Thanks for posting those, RW,, I wasn't aware that the Thunderball one was already making its way into the market. For die-hard collectors only, I reckon everyone else must have had enough of this casting in 2015 by now!
Thanks also for the correction on CC04205. Do you know what the difference is between that one and CC04204S (apart from a different barcode ) )
Going by the ZIN01... product number above the barcode in the last pic above (& also on my CC04204S) I presume these are still being made for Corgi by the Zindart factory.
What I just noticed on second glance is that the new box does not have the collector card that slides out on the left side.
I think the silver 04204 and -05 cars are identical except for different date codes on the baseplate.
The 04203 (both colours) have ZIN01-12-852 and both 04204, ZIN01-03-078, also seen on the boxes. 12 and 03 seem to be the month of manufacture (the new one has 11), so the 04205 should have 06 or 07 (I don't have this one) but otherwise unchanged. The paint was consistent - I haven't found a shade difference between my gold and silver 04203 and -04.
I just found a DAF Mustang Mach 1 that is a new 1:43 release from Greenlight Collectibles. The packaging doesn't mention James Bond but it is a red Mach 1 without the typical stripe package, the unusual small hubcaps with trim rings (most Mach 1's came with Magnum 500 5-spoke wheels) and - what a coincidence! - the same Nevada number plates CA52H6.
I think it's very nice for the price (€20) - finer detailed than the cheaper JBCC version and I also think better looking than the much higher priced Minichamps model. I prefer the Minichamps' grille and driving lights but the too low stance of its front has always bothered me. Also, the thinner white-stripe tyres of the Greenlight look better and are closer to the film car.
Nice find, RW! Much as I love the good old classic DB5, it's great to see other cars from the Bond movies being revisited from time to time, even if they are being issued without Bond branded packaging. I know the real Mach One has its critics amongst US Muscle Car fans but it does make for a great looking model IMHO. I'll definitely be looking out for this one to add to my collection.
The gold one is again sold out. This time a numbered certificate was included - it is a limited edition of 5,000. So it shouldn't be so rare to buy it for 3 or 4 times the original price...
And I've just seen an auction showing the silver Thunderball DB5's LE card - 25,000 units ... and I used to laugh at some of those Corgi Classics produced in the 1990s where the "limited editions" were in the order of 14,000 or upwards! )
Corgi published their first 2016 catalogue on their website yesterday, but nothing included about the Spectre DB10 releases. Wholesalers are listing a CC08001 (single car) and CC08099 (twin pack) due in January, though. No photo available yet for the latter so I don't know what that one is about.
Corgi published their first 2016 catalogue on their website yesterday, but nothing included about the Spectre DB10 releases. Wholesalers are listing a CC08001 (single car) and CC08099 (twin pack) due in January, though. No photo available yet for the latter so I don't know what that one is about.
Don't know about you but I thought the 2016 models announced so far were a little bit disappointing, mostly re-colours and not very exciting ones IMHO. I did see in a die-cast mag that Hornby are struggling a bit, so maybe they are trying to get the most out of what they already have to offer rather than producing much in the way of new stuff.
Re the mystery CC8099 twin pack, I would lay bets that it will be a DB10 and DB5.
Corgi published their first 2016 catalogue on their website yesterday, but nothing included about the Spectre DB10 releases. Wholesalers are listing a CC08001 (single car) and CC08099 (twin pack) due in January, though. No photo available yet for the latter so I don't know what that one is about.
Don't know about you but I thought the 2016 models announced so far were a little bit disappointing, mostly re-colours and not very exciting ones IMHO. I did see in a die-cast mag that Hornby are struggling a bit, so maybe they are trying to get the most out of what they already have to offer rather than producing much in the way of new stuff.
Re the mystery CC8099 twin pack, I would lay bets that it will be a DB10 and DB5.
You are generous, MCF, the 2016 Vanguards range are ALL re-colours. Same for the bus range. The only new tooling is one truck, a previously-announced P-51 Mustang, and the elusive DB10.
Yes, Hornby have managed to reverse their before-tax profit of earlier this year by what appears to have been a very shoddy implementation of a new ERP system. I for one got caught by ordering phantom stock and then having to deal with what passes for customer service there to get a refund after my parcel arrived with only half my order in it!
