Innehållsförteckning för April 2022 från Diecast Collector

News & Events THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH THIS BUS FROM NORTHCORD Here's a round-up of the latest hobby news and events. FOLLOWING the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus and Xplore Dundee, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the thirteenth livery of its 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – No UK6526 in the livery of National Express West Midlands, with SmartVision camera mirrors in place of traditional driver rear-view mirrors. UK6526 represents fleet number 6937 (SK68 MJE) and was new to National Express West Midlands in early 2019. In addition to being the first to have the innovative SmartVision…

CORGI'S LATEST IMPRESSIVE LARGE-SCALE RAF PHANTOM EVOKES A CERTAIN SPIRIT 1/48 scale CORGI McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 XV592/L, RAF No.111 Squadron, Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, Late 1970s PRICE: £179.99 REF: AA27902 www.corgi.co.uk ALTHOUGH some may argue that the American McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was an acquisition that was almost forced upon the Royal Air Force during the late 1960s, Britain would soon come to appreciate the rugged qualities of this magnificent aeroplane and accept that it presented them with a hugely capable multirole platform. McDonnell Douglas F-4K (FG.1) Phantom XV592 had the distinction of being the last aircraft produced for the Royal Navy and it would go on to serve aboard HMS Ark Royal in the markings of No.892 Naval Air Squadron, until the withdrawal of Britain’s last big carrier at…

New Models 2022 Showcase Rick Wilson had another very different trip to see the new models this year. FOR the second year running, life has been very different, with new waves of the virus and varying degrees of restriction in place around the world. So it was no real surprise when it was announced, with only a few weeks to go, that the Nuremberg toy fair was cancelled again, and would become a digital online event once more. And although Toy Fair London did take place, it was a lower-key affair than usual, with many of the major companies absent. Even with the economic problems that have been caused by the knock-on effects of the global pandemic, the industry keeps on going as best as it can, and manufacturers have…

BREKINA BREKINA has long been established in Europe, but now it's diminutive 1/87 scale miniature masterpieces are becoming more widely available in the UK. Largely made of plastic, they are still worthy of consideration for a collection, given their excellent detailing. The company really came to the fore in the UK when it decided to manufacture a series of very British AEC Routemasters. As more and more make it across The Channel, we are beginning to see a wide range of subjects being released by Brekina. In addition to the two examples of classic commerical vehicles shown above, this year we can expect to see plenty of cars in the shape of the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, a trio of classic Opel saloons (Diplomat B,…

New Models CONRAD PROUDLY made 'in house', in Germany, Conrad's high-quality, handcrafted diecast miniatures travel to every corner of the world through its dealer network. Despite not being able to attend the cancelled Spielwarenmesse, Conrad confidently expects to be at other trade fairs and exhibitions, throughout the rest of the year. There are a few events for 2022 noted in the Conrad trade fair calendar, starting with Intermodellbau, in Dortmund, from 7th to 10th April, and this will be added to on an ongoing basis, subject to the situation at the time. Onto models confirmed for the early part of this year, two further releases, in addition to those reviewed in the What's New section in this issue, are shown above - the Liebherr LTM 1110-5.1 mobile crane in Thömen…

ERA CAR COMING to the UK very soon, through Clevelands Diecast (www.clevelandsdiecast.co.uk), is a hugely exciting brand that has been making big waves in the 1/64 scale market in the Far East. As you can see, though, there is some UK interest in its planned schedule. Era CAR produce highly-detailed, authentic model vehicles with opening parts and replica accessories in 1/64 scale. From emergency services, street cars and racing cars to other well-known liveries and brands from around the world. As the 1/64 scale market seems to really be taking off at last over here (we have a new four-part series on this very subject starting in the June issue), it will be interesting to see how these are received and what future models this company will produce in due…

MAISTO AS we mentioned earlier under the section for Maisto's sister brand, Bburago, both are pushing out some big numbers when it comes to shifting stock. It's easy to see why when the models are very competitively-priced and, whilst that means that some detail might be lacking upon really close inspection, they certainly pack a punch in terms of looks. With some excellent licences under their belts, the brands are definitely performing very impressively. Starting with its 1/18 range, by far the most outlandish model of the year accolade must go to the Lamborghini V12 Vision GT (above, left). What started out as a digital concept for the Gran Turismo video game on the PlayStation, has actually been turned into a real car, as a non-working one-off, of course, but…

