Innehållsförteckning för October 2025 från Diecast Collector

MODEL Buses Creations (MBC) and Brian Collins Enterprises (BCE) have revealed the next release in their successful joint venture – and it’s one that collectors have been asking for. Following the sell-out success of the first two Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 models (MBC/BCE-IE001 in Dublin livery and MBC/BCE-IE002 in dealer white), the pair are now set to launch MBC/BCE-IE003, a striking Dublin Bus example in the Transport for Ireland (TFI) livery. This latest release depictsVT36 (07-D-70036) operating the 39A service to UCD Belfield via the N3 Bypass. A total of 1,000 models will be produced, with allocations for MBC, BCE, and 80M in Hong Kong. Each comes in a new style display case complete with a grass verge, road layout, scale bus stop, premium packaging, and a numbered certificate. As…

BUS fans and collectors have something new to get excited about – Northcord Model Company is gearing up to release the very first production model of the Enviro 400 Classic Facelift. This eye-catching release depicts Arriva Kent & Surrey’s fleet number 6483 (SN15 LNP) in the operator’s striking new standard livery, working the popular 700 Bluewater route. Only 504 examples will be produced, each presented in Northcord’s bespoke packaging with a numbered certificate – a must-have for anyone serious about modern fleet models. The facelift design, developed by Northcord, first appeared on pre-production samples of UKBUS 0070, 0071 and 0072. Now, for the first time, it’s set to roll out in full production form. The pre-production sample is currently under review by both the MBC team and Arriva, with the green…

MATRIX MODELS 1979-85 Jaguar XJ6 Series III 4.2 - Black PRICE: around £120.00 SCALE: 1/43 REF: MX 41001-283 Great model of this popular Jaguar with excellent detail, down to the thin coachline and the twin filler caps on the rear wings. Tan interior. Also available in Damson Red with Red seats and “Portland Beige” (cream) with Tan seats.  www.matrixscalemodels.com MATRIX MODELS 1934 Maybach Zeppelin DS8 4-door Cabriolet by Spohn – Black/Bronze PRICE: around £130.00 SCALE: 1/43 REF: MX 41301-011 Great model of this massive pre-war rival to the big Mercedes-Benz in its day. Excellent finish and level of detail, down to the Red coachline and the trim on the wings that echo the grilles on the bonnet. Red interior and Black folded hood. Also available in White and in Maroon.…

My article on Corgi’s 50th Anniversary range of Ford Consuls issued from 2006 to recreate their first diecast release had an unexpected sequel after publication (DC October 2017). The owner of the featured BATCC edition was so chuffed to see the pictures of his example in print that he generously offered it to me at a rather more affordable price than its original figure. So I can now finish the story by fully describing and illustrating this elusive version, and adding some accurate information about how it was produced to resolve previous speculations. To briefly recap, the Boston Area Toy Collectors Club (BATCC) held their 10th Annual National Collectible Toy Event on 24 September 2010 and commissioned a commemorative model through a collaboration arranged by the Corgi Collector Club (CCC)…

From the 1950s, up until the 1980s, there always seemed to be a Rolls-Royce in the Matchbox range. Usually a large, stately limousine, but sometimes a convertible. The first model to hold the No.44 spot in the Matchbox Series was a Silver Cloud, followed by the very similar PhantomV. Typical of the late 1950s and early 1960s, the second model was not only larger than its predecessor, but much more detailed, and working features were also beginning to appear. THE REAL CAR Rolls-Royce introduced the original Silver Cloud in 1955, with a 6-cylinder engine. The Silver Cloud II followed in 1959, with an 8-cylinder engine. The Silver Cloud III arrived in 1962, with a revised front end. The even more imposing PhantomV was much larger, but generally similar in appearance…

On various occasions many years ago, I would pass a railway goods yard in Sheffield. Here I would stop and watch goods being loadedd and unloaded by cranes including mobile cranes. The mobile cranes took items and moved to put them on wagons or lorries ready for despatch. If like me you had an O gauge Hornby railway you needed a mobile crane. The Dinky Toys mobile crane was a welcome essential and of course other toy manufacturers provided you with appropriate crane models. The Dinky Supertoys Coles Mobile Crane appeared in December1949 as number 571 and is seen in the Meccano Magazine of that month. The advert says ‘this fine model of a mobile crane has hoisting, jib-raising and slewing movements.’ Price 9/11 each. It is reviewed in the…

