F1 Modeling

We had some very exciting news at DCL HQ today, as Kimi Raikkonen confirmed that he will be signing models exclusively for us. The Finn will be putting pen to diecast on two of Minichamps 1:18 replicas: the 2012 Lotus E20 (DC21209S), and the Lotus E20 that Kimi drove to victory in the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (DC21209ADS). Needless to [...]

Today BBR released a 1:18 replica of the #51 Ferrari 458 Italia GTE, which was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander to class victory in the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours (BBR1851). It is a limited edition of just 150 pieces worldwide. We also received sample images of AUTOart’s 1:18 2012 Lamborghini Aventador J in white (AA74674). [...]

We’ve decided to have a bit of a spring clean here at DCL HQ today, by adding over 200 new replicas to our third off sale section. You’ll find replicas from all of the leading diecast brands: Minichamps, TrueScale, IXO, Norev, Sun Star, and many more besides. You can click here to see them all, but be quick as [...]

The title says it all! This new kit will be with us soon and here are some factory photos showing the impressive detail of this new-tool kit.

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

MiniArt 1:35 AEC Mk.II

Corsair wingfold detail

Clearly, being stuffed into the Editor’s suitcase all the way from Japan doesn’t seem to have affected the test-shot sprues of Tamiya’s new 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair! Here are some initial sprue-photos, but please bear in mind that they are subject to change in the production kit. More photos in the July issue, on sale June 20th. Let construction commence!

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

 

 

Today we received the signed 1:20 Revival replica of John Surtees’ 1964 world championship winning Ferrari 158 (REV002S). Last year we had given up any hope of it being made, and cancelled our customer pre-orders for it. So we were quite surprised when, a few months ago, the kits turned up. Our expert model maker in Norfolk has now [...]

Tamiya’s charismatic 1:24 Toyota Hiace Quick Delivery is coming back as the ‘Tamiya Version’, with new markings for Tamiya products. Also in the kit box will be a sheet of printed cardboard boxes which can be trimmed out and folded up to

Tamiya 1:24 Toyota Hiace Quick Delivery ‘Tamiya Version’

create a cargo load for the model!

Tamiya 1:24 Toyota Hiace Quick Delivery ‘Tamiya Version’

Scheduled release July 2013

F1 GTR, the ultimate sports car that based on the McLaren F1 cars, was designed by Mclaren F1 designer, Gordon Murray. F1 GTR had a glorious history that won the 24-hour champion the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1995, and won the champion in 2 constructive years of the BPR series.
In the year 1997, the GTR upgraded to be more racing car like, evolved to have a “Long Tail” and this version will be the next fully detailed kit from MFH.

The main parts of this multi-material kit are made of urethane, white metal, alloys, photo etch sheets, decals, and etc.

The “Long tail” version improved the cowl with the iconic shape, the air flow management at the front, the transmission and the axis, etc. A huge number of parts have been improved since the 1995 version.

The butterfly doors and the rear window are movable. The front cowl, side panel, bonnet (engine foot), rear panel and diffuser are attached by magnets and can be easily attached/detached so that you can have the interior view of this great kit. Also the steering can be detached, too.

・The #39/#40/#41 raced the 24-hour champion the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1997, Team BMW Motorsport #42/#43, Team McLaren #44, and Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren #40, Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren #41 raced the 24-hour champion the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1998 will be available in different versions.

The next all-new release from Dragon will be the US post-war M48A3 tank, which served in the Vietnam War. The kit will come with flexible ‘DS’ tracks and impressive cast-steel texture on its turret and hull.

Dragon 1:35 M48A3

Tamiya’s next 1:35 tank will be the Japan Ground Self Defence Force Type 10 MBT. The kit features extremely realistic rubber-effect side skirts (in kit plastic) and comes with non-slip, upper deck surface texture. More news, plus a full-build article in TMMI soon.

Tamiya 1:36 JGSDF Type 10

Tamiya 1:36 JGSDF Type 10

Today Mattel sent us sample images of two of its forthcoming replicas. The most exciting of these was the 1:18 special edition replica of Fernando Alonso’s 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix winning Ferrari F2012 (DC21205M). It comes complete with a 1:18 figure of Fernando Alonso celebrating his victory, and is limited to 3,500 pieces worldwide. We also received snaps of [...]