NEO CARVING itself a rather specialist niche for 2022, NEO has announced four new 1/43 scale models for 2022 recently, and they are all motorsport-related. Quality resincasts is the name of the game here, bringing us super-detailed, low-run masterpieces. The four new models actually split neatly into a pair of each of two new castings. Looking left first, Ford's classic Sierra XR4Ti is very nicely replicated, as it was driven by Manuel Reuter at the Zolder round of the 1987 DPM Championship. Neatly-lined, the eye-catching red and white paint job is top notch, with the simple markings very nicely applied. A second casting of the XR4i is due in the form of No 44304 Ford Sierra XR4Ti DPM Nurburgring 1987, as driven by Klaus Ludwig, this time sponsored by Liqui…

PREMIUM CLASSIXXS & PCX87 PREMIUM Classixxs and its sub-brand PCX87 have rightly earnt a reputation for quality modelling, whilst choosing some subjects that might frighten other companies away. Whilst one of the above does not fully fit that latter description, the other most certainly does. The DAF XF Space Cab is definitely a fairly mainstream subject, but that doesn't mean that Premium Classixxs' upcoming model, of which it has just released this test shot, will be anything other than exceptional. We look forward to developments here. On the other hand, under its 1/87 scale PCX87 sub-brand, the Seagrave Marauder fire appliance is most definitely something a little different. The detailing that has gone into the test shot provided is simply astonishing. On the 1/43 scale front, Premium Classixxs has made…

TSM & TOP SPEED IF there was a prize for the most dramatic photos here, then this pairing would win by a mile, but not just for the lighting because the model subjects are pretty exciting too. Both of these are prototype shots, pending licensor approval, but they look pretty darn fine to me. The BMW is particularly impressive, because it replicates a car that ran in the 2022 Daytona 24 Hours and, as I type, that was only two weeks ago! What's more, there is to be a 1/43 scale version too, and the prototype was photographed and shared on TSM's Facebook page at the race, in the pits, sitting on the rear wing of the real car. I'm impressed. The other model shown here is actually by TSM's…

SECOND TIME AROUND - PART 3 The Return of Dublo Diecasts In this occasional series, Andrew Ralston looks at how models from the past often re-emerge in a different guise at a later stage – even after decades have passed. Model railways and model vehicles have always been closely connected. Indeed, Dinky Toys originated in the 1930s as ‘Modelled Miniatures’, designed to be used as accessories for Hornby trains. Throughout the decades, regular features on railway layouts in the Meccano Magazine drew attention to the suitability of Dinky vehicles for railway layouts, although relatively few of them were exactly compatible in terms of scale. In 1957, however, Meccano Limited decided to make a more specific link between Dinky Toys and Hornby Dublo trains with the launch of Dinky Dublo, a…

EMERGENCY VEHICLES Corgi Juniors fire engines Mike Pigott continues his series on model fire engines with a look at the surprisingly small range produced by Husky Models and Corgi Juniors. The Corgi Juniors range, including its predecessor Husky Models, and subsequent New Corgi and Mattel Auto City incarnations, was in production for a total of an incredible 33 years, from 1964 through to 1997. Most model car ranges included fire engines, and Corgi Juniors was no different. What is surprising, however, was how few castings were produced over the 33 years, with two of them being particularly long-lived. There were only four different fire engines produced during the life of the range, plus an additional specialist fire appliance. Corgi also made four different fire chief cars, although we won’t be…

CLASSIC COMMERCIALS Lone Star’s Ford Transit James Robertshaw breaks down the interesting story of Lone Star’s Impy commercial. The first model in the range was the luxurious Cadillac Sixteen, which was produced in various different body styles. This was followed by the Chrysler Airflow, which was only available as a four-door saloon. These early Rextoys were made in Portugal by the manufacturer of Vitesse models. The swinging '60s were a time of vast change and Britain needed a new van that could keep up. Ford’s answer was the revolutionary Transit, or ‘Trannie’ as it affectionally became known. With car-like performance, handling and comfort combined with a stylish, modern body, it could carry larger and more varied loads than any van that had gone before. Of course, the Transit wasn’t just…