As we have often seen in the pages of Diecast Collector, there have been a lot of superhero models over the years. Most of these have been based on Batman, mainly because he has driven a wide selection of Batmobiles and other vehicles, and these have featured prominently in films, TV shows and comic books. Other heroes have not been as well-suited to diecast vehicles, mainly because they did not use them, or even need them – many heroes could fly or run at high speeds. This has not meant that there haven’t been various model vehicles based on them – Superman, Spider-Man, Captain America and The Incredible Hulk have been well represented in diecast ranges over the years. One character who has been under-represented in the diecast toy arena,…

ELVIS’ ROAD TRIP CAR RETURNS TO CALIFORNIA AND TO 1:43 SCALE ONE of Elvis Presley’s most personal vehicles – a rare 1972 Cadillac de Ville station wagon – has returned to its original home in Southern California, and collectors can now enjoy it in miniature form thanks to Matrix Scale Models. Elvis originally bought the car as a gift for his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, but drove it so often between his Beverly Hills home and sold-out Las Vegas shows that Parker eventually handed it back. In 1976, the King loaded the Cadillac for a cross-country drive from California to Graceland – a journey that would be his final road trip before his death four months later at the age of 42. For decades, the car was a star attraction at…

MODEL Buses Creations (MBC) opened pre-orders for its first UK release of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 on Friday 6 June at 12:00pm – and the debut line-up is set to make a big impression on modern fleet collectors. Three versions are available: Stagecoach East in local livery (36306 on route 51 to Oakley), Stagecoach London in red (36326 on route 124 to Catford), and a plain dealer white variant with no destination. Each model is supplied with MBC’s unique diorama plinth complete with bus stop, adding extra display appeal straight out of the box. Collectors can also opt for the MBC Triple 1 value pack, containing all three models, but this will be strictly limited to one pack per customer to ensure fair availability. Individual models will have no purchase…

BACK in June, Vectis Auctions held its latest Simply Dinky Auction in Stockton, drawing collectors and bidders from across the globe. The result? An impressive £87,520 total hammer price, underlining just how strong the market for rare and well preserved examples remains. The star of the sale was a Dinky Toys 101 “Thunderbirds” Thunderbird 2, which set a new world record for the casting at £2,570. Other standout results included: • French pre-war 21Train set with original box – £3,185 • Dinky Toys 175 Hillman Minx Saloon (cream/green) – £1,500+ • Dinky Toys 934 Leyland Octopus Wagon (maroon) – £1,100+ • Dinky Toys 923 Big Bedford Van “Heinz” – £1,050 • Dinky Toys 905 Foden Flat Truck with chains (blue cab/grey bed) – £1,200+ • A selection of Hawk Harriers,…

Replicagri launched the Massey Ferguson 510 Combine in 2023 with the release of a special limited edition for the French farm model show. It has followed the French show model with this widely available, general release version. It’s a beautifully engineered, detailed, largely metal model with many working features. This edition has a detachable table and a two-wheel trailer to carry it. The table has detachable crop dividers and the reel height can be set on two rams. Both the reel and feed auger rotate freely and the knife is detailed on the metal table bed. Two pins locate the table on the feed elevator and the elevator support rams are stiff enough to hold the raised table. Painted lights are detailed on the combine front and on the driver’s…

Long time collectors of 1:43 scale models of legendary Le Mans 24h endurance race know how long it took to get good replicas of the wining car, after the race ended. This was in the, not so distant, past and if you wanted to collect more than the winning car it would take even more time to gather a decent collection of the main cars that disputed the latest race. Things changed considerably when Minichamps got an interest in the subject and started to launch diecasts of some of the cars entered each season. You would get very good reproductions of the winning team’s cars and maybe one or two more. Those were (and still are) excellent scale models, some of the last ones the German company launched were perfectly…

Now here I am sharing my hobby of collecting die-cast model cars. The passion of motoring that was engraved into my soul when I was a child which has now become an addiction. This is the one thing that always keeps me excited. I would also like to honour the versatility of my passion as a motoring enthusiast, journalist & motorsport marshal as well as playing a prominent role in my professional career. I call it a passion unlimited. In early 80s, I got hold of my first matchbox die-cast model car back in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia (where I was born). This was introduced by my father Waheed Akhtar, a motor engineer specializing in Land Rover, Opel & Chevrolet back in the 70s & 80s. As a child, these…

DODGE CRANE TRUCK Production: 1970-72 Catalogue: 1970-72 Box Styles: G Keeping its yellow body from its regular wheels days, Dodge Crane Truck sneaked a further three years in the catalogue in this guise. Still without a cab interior, the only real variation was that some models were produced with a more orange hook, but that’s it. With its rotating crane jib, it certainly gave good play value, but was eventually replaced by another commerical vehicle for 1973. FREEWAY GAS TANKER Production: 1973-81 Catalogue: 1973-81 Box Styles: I, L This was another futuristic-looking commercial vehicle to enter the range, this time an articulated tanker. However, to make it fit a standard Matchbox packaging, the angular cab was very narrow, and the single-axle trailer needed to be quite short and stubby. Despite…