Their investor info can be found here, if you're interested: http://www.hornby.plc.uk/rns/
So yes, the turnaround strategy of using as much of their old tooling as possible continues, but for 2016 the Corgi prices have gone up: e.g. 2015 First Half Vanguards models were generally £23, then 2015 Second Half prices dropped to £20, and now for 2016 First Half they will be £25.
Also, in a James Bond related theme, all the Lotus models have disappeared off the Corgi website - all those Esprits cannot have sold out already, so I presume the licence might have expired (?).
On the upside, the latest financial report says that Hornby now has its own tooling warehouse in China from where the tooling is sent out to the various factories, which seems to be a far safer plan than having it stored at the factories (there was a story a few years ago about how Corgi nearly lost some of their aviation tooling in one of those factories that suddenly went bust).
I've often wondered why companies such as Hornby don't make the most of opportunities that seem (to the layman) to present themselves. Regarding Airfix for instance, do they not have the moulds for the larger James Bond DB5 kit anymore? Or the Toyota 2000GT kit? How about the Gerry Anderson Stingray kit they made back in the 60's? And didn't they make that amazing Fireball XL5 kit as 'Kitmaster' in the same era? All of these models go for ridiculous amounts of money - £600 plus for made up XL5s and Stingrays - so I would have thought re-issues would go down a storm amongst collectors.
On the diecast front, the same thing applies - how about re-issuing the Memphis Belle B-17 that everybody pays so much for? How about the TV Batmobile with all its gadgets? I see they are re-issuing Thunderbirds models but TB1 and TB3 are basically the old really small Matchbox offerings - how about bigger scale versions with more detail? I could go on.......
I hope this new 'Bond in Motion' series has sold well enough to make it to national release. I've done my bit by buying issues 3 and 4. I did take out a subscription to the original collection but then cancelled it around issue 20 (I forget why now). I resubscribed at around issue 120 but by then the series was approaching its conclusion. I bought some back issues on ebay, but avoided cars from the Craig films as I have no interest in those films. That still left me with about 70 issues of the collection I needed to buy. If this new series is released nationally I'll be able to buy those missing models. OK, I'll be left with a lot of duplicate models, but I can always flog those on ebay.
I've often wondered why companies such as Hornby don't make the most of opportunities that seem (to the layman) to present themselves. Regarding Airfix for instance, do they not have the moulds for the larger James Bond DB5 kit anymore? Or the Toyota 2000GT kit? How about the Gerry Anderson Stingray kit they made back in the 60's? And didn't they make that amazing Fireball XL5 kit as 'Kitmaster' in the same era? All of these models go for ridiculous amounts of money - £600 plus for made up XL5s and Stingrays - so I would have thought re-issues would go down a storm amongst collectors.
On the diecast front, the same thing applies - how about re-issuing the Memphis Belle B-17 that everybody pays so much for? How about the TV Batmobile with all its gadgets? I see they are re-issuing Thunderbirds models but TB1 and TB3 are basically the old really small Matchbox offerings - how about bigger scale versions with more detail? I could go on.......
The Kitmaster XL5, the Stingray and the 007 car toolings are no longer capable of being used, either lost or so badly damaged it would cost more to fix them than totally remake them, the DB5 was remade into a DB6 and the Toyota to the standard hard-top. These were all asked for on the recent Airfix Kickstarter programme and the toolings checked.
Corgi do not hold the diecast rights for Batman anymore and the 1/72 Memphis Belle has been made twice in slightly different versions, limited editions so no re-release , anyway there are several thousand good 8th Air Force schemes to do without re-hashing ones that have been done, as well as that the Corgi AA range is fully filled for the next two years including several totally new toolings
I've often wondered why companies such as Hornby don't make the most of opportunities that seem (to the layman) to present themselves. Regarding Airfix for instance, do they not have the moulds for the larger James Bond DB5 kit anymore? Or the Toyota 2000GT kit? How about the Gerry Anderson Stingray kit they made back in the 60's? And didn't they make that amazing Fireball XL5 kit as 'Kitmaster' in the same era? All of these models go for ridiculous amounts of money - £600 plus for made up XL5s and Stingrays - so I would have thought re-issues would go down a storm amongst collectors.
