8th
August
2008
Today there was a bit of excitement as we received the Minichamps 2008 ‘Edition 2’ catalogue, which is a small 24 page ’update’ to the mammoth tome published at the beginning of the year.
We were very surprised to see two brand new 1:12 Valentino Rossi figure that haven’t even been officially announced yet, as well as sample images of some of the other figures.
The first new figure replicates one of the most famous moments in Rossi’s career. It is called ‘The Kiss’, and is from the South Africa Moto GP in 2004, when Vale won his very first race with Yamaha (PO40246). On the slowing down lap he got down on his knees and kissed the front of his new YZR-M1. It is that pose that the figure replicates, so it is bound to be immensely popular.
The second new figure is of Rossi riding his 2002 Honda RC211V sidesaddle with both arms in the air (PO20146), as he did when he crossed the line to win the British Grand Prix at Donington Park that year..
The most exciting sample image was of the 1999 Aprilia riding figure (P990146). It’s of Rossi with his knee down, so he actually looks like he’s taking a corner on his 250cc bike!
The 1997 riding figure (P970146), which we will see in a couple of weeks, is similarly imaginative, as it comes complete with the blue ‘Superfumi’ cape that Valentino wore on the slowing down lap after one of his victories that year.
There were also two ‘live’ photos in the catalogue, so giving us a hint as to what two more forthcoming Rossi figures will look like. It looks like the 2003 Valencia riding figure (PO30186) will be in a burnout pose and the 2007 Assen riding figure (PO70166) will be of Valentino stood up on the footpegs as he was on the slowing down lap following his victory in the race.
I never fail to be impressed with Minichamps’ imagination when it comes to their Rossi figures. They could have just gone for one mould and then decorated each one differently so that it would be correct for each bike. Instead, they have chosen to really capture the personality of Rossi by replicating some of the most famous moments from his career. Credit where it’s due!
posted in Diecast, Moto GP |
7th
August
2008
It’s Sun Star modern rally news today. We were provided with sample images of some of their forthcoming 1:18 2007 Ford Focus WRC replicas; Matt Wilson (SS3918) and Henning Solberg (SS3919) from Monte Carlo, Marcus Gronholm from Sweden (SS3920), and Mikko Hirvonen from Norway (SS3921). We hope to see these in September
They also announced six new 1:18 replicas. The first two are the old-shape Subaru Impreza that was used in the first half of this season. They will be Petter Solberg from Monte Carlo (SS4395), and Chris Atkinson from Argentina (SS4396).
There will also be another four 2007 Ford Focus subjects. These will be Jari-Matti Latvala from Ireland (SS3926), and three cars from the Rally GB; Hirvonen (SS3927), Gronholm (SS3928), and Wilson (SS3929). The Gronholm version will be particularly popular as it was of his course his last ever WRC car.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
6th
August
2008
Today Spark announced their entire 1:43 2008 Le Mans line-up. It’s certainly a comprehensive range; in fact, the only cars that I think are missing are the two Porsche RS Spyders and the Murcielago. As ever, the Ferraris will be released under Spark’s luxury Red Line brand.
The most popular cars will probably be the winning Audi R10 of McNish, Biela and Capello (SPA43L008), the second place Peugeot 908 of Villeneuve, Minassian and Gene (SPK1279), and the GT1 winning Aston Martin DBR9 of Turner, Brabham and Garcia (SPK1214). The winning Audi will be a couple of pounds more expensive than the other subjects, as it will be released in Spark’s new Le Mans Winners Collection.
To see the entire Spark 2008 Le Mans listing you can click here.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
5th
August
2008
The Minichamps delivery had arrived while I was away at the dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix, headlined by two new Valentino Rossi releases; his 1:12 2000 Honda NSR 500 testbike (PO06186), and the delayed 1:8 helmet from Mugello 2007 (PO70876).
There were also several 1:43 Formula One subjects; Nigel Mansell’s 1991 Williams FW14 (P910005), the 2007 Super Aguri SA07s of Takuma Sato (DC27422) and Anthony Davidson (DC27423), and the 2008 BMW showcars of Nick Heidfeld (DC28403P) and Robert Kubica (DC28404P). The Kubica version was already sold out to pre-orders before it arrived however.
There’s also some Mattel news today. We received Bruno Senna’s 1:18 car from his guest appearance in the Silverstone round of the Ferrari F430 Challenge in 2007 (HW2068), and were also given some sample images of some forthcoming 1:18 subjects.
These were the Ferrari F2008s of Kimi Raikkonen (DC2801) and Felipe Massa (DC2802), and the new Ferrari road car, the California (HW2042). Hopefully this means that we will see them in the next couple of months.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
31st
July
2008
Today there’s some Revell news. They’re a manufacturer I don’t mention much, as they don’t do that many 1:18 replicas, but when they do release one it tends to be a very popular subject. As is the case with their latest replica which we received today, the Opel Manta 400 rally car (RV8916).