FOLLOWING the launch of the Austin Montego 1.6L saloon earlier this year, Lansdowne has now added the estate version to its line-up. Available exclusively from Brooklin Models, the 1:43 scale white metal model comes in a choice of Oporto Red with grey interior or Champagne Beige with beige/brown interior. Both versions carry the reference LDM122 and are priced at £134.99 each. While the interior is integral to the casting, key elements such as the handbrake and gear lever are separately fitted, and in the luggage compartment you’ll even find two neatly modelled suitcases. The real Montego estate made its debut at the 1984 Motor Show and went on to become the most successful variant in the range. It featured two additional rear-facing seats – although these aren’t included on the model.…

MODEL Buses Creations (MBC) has announced its first Northcord Enviro 400 MMC release for 2025 – and it’s set to be a landmark for modern London bus modelling. The model depicts Go Ahead London’s EH213 (YY67 UTN) working the SL6 Russell Square route in the eye-catching Transport for London Superloop livery. Fully licensed by TfL, the release will be the first in a planned series of Superloop vehicles from MBC. The design cell has now been signed off by TfL, and pre-production samples are expected soon. With just 504 units planned and the Superloop network still making headlines in real life, MBC is expecting strong demand when the model lands in autumn 2025.…

SOLIDO’S LATEST BAJA LOOK BEETLE BOUNCES IN WITH COLOUR AND CHARACTER Solido’s fourth version of it’s Baja style custom Beetle - maybe that should be Bug - bounced in for Summer as the best version yet. Each version in succession has differed not only in its colour scheme but in the variety of accessorisation details added. Common to all have been the obligatory roof rack mountain the bank of auxiliary lighting essential for desert terrain off roading together with the “stinger” exhaust system exiting high above the rocks and dust of floor level. Oh and the CB aerials - remember those? Which kind of dates the look to an era when even cell phones were barely comprehendible let alone the possibility of mini hand held computers doubling up as telephones…

So, following on from last month’s issue, a customised, lingering, last look back to summer before heading into autumn next month. One that is very much a nostalgia laden retrospective, with the unusual twist from me of being an in-depth review of a now long obsolete diecast, the full appreciation of which comes through its extensive back story provenance. A story that entwined several legend threads together and all connected in the glamorised 1960s teenage Californian lifestyle culture of surfing and cars, now often referred to as the California Myth. As far as diecast collecting is concerned, there is also a strong link in one of those threads to many popular diecast collecting themes, including film, TV, and comic-related models through the legendary ‘King of Kustoms’ George Barris. BARRIS’ MODEL…

The name Jensen usually conjures up the Stylish Interceptor of the 1970s, or perhaps the fast and practical Jensen Healey. In the 1:43 field, Dinky Toys and Corgi Juniors brought the FF to our homes, Spot-On delivered their 541, and the white metal model creators brought us many more of Jensen’s lovely cars. The story of the company is much longer than that snapshot in time, and very much wider too. Alan and Richard Jensen built their first Austin Seven special in 1927, and as a result, the Standard Motor Company was so impressed that they asked the two brothers to undertake a similar job on a Standard Nine. For the next thirty years Alan and Richard managed their own company which bore their name through some revolutionary designs of…

When Ford bravely replaced the evergreen Cortina with the radical, ‘jellymould’ Sierra hatchback they were keen to promote their new car with promotional ‘launch’ toys. They managed to get Britain’s two big toy car makers, in the shape of Matchbox and Corgi, on board with this to produce these special models. Matchbox released large and small scale high performance XR4i models while Corgi’s take on the replacement for the Cortina took the shape of the 5 door hatchback in top of the range 2.3 Ghia trim, complete with the correct triple vent wheel trims on the larger scale version. The Corgi was released in Autumn 1982 to coincide with the launch of the real car, with the initial colour being metallic gold with brown bumpers and sold in unique Sierra…

Scamold was a corruption of the above two words; and if you like your collections to be finite and conclusive, then this long-gone manufacturer might be right up your street. With a range that encompassed 1930s racing cars, to wit the E.R.A., Maserati and Alta marques, it’s a short and sweet collection for anyone interested. Moreover, these miniatures, which date from before WWII, are extremely well made and benefit from a lot of thought and engineering. C. P. Tappenden, G. J. D. Tilley, M. S. Sutcliffe and A. L. Sutcliffe started this venture at Brooklands, in Surrey, where they had access to the real cars they desired to model; later, the company relocated to Malvern in Worcestershire. The range of cars were available in silver, white, black, pale green, dark…