On the diecast front, the same thing applies - how about re-issuing the Memphis Belle B-17 that everybody pays so much for? How about the TV Batmobile with all its gadgets? I see they are re-issuing Thunderbirds models but TB1 and TB3 are basically the old really small Matchbox offerings - how about bigger scale versions with more detail? I could go on.......
The Kitmaster XL5, the Stingray and the 007 car toolings are no longer capable of being used, either lost or so badly damaged it would cost more to fix them than totally remake them, the DB5 was remade into a DB6 and the Toyota to the standard hard-top. These were all asked for on the recent Airfix Kickstarter programme and the toolings checked.
Corgi do not hold the diecast rights for Batman anymore and the 1/72 Memphis Belle has been made twice in slightly different versions, limited editions so no re-release , anyway there are several thousand good 8th Air Force schemes to do without re-hashing ones that have been done, as well as that the Corgi AA range is fully filled for the next two years including several totally new toolings
What a shame, I had a feeling that might be what happened to those wonderful models and why they weren't re-issued I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I bet the people concerned even now probably still regret their decision to alter, scrap or simply not preserve those moulds, especially the Bond DB5. I was only a small child when I saw the Kitmaster XL5 (a friend had one) but I clearly remember being blown away by the detail in the kit, even at that young age. The parts looked just like those of a contemporary Airfix WW2 bomber kit like the Lancaster, with the same degree of accuracy. The assembled model was like a dream compared to the crude toys generally available at the time, but impossible to get hold of if you didn't have the right vouchers at the right time and missed the boat. Kids' pester-power didn't exist in those days!
Re Memphis Belle, I mentioned it because of the movie connection and I think that it's that associated interest that marks it out as a potential under-used money-spinner. Personally, as someone with a vested interest in WW2 aircraft (I've been trying to get various die-cast companies to produce a Bristol Beaufort 1a/2 without much luck so far) I think all the Corgi B-17s are great, but it's the Belle that most people seem to be familiar with, and perhaps Corgi would be wise to re-issue it a few more times.
I've often wondered why companies such as Hornby don't make the most of opportunities that seem (to the layman) to present themselves. Regarding Airfix for instance, do they not have the moulds for the larger James Bond DB5 kit anymore? Or the Toyota 2000GT kit? How about the Gerry Anderson Stingray kit they made back in the 60's? And didn't they make that amazing Fireball XL5 kit as 'Kitmaster' in the same era? All of these models go for ridiculous amounts of money - £600 plus for made up XL5s and Stingrays - so I would have thought re-issues would go down a storm amongst collectors.
On the diecast front, the same thing applies - how about re-issuing the Memphis Belle B-17 that everybody pays so much for? How about the TV Batmobile with all its gadgets? I see they are re-issuing Thunderbirds models but TB1 and TB3 are basically the old really small Matchbox offerings - how about bigger scale versions with more detail? I could go on.......
The Kitmaster XL5, the Stingray and the 007 car toolings are no longer capable of being used, either lost or so badly damaged it would cost more to fix them than totally remake them, the DB5 was remade into a DB6 and the Toyota to the standard hard-top. These were all asked for on the recent Airfix Kickstarter programme and the toolings checked.
Corgi do not hold the diecast rights for Batman anymore and the 1/72 Memphis Belle has been made twice in slightly different versions, limited editions so no re-release , anyway there are several thousand good 8th Air Force schemes to do without re-hashing ones that have been done, as well as that the Corgi AA range is fully filled for the next two years including several totally new toolings
What a shame, I had a feeling that might be what happened to those wonderful models and why they weren't re-issued I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I bet the people concerned even now probably still regret their decision to alter, scrap or simply not preserve those moulds, especially the Bond DB5. I was only a small child when I saw the Kitmaster XL5 (a friend had one) but I clearly remember being blown away by the detail in the kit, even at that young age. The parts looked just like those of a contemporary Airfix WW2 bomber kit like the Lancaster, with the same degree of accuracy. The assembled model was like a dream compared to the crude toys generally available at the time, but impossible to get hold of if you didn't have the right vouchers at the right time and missed the boat. Kids' pester-power didn't exist in those days!
