New models and a new chapter for Corgi

Welcome to this first edition of Corgi Diecast Diaries in 2022, your regular blog review of all the news, updates and topical stories from the captivating world of Corgi die-cast model collecting.

We think we can just about still get away with this, so could we please start this latest blog by wishing all our readers a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year, in the hope we find you all well fed and rested after an enjoyable holiday season. As this is our first blog of the year, there can really only be one subject for this particular edition and that is to review the new models announced with the launch of the 2022 Corgi model range at the beginning of the week. By now, most Corgi collectors will be aware that we are doing things a little differently this year, but the changes are being made for specific reasons and there is definitely no need for Corgi fans to be dismayed in any way. We will position the changes from our perspective, just so you have the information from the horses mouth (so to speak) and do not have to be subjected to rumour and speculation.

Most importantly, we have fantastic new Corgi die-cast models to tell you about and new additions across most of our ranges, as well as giving you a little insight into our new tooling plans for a little later in the year. We have a big year ahead of us for both the brand and the new fortnightly production schedule for our blog, so let’s look forward to an exciting 2022 for die-cast model collectors.

A range launch with a difference

It has become something of an early year tradition for Corgi fans that our return to work following the Christmas holiday season is eased somewhat by the knowledge that the latest model range will be unveiled just days into the New Year. This year, that date was Monday just gone, however this year, things were a little bit different. Despite our on-line Christmas advent activities giving prior notification of our range frequency changes for 2022, it appears that it still came as something of a shock for some people, so we are going to take this opportunity to position things from our perspective. Clearly, we know that change is something we can all struggle with at times, however, we felt these changes would allow the Corgi brand to be more flexible and to provide greater clarity with regard to realistic anticipated release dates for our models.

The new range launch format is to have three announcements/range launches each year, with the models announced in each covering 4 monthly release blocks. Our intention was that barring unforeseen production or shipping difficulties, all the models announced in each respective range have a realistic chance of being released during the period covered by the catalogue in which they appear. This was intended to provide collectors with greater release clarity and remove the situation where a great new tooling project announced at the beginning of one year didn’t actually arrive in our warehouse until the end of the following year. We all know that delays are part and parcel of the manufacturing process and there are few guarantees around this, however, we hope that this change will mitigate the frustration of waiting long periods for the new models you are most looking forward to collecting actually being released.

That being said, we are not going to keep information regarding the new tooling projects we are currently working on secret from our collectors, as confirmed by the first few pages of the latest catalogue, in fact, we are probably going to be even more open with you than we have been in the past. The only thing is that by the time the model takes its place in a particular range, details will be much more robust and we will be able to provide collectors with a clearer expectation of its anticipated release date. In essence, we have our annual release schedule in place, just like the other Hornby brands, it’s just that we are releasing ours in four-monthly blocks, rather than all at once. The analogy is that three new cars are already in the Corgi showroom, it’s just that two of them still have their covers on.

Even though the new range might look a little smaller than usual (you can download your pdf copy of the catalogue here), the outstanding projects we are all looking forward to, such as the Bristol Beaufort and 1/48th scale Eurofighter Typhoon, are in addition the new announcements, with the entire range of current and future releases displayed in all their glory on the Corgi website.    

Hopefully, that explains the situation more clearly, but if you still have any concerns or comments, please feel free to drop us a line at diecastdiaries@corgi.co.uk.

Only two wheels Mr Bond?

An early season blog exclusive, as we show you pictures of the SLA prototype model of our new 1/12th scale James Bond Triumph Scrambler 1200, pictured next to a previous release you might recognise.

Before we get into the specifics of the January to April 2022 Corgi model range and the new tooling projects we have in place, surely there can be no finer way to start a new year of blogs than by spending a few moments in the company of Britain’s most enigmatic fictional secret service agent, James Bond. The Corgi range has earned a proud association with the Bond phenomenon over the years and with 2021 finally witnessing the release of the 25th film in Bond history, it seemed as if anything with even the remotest connection with these films proved to be a guaranteed winner with enthusiasts. From a Corgi perspective, it is the vehicles Bond drives, rides, flies or is chased by that are of interest to us and over the years, some of our best loved and most successful models have been representations of the machines which have appeared in various Bond films.

As Corgi collectors will be aware, we continued this association in our 2021 range, as we announced our new tooling project to produce a 1/24th scale version of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond rode so impressively in exciting scenes from the latest film ‘No Time To Die’, however, just as the film’s release date was delayed several times, our project also became the subject of some re-evaluation. As we embarked on this exciting project, it soon became apparent to the team that whilst the new scrambler would indeed have made for an attractive collectors piece, it wasn’t quite what we were looking for. We were looking to give the new model much more of the ‘Wow factor’ and we knew exactly what we had to do. 