COLLECTING BY NUMBERS Superfast 1969-1982 Rick Wilson charts the evolution of the Matchbox Superfast range during the Lesney years, from 1969 to 1982. Number 21 was a late-starter in terms of Superfast, as it took until the 1971 catalogue for the incumbent Regular Wheels casting to get its new boots, probably because, as a truck, it still sold well and wasn’t really suited to the racing track sets anyway. It was followed by a fantasy hot rod road roller and the Lesney years were seen out by a very popular little French car, which carried on for many years with the new owners. FODEN CONCRETE TRUCK Catalogue: 1971-72 Box Styles: G Foden Concrete Truck had been a popular Regular Wheels release and took a while to receive its Superfast conversion,…

THUNDERBIRDS HAVE GONE! SIMON ARCHER COLLECTION FAR EXCEEDS ESTIMATES AT EXCALIBUR AUCTIONS EXCALIBUR Auctions produced some spectacular results yet again at its January Toys & Model Railways auction. The highlight of the sale was the first part of the Simon Archer collection of Gerry Anderson memorabilia. Simon Archer was Gerry Anderson’s official biographer and, as a journalist, was heavily involved in the Gerry Anderson scene of the early 1990s. On offer was a vast selection of Simon's Gerry Anderson-related diecast and vintage toys. A Dinky Toys No 101 “Thunderbirds 2 & 4” in original picture box (Lot 210) made a stellar £600, whilst a very complete and tidy Dinky Toys No 100 “Lady Penelope’s FAB1” (Lot 204) also impressed with a hammer price of £420. Other Dinky Toys diecasts from…

NEXT MONTH May 2022 Issue 295 Gilles Villeneuve tribute Remembering the incredible talents of arguably Canada’s finest racing driver, 40 years on from his untimely passing. PLUS… ■ BMW 635 Csi - 45th anniversary■ Matchbox Super GTs■ Austin Sheerline and Princess■ Bathurst winners■ Fun Ho! Midgets – the British cars■ Size Matters part 31■ Collecting by numbers – Superfast #22■ Desert Island Diecasts■ Auction results■ All the latest news■ Extensive selection of new model releases, reviewed by our team of experts May issue on sale 1st April or download the digital edition 7 DAYS EARLIER on 25th March at www.pocketmags.com/diecast-collector…

NEW TRUCK RELEASED FROM SEARCH IMPEX CUSTOMISED promotional model vehicle specialist, Search Impex, is delighted to announce the release of a 1/50 scale Volvo FH Globetrotter XL (6x2) tractor unit with 3 axle, skirted, curtain trailer, customised in the livery of long-established Scottish operator Drummond Distribution. The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Models as a certificated, limited edition of 175 pieces. Established in 1927 and starting out making local coal deliveries, Drummond Distribution has successfully evolved to become one of Scotland’s longest established and most reliable pallet and parcel delivery companies. Still very much an independent, family-owned and run business, the head office remains in Armadale, West Lothian (from where the Drummond family originate), but today’s operation has grown enormously over the years. The business…

News & Events NEW SHOP OPTIONS AT THE CORGI MODEL CLUB EXCITING news from the Corgi Model Club – its website has been significantly updated and now non-members can get in on the action and purchase/pre-order individual models too. However, members will continue to enjoy each issue at a substantially reduced price, of just £19.99 each, plus P&P. In addition to this new purchasing option, the website now has an extra section for t-shirts, all featuring evocative Corgi Toys artwork, with some Scalextric versions available too. Sizes range from S to XXXL and all designs come in various shirt colour options as well. Next up for members is the 1/43 scale No 335 - 4.2 Litre Jaguar 'E' Type 2+2. Launched into the Corgi Toys range in 1968, this classic…

IXO'S CLASSIC VINTAGE EASTERN EUROPEAN IKARUS INTERCITY BUS IS JUST THE TICKET 1/43 scale IXO 1972 Ikarus 66 - NVK Nahverkehr PRICE: £58.99 REF: BUS029 www.ayrey.co.uk IKARUS was a manufacturer of buses based in Budapest and Székesfehérvár, Hungary. It was established in 1895 and, during the Communist era in Hungary, it dominated bus markets of the entire Eastern Bloc and its allies. The Ikarus 66 is an urban-suburban bus, produced in great numbers between 1952 and 1973. Most of the 9,260 units produced were exported to the German Democratic Republic from 1957, and it was one of the dominant types of bus transport in the 1960s and 1970s. Apart from the exports to the GDR, some 2,700 vehicles were delivered to Volán companies in Hungary. The latter were all scrapped…