Re Memphis Belle, I mentioned it because of the movie connection and I think that it's that associated interest that marks it out as a potential under-used money-spinner. Personally, as someone with a vested interest in WW2 aircraft (I've been trying to get various die-cast companies to produce a Bristol Beaufort 1a/2 without much luck so far) I think all the Corgi B-17s are great, but it's the Belle that most people seem to be familiar with, and perhaps Corgi would be wise to re-issue it a few more times.
Sally B have been approached about doing that as an option but copyrights and costs have got in the way .Corgi are looking at about a dozen or more new aircraft tooling for the next few cats, 2016 and early 17 have been decided and being worked on with ideas for late 17 -18 being worked on now, some very interesting stuff coming up in the next few years As for Belle ,IMHO no more as limited means limited unlike the Gemini Jets F-4 when they added another thousand or so to the production with duplicate numbers on the cards.
The AA range are Corgis best selling range at the minute.
Yes, the Aviation Archive is definitely Corgi's main focus and, I believe, the primary reason why Hornby bought the brand in 2008. As a Vanguards collector this isn't ideal for me, and I guess the bus collectors are in the same boat (and the recent research errors in that range are not encouraging).
I hope Hornby Hobbies gets its management sorted out as they can't go on losing money year after year. It seems that they make well-intended decisions (new stock management system, Airfix KitStarter, etc.) but then the implementation of those decisions leaves much to be desired and ends up alienating existing customers rather than gaining new ones.
Visited the toy department of our local department store and they had masses of the Corgi 50th Thunderball Aston Martin, looked through them all and counted 8 gold versions at a price of £20 each, so still can be found at sensible prices. -{
Hopefully I should be able to post some more 'code 3's ' over the next couple of weeks.
But in the meantime please have a look at this picture - any idea what model of car the illustrator was thinking about when they put pen to paper? I was searching for Goldfinger cars the other day and out of nowhere an Indian publication of Goldfinger came up with this car on the front cover. Now I'm usually quite good at ID'ing old cars but this stumped me. I was thinking Citroen Dyane - but the grill isn't quite right.
Hopefully I should be able to post some more 'code 3's ' over the next couple of weeks.
But in the meantime please have a look at this picture - any idea what model of car the illustrator was thinking about when they put pen to paper? I was searching for Goldfinger cars the other day and out of nowhere an Indian publication of Goldfinger came up with this car on the front cover. Now I'm usually quite good at ID'ing old cars but this stumped me. I was thinking Citroen Dyane - but the grill isn't quite right.
The top is something like a Citroen 2CV and the lower half looks like a cross between a DB4 and a Ford Zodiac. I'm pretty sure (as someone with a career in advertising and graphics) it's not meant to be a real car, just a very bad artist's impression of a 'posh sporty car' back in the 60's. Sometimes even today you'll see a car on a TV ad that's been 'messed around with' so you can't tell exactly what it is. Doing that avoids product licensing or even lawsuits for defamation of the product!
Sally B have been approached about doing that as an option but copyrights and costs have got in the way .Corgi are looking at about a dozen or more new aircraft tooling for the next few cats, 2016 and early 17 have been decided and being worked on with ideas for late 17 -18 being worked on now, some very interesting stuff coming up in the next few years As for Belle ,IMHO no more as limited means limited unlike the Gemini Jets F-4 when they added another thousand or so to the production with duplicate numbers on the cards.
The AA range are Corgis best selling range at the minute.
Hopefully I should be able to post some more 'code 3's ' over the next couple of weeks.
But in the meantime please have a look at this picture - any idea what model of car the illustrator was thinking about when they put pen to paper? I was searching for Goldfinger cars the other day and out of nowhere an Indian publication of Goldfinger came up with this car on the front cover. Now I'm usually quite good at ID'ing old cars but this stumped me. I was thinking Citroen Dyane - but the grill isn't quite right.
The top is something like a Citroen 2CV and the lower half looks like a cross between a DB4 and a Ford Zodiac. I'm pretty sure (as someone with a career in advertising and graphics) it's not meant to be a real car, just a very bad artist's impression of a 'posh sporty car' back in the 60's. Sometimes even today you'll see a car on a TV ad that's been 'messed around with' so you can't tell exactly what it is. Doing that avoids product licensing or even lawsuits for defamation of the product!
Thanks for that. This makes sense. The cars featured in the Dr No graphic novel are likewise!