More pictures featuring the SLA prototype model of the new Bond scrambler bike, showing the incredible levels of detail our designers have managed to capture, even at this early stage.

During the course of last year, we took the unusual decision of cancelling this already announced model and begin development work on a much larger ‘upscaled’ version of the same motorbike and we are delighted to unveil this stunning new model as part of our 2022 range. Our die-cast tribute to the Triumph Scrambler 1200 ridden by Bond in ‘No Time To Die’ will now be produced in an impressive and much larger 1/12th scale.

James Bond finally returned for his twenty fifth on screen adventure in 2021 and in ‘No Time To Die’, we found our hero enjoying something of a tranquil life in Jamaica, having left active service. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for his help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than initially expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. 

Several of the exciting action scenes featured in the new movie herald the franchise debut of an iconic British motorcycle brand into the Bond phenomenon. Driven by both the villainous Primo and 007 himself during a high octane chase through the Italian city of Matera, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 is put through its paces with some daring stunts in the streets of this historic city.

Just immerse yourself in all that glorious detail. We are really pleased with our decision to ‘upscale’ this model for impact, feeling that it is every bit the centrepiece model James Bond fans will be delighted with.

This final image allows readers to gauge the size of this impressive new model.

Increasing the size of the new model allowed our designers to incorporate much higher levels of detail and refinement into the model, making this a much more impressive display piece and a collectable any Bond fan would be delighted to have as the centrepiece of their collection. The appealing series of images we are showing here feature the SLA prototype (resin cured) model produced to check every aspect of the CAD design files created for this model and in advance of tooling production. Even though this is still in its early development phase, you can clearly see from these images just how the new model features incredible levels of detail and almost looks good enough to ride! With its rear wheel stand and sprung rear suspension, this is one impressive piece of kit and one we are glad we decided to ‘upgrade’.

The fascinating story behind the development of our new Triumph Scrambler 1200 will be the subject of a forthcoming edition of our blog and we can’t wait for Bond fans to see our stunning new motorcycle model in the metal - this beauty is absolutely Bondtastic! 

New tooling projects for 2022

The 2022 range will boast the inclusion on not one, but two new Spitfire models in 1/72nd scale, one being a T9 variant - a Spitfire made for two.

Despite the fact that many of our new model tooling projects are not marked as available for pre-order with the announcement of this first January to April 2022 range, they still underpin another significant year of investment in the Corgi range across the board. In line with our new range format, will take their place in the range once they have advanced a little further and we can give you clearer information. The Aviation Archive range can boast the fact that no fewer than three exciting new tooling projects are already underway, each one with a huge part to play in the ongoing Corgi story. In the traditional collector scale of 1/72nd, we have not one, but two beautiful new Spitfire models to grace the range, one and accurate representation of the widely used Mk.IX variant, with the other being a fascinating offshoot of this famous fighter. 

It may come as something of a surprise to learn that the air ministry actually rejected proposal to produce a two seat training version of the Spitfire during the war, even though the fighter was crucial to Britain’s fortunes in WWII and a constant supply of trained pilots to fly Spitfires was essential. It was left to the Russians to convert several of their Spitfires as two seat trainers, a move which finally resulted in a serious attempt in Britain to do the same, even though air ministry orders still were not forthcoming. It would be the Irish Air Corps who famously championed the two seat variant of this flying classic, but in recent years, the ‘Spitfire for two’ has enjoyed something of a renaissance. With members of the public now able to experience the thrill of flying in the world’s most famous flying aeroplane, the Spitfire T.9 is now a common sight at Airshows and often in the skies above us, when the latest lucky passenger is gaining their Spitfire wings on an experience flight. Indeed, many of the Spitfires currently under restoration are to T.9 configuration, as flying in a Spitfire is now an incredibly popular ‘bucket list’ experience and big business for their operators. We think that this unusual variant of Spitfire will be a worthy addition to the Aviation Archive range and we look forward to bringing you lots of exclusive blog detail throughout the year.

In our growing range of 1/48th scale jets, we wanted to add another aviation classic to our existing line up of Lightning, Phantom and Eurofighter Typhoon, and we couldn’t think of a better candidate than the much-loved British Aerospace Harrier GR.5/7/9 (McDonnel Douglas AV-8B Harrier II). An aircraft which represented the Royal Air Force in many a combat situation, the Harrier is a marvel of aviation engineering and its withdrawal from service in 2010 was met with public disbelief - surely this was the most flexible and therefore useful aircraft in RAF/RN inventory. A relatively diminutive aircraft when compared to the three types already in the Aviation Archive range, this model is being produced having already undertaken a LIDAR scan of a donor aircraft and will look magnificent when displayed with its Corgi 1/48th scale predecessors, especially when loaded down with a full stores fit. 

A foursome of new Fords for Vanguards

Although still at a relatively early stage in its development, we thought readers would like to take a first look at the SLA prototype model from our new Ford Cortina Mk.V tooling.

