Leigh’s Diecast Diary

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 new delivery from Kyosho.

The highlights have got to be the impressively detailed 1:18 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost in silver (KY8801S), and 1:18 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost in black and silver (KY8801BK). There are some really cool features on this model, you can even remove the umbrella from the inside of the door!

Kyosho released one rally car in the form of Timo Makinen’s 1966 Mini Cooper S from the Monte Carlo Rally (KY8102C). This is the car that won the rally, and then famously (and very controversially) got disqualified.

Other releases of interest include the 1:18 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 in yellow (KY8322Y), the 1:18 Triumph TR3A in green and yellow (KY8032G), and the 1:43 Nissan Skyline GT-R Fuji Safety Car (KY03343PC).

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 Minichamps confirmed what we will see from them next week, with their 1:18 Porsche 918 Spyder in grey metallic (PG060030) the definite highlight. Also due to be released is Hans-Joachim Stuck’s 1:18 Audi V8 from the 1992 DTM series (PG921044). We hope to receive a full Minichamps release schedule in the very near future.

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.

Today we had deliveries from Mattel and Schuco, as well as a couple of new tractor announcements from Universal Hobbies.

We received just one new replica from Mattel: the 1:43 2011 Ferrari FF in red (HW1187)

Schuco sent us the 1:10 NSU Max in blue (SCH6533), as well as the 1:10 Zundapp Bella R204 scooter in grey/blue (SCH6591).

In other news, Universal Hobbies announced two new 1:16 tractors: the 1955 Ferguson 40 launch model (J2985), and the 1959 Massey Ferguson 50 (J2984).

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 had a small delivery from Spark.

Formula One fans will be pleased to hear that we received the 1:43 2011 Vintantonio Liuzzi 2011 Hispania HRT F111 (DC211423) and the 1:43 Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz W154 from the 1954 British Grand Prix (SPK1060); we’re particularly impressed with the fact that this replica comes with race damage. Fangio, by the way, finished fourth.

Spark also made some new announcements today including the 1:43 1984 Renato Molinari Martini F1 Powerboat (SPK2303), and the 1:43 Sebastien Loeb Citroen DS3 WRC from the 2011 Rally GB (SPK3325).

For today’s last blog entry of the year we received a new delivery from Minichamps and some Mattel samples.

The Minichamps delivery contained their first 1:43 2011 F1 race cars: namely Nick Heidfeld’s Renault R31 (DC211409) and Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber C30 (DC211416). You can click here to see all of Minichamps’ latest new releases.

Mattel sent us samples of their 1:18 Ferrari FF in blue (HW1118) and their 1:43 Ferrari FF in red (HW1187). Hopefully this means that we will see them released pretty early in 2012.

All that remains is for me to wish all Diecast Legends customers and Leighs Diary readers and forum users a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May everything under your tree be 1:18, 1:12 or 1:43!