I was also looking through the Octopussy 'comic' as well and the car they've drawn in place of the Alfa is obvioulsy based on the Sierra. It's probably meant to be an XR4i, but as you say, messed around with to get around licensing perhaps. As it happens, in one shot it looks as though the artist has designed the Sierra Sapphire 4 years early!
I'm assuming that if they have decided to go ahead with the 'Bond in Motion' publication we should start to see adverts coming out in the New Year. If memory serves, we were getting JBCC TV sdverts in the January.
Have those people that have taken out subscriptions seen or heard anything more? The web site still appears to be highlighting the same eight models plus a photo of the DB10.
I subscribed, and was emailed to say that I would receive my fist edition in 21 days, that was seven weeks ago, no payment taken, and no further contact
this is just a test to see if this image transfers or not. I dont have a printer just now so i cant speak for the scaling, but if someone prints this out and it looks right with the model, then maybe i can do more. No doubt there are a few Code 3 suggestions for backgrounds.
Hi..
I have just become a mew member to this site i was wondering how i could obtain the backgrounds to thee code 3s...i have been collecting the cars from the bond films like the vauxhall velox / hillman minx/ audi A5 and the vauxhall senitor ive got a few extra 1/18 scale cars also 55 chevy from dr No triumph stag from diamonds are for ever ive resprayed a 1/18 DBS in quantum silver ..and a few more twincab landrover from skyfall ...ive done a code 3 one in 1/43 scale ..
But as ive mentioned how would i go about obtaining the backgrounds ...
this is just a test to see if this image transfers or not. I dont have a printer just now so i cant speak for the scaling, but if someone prints this out and it looks right with the model, then maybe i can do more. No doubt there are a few Code 3 suggestions for backgrounds.
Hi..
I have just become a mew member to this site i was wondering how i could obtain the backgrounds to thee code 3s...i have been collecting the cars from the bond films like the vauxhall velox / hillman minx/ audi A5 and the vauxhall senitor ive got a few extra 1/18 scale cars also 55 chevy from dr No triumph stag from diamonds are for ever ive resprayed a 1/18 DBS in quantum silver ..and a few more twincab landrover from skyfall ...ive done a code 3 one in 1/43 scale ..
But as ive mentioned how would i go about obtaining the backgrounds ...
Hello - welcome aboard.
I'd suggest you do a search on 'Tony Ericsson' on this forum. This chap is a legend when it comes to producing new background cards. He has been very kind to have created some for the 'code 3s' that I've thrown together.
Don't forget to post the pictures of your completed models. We are all interested in what members create.
I subscribed, and was emailed to say that I would receive my fist edition in 21 days, that was seven weeks ago, no payment taken, and no further contact
Thanks for that. I can't bring myself to subscribe again - I collected all the JBCC - but I'd love to cherry pick any new models that they bring out.
this is just a test to see if this image transfers or not. I dont have a printer just now so i cant speak for the scaling, but if someone prints this out and it looks right with the model, then maybe i can do more. No doubt there are a few Code 3 suggestions for backgrounds.
Hi..
I have just become a mew member to this site i was wondering how i could obtain the backgrounds to thee code 3s...i have been collecting the cars from the bond films like the vauxhall velox / hillman minx/ audi A5 and the vauxhall senitor ive got a few extra 1/18 scale cars also 55 chevy from dr No triumph stag from diamonds are for ever ive resprayed a 1/18 DBS in quantum silver ..and a few more twincab landrover from skyfall ...ive done a code 3 one in 1/43 scale ..
But as ive mentioned how would i go about obtaining the backgrounds ...
Hello - welcome aboard.
I'd suggest you do a search on 'Tony Ericsson' on this forum. This chap is a legend when it comes to producing new background cards. He has been very kind to have created some for the 'code 3s' that I've thrown together.
Don't forget to post the pictures of your completed models. We are all interested in what members create.
Somewhere on the thread Tony posted a link to a photo-hosting site with all of his backgrounds on, it may still be accessable. I was in touch with him by email but he very suddenly went quiet and I haven't heard from him since, which was in 2013 when he helped me with the Skyfall Land Rover chase background:
He also did an alternative b/g for the Moneypenny sniper scene.