It has definitely been a good couple of years for Vanguards collectors when it comes to new tooling investment and they will be pleased to hear that there will be no let-up in financial backing for the range during 2022. With four new tooling projects signed off for the coming year, we have two models which will slot perfectly into existing collections, with the other two perhaps described as being slightly more ambitious additions, but hugely appealing nonetheless. Clearly, Ford fans will be delighted, whilst those hoping to see other manufacturers possibly less so, but that has to be tempered by the fact that our Vanguards Ford releases always find favour with consumers, so we are simply introducing more of the products which appeal to our collectors.

The Ford Cortina series of cars have to be considered amongst the most recognisable vehicles to have ever appeared on Britain’s roads. 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.

A day at Ford Heritage for our development team and the scanning company. The LIDAR scan has allowed an incredibly accurate representation of this classic Ford to be modelled.

Two more views of the SLA prototype model eventually produced from the design work which started with the scan of this handsome vehicle.

First announced in 1979, the angular and purposeful styling of the Cortina Mk.V 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.

Two CAD screengrabs taken from the design software of our new Ford Focus Mk.III model. We know these images feature several errors, however, we wanted to show you how this project was also advancing apace.

Bringing the history of Ford cars a little more up to date, our new Mk.III variant of the Focus model really does bring us into the territory of everyday Ford cars for the masses. Incorporating all the latest styling and technological innovations, the ethos behind the development of this car was that it should be a popular option in multiple markets all over the world, with minimal market differences making for a more streamlined manufacturing process. A car which has genuine widespread appeal, the Focus occupies a particularly competitive sector of the motoring market, one it shares with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3 and Vauxhall Astra, however, whilst these are strong competitors, the Focus often heads the charts for both performance and desirability.

The third generation Ford Focus first appeared on Britain’s roads in 2011 and we think that our 1/43rd scale die-cast representation of this modern classic will make for an incredibly popular addition to our Vanguards model range and will incorporate the latest advances in design innovation.

Joining the two famous Fords featured above, we have two more new tooling projects which will be introducing two slightly more unusual subjects to the Vanguards range in 2022, the stylish Ford Transit Custom and the muscular Ford Ranger Raptor. Making this another significant year for the Vanguards range and the Ford fanatic alike, we look forward to bringing our blog readers all the very latest development updates as and when they become available.

Military Legends - A gift for Prime Minister Churchill

Having been shipped from the battlefields of Tunisia, this famous Tiger Tank was displayed on Horse Guards Parade, a gift for Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the British 1st Army.

Our Military Legends range is thankfully now an established feature of successive Corgi ranges, after suffering a production hiatus which latest for far too many years and we are proud to be responsible for releasing models into this range which are more accurate and more collectable than they have ever been. For 2022, we have two new model releases and the final arrival of a third which may have spent longer than anticipated in development, but features a newly tooled hull which almost qualifies it as a new tooling release in its own right.

Following on from the recent release of our 1/50th scale representation of the most famous tank in the world, we have two more model releases which are part of, or possess strong links to this fascinating wartime story. Firstly, we have a representation of the very same tank, but after she had been transported from the battlefields of Tunisia back to the UK. Unloaded at Glasgow docks and transported south by road, this captured Tiger was placed on display on Horse Guards Parade, a high-profile war trophy gift made by the British First Army to Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This mighty beast of a war machine may have been an awesome manifestation of German military might, however, its stay in London would result in a close bond being established between the British public and this famous tank, one which endures to this day.

The second release for 2022 also possesses links to the capture of Tiger 131. Whilst it has proved to be quite a challenge to definitively corroborate the individual identity of the tanks directly involved in actions which resulted in the German crew of this Tiger abandoning their fearsome mount, we have managed to place this Churchill Tank as one which was definitely in the vicinity at the time of these actions and may well have been one of the British tanks taking part in this historic skirmish.

These two models will be joined by the latest Sherman tank addition we have been working on for quite some time now, one which highlighted some missing items from our tooling bank and resulted in the need to tool up for a new hull casting. This interesting machine was captured during actions in Tunisia in early 1943 and was sent back to Germany for evaluation - the warning painted on the tank’s hull states, ‘Do not cannibalize – For Okh-Wa.Pru (Army Weapons Branch) captured by l./Pz. Rgt.5’. They must have had previous experience of Wehrmacht troops taking items off captured Allied equipment, to serve as personal war trophies for when they eventually got back home, or exchanging for cigarettes.

All three models are appealing additions to this hugely collectible range. 

One of our Vulcans is missing!

Yet another DCD blog exclusive, this time featuring the pack artwork for a Vulcan release which has been long requested by Aviation Archive collectors.

The last model we are going to feature in this January-April 2022 range launch overview may be an existing tooling livery, however, it is released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War and it is the 1/72nd scale Vulcan release many collectors have been holding out for. 