NEW MODEL SPOTLIGHT Hiya, little sister In the second of his spotlights on new releases from DNA Collectibles this month, Stephen Paul Hardy looks at a unique era of Audi styling. For me, the first generation Audi TT was by far the most attractive. Its pretty, very distinctive panel work curves set it aside from virtually all other contemporary and subsequent Audi styling. That is, save for a synergy with its little sister, the A2. The TT first saw light of day in the spring of 1994 at the Volkswagen Group Design Centre in California, being shown first as a concept car at IAA 1995 (Frankfurt Motor Show). As such, it had California design origins that it shared with the Volkswagen Concept 1 credited to J. Mays and Freeman Thomas.…

AUTOCULT AUTOCULT continues to make a name for itself with its amazing range of vehicles that have rarely been modelled. Since 2015, the company has been making sophisticated, handcrafted resin models, strictly limited to just 333 pieces each. The two you see here should actually be on sale by the time you read this, but they are definitely worthy of highlighting further. Towards the end of the 1970s, local firefighters in the village of Diemen chose to mark their 50th anniversary by converting a 1971 DAF 44 into an emergency vehicle. During the conversion the complete rear area from the height of the side windows was removed. The rear was fitted with a wooden structure, which featured two lengthwise installed seat benches, on which two firefighters could be seated. Together…

New Models BRITAINS BRITAINS celebrated its 'Home Farm' centenary in 2021, with some excellent commemorative releases, and it has continued to produce excellent, great value, largely 1/32 scale releases, with plenty up its sleeve for the coming year. The two shown here will be available by the time this issue hits the shops, and form just a small part of the release schedule over the next 12 months. The No 43327 John Deere 3140 2WD Tractor (above, left) is limited to jsut 2,500 pieces and priced at just £27.99. For Deere fans Britains now offers its classic 3140 tractor with two-wheel drive. The tractor also now sports a front weight. Turning to the No 43317 JCB 75th Anniversary Loadall (above, right), this doesn't have a limit specified and is likely…

CORGI MUCH has already been written about the new Corgi releases for the first few months of the year (see our comprehensive, 5-page article in the March issue), but there are a couple of very exciting projects in development for release later in the year. One we already knew about, after the news broke that the proposed No Time to Die James Bond Triumph Scrambler 1200 (planned to be made at 1/24 scale) just wasn't going to work in terms of the amount of detail that could be fitted in. So pre-orders were cancelled and the new, much-improved 1/12 scale version was announced. And if the computer-generated image above right is anything to go by, it's going to be an absolute beauty, or beast, depending on how you look at it.…

New Models IXO IXO must be one of the highest volume producers in the business, not just for its own ranges, but for other companies as well, particularly when it comes to partworks. As a result, it would be impossible to even begin to tbe able to share the list of planned releases. So we've narrowed it down into a more manageable chunk here. We'll start with the stunning 1/18 scale Lancia Delta S4 in that hugely evocative Martini livery. It's a 1/18 scale model, and there is a whole bundle of rally cars due in this scale from Ixo throughout the year - a trio of Ford Escort MK I RS 1600s from early 1970s rallies, a 1989 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, a 1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, and…

MINI GT OH boy, do I love my Mini GTs! There is something about the marvellous little 1/64 scale models that really works for me, and many others too it seems as the brand is fast-reaching cult status among certain collecting fraternities. For me it's the balance of quality, detail and choice with a very affordable price point. The range is expanding all the time, and it's not just exotica on offer. There are car transporters, trucks, and all sorts of accessories like figurines, parking mats and display cabinets. Another thing that I really like about the range is that, if the real thing was sold in different markets, then most of the models come in left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive options too! This is denoted by either an "-L" or "-R"…

New Models NZG TWO brand new models are featured here, both from two very different sides to NZG's production, but just as impressive as each other. In more ways than one. First, we'll deal with the rather attention-grabbing tractor unit, with the most incredible all over body wrap replicated superbly on this model. This impressive model is quite a sizeable piece of diecast and is, like the other five versions of this tractor unit, packed with details and features - including lighting! It is an important part of the 1/18 side of NZG's product catalogue, alongside it's other truck makes, the Lohr car transporter trailer and a trio of Mercedes-Benz road cars - the C-Class saloon, plus the EQA and EQB SUVs. The other side, for NZG, is the 1/50…