Failing that, most of the backgrounds either created by Tony or by any of the other Code3ers on this thread have been posted, I think it's a matter of trawling through many, many pages!
Hi..
I have just become a mew member to this site i was wondering how i could obtain the backgrounds to thee code 3s...i have been collecting the cars from the bond films like the vauxhall velox / hillman minx/ audi A5 and the vauxhall senitor ive got a few extra 1/18 scale cars also 55 chevy from dr No triumph stag from diamonds are for ever ive resprayed a 1/18 DBS in quantum silver ..and a few more twincab landrover from skyfall ...ive done a code 3 one in 1/43 scale ..
But as ive mentioned how would i go about obtaining the backgrounds ...
Hello - welcome aboard.
I'd suggest you do a search on 'Tony Ericsson' on this forum. This chap is a legend when it comes to producing new background cards. He has been very kind to have created some for the 'code 3s' that I've thrown together.
Don't forget to post the pictures of your completed models. We are all interested in what members create.
Somewhere on the thread Tony posted a link to a photo-hosting site with all of his backgrounds on, it may still be accessable. I was in touch with him by email but he very suddenly went quiet and I haven't heard from him since, which was in 2013 when he helped me with the Skyfall Land Rover chase background:
He also did an alternative b/g for the Moneypenny sniper scene.
Failing that, most of the backgrounds either created by Tony or by any of the other Code3ers on this thread have been posted, I think it's a matter of trawling through many, many pages!
I contacted the bond in motion collection , seemingly issue 1 is out of stock and 2 and 3 are being sent within 21 days . Yep Tony helped me with a number of my Code 3's the Audi A5, Ford Mondeo and many others. Great attention to detail and the backgrounds were amazing !
Corgi published their first 2016 catalogue on their website yesterday, but nothing included about the Spectre DB10 releases. Wholesalers are listing a CC08001 (single car) and CC08099 (twin pack) due in January, though. No photo available yet for the latter so I don't know what that one is about.
Don't know about you but I thought the 2016 models announced so far were a little bit disappointing, mostly re-colours and not very exciting ones IMHO. I did see in a die-cast mag that Hornby are struggling a bit, so maybe they are trying to get the most out of what they already have to offer rather than producing much in the way of new stuff.
Re the mystery CC8099 twin pack, I would lay bets that it will be a DB10 and DB5.
The single pack DB10 (CC08001) has been noted as Sold Out for a few days now ... but as it isn't a Limited Edition (as far as I know) I guess there's nothing stopping Corgi from making more. Back when I first saw it was available (just before Xmas) I tested to see how many I could add to the shopping cart and I was able to add just under 600 ... those were all gone 24 hours later!
Comments
Thanks also for the correction on CC04205. Do you know what the difference is between that one and CC04204S (apart from a different barcode
Going by the ZIN01... product number above the barcode in the last pic above (& also on my CC04204S) I presume these are still being made for Corgi by the Zindart factory.
I think the silver 04204 and -05 cars are identical except for different date codes on the baseplate.
The 04203 (both colours) have ZIN01-12-852 and both 04204, ZIN01-03-078, also seen on the boxes. 12 and 03 seem to be the month of manufacture (the new one has 11), so the 04205 should have 06 or 07 (I don't have this one) but otherwise unchanged. The paint was consistent - I haven't found a shade difference between my gold and silver 04203 and -04.
(photos: ck-modelcars.de)
I think it's very nice for the price (€20) - finer detailed than the cheaper JBCC version and I also think better looking than the much higher priced Minichamps model. I prefer the Minichamps' grille and driving lights but the too low stance of its front has always bothered me. Also, the thinner white-stripe tyres of the Greenlight look better and are closer to the film car.
http://www.corgi.co.uk/shop/tv-and-film-favourites-1/james-bond.html?utm_campaign=909914_Corgi%20-%20James%20Bond%20DB5%20Goldfinger%20-%20Week%2037%202015&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Hornby%20PLC&utm_content=James%20Bond&_%24ja=tsid%3A71284&dm_i=2DJZ,JI3E,22ODG1,19N2V,1
It's probably a case of get 'em while you can, especially the gold version.
