1/43 F1 collection

Puts mine to shame.

1/43 model wish list

The last model I got was a 2014 Rosberg Mercedes made by Minichamps that I picked up at a Mercedes dealership along the Champs-Elysees. It's time to get some more:

1/43 2015 Rosberg Mercedes by Minichamps

1/43 Maserati Quattroporte III by Minichamps

1/43 Mercedes CLR driven by Nick Heidfeld by Spark

1/43 Bentley Turbo R by Spark

Sanchez goes diescast shopping in HK

Click here.

Diecast car dioramas

Ozmac, you've got competition.

H/t to Peter.

1/64 scale #FORD #RS200 #Rally #Rallycar #GroupB #CMs #car #cars #diorama #diecast #toyunion #toycarpics #toyslagram #loves_toycars #フォード #ラリー #ラリーカー #グループB #ジオラマ #ミニカー

A photo posted by Takuji (@takupon0816) on Oct 10, 2014 at 6:19am PDT

Nick Heidfeld's Nick Heidfeld 1/43 Minichamps F1 car collection*

For Heidfeld fans, his Twitter page is a godsend.  

This week, he is getting ready to race Le Mans.  Between drivers meetings and autograph sessions, he bought this impressive collection of his former rides.

*The bottom car in the middle column is made by Spark.

My 1/43 collection

This is almost all of them.  About six are not displayed because they clash color-wise.  Cars not shown include a neon green (what was I thinking?) NSX and a purply TVR Tuscan. 

My next purchases?  I'm looking for an Espada, an Islero, and Heidfeld's 1999 Mercedes CLR.  And I'm sure Spark will make Heidfeld's 2012 Rebellion Lola.

Diecast collector Ozmac interview

Tamerlane's Thoughts commenter and diecast collector Ozmac was recently interviewed by Scale143.com.  Check out his wonderful life story and incredible car collection!

VW Phaeton depreciation, 1/43 scale

I bought a couple of used model cars on Ebay from a guy who has a frighteningly similar collection to mine.  He's whittling down his collection in order to focus on restoring his Bavarian classic (a true 1:1 car).

Both of these cars sold for around $50 new.  I won the Ebbro Honda Accord (Acura TSX) for $47.  I won the above Minichamps Phaeton for $15.50.

Minichamps Heidfeld 2010 Sauber C29 (sort of)

Guess what just came in the mail?  Heidfeld's 2010 Sauber.  But since Minichamps, unlike Spark diecast, refuses to make a 2010 Sauber driven by Heidfeld, I had to get one labeled Pedro de la Rosa.  Why not just get a Spark model?  Because all of my Heidfeld cars have to be Minichamps.  Once I get the Minichamps 2011 Lotus Renault R31, the Heidfeld F1 collection will be complete, because there is no way any F1 team will hire him after this season.  So I guess I'll be starting a Quick Nick DTM collection soon.

One incongruent thing I've noticed is that the Sauber is longer than all of the other 1/43 F1 cars I have.  It makes stacking them on top of each other impossible now.  This is not good for my OCD.

Here is my collection, pre-De La Rosa Sauber:

Minichamps 1/43 Mercedes 560SEC

Want.  Bad.

Source.

Heidfeld Minichamps cars

Can't believe the F1 season is about to start.  The cars are in formation on the starting grid (sort of).  Here come the lights.

Clockwise from top right:

• 1999 McLaren MP4/13 Goodwood Festival of Speed record holder.
• 2008 BMW Sauber F1.08.
• 2009 BMW Sauber Showcar.
• 2010 Mercedes GP Showcar.  (It belongs to Rosberg; Heidfeld was the reserve driver.)
• 2009 Panasonic Toyota TF109.  (It belongs to Trulli; Heidfeld used it while testing for Pirelli.)
• 2007 BMW Sauber F1.07.
• 2006 BMW Sauber F1.06.
• 2005 Williams BMW FW27.

Spark 1/43 Pedro de la Rosa Sauber C29

I'm collecting cars Heidfeld drove in 2010.  The last car I need is the Sauber C29.  I can't wait for Minichamps to roll out theirs in June, so I am trying to get the 1/43 version Spark just introduced.  Except...there are other lunatics who want it too!  I am in a four-way battle for one on eBay.  Who in their right mind is collecting Pedro de la Rosa cars?!

Vast Heidfeld-Minichamps conspiracy to sell diecast model cars uncovered

In my effort to collect Nick Heidfeld F1 cars, I have already had to acquire, for the 2010 season, Nico Rosberg's Mercedes (since Nick was the test driver) and the 2009 Toyota TF109 (since he was using it to test Pirelli tires).  But with him constantly playing musical chairs, I now have to frantically wait for Minichamps to release Pedro de la Rosa's Sauber C29.  Of course, this is all a ploy to move Minichamps' inventory of unwanted cars.  Here's the proof:

Nick Heidfeld Minichamps 2010 collection

Though Nick got a gig testing Pirelli tires for F1, his future as a racer in F1 is still iffy.  My favorite diecast carmaker, Minichamps, neglected to make a model of him this season.  But I've got to get my Heidfeld Minichamps fix so I fudged my rules a little and expanded my collection.

