le Mans 1963 #22 J. Blaton/G. Van Ophem - Red Line
1/18 Ferrari F430 1st Silverstone Challenge 2007 #28 B. Senna - Mattel Elite
1/18 Ferrari F2002 1st French Grand Prix 2002 #1 M. Schumacher - Mattel Elite
1/18 Lamborghini Gallardo Cesam Black - Norev
1/18 Volkswagen Golf GTi 2004 Black - Norev
1/18 Porsche 911 GT2 2007 Red - Norev
1/50 Renault Magnum AE500 Cabin Red - Universal Hobbies
1/50 Renault Magnum Curtainsider Haig - Universal Hobbies
1/18 Ferrari 512BB 1976 Red - Kyosho

Remember you can subscribe to the podcast by clicking the purple podcast icon at the top right or use this link if you wish to subscribe via itunes.I hope you enjoyed watching or listening to the podcast. Please feel free to leave any comments on what you thought of it or anything you would like me to feature in future shows below.