Cominng soon

Today was a very dramatic day for us with some exciting Spark and Minichamps news. To start with we received our first Spark delivery under their ‘new regime’, which you may have read about in our most recent catalogue and customer monthly letter. Put simply Spark have now taken control of the distribution of their replicas themselves, in order [...]

We haven’t heard from the Quartzo brand for several years, so we were quite surprised when we received new announcements from them today. And we’re glad to see them making a comeback, as their 1:18 classic F1 replicas were (and still are) fantastic value for money. The new announcements are as follows: Jim Clark’s 1967 Dutch Grand [...]

Just back from the preview of Tamiya’s  new products for the 2013 Shizuoka Hobby Show, and of course the new Corsair was the star attraction. Here are some photos, more to follow!

 

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

Tamiya 1:32 F4U-1 Corsair

June 2013

●K367 Ver.A [ Lotus 88 : 1981 Long Beach GP / Argentine GP/ Brazil GP] #11　Elio de Angelis / #12　Nigel Mansel

●K368 Ver.B [ Lotus 88B : 1981 British GP]#11　Elio de Angelis / #12　Nigel Mansel

●K369 Ver.C [ Lotus 88B : 1981 Press & Test Ver.]

June 2013

K370 Ver.A : 1971 Targa.Florio Martini Racing No.8 V.Elford/G.Larrousse

K371 Ver.B : 1971 Targa.Florio Gulf Racing No.7 J.Siffert/B.Redman

K372 Ver.C : 1971 Targa.Florio Gulf Racing No.4 P.Rodriguez/H.Müller

K373 Ver.D : 1971 Nürburgring 1000km 1st Martini Racing No.3 V.Elford/G.Larrousse

K374 Ver.E : 1971 Nürburgring 1000km 2nd Gulf Racing No.1 P.Rodriguez/J.Oliver/J.Siffert

K375 Ver.F : 1971 Nürburgring 1000km 3rd Martini Racing No.4 H.Marko/G.van Lennep

Part of the process of reducing the stash is also deciding what tools and supplies I can take along with me as I travel. The problem is EVERY tool I have acquired over the years has a purpose and place in my scale modeling projects. How do you trim down the contents of a roll cab, intermediate box and tool chest into one handheld tool tote?

Elimination of duplicates. Yes there are a few things multiples of are necessary but focusing on the selection of tools that multi task is essential to minimizing what gets packed into the tote. This will be a huge undertaking on focusing on the basic tools one really needs versus those that make the task easier or spoiled for so long having tools that do just one thing that you rarely if ever use but had to have. Sorta like kits in the stash you had to have but have no intention of ever building but can’t bring yourself to sell, trade or give away.

Which brings me to another point…emotional attachment. Back in the day I would cringe when someone would tell me they packed their model with a couple M-80 Firecrackers and blew it apart. I’m not saying that I had some sort of weird attachment, I just couldn’t see destroying something you enjoyed building. Well with time we all get assimilated and have no problem watching or ever destroying models…including our own.

Yes, I shed a great deal of space my stash occupied by eliminating built up kits I’ve built ranging back to when I was a wee lad. For the most part these were dried out and brittle. Not to mention terrible build quality! A bump or just handling them wrong would cause catastrophic damage. Like the aircraft being sliced apart and recycled at the bone yard mine went under the crushers…my size thirteens.

Yes! I did keep a lot of the kits I later built and those donated to the display collection, they were worth keeping and will someday adorn my next Man Space when we decide to find a permanent location to live once again.

Today IXO announced over 50 new 1:43 replicas Perhaps the most exciting announcements were of rally cars that were driven by Moto GP riders. There was the Ford Fiesta RS WRC that Marco Simoncelli tested on the Kirkbride Airfield in 2011 (RAM463), and Andrea Dovizioso’s Ford Fiesta RS WRC from the 2011 Bettega Memorial Rally (RAM465). Other interesting rally cars included Juha [...]