Corgi published their first 2016 catalogue on their website yesterday, but nothing included about the Spectre DB10 releases. Wholesalers are listing a CC08001 (single car) and CC08099 (twin pack) due in January, though. No photo available yet for the latter so I don't know what that one is about.
Don't know about you but I thought the 2016 models announced so far were a little bit disappointing, mostly re-colours and not very exciting ones IMHO. I did see in a die-cast mag that Hornby are struggling a bit, so maybe they are trying to get the most out of what they already have to offer rather than producing much in the way of new stuff.
Re the mystery CC8099 twin pack, I would lay bets that it will be a DB10 and DB5.
Yes, Hornby have managed to reverse their before-tax profit of earlier this year by what appears to have been a very shoddy implementation of a new ERP system. I for one got caught by ordering phantom stock and then having to deal with what passes for customer service there to get a refund after my parcel arrived with only half my order in it!
Their investor info can be found here, if you're interested:
http://www.hornby.plc.uk/rns/
So yes, the turnaround strategy of using as much of their old tooling as possible continues, but for 2016 the Corgi prices have gone up: e.g. 2015 First Half Vanguards models were generally £23, then 2015 Second Half prices dropped to £20, and now for 2016 First Half they will be £25.
Also, in a James Bond related theme, all the Lotus models have disappeared off the Corgi website - all those Esprits cannot have sold out already, so I presume the licence might have expired (?).
On the upside, the latest financial report says that Hornby now has its own tooling warehouse in China from where the tooling is sent out to the various factories, which seems to be a far safer plan than having it stored at the factories (there was a story a few years ago about how Corgi nearly lost some of their aviation tooling in one of those factories that suddenly went bust).
I've often wondered why companies such as Hornby don't make the most of opportunities that seem (to the layman) to present themselves. Regarding Airfix for instance, do they not have the moulds for the larger James Bond DB5 kit anymore? Or the Toyota 2000GT kit? How about the Gerry Anderson Stingray kit they made back in the 60's? And didn't they make that amazing Fireball XL5 kit as 'Kitmaster' in the same era? All of these models go for ridiculous amounts of money - £600 plus for made up XL5s and Stingrays - so I would have thought re-issues would go down a storm amongst collectors.
On the diecast front, the same thing applies - how about re-issuing the Memphis Belle B-17 that everybody pays so much for? How about the TV Batmobile with all its gadgets? I see they are re-issuing Thunderbirds models but TB1 and TB3 are basically the old really small Matchbox offerings - how about bigger scale versions with more detail? I could go on.......
here some new code3 , based on 'old'
Cheers.
And next model :
The Kitmaster XL5, the Stingray and the 007 car toolings are no longer capable of being used, either lost or so badly damaged it would cost more to fix them than totally remake them, the DB5 was remade into a DB6 and the Toyota to the standard hard-top. These were all asked for on the recent Airfix Kickstarter programme and the toolings checked.
Corgi do not hold the diecast rights for Batman anymore and the 1/72 Memphis Belle has been made twice in slightly different versions, limited editions so no re-release , anyway there are several thousand good 8th Air Force schemes to do without re-hashing ones that have been done, as well as that the Corgi AA range is fully filled for the next two years including several totally new toolings
What a shame, I had a feeling that might be what happened to those wonderful models and why they weren't re-issued
Re Memphis Belle, I mentioned it because of the movie connection and I think that it's that associated interest that marks it out as a potential under-used money-spinner. Personally, as someone with a vested interest in WW2 aircraft (I've been trying to get various die-cast companies to produce a Bristol Beaufort 1a/2 without much luck so far) I think all the Corgi B-17s are great, but it's the Belle that most people seem to be familiar with, and perhaps Corgi would be wise to re-issue it a few more times.
Sally B have been approached about doing that as an option but copyrights and costs have got in the way .Corgi are looking at about a dozen or more new aircraft tooling for the next few cats, 2016 and early 17 have been decided and being worked on with ideas for late 17 -18 being worked on now, some very interesting stuff coming up in the next few years
The AA range are Corgis best selling range at the minute.
http://www.corgi.co.uk/shop/new-for-2016/james-bond-aston-martin-db10-spectre.html
An ear-flap style box that reminds of the 2005 era Vanguards cardboard outer boxes.