I first started by collecting his Sauber BMW cars.  I then upped the ante by acquiring his 1999 McLaren and 2005 Williams.

So now what?  Well.  He is, after all, testing the Pirelli tires with the 2009 Toyota TF109.  So I got this:

And no, I am not going to paint it white.

Then, I figured: He was the reserve/test driver for Mercedes GP this year.  So I am bidding on this:

Yes, I know that is Nico Rosberg in the car.  But I have been rooting for Nico all season.  And no, I am not going to paint his helmet black.

And there you have it, the complete Nick Heidfeld F1 Minichamps collection.*

*Less his cars from Jordan, Prost, etc.

Minichamps Aston Martin Lagonda 1/43

My 1/43 scale diecast Fantasy Garage is almost complete.  I just got this Minichamps 1/43 scale Aston Martin Lagonda.  Now, all I need are a 1967 Camaro (Minichamps) and a Bentley Turbo R (not yet made by any of the major diecast manufacturers) and I will be done! 

Minichamps Heidfeld 1/43 Collection (Williams and McLaren)

After collecting all of Nick Heidfeld's BMWs, the discriminating collector should move on to these two bad boys. First, we have the 2005 Williams BMW FW27. Nick's only pole position of his career was in this car at the Nurburgring for the European GP.

Then, we have the 1998 McLaren MP4/13. As the test driver, Heidfeld set the record at Goodwood in 1999. Mika Hakkinen and McLaren won the driver's and constructor's title in this car.

Minichamps Top Gear Power Lap Collection 1/43

My favorite diecast manufacturer, Minichamps, has teamed up with my favorite car show, Top Gear, to produce this 1/43 series with a mini Stig. Just 2,009 pieces will be made for each model. It's never too early to get your Xmas shopping done.

The six cars to be released are, in order of lap time:

1. Porsche Carrera GT, 1:19.8

2. Mercedes McLaren SLR, 1:20.9

3. Ford GT, 1:21.9

4. Porsche GT3 RS, 1:22.3

5. Aston Martin DBS, 1:23.9

6. Lamborghini Gallardo, 1:25.8

Comprehensive Top Gear Power Lap times

Heidfeld BMW Sauber Minichamps 1/43

As I mentioned before, the miniature model market is abysmal right now. Manufacturers are cutting corners with quality and new models (which require expensive tooling) are few and far between. While we wait for the market to recover, let's look at the various Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1/43 scale cars that are/were available through Minichamps.

F1.09 Showcar: The only 2009 model available right now.

F1.08 Showcar: One of two F1.08s. This one does not have the Dumbo ears front air package.

F1.08: The other F1.08, with Dumbo ears.

F1.07: The only 2007 model available.

F1.06: One of four 2006 models.

F1.06 Showcar: The most significant difference are the rear fender flares.

F1.06 First Podium (Hungary): Slight aero modifications vis-a-vis the F1.06.

F1.06 Danke Michael: This was used at the Brazil GP to thank the retiring Schumi for his contribution to promoting F1 in Germany. Probably only interesting to Schumi fans.

Click here for Nick's Williams and McLaren cars.

Minichamps Tour And Bonus Austin Powers Spoof

Grand Prix Legends, a purveyor of all things die cast, puts out entertaining and informative podcasts on youtube. Three recent specials came out:

1. Visit of Minichamps Museum.


2. Austin Powers spoof.


3. Host Leigh Hobden's personal diecast collection.


CKY

1/43 Car Collection Sales And Bargains

In this economy, hardly anyone is buying frivolous products. People are hoarding cash. As a consequence, the scale model car market has taken a nosedive that will even take AIG stock holders' breaths away. If you can spare a few dollars a month, this is an excellent opportunity to pick up some raging deals.

Here are my three favorite stores, in no particular order.

• EWA. This is an East Coast outfit. They have a huge selection and its website is very easy to navigate. They have a 30% off everything 30th anniversary sale. I just got an IST Uaz 452 and a Minichamps Alfa Romeo 159 today. More on that later. The packaging/shipping has always been top notch.
• Not A Toy. An outfit in Michigan run by a really nice and helpful guy. Though there is no sale going on now, their prices are always low and extremely competitive.
• Scale Cars. This business has a physical store in Napa. The owner is really cool and lets me at his cars whenever I stop by. I really want this place to succeed. If you go to the store, check out the helmet signed by every F1 driver (save DC) at the USGP a few years ago.
  

Buying a few cars a month (or even more) will not only keep the manufacturers in business, but it will keep these American small businesses going. Go for it. You know you need a 1/43 model of that obscure car only you and three other people in your time zone covet.


As for what I got today. First, I got an IST UAZ 452. It was advertised as an IXO. IST may well be a subsidiary of IXO. IST has its own website and it is a virtual Garden of Eden of 1/43 Soviet/Warsaw Pact goodness. It's got UAZ, Volga, EMW, Barkas, Melkus, and even ZAZ! The 452 I got for $17 rivals in detail with $40 Minichamps models. I am very happy.


The other car I got is a Minichamps Alfa 159. Since I can't buy the real thing in America, I might as well settle for a 1/43 version.

CKY