New Ford Cortina Mk.5 exclusive and Corgi Supercarriers deployed

Welcome to the latest edition of Corgi Die-cast Diaries, your regular blog review of all the news, updates and topical stories from the captivating world of Corgi die-cast model collecting.

For this latest blog update, we will be featuring two new model updates from projects we have been following throughout the past few months, one which was only announced at the beginning of this year, with the other being a dual tooling release which is just about to weigh anchor on the collector world. With our usual selection of exclusive product development imagery, we will be checking in on the progress made with our new Vanguards Ford Cortina Mk.V tooling project, with an exclusive first look at two metal engineering samples produced from this impending tooling addition to the range, marking the current status of the project. We are also delighted to be in a position to be bringing you a final update from a pair of models which are scale representations of the largest and most powerful vessels ever produced for the Royal Navy, the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. With their release now just around the corner, we have pictures of both new models, including views of them individually, placed side-by-side and in their distinctive packaging presentation.

As you have come to expect, it’s exclusives all the way in this latest edition of our Die-cast Diaries blog.

Everyday car to become a Vanguards classic

Last of its line. Our new Vanguards Ford Cortina Mk.5 tooling marks the final presentation of this popular series of family cars, one which was produced in its millions over a twenty year period. This image features an exclusive first look at the metal engineering sample from this fabulous new tooling.

The story of popular motoring in the post war era is a fascinating subject and one which continues to captivate millions of people, from all walks of life. Although it isn’t difficult to appreciate the appeal of sports, prestige and luxury car types which have graced our roads over the years, you might think that the cars which served as our everyday transportation workhorses would find it much harder to receive enthusiast admiration, however, that is most certainly not the case. Perhaps the simple fact that these cars were generally produced in larger numbers and came into contact with much wider sections of society means we all have our own personal attachments to cars falling into the ‘affordable family vehicle’ category, even if at the time, we don’t realise their future nostalgic potential.

By their very nature, affordable family cars generally had to be hard-working vehicles, getting their owners to and from work, supporting the pursuance of hobbies and facilitating the family’s lifestyle activities, as and when time permitted. They basically supported our everyday lives, always there when we needed them and usually only requiring a minimum of maintenance and perhaps the odd wash and polish on a fine Sunday morning. These cars were loved at the time probably because they allowed people to do the things they needed, or wanted to do and if we are being honest with ourselves, we were probably guilty of taking them a little for granted. 

Advancing nicely, the new Cortina Mk.5 tooling has advanced to engineering sample stage, allowing the design to be inspected in metal for the very first time.

An arresting image, this shot shows how our designers have incorporated quite a few release options into this impressive new tooling.

Once they had served us faithfully for several years, it was off to the showroom and an unceremonious upgrade. With our old cars taken to the compound at the back of the garage, we only had eyes for the gleaming new replacement which would be the envy of the neighbours once we took it home. Because this cycle of acquiring, using up and trading in cars usually meant that many were a little the worse for wear, or purchased by new owners who were a little less concerned about their ongoing wellbeing. Many of these family classics would end their days in a scrapyard, with very few surviving in pristine condition, however, over recent years, many enthusiasts have resolved to return these once loved family classics to their former glory and it is truly amazing to see the wave of nostalgia which sweeps over those casting an admiring eye over their handywork.

Providing a scale interpretation of this love for all things classic motoring, the Corgi Vanguards range has built up a proud reputation of presenting some of the best loved family cars from the past seventy years or so as 1/43rd scale die-cast collectables and we are proud to announce the impending addition of another, the last of the Ford Cortina line, the Mk.V. On British roads, the Ford Cortina series of cars have to be considered to be amongst the most recognisable vehicles to millions of people, a middleweight motoring icon which combined stye, safety, value for money and comfort in one appealing package. A car intended for the masses and to get British families on the road, the Mark I version of the Cortina was originally launched in late 1962 and would go on to become one of the most successful cars in Ford’s impressive vehicle portfolio. Produced in five distinct marks over a twenty year production run, the final variant of this Ford classic, the Mark V, is the subject of our latest Vanguards new tooling project, bringing the story of this instantly recognisable family car to its die-cast end.

Sixty years of Ford’s popular Cortina

The final incarnation of Ford Cortina presentation, these distinctive vehicles were a familiar sight on Britain’s roads, following their release in 1979.

A motoring phenomenon which started in the early sixties, the Ford Cortina was the result of a strategic attempt by Ford to produce a family car which would satisfy the requirements of the average British family’s motoring needs and crucially, one which would challenge the current market share of companies like BMC and Vauxhall. Using existing construction techniques, the emphasis was on price and mechanical reliability, but not at the expense of styling - the Cortina was always a bit of a looker and by adding a little motorsport success into the mix, they quickly found that they had a winner on their hands. Regularly updating the original Mk.I design, the Cortina became so popular with British motorists that the Ford marketing department confidently proclaimed that the only car the new Cortina had to beat was the old Cortina and as it went on to be the best selling family car in the country on several occasions, it seems that their boast was not without substance.