SCHUCO YOU might recognise the car and figure above as being our cover model(s) for this issue - and you'd be correct! This exciting new addition to Schuco's range represents the 911 S that Steve McQueen drives in the opening sequence of his film, Le Mans, shot during and after the famous race in 1970. The addition of the figurine is wonderful and typical of Schuco going the extra mile with its creativity and ideas. Although, interestingly, the model isn't officially branded as being our hero and the car has a couple of very subtle differences from the movie version (missing the sunroof and auxiliary foglights, and the headlight surrounds are not so deep), but the registration number is totally correct to be the film car. The model is released…

WHITEBOX WHITEBOX is another manufacturer that seems to have temporarily left 1/43 scale behind. Recently it has become the home of 1/24 scale releases, and excellent ones at that. This year is no different, with four new models shown off during the unofficial online festival that almost everyone took part in during the traditional Spielwarenmesse week recently We'll start with the two pictured here. No WB124095 Opel Manta A Black Magic, dressed evocatively in a very 'period' look with red and yellow striping adorning its sleek, black paintwork. Many WhiteBox models at this scale feature opening body parts, but it's unclear from the images supplied if the doors do swing open to allow a good view inside the car. I guess this is where the online bit doesn't really replace…

RESTORATIONS, CUSTOMS & NEW-BUILDS Workbench Rick Wilson shares his current project progress. I’ve been playing around with restoring old diecasts since my early teens. I’ve just started a huge project from Ixo Collections and it gave me this idea for this new section to bring you updates and tips as I focus on some other projects along the way. FORMULA 1 PARTWORKS As a motorsport fan of many decades, I've been thoroughly enjoying the various series over the last few years that have brought us a steady stream of excellent replicas at similarly impressive prices. My favourite era is from the mid-1960s through to the mid-'90s, with a particular emphasis on the 1970s and '80s - a period when privateers could rock up to their home Grand Prix and get…

SIZE MATTERS – PART 30 Altogether now Brian Salter continues his series examining the origins of scales used. A very simple introduction this time - is there any other marque of vehicle that can be used so effectively to show the difference between our most commonly used scales? The basic shape of the Land Rover never altered, with just one major tweak, in 1958, when the flat box shape became a little more curvaceous and lasted right through to 2016. En route, the Series II of 1958 became the Series III in 1972, the 90 and 110 in 1983, with the Defender name being applied from 1991. The most familiar scale of all, 1/43, is not in the line up - our near identical 1/42 does the honours. The various…

TOP VINTAGE MODEL MGB DTCA Chairman, Michael Driver, picks another vintage favourite by Dinky. Since early childhood, I have had an interest in sports cars. Seeing them on the road or racetrack was a thrill and one day I hoped to have real one. But, in the meantime, my toy ones had to do. A number of toy makers included sports cars in their ranges, with the best ones seeming to come from Dinky Toys, both pre and post-war in the 38 and 100 series. These were then followed by further newer sports cars in the 100 series. One of the newer sports cars was the Dinky Toys No 113 MGB, which joined the range in October 1962. The Meccano Magazine advert of that month stated “Doors that open both…

FROM THE EDITOR’S COLLECTION “I expect you to diecast, Mr Bond!” Never lost for things to talk about, Rick Wilson shares another selection from his collection. There has been a lot of chatter in recent years about the mainstream Corgi re-imaginings of the iconic No 261. Released in October 1965, the original James Bond Aston Martin was second only to the No 267 Batmobile as the all-time best-seller for Corgi Toys, and was also described by TV personality, James May, as “the most significant car ever” in his Sunday Times column, in January 2015. The series of releases by Corgi over the last few years, commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the Goldfinger (CC04203) and Thunderball (CC04206) films, then more recently repackaged as RT26101 with an excellent recreation of the original…

ebay WATCH Keep up with big wins on this popular online auction website - we choose three outstanding performers each month. DATE: 9th February 2022 TITLE: Mercury Speedy Fiat 238 School Bus SOLD FOR: £227.00 BIDS: 26 A very rare diecast model of the classic Fiat 238 as a school bus (“scuolabus”), by Mercury. Released under its Speedy banner, the bus is a well-modelled, one-piece casting painted in the traditional yellow for an Italian school bus. Flanked to the rear on either side with “SCUOLA ELEMENTARE”MAFFEI” paper labels (no signs of scuffing to the edges) in excellent condition, as is the model with immaculate paintwork throughout. Box is complete and in good condition. DATE: 6th February 2022 TITLE: Corgi Toys No 292 Starsky & Hutch Ford Torino SOLD FOR: £300.00…