The amphibious invasion and occupation of the Falkland Islands by Argentinean forces on 2nd April 1982 resulted in military planning which had already been taking place in Britain increasing in pace dramatically. In addition to assembling a powerful naval Task Force, planners were also exploring ways in which they could prevent the main airport at Port Stanley from being used as a base from where Argentinean strike jets could operate from, with their fleet of ageing Avro Vulcan B.2 bombers seen as being the only option for such a mission. As the Vulcan was scheduled for service withdrawal later that same year, the use of these Cold War sentinels for this huge undertaking would not be without its challenges and was underlined by the fact that the aircraft didn’t even have all the bomb rack components they were going to need for the task - these had to be bought back from the scrap metal dealer they had previously been sold to. 

The aircraft would also have to be given an in-flight refuelling capability if this plan was to be a viable one, so this was a time of feverish activity at Vulcan stations. On 29th April, just two weeks after training had begun, the first two Avro Vulcan bombers left RAF Waddington and set out for Ascension Island, arriving nine hours later having flown non-stop to Wideawake Airfield, refuelling from supporting Victor tankers twice each during the flight. On the night of 30th April/1st May, ‘Operation Black Buck 1’ saw Vulcan XM607 bomb the runway at Port Stanley, which was at that time, the longest range bombing mission ever attempted. 

AA27206 - Avro Vulcan B.2 XM597, Falklands War 40th Anniversary, ‘Black Buck 6’, Shrike missile mission, Rio de Janeiro divert aircraft.

With the ‘Black Buck 1’ bombing raid against Port Stanley Airport on the night of 30th April/1st May 1982 showing a watching world that Britain had both the capability and the resolve to mount such an audacious strike attack, Argentinean forces occupying the Falkland Islands knew they about to face a committed enemy and could come under attack at any moment. The ‘Black Buck’ raids required the use of a complex airborne refuelling plan, involving as many as eleven Victor tankers to get a single Vulcan over its intended target and seven such operations would ultimately be planned. ‘Black Buck 6’ was mounted in an attempt to take out Argentinean anti-aircraft radar installations on the Falkland Islands and would see Avro Vulcan B.2 XM597 equipped with four AGM-45 ‘Shrike’ missiles for the task. Loitering over Stanley Airfield for 40 minutes in an attempt to try and get radar operators to turn on their equipment, two missiles were eventually fired and a Skyguard fire control radar unit destroyed, but with lack of fuel now a major concern, the Vulcan headed back to rendezvous with a waiting Victor tanker over the ocean.

Unfortunately, the Vulcan’s refuelling probe broke during the transfer procedure and the aircraft’s Captain was left with just two options - ditch his aircraft in the ocean, or attempt a divert to land at Rio de Janeiro Airport. Heading for Brazil, the aircraft put out a mayday call and requested an immediate fuel critical landing at the nearest airport. At the same time, crew members threw sensitive documents into the ocean and attempted to ditch the two remaining Shrike missiles prior to landing, but despite their best efforts, one simply refused to release. Controllers in Brazil were becoming increasingly irate and would not grant authority until the aircraft identified itself and its airport of departure, also scrambling a pair of fighter jets to intercept the approaching aircraft. After several minutes of increasingly heated conversation, the Vulcan Captain informed the controller, ‘We are a British aircraft low on fuel, with a loss of cabin pressure and we are from Huddersfield!’ Finally cleared to land, the Vulcan touched down with so little fuel remaining that it would not have had enough to make a circuit of the airfield, but significantly with a single Shrike missile still attached to its pylon. With the aircraft now impounded, the crew would have some difficult questions to answer over the next few days.

Eventually, a high level diplomatic deal was struck to release the Vulcan and its crew, with a fully fuelled up aircraft allowed to head back to Ascension Island on 10th June 1982, in return for spare parts for Brazilian military Lynx helicopters. The covertly supplied Shrike missile remained in Brazil. Avro Vulcan B.2 XM597 had a new refuelling probe fitted at Wideawake Airfield and flew back to RAF Waddington on 13th June. The aircraft is now preserved at Scotland’s National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, East Lothian.

Featuring underwing pylons and Shrike missiles for the first time on a Corgi Vulcan release, this is a stunning model and one which helps to tell a fascinating chapter in the impressive service history of the RAF’s mighty delta bomber. We also have other models to announce in our new Falklands 40th Anniversary range, however, details of these will confirmed in a 2022 range launch to come.

That’s where we are going to leave this 2022 January to April range launch overview edition of our blog, ending by simply imploring readers to head for the Corgi website to discover the range in a little more detail for themselves. We are looking forward to a busy and exciting year to come and would love it if you joined us on this diecast journey through the medium of our Diecast Diaries blog.

As always, 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. 

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

Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 28th January. 

The Corgi Team