They also announced a new 1:18 subject in two colourways, the sporty looking Artega GT. It will be available in silver (RV9024) and blue (RV9025).
Amalgam also announced two of their imposing 1:8 replicas of the forthcoming Ferrari California. It will be available with the roof up (AML844), and the roof down (AML845).
Mattel sent us a sample of their Elite 1:18 replica of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 from the 2002 French Grand Prix, the race in which he won his fifth world championship (HW2076), so hopefully it won’t be long before we see that released.
Finally today, probably the biggest news was that Minichamps announced the cars that it would be replicating from the new James Bond film ‘Quantum Of Solace’, in 1:43 scale.
There will be 007’s trusty Aston Martin DBS of course (P137622), and a black Alfa Romeo 159, which I believe will be the baddies’ car (P120500B). The last car is the new Ford Ka (P120500C), which I’m not sure how big a part it has in the film. It may be a bit of product placement, like with the Ford Mondeo in ‘Casino Royale’. There will also be a limited edition two car set of the DBS and the 159 (P121300).
There won’t be an entry tomorrow or on Monday, as I continue my summer of Raikkonen jinxing with a visit to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
30th
July
2008
Today we received new deliveries from Minichamps and from Spark.
On the Minichamps delivery were the 1:18 Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from Le Mans 2006 (PG066480), Riccardo Patrese’s 1:43 1991 Williams FW14 (P910006), and Klaus Ludwig’s 1:43 1982 DRM Ford Capri (P828501).
Spark released the 1:43 1978 Aston Martin V8 (SPK576), and, through its luxury Red Line brand, the winning 1972 Daytona Ferrari 312 PB (RL124). Two other Red Line releases were the two Ferrari concept cars, the Fiorano (RL144), and the Millechili (RL145).
posted in Diecast, Other Cars, Formula 1 |
29th
July
2008
Today we received the new Minichamps release schedule, which actually encompasses a full six weeks, so it takes us up to the middle of September. If memory serves me right, Minichamps then closes for about two weeks at the end of September for its annual stock take, so there will be no new releases then.
Next week the biggie (literally) will be the 1:6 Kawasaki 900 Z1 (PG164100). Another very significant release will be Valentino Rossi’s 1:12 2000 Honda NSR 500 testbike (PO06186), and his 1:8 helmet from pre-season testing in 2007 (PO79046).
From Formula One, there will be Nigel Mansell’s 1:43 1991 Williams FW14 (P910005), and Anthony Davidson’s 1:43 2007 Super Aguri SA07 (DC27423).
The following week we will see the 1:18 Bentley Continental GT in red (PG139620), and the re-release of Rossi’s 1:12 2005 Yamaha YZR-M1 (PO53046).
The week after that (beginning 18th August) we will see the 1:18 Mercedes 300SL Roadster in silver (PG039030), and Takuma Sato’s 1:43 2002 Jordan EJ11 testcar (P024399).
Seven days later will see the release of Roberto Moreno’s 1:18 1991 Benetton B191 (PG910019), and, much more importantly, Lewis Hamilton’s 1:43 ‘First Podium’ special of his McLaren MP4/22 from the 2007 Australian Grand Prix (DC27402A).
The big release on the penultimate week of the schedule is Kenny Roberts’ 1979 Yamaha YZR 500 (P793001), as well as Mika Hakkinen’s 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera Cup guest car (P936033).
Finally, the last week of the schedule sees the next 1:12 Rossi figure, and the first for an Aprilia, the 1997 riding version (P970146), and Martin Brundle’s 1:18 1992 Benetton B191B (PG920120).
It’s going to be a busy end to the summer!
The other big news today was that we at last received a final production sample of Universal Hobbies’ 1:12 Honda RC30 (UH88030), complete in its ‘proper’ packaging! We’ve been waiting four years now to see its release, and expect to receive the shipment in September, so the hundreds of you who have pre-ordered it don’t have much longer to wait now!
posted in Due Dates, Diecast, Other Cars, Moto GP, Formula 1 |
28th
July
2008
It’s signed news today, as we received the AUTOart 1:18 replica of the Aston Martin DBR9 that won the GT1 class in the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours (AA80706S). Jason got Darren Turner’s and David Brabham’s signatures last week, and then Rickard Rydell’s at Brands Hatch over the weekend at the WTCC meeting.
Just to keep you in the loop, Turner and Brabham also signed the AUTOart/Prodrive 1:18 2008 Gulf showcar for us too, which also won its class at Le Mans this year of course (AA80800S), so that one’s now two thirds completed. It will be finished in September when Antonio Garcia comes over for the European Le Mans Series race at Silverstone, and we will finish the job there.
posted in Diecast, Other Cars |
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
You can also view this podcast on youtube by clicking here
