EFE 1/76 DAIMLER UTILITY MIDLAND RED

What a real delight this model is. It may only be a 40's bus, but in many ways it looks older, thanks to the old fashioned Midland lettering and the squareness of the Utility body.

Look up close, and it is yet another virtually new casting around the cab area. Of course the radiator is different from previous Utilities, but so also is the area below the driver's screen, with new positioning again for the cast-in headlights and the cover box.

The bonnet is the same length as the previous Mk I Arab, not the Mk II with the extended length. The mudguards are created in the plastic moulding used for the chassis, and follow a different pattern for the odd Mk II or curvier Mk I wings.

he fluted top of the Daimler radiator is nicely cast-albeit in plastic- and again there is the well-detailed interior roof. Shop here

BRUMM 1/43 FERRARI 330 P4

The model represents the Ferrari 330 P4 V12 'spyder' sports car with race number 224, as raced by Nino Vaccarella and Ludovicio Scarfiotti in the 1967 Targa Florio race, pracices were held and Vaccarella achieved the fastest lap time of 37 minutes 12.4 seconds. Scarfiotti in the same car recorded a time of 41 seconds slower. Vaccarella led the opening lap, but in the village of Collesano, trying too hard, the Sicilian driver slid the car into a stone wall breaking the car wheel hubs and front suspension. Shop here

BRUMM 1/43 MORGAN MX4

These days, the only three-wheeler we get excited about is Del Boy's Regal van, but back in the 30s, the Morgan MX4 was a most exciting car to own.

Fast, stylish and to all intends and purposes, qualifying as a motorbike in term of licensing and running costs, the Morgan gave stylish motoring to many people for the first time. Noisy though the Supersport was, it became a much loved machine.

Brumm has, of course, done a very neat job with its Morgan. We all ought to buy one simply to encourage the company to make a few more British outline model!

The detailing in that air-cooled engine, the nicely spoked wheels with separate hubs and the gleaming exhaust make this a most attractive model.(Review by Diecast Model) Shop here

FERRAI 250 CALIFORNIAN

The Art Model 250 Californian is a marvelous looking car in 1957 Stradale red. The interior of the model features picked-out window winders and handles. There's chrome badging and an etched grille, and all the other details we expect. Odd, though, that the door handles should be a rather smudgy silver tampo print amongst all this excellence. Shop here

BRISTOL REEL - EASTERN NATIONAL

EFE's version in Eastern National colours is superb. The cream band with black lining is spot on. The lettering and characteristic Eastern National fleet number plates are also excellent. But the best feature is, to this reviewer's mind, the cream windscreen surround.The Bristol RE with flat front may have been the unsung bread and butter stalwart of its time, but EFE has still gone to town on detail touches such as the cream band with black lining. Shop here

PORSCHE 908 FLUNDE - WATKINS GLEN 69

The Porsche 908/2 Flounder Watkins Glen 1969 is a nicely finished model with neat interior and good decals. As driven by Siffert and Redman it's a striking vehicle. Shop here

BEST MODEL 1/43 FERRARI 312P LE MANS

The best Ferrari 312P coupe of the 1969 Le Mans race is a neat model, with well applied decals, separately fitted lights, fuel caps and well presented wheels and treys  The model has also been produced in 'Prova' 1969 colours, without the decals. Shop here

CORGI VINTAGE GLORY

The nostalgic appeal of the Vintage Glory range has already created a stir amongst collectors. Now the Sentinel appears in the livery of Paul Bros Ltd, of the Homepride Flour Mills, Birkenhead. Once again it's a superb model, complete with glazing, interior detail and neat chassis detailing.

This model comes with a trailer for the first time, and moulded flour sacks, which look quite realistic.

The red plastic wheels let the model down just a little, but the tampo printing and general charm of the vehicle will mean it forms part of many a new steam vehicle collection.  Shop here

CORGI: RELIANT TROTTERS INDEPENDENT TRADERS

When Lledo introduced the Reliant Regal Supervan III for Christmas 1997 as the Trotters Independent Traders van from the television series Only Fools and Horses, many commented that it looked too clean. So now a 'dirty' version has been produced. 

KYOSHO 1/18 MORRIS MINI TRAVELLER

Kyosho is offering the Morris in green. The shape has been perfectly captured, and the detailing is extremely good, with opening side and rear doors, and bonnet. Particularly pleasing is the internal detail, albeit the dashboard area is somewhat basic. The fit of the timber on the nearside could be better. A word of warning: if testing the opening features, do be careful. The door handles are very fragile. Shop here

EAGLE'S RACE 1/18 FORD DELUXE HOT ROD

An unusual addition to the collection is the 1940 Ford Deluxe as a Hot Rod. With the features as expected from a large scale model, this one is suitably 'customised'.Shop here

MINICHAMPS 1/43 VW NEW BEETLE

The new Volkswagen Beetle is now appearing from several manufacturers. The version from Minichamps is superb, capturing the truly distinctive shape of the car, complete with accurate wheels, flush glazing, and fine front and rear lights. The interior detailing is excellent, with the door handles clearly featured, and there is full dashboard detail including instrument panels. A lovely model.Shop here

FORD CAPRI THE PROFESSIONALS

A step back for Corgi in its series of models that re-capture some of the television and film related models of the past. This addition is the Ford Capri of The Professionals, a pleasing model in its own right, and one which is joined by white metal figures of Bodie and Doyle. Shop here

FORD CAPRI 3.0S - 1982 BRITISH SALOON CAR CHAMPIONSHIP - VINCE WOODMAN

Capris dominated the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC) in the late 1970s, but by 1981 were starting to look outdated and outclassed by the cleverly homologated TWR built Rover SD1 V8. However, Vince Woodman led one last Capri hurrah during the 1982 season, winning four races outright in his Neil Brown engined, CC Developments prepared car, and battling all year with works Rover driver Jeff Allam. 

Woodman looked to set to steal once last championship for the Capri, and led the last round of the series at Silverstone until Gordon Spice punted him over the chicane leaving Allam victorious in Class A by 3 point. Shop here