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK A British Citroën Andrew Ralston samples some rare homemade beauty, with French origins. It may not look like it, but the stylish little hardtop coupé pictured here is essentially a Citroën 2CV - a car that has been variously nicknamed ‘the ugly ducking’ or ‘an umbrella with four wheels’. And it was made in Britain. Between 1926 and 1966, Citroën had a UK factory in Slough which assembled cars in right-hand-drive form, often with certain modifications to suit the tastes of the British market. The 2CV that had helped to bring motoring within reach of ordinary people in France was assembled at Slough from 1953 onwards but, in spite of being ultra-economical, the car’s utilitarian looks did not endear it to British buyers. The target market…

THE LAST WORD From doubtful wisdom to genius Brian Gower wises up and regains some lost beauty. With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." Oscar Wilde said that and it seems both witty and true. However, most of us don't recognise in ourselves the arrival of age, we are not best placed to assess our own wisdom. Has it arrived? Probably not. We accumulate some-knowledge of various subjects, hopefully not in just one highly specialised field, but that isn't wisdom, is it? And what good is wisdom when you are old? "Ah, now I see where I went wrong." How useful. Wisdom, had it kicked in at a reasonable juncture, would have stopped me from abandoning my first collection when I left home. Dozens of Dinky, Corgi, Spot-on…

OXFORD DIECAST FUTURE RELEASE UPDATE NOBODY likes announcing delays, but in recent conversations with a few collectors, Oxford Diecast says it became apparent that it may be preferable for this information to be more public. During the Covid Pandemic period, Oxford has experienced some quite significant delays on items. The company has made the decision to not announce any future development and release a new catalogue until May 2022 to allow time to catch up. Below are the items confirmed for imminent arrival. There are still plenty of new releases to follow later in the year, with more information available in the May 2022 catalogue. In addition to recent delays, Oxford has taken the difficult decision, due to many factors, to take a pause on a few items, so you…

GET KITTED OUT AT MODEL BUSES CREATIONS MODEL Buses Collection & Iwan's Bus Bits announce the first three releases under the Model Buses Creations (MBC) brand. The stated aim of MBC, a partnership between Mark Oakley of Model Buses Collection and Iwan Jones of Iwan's Bus Bits, is to create highly-detailed model buses in miniature for collectors and enthusiasts across the UK and around the world. The first Model Buses Collection release is a Britbus Leyland/Volvo Olympian, available for the first time in kit form, with the exclusive added option to choose either early Leyland or late Volvo versions, with parts for both included in each kit. Also included is a set of waterslide transfers to add the finishing touches to your completed model in the livery of your choice.…

New Models 9 BUMPER PAGES WHAT’S new Our team of experts take a look at this month's model releases, including fine handbuilt replicas, scale construction and the latest in farm models. NIKI LAUDA'S 1985 MCLAREN MP4/2B BY MODEL CAR GROUP TAKES THE BIG PRIZE 1/18 scale MODEL CAR GROUP McLaren TAG MP4/2B Marlboro McLaren International Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix 1985 - #1 Niki Lauda PRICE: £65.99 REF NO: MCG 18607 www.ayrey.co.uk MCLAREN'S ground-breaking MP4 design made its first appearance during the 1981 Formula 1 Grand Prix season. What made it so outstanding is that it was the first car to feature a fully carbon fibre monocoque chassis. The MP4 was the first car to be built following the merger of the McLaren team and Ron Dennis' Project 4 Formula 2…

Bertone in blue Or “Rhapsody in Blue”? Another second time outing for a DNA Collectibles model proves music to Volvo collectors’ ears, as Stephen Paul Hardy explains. The 700 series executive models designed by legendary Volvo designer, Jan Wilsgaard, had a decade-long production history spanning from 1982 to 1992. The coupé version of the series - the Volvo 780 - debuted at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show and, like its predecessor, the 262C was designed and built by Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, Italy. With a production run of only four years between 1986 and 1991 that produced just over 8,500 units, the coupé is one of Volvo’s less common models. Nuccio Bertone’s styling of the 780 produced a clean, angular, wedge-like body line, accentuated by the use of chrome window…