Yes, the Aviation Archive is definitely Corgi's main focus and, I believe, the primary reason why Hornby bought the brand in 2008. As a Vanguards collector this isn't ideal for me, and I guess the bus collectors are in the same boat (and the recent research errors in that range are not encouraging).
I hope Hornby Hobbies gets its management sorted out as they can't go on losing money year after year. It seems that they make well-intended decisions (new stock management system, Airfix KitStarter, etc.) but then the implementation of those decisions leaves much to be desired and ends up alienating existing customers rather than gaining new ones.
Hopefully I should be able to post some more 'code 3's ' over the next couple of weeks.
But in the meantime please have a look at this picture - any idea what model of car the illustrator was thinking about when they put pen to paper? I was searching for Goldfinger cars the other day and out of nowhere an Indian publication of Goldfinger came up with this car on the front cover. Now I'm usually quite good at ID'ing old cars but this stumped me. I was thinking Citroen Dyane - but the grill isn't quite right.
The top is something like a Citroen 2CV and the lower half looks like a cross between a DB4 and a Ford Zodiac. I'm pretty sure (as someone with a career in advertising and graphics) it's not meant to be a real car, just a very bad artist's impression of a 'posh sporty car' back in the 60's. Sometimes even today you'll see a car on a TV ad that's been 'messed around with' so you can't tell exactly what it is. Doing that avoids product licensing or even lawsuits for defamation of the product!
Have sent you a PM about this..........
Thanks for that. This makes sense. The cars featured in the Dr No graphic novel are likewise!
I was also looking through the Octopussy 'comic' as well and the car they've drawn in place of the Alfa is obvioulsy based on the Sierra. It's probably meant to be an XR4i, but as you say, messed around with to get around licensing perhaps. As it happens, in one shot it looks as though the artist has designed the Sierra Sapphire 4 years early!
Have those people that have taken out subscriptions seen or heard anything more? The web site still appears to be highlighting the same eight models plus a photo of the DB10.
I have just become a mew member to this site i was wondering how i could obtain the backgrounds to thee code 3s...i have been collecting the cars from the bond films like the vauxhall velox / hillman minx/ audi A5 and the vauxhall senitor ive got a few extra 1/18 scale cars also 55 chevy from dr No triumph stag from diamonds are for ever ive resprayed a 1/18 DBS in quantum silver ..and a few more twincab landrover from skyfall ...ive done a code 3 one in 1/43 scale ..
But as ive mentioned how would i go about obtaining the backgrounds ...
Hello - welcome aboard.
I'd suggest you do a search on 'Tony Ericsson' on this forum. This chap is a legend when it comes to producing new background cards. He has been very kind to have created some for the 'code 3s' that I've thrown together.
Don't forget to post the pictures of your completed models. We are all interested in what members create.
Thanks for that. I can't bring myself to subscribe again - I collected all the JBCC - but I'd love to cherry pick any new models that they bring out.
Somewhere on the thread Tony posted a link to a photo-hosting site with all of his backgrounds on, it may still be accessable. I was in touch with him by email but he very suddenly went quiet and I haven't heard from him since, which was in 2013 when he helped me with the Skyfall Land Rover chase background:
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/28313/james-bond-car-collection-questions-and-praise/page/262/
He also did an alternative b/g for the Moneypenny sniper scene.
Failing that, most of the backgrounds either created by Tony or by any of the other Code3ers on this thread have been posted, I think it's a matter of trawling through many, many pages!
I contacted the bond in motion collection , seemingly issue 1 is out of stock and 2 and 3 are being sent within 21 days . Yep Tony helped me with a number of my Code 3's the Audi A5, Ford Mondeo and many others. Great attention to detail and the backgrounds were amazing !
http://www.corgi.co.uk/shop/new-for-2016/james-bond-aston-martin-spectre-twin-pack.html
The single pack DB10 (CC08001) has been noted as Sold Out for a few days now ... but as it isn't a Limited Edition (as far as I know) I guess there's nothing stopping Corgi from making more. Back when I first saw it was available (just before Xmas) I tested to see how many I could add to the shopping cart and I was able to add just under 600 ... those were all gone 24 hours later!
I have this link saved for the Tony Ericsson diorama backgrounds, but I seem to remember something about this being an old site that he had lost access to (?)
http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv126/TONY_ERICSSON/