With the Cortina taking its place on the British motoring scene from September 1962, this year marks the 60th anniversary of its introduction and a series of five different versions which would become the motoring staple of families up and down the country, not to mention the nation’s army of travelling salespeople. Incidentally, marking the opposite end of Cortina production in the UK, this year also marks 40 years since the final Cortina rolled off the production line, making this quite a year for remembering this hugely popular series of vehicles.

A final look at the two Cortina Mk.5 engineering samples which arrived at Corgi HQ recently - we have a lot to look forward to here.

First announced in 1979, the angular and purposeful styling of the Mk.V Cortina could be seen in the driveways of homes the length and breadth of the country and would also become the vehicle of choice for Britain’s army of travelling salespeople. More than 2.8 million Cortinas were sold during the car’s 20 year production run and this Mark V series variant is as important to our Vanguards range as it was to the Ford Motor Company (in scale terms, of course).

This latest new tooling project benefitted from our ability to conduct a highly accurate LIDAR scan of a donor vehicle at the very outset of the design process, with the actual car we scanned destined to be the livery option selected for the initial release from this tooling. The Corgi team paid a visit to the Ford Heritage Centre last year, where we were able to conduct the scanning of this handsome vehicle. Carrying the registration GHK IY, this Cortina Crusader is actually the final one manufactured in Britain and makes for a fitting subject for our first release from a new tooling we are proud to be introducing.

An exclusive first look at the decoration guide produced to support the initial release from this new model tooling, a model representation of the vehicle we scanned at the Ford Heritage Centre last year.

As our final exclusive in this latest Cortina Mk.V project update, we are delighted to be bringing you this first look at the decoration guide produced to support the first release from this new tooling, VA15001. It features the Cortina 1.6 Crusader our team scanned at the outset of this project and the car which has the distinction of being the last Cortina produced in Britain.

We hope you have enjoyed this comprehensive update and a first look at the latest pictures associated with our die-cast tribute to this final variant of the hugely popular Ford Cortina. Our next update will be a first look at a decorated pre-production sample of the Cortina Mk.V and as usual, our blog readers will be the ones to see it first.

Ruling the waves, Queen Elizabeth class carrier style!

The first time our new 1/1250th scale models of HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09) have been pictured together - they are looking rather shipshape.

It’s definitely a case of ‘New models ahoy’ with this next project update, as we bring you a final overview from two newly tooled models which are now looming large on the horizon and just about to grace mantlepieces and model display cabinets right across the nation. Announcing a major collectable addition to the Corgi model range, we are delighted to confirm that our scale die-cast representations of the joint largest and most powerful vessels to have ever been constructed for the Royal Navy are now on the verge of release. Something our design team have been working on for many months now, these new models really are something special, manufactured with a high metal content and finished to exacting standards, both are fine representations of the pride of the Royal Navy, ships which occupy a significant position in British military history.

Britain’s decision to build the two mighty new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09) has not been without its detractors, however, the huge media interest which has always followed the construction, launch and introduction of these massive vessels has ensured that they are amongst the most famous and certainly the most impressive ships to have ever represented the Royal Navy.  

Our new model of HMS Prince of Wales will be the first release from our new Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

As a seafaring nation of renown, it seems inconceivable that Britain left itself without a purpose built aircraft carrier since the rather hasty retirement and decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal back in 2011, a move which not only diminished the influence of the Royal Navy, but also Britain’s international standing as a global military and humanitarian power. Thankfully, all that now seems to be just a distant memory, as the awesome sight of our two impressive new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers fills us all with feelings of awe and pride and has definitely resulted in the overwhelming re-engagement of the public with the Senior Service once more. 

The largest ships ever to enter Royal Navy service, the new aircraft carriers will significantly enhance Britain’s naval standing and provide them with one of the most powerful autonomous international offensive capabilities in the world, not to mention their ability to respond quickly in the case of a humanitarian emergency. Able to operate the latest fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II multi-role combat jets, these mighty ships would make tempting targets for any adversary in times of conflict and despite the fact that they are bristling with electronic wizardry and defensive weaponry, they will also be protected by a dedicated force of high-tech Destroyers, each one equipped with sophisticated detection technology and missiles designed to protect the carrier from air and missile attack. Destined to remain in service for possibly the next half century, Britain’s new super carriers are a highly visible representation of Britain’s military might and determination to have a say in international affairs.

Possessing awesome striking power, Britain’s Carrier Strike Group is expected to reach full operational capacity by December next year and as the ships work up to this momentous occasion, they continue to attract huge media and public attention whenever they put into port, or when sailing out again. Each of these mighty ships have a displacement of 65,000 tonnes and can each carry a maximum of 72 aircraft, including up to 36 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighters, although it is likely that a reduced number of 24 will be more typical. The usual ships compliment of 700 will more than double when a full complement of aircraft (both fixed wing and rotary) are deployed and in the month where we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, it is incredible to learn that Britain’s new aircraft carriers are THREE times the size of the Invincible class carriers which steamed towards the South Atlantic in early 1982.