BBURAGO BBURAGO and its sister brand, Maisto, are proving to be very prolific with their production output. With some excellent licences under their belts, the brands are definitely growing very impressively. Deservedly so, because, turning specifically to Bburago now, the two models above are excellent examples of significant growth areas - Ferrari and Formula 1. Obviously, Ferrari fits into both of those categories, but the brand is so much more than just single-seater racing cars. This has been very well demonstrated since Bburago took over the Ferrari licence from Mattel several years ago. Its ability to turn out nicely-detailed replicas without entering the realm of serious collecting prices. The SP-1 above is a case in point, with this good quality, beautifully-finished diecast coming with an RRP of just £69.99 for…

CMC THE stuff of dreams is not too strong a phrase to use for CMC, as it has carved itself an impressive niche right at the top of the charts in 1/18 scale diecast replication, and has rewritten the rule book several times on detailing. Quality like this comes at a price, but, for those who can afford it, their loyalty is regularly rewarded. Of the models due in the early months of 2022, one that is eagerly awaited is the Alfa Romeo P3 racing cars from the 1932 and 1933 seasons, that were planeed for 2021, but, as we know, best laid plans have had to be rescheduled several times for everyone during the current global situation. The company has promised that it will be next after the series…

New Models DNA COLLECTIBLES THE team at DNA Collectibles are so passionate about its models that, as soon as I met them at Nuremberg a few years ago, I knew we were all kindred spirits in the world of collecting. The company's resincast models are truly something that has to be held in the hand to be fully appreciated. Right from the start, the attention to detail and quality of the finish has been absolutely astonishing, and the models chosen for production have, quite often, never been made in this scale before. The range is, naturally, restricted in terms of licence agreements, but with major names like Volkswagen, Volvo, Saab, Subaru and Audi all signed up, the guys were very excited to announce early last year that a new deal…

KK SCALE KK SCALE has a great habit of choosing some really special cars to model in 1/18 diecast. Even better is the fact that its releases are always at very reasonable prices. How does the company do it? I mean, just look at the spoked wheels on that GTO above, as well as the overall finish - absolutely stunning. Several of the new releases for 2022 are already out, and the list makes for very pleasing reading, with a good variety in terms of subject matter. We'll start with the two pictured above - after all, it's a fine place to begin. Now add to these the following: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Passo Corto in three different colours, Talbot Simca Rancho (two colours), Ferrari F40 Lightweight (two colours),…

New Models MODEL CAR GROUP THIS is another company that produces some really excellent 1/18 scale models for very little money in real terms, as the Tyrrell 006 sitting next to me on my desk will testify. And on that very subject, MCG has unveiled some truly gorgeous Formula 1 classics for 2022, as demonstrated by the Lotus 72D test shot (above, right). Also in the frame for 2022 are a 1976 McLaren M23 (think James Hunt's championship winner, although this would also be suitable to represent Gilles Villeneuve's first ever Formula 1 drive at the 1977 British Grand Prix) and the beautiful Brabham BT20 from the 1966 and '67 seasons. Another racer to round this group up is the mighty Zakspeed Ford Capri Turbo Gr5, from 1979. Awesome! These…

OXFORD NOBODY likes announcing delays, but in recent conversations with a few collectors, Oxford Diecast says it became apparent that it may be preferable for this information to be more public. During the Covid Pandemic period, Oxford has experienced some quite significant delays on items. The company has made the decision to not announce any future development and release a new catalogue until May 2022 to allow time to catch up. There is a list of new releases due soon on page 5 of this issue, but there is plenty of new tooling that has, understandably, been pushed back to prevent clogging of the production lines until it makes more sense to manufacture these. Two very different models, that are as equally as impressive as each other, that are due…

New Models SOLIDO WE'VE chosen two distinctly British favourites to headline Solido's new model list for 2022, although, of course, it is so much more than this, and not just at this scale. So leaving the 1/18 scale newbies aside for the moment, the biggish news for Solido for this year is the return of its 1/43 scale line up. It's a sclae that the brand has huge history with, but it has left it alone for a few years - but now it is back, big time! For starters, 2022 marks Solido's 90th anniversary, so the timing is right for a grand return, and many top car marques have been lined up for Solido's return to the 1/43 fray. With the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Peugeot, Citroën, Renault, Volvo…

