MINICHAMPS 1/43 JORDAN TOYOTA EJ15 - T. MONTEIRO 2005

This team's first season was in 1991. The real car has, not surprisingly, a Toyota engine and an EJ15 chassis. The model features the Portuguese driver Tiago Monterio. Once again this release is up to date and contains a high level of detail. It is bound to please Jordan fans. Shop here

IXO 1/43 ASTON MARTIN DB7 ZAGATO - BRITISH RACING GREEN

The style of this car from 2002 alludes to the past, with a hint of the future. It look 14 months to develop. The power plant is a 6 litre V12 engine capable of 440 bhp. It will hit 60mph in five seconds. The model captures well the look of the original. Shop here

EFE 1/76 PLAXTON PARAMOUNT 3500 - STRATHTAY

This livery certainly enhances the look of this attractive vehicle. There is plenty of lettering, legal and otherwise, along the vehicle's side and this is crisply reproduced. The modelled vehicle carries fleet number 435, along with registration number 365 DXU. Shop here

CORGI 1/76 ERF LV SHEETED PLATFORM TRAILER - BRS WESTERN

The real vehicle this model is based on was in production until 1974. It was launched in 1962 and was a completely new design, with an improved glass fibre cab, containing a one piece windscreen. The model does it proud with a realistic looking cold cast load. Shop here

CORGI - THE BEATLES YELLOW SUBMARINE DIECAST MODEL

The new Yellow Submarine, Corgi changed the model and box yet again. Introduced in 2002 and currently available, advertising photos show the model and box yet again. Introduced in 2002 and currently available, advertising photos show the model with red hutches in the closed position. On release, the model underwent more economies as the hatches were body colour yellow, though, of course, there may be someout there with red hatches0 This final version is just a little disappointing. With the hatches clamped shut and the colour scheme all yellow, the only saving grace is the addition of furture artwork from the movie on a new box. Shop here

CORGI - THE BEATLES YELLOW SUBMARINE DIECAST MODEL

 

 In early 1997, Corgi released a small catalogue showing the six month in the new Beatles Collection range. In a masterstroke, the catalogue style mirrored the collage design of the Anthology albums. To add effect, the catalogue was designed to appear like a record and placed within a cardborad sleeve.

The model has four small screws holding it together. Th front wheel is now roller and the conning tower rail and periscopes are made from polystyrene, instead of polythene. Both hatches have additional side bars inside to guide them to the closed position. The buttons to activate the hatches are now painted black.

The model sits snugly in its box and is accompanied by a small catalogue and certificate. A variation is known regarding the design of cellophane window. See more

NOREV 1/18 CITROEN DS 23 PALLAS

After a long gestation period, the DS was launched in 1955. The DS 23 followed in 1972, the Pallas was the top of the range. The model features opening front doors, showing richly appointed interior, and opening bonnet, displaying detailed engine and spare wheel. Shop here

MAISTO 1/18 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE DIECAST

 

Maisto makes terrific die cast models. This one is no exception. If you own a Chrysler Crossfire, or wish you did, you might enjoy having this highly detailed model to park somewhere indoors where you can admire it when you're not enjoying the real thing. 

The details are very good - hood, doors, and hatch all open. But that by itself doesn't guarantee a great model. Fortunately here, the details are all correct, with even the smallest parts faithfully modeled in the correct colors. The steering wheel moves together with the front wheels that may be posed in a range of positions. 

I like that Maisto even with to the trouble of making the wheels and tires the right sizes - with the correct proportioned smaller front wheels and tires and larger rear - to give the model the same aggressive appearance sitting on your shelf as it has at the curb! 

This model is of the normally aspirated, six-speed manual, so SRT owners go begging (or face the challenge of finding a 1/18-scale set of upgrade parts to make it so)!--Paul Mark Provencher "ppro"  Shop here

EFE 1/76 BRISTOL RELH D/P COACH - EASTERN COUNTIES NBC

This popular fleet vehicle dates from 1975 and carries the rather nondescript NBC livery. It has the fleet number RLE 742 with a registration of GCL 344N. The vehicle is working route 851 to lpswich. NBC fleet collectors will be pleased with this rendition. Shop here

AUTO ART 1/18 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CABRIOLET

Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible Diecast Model Orange 1/18 Die Cast Car By Autoart

It's amazing just how good the larger scale models are these days. All the opening features are provided - doors, boot, bonnet - but they are all perfects fits, so do not detract from the overall appearance of the model. Particularly impressive is the way the boot opens.

VANGUARDS 1/43 MORRIS MINOR VAN CARDIFF CITY POLICE DOG SECTION

The Morris Minor based van found favour with many UK Police vehicles as a general utility vehicle, FUH 167C was delivered in 1965 and was one of several used by the Cardiff City Police Dog Section throughout the vehicle's production life. See more

AUTO ART 1/18 RANGE ROVER 4.6 HSE

 

Is this the first time a Range Rover has been produced in this scale? Whatever, it looks superb. Particularly good is the interior, with seat trim and operating arm rests. Sporting superb paint finish, and excellent detailing, this will be very impressive on display. Shop here

K17 - FORD D800 ARTICULATED LOW LOADER WITH BULLDOZER

This model released the Matchbox King-Size K-17 Ford D800 Articulated Low Loader with Case Bulldozer in 1970. The tractor and trailer were always painted green all over except for the yellow fuel tanks which when lifted would uncouple the tractor unit from the trailer. The baseplate was silver painted and it included the grille as part of the casting which meant it did not need silver trim. The cab was fitted with green tinted plastic windows and it had a red roof beacon. Both tractor and trailer were fitted with red plastic hubs with black plastic tyres which included a spare wheel mounted to the top of trailer.

The bulldozer had a red painted body with a yellow baseplate which included the engine and dozer blade as part of the casting. It also had yellow plastic rollers and a removable yellow metal cab roof and it was fitted with green rubber tracks which were replaced by black rubber tracks on the later issues. Both the the Tractor unit and the Bulldozer had decals for 'Laing' but later 'Taylor Woodrow' decals were fitted including extra decals applied to the back of the tractor cab and to the back of the Bulldozer cab.

MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES: VOLVO 760 AND FERRARI F50

Two more from the series of The World's Greatest Automakers Collection have been seen. As before these are models from  the Matchbox Miniatures series but with much higher levels of paint finish and decoration. As stated before, we feel these are let down by the Superfast wheels.


The cars involved are the 1986 Volvo 760 and the 1995 Ferrari F50. Shop here