Marking the impending release of these beautiful new models, we are delighted to be sharing images of BOTH advanced production models side by side for the first time, in addition to this being the first time that blog readers will have seen our HMS Prince of Wales sample model at all. You can clearly see from the images included that both models (R08 and R09) have slightly different deck configurations, regarding the aircraft lift in operation and each has a slightly different compliment of aircraft on deck. HMS Queen Elizabeth has F-35 Lightning II jets and Chinook helicopters, whilst HMS Prince of Wales has F-35s, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters embarked.

All shipshape and Bristol fashion - The packaging presentation of our new Queen Elizabeth class carrier models allows the collector several different options when it comes to displaying their new model, which we have attempted to illustrate here. 

The image selection we are showing here also include several pictures which illustrate how the model packaging supports various configurations in which to display the new models, from simply leaving them in their attractive packaging, to having the ships displayed on the plinth showing the full scale hull, with presentation plaque. We think you will agree that the new models look fantastic and with so many already pre-ordered by collectors, we think you will be rather pleased with your examples when they arrive.

Having confirmed the current status of the model, but accepting these unusual times can still throw up the odd unexpected delay, we are expecting to receive our HMS Prince of Wales model to arrive in our warehouse later this month. When released, this will be yet another new tooling project the Die-cast Diaries blog has followed from announcement to release, bringing readers details of every development stage in between. Oh, by the way, did we mention that it was our 7th anniversary in a couple of months’ time? We are going to have to think of a fitting way to commemorate that particular occasion. 

New Bristol Beaufort on finals

The Bristol Beaufort is a stunning new addition to the popular Aviation Archive range.

We end this latest blog update with some really good news for Aviation Archive fans - the first release from our new 1/72nd scale Bristol Beaufort Mk.I tooling is scheduled for release later this month. A classic addition to the range, the Beaufort is a particularly distinctive looking strike aircraft from WWII and its release will allow collectors to display the three famous Bristol twin radial aircraft of the Royal Air Force together as scale die-cast models for the first time - Blenheim, Beaufighter and Beaufort. We have had to wait quite some time for this new model addition to arrive, but we really do think it will be worth the wait and with the vast majority of the production run destined to leave our warehouse as soon as it arrives, this could prove to be quite a difficult model to get hold of in the years to come. With the last few unallocated models currently still available on the Corgi website, this weekend could offer one final opportunity to ensure a Beaufort will soon be winging its way into your collection. 

This first release is finished in the markings of RAF Beaufort Mk.I N1016 (OA-X), an aircraft which was sent to attack the German battleship/battlecruiser Gneisenau on Sunday 6th April 1941. Taking off from its home airfield at St. Eval in Cornwall, the aircraft headed for a pre-determined rallying point off the coast of France, close to the entrance to the harbour. Even though the weather was poor, they were surprised to find that they were the only aircraft to make it and with radio silence crucial to the success of the mission, the crew faced the uncomfortable decision of whether to wait for other aircraft to turn up, press on with their attack alone, or simply return to base.

Even though the odds were seriously stacked against them, the crew turned towards the heavily defended harbour at Brest and began their attack run, descending to almost wavetop height. Pilot Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, expertly lined up his Beaufort for the optimum attack angle, passing so close to enemy shore batteries that they could hardly fail to hit their target, but only releasing the aircraft’s single torpedo when he was sure it would strike the warship. Almost hitting the mast of the ship as the aircraft pulled away in a violent, banking turn, the Beaufort exposed its unprotected underside to the German anti-aircraft gunners who had it squarely in their sights, raking it mercilessly with everything they had. Having sustained heavy damage during its attack run, the aircraft crashed into the harbour, tragically claiming the lives of all souls on board.

Launching their attack alone, the selfless actions of Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell and the crew of Beaufort N1016 would have probably gone unheralded had it not been for the intervention of the French resistance. Sending a report on the condition of the German battleship back to British authorities, they also described the actions of this brave Beaufort crew and how they had paid the ultimate price whilst heroically performing their duty. 

For displaying valour in the face of extreme peril and without regard for his own safety, Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for valour in the presence of the enemy, an honour he would surely have gladly shared with the rest of his crew.

That’s another edition of Die-cast Diaries done and dusted, but don’t despair, we will be back again in two weeks’ time with another selection of Corgi model exclusives and we would be delighted if you could join us then.

In the meantime, we are always interested to hear your Corgi related views, so if you would like to drop us a line to comment on anything blog related or to suggest a topic you would like to see covered in a future edition of the blog, could we ask if you would use our diecastdiaries@corgi.co.uk email for all correspondence.

If you can’t wait for the next blog, you will find plenty of Corgi model collecting discussions taking place on our official social media channels, access to which can be obtained by clicking on the respective links at the foot of the Corgi website homepage. 

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Thank you for continuing to support our Die-cast Diaries blog.

Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 22nd April. 

The Corgi Team