WIKING WIKING has, of course, a vast range to offer, across many scales, but we only tend to conceern ourselves with the 1/32 farm scale diecasts on a monthly basis, with the occasional dip into 1/87. But a quick glance at the catalogue shows a much larger world of WIKING, right down to the European N gauge scale of 1/160. Focusing on the two chosen images, these are both models that have just come onto the market already. The Case IH 1455XL Tractor, is typical of the highly-detailed 1/32 scale offerings by the company from South Westphalia. Featuring detachable front weight, steerable wheels, opening bonnet and access to the cab, WIKING’s Case tractor offers good display choices. It’s supplied with two different exhausts. Moving across to the brightly-coloured John Deere…

IXO COLLECTIONS 1/8 SCALE PORSCHE 917KH PARTWORK KIT After a hiatus of a few months, we're back on track with this amazing diecast kit build. The delays were due to the continued shipping logistics nightmare, with containers sometimes waiting for many weeks before loading onto vessels for movement. But in quick succession, boxes 7 and 8 duly arrived and thankfully Ixo has been very good at keeping subscribers updated. This month's progress brings us bang up to date with the the kit parts available at the moment, further instalments are due to arrive within the next few weeks. We are now up to part 32, so exactly a third of the way through the 96 part packs that will all go to make up this incredibly detailed and impressive diecast…

PORSCHE’S DAYTONA 24 HOURS WINNERS The conquest of Daytona Since the first Daytona 24 Hours, only one name has won it more than twenty times. Francisco Mota gathers a collection of scale models that trace the 22 Porsche wins in the classic endurance race. Photos: João Carlos Oliveira Everybody knows about the record number of wins that Porsche has at the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours. The event was first held in 1923 and Porsche has taken first place on no less than 19 occasions. A record that no other car manufacturer gets even close to. The second best in the Le Mans ranking is Audi, with 13, and Ferrari comes a distant third with nine. However, Le Mans is not the only 24 hours endurance race where Porsche…

READERS’ FAVOURITES Desert Island Diecasts Imagine you’re stranded on a remote island and had only taken a handful of your collection favourites on that fateful trip, which five would you want it to be? Terry Quick is this month’s castaway hero. As it has proved to other castaways, choosing just five models to take on a desert island is quite hard, as there are some great models out there. As you will quickly gather from my choices, I am a fan of motorsports and have been for many years. In particular, I was, and still am, an admirer of the great Jim Clark – no matter what car he drove, it was always exciting. It all started for me in the early 1990s. I was buying Matchbox Super Kings trucks…

GOT A STORY? AUCTIONNEWS RARITIES APLENTY IN THE IPSWICH GOODS JUNCTION SALE AT VECTIS THE Ipswich Goods Junction collection sale, at Vectis Auctions, continued with part 3 on the 19th January. Over 460 lots of high quality boxed and unboxed models, including pre and post-war Dinky cars, buses, trucks, commercial vehicles, military, tractors and accessories, plus rare promotional issues. There was also a large collection of French Dinky models. Further items in the sale included Matchbox Regular Wheels gift sets, accessory packs and service stations, Major Packs, King Size, Speed Kings, Super Kings, Superfast, Yesteryear and catalogues. The sale also included Tri-ang Spot-on, Solido, Tri-ang and Tri-ang Minic battery operated cars, plus more recent Atlas Editions Tin Tin character vehicles, AUTOart, Minichamps and Franklin Mint models, plus FROG, Airfix and other…

LETTERS DearEditor… EMAIL YOUR LETTERS AND QUESTIONS TO rick.wilson@warnersgroup.co.uk OR WRITE TO US The Editor, Diecast Collector, Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. THE TROUBLE WITH TWO-DOOR TAXIS I was reading through the Fiat 130 Coupe article by Kevin Brock in the March issue with interest, as I have some Guisval models in my collection. I also have seemed to have amassed over the years quite a selection of model taxis. What struck me in this article was the photo on page 38 of the Coleccion Escorpion taxi. What possessed a model producer to market a two door taxi which is totally impractical for this type of vehicle? Maybe there are such things, but I have never come across this before and I don't…