Well, this is it, my final monthly ambassador report. It has been a great year and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, but all good things come to an end. After the Matchbox Gathering at the end of July, I will be writing up a review of the events (which will hopefully be sent out in early August), and then passing on the baton to a brand new ambassador for the upcoming year. So for now, here's a little catch up with a few things. It is not too long a report, as with the Gathering only a matter of days away, a number of things are being held off for the event.

For starters, we take a look at batch G of the basic range. Recently, this batch was released and immediately we had three variations. First of all, the 1963 Cadillac Hearse has been found with or without tampo printing. Oddly enough, this should not have happened, as all models should be available with the tampo printing in place. Granted, a silver tampo on a metallic silver car is not easily identifiable, but it should be there. A number of untampoed models have been found, but this one was not planned. The other two were though. Alfa Romeo (we all love Alfa Romeo) decided at the last minute they were not happy with a pearlescent white paint scheme on the Giulia Sprint GTA, and therefore this model was almost immediately changed to plain white. This plain white will be the standard and will last for the remainder of the model's production run. The pearlescent white was a very short run. The Garbage Truck is also a running change. At the time when the wheels were altered to display the brand new rims, it was decided to darken the base. Obviously we have a small crossover, where the lighter base has been found with the new wheels. Again, as with the Alfa Romeo, the lighter base/new wheel version will be a harder to find variation.

It was reported recently how Land Rover do not desire the Freelander to be used by Matchbox any more due to being an out of date casting, and the Hitch 'n Haul version being the last in the line. This is a rare occasion where the licensor has requested the casting not be used, and there is nothing else on the horizon where a licensor may be requesting a deletion of a casting. However, when it comes to altering castings (as was noted the Jaguar XK120 Roadster will become a Coupe) I thought I would clarify that this is usually due to a mold being worn out. The Jaguar XK120 Roadster will get its final outing in the upcoming Superfast set, and will then be retired. The Coupe version will be released next year and will replace the Roadster casting in all models in the future. This is how the Mattel team are trying to work things with the licensed castings, as they are trying to build up a variety of different vehicles/manufacturers. Releasing a single model but with (for example) a coupe, wagon and convertible variations all at the same time basically would not offer the variety of vehicle brands that Matchbox are trying to bring to the line. This is why they are releasing a particular version of a model, and then as time goes on, if the model is popular, but the mold is starting to wear, they will look at the mold, and possibly alter it into a new version if they can. When it comes to generics (like for example the MB695 Utility Tanker Truck), the models have been designed in a way that different rear sections can be added down the line, but they do not want to simply release a cab with a ton of rear sections. Again, this helps to build up a variety of different vehicles on the pegs. If there a dozen models all with the same cab but different rear sections, it doesn't give the same impression of variety as a dozen completely different models. So basically, when it comes to generics, they are being created leaving the option open for altering the rear sections, but this is something that will be looked at down the line.

So these are ideas for the future, but what about the present? Batch H is due at any time (see June Ambassador report for details), and this will be followed up in August by batch J. So what are we to look forward in that batch? For starters we will be seeing the debut of 2 brand new castings. The MB754 (2008 MB12) Morgan Aeromax and MB756 (2008 MB77/28/5) MBX Motor Home will be released in all ranges in this batch. The MB750 (MB10) Lotus is being launched sometime soon, but it may not have made it into this batch. The likelihood is that we may see that in September in batch K. However, we may get lucky. As well as these 2 (possibly 3) new castings, there will be an additional 5 models released and 3 recolors. However, out of the 5 releases only 2 are worldwide, namely the MB39 Bentley Continental GT and MB90/60/24 Baja Bandit. The LAAM range will not see the MB52 Austin Taxi or MB65 Tractor. Both the LAAM and ROW ranges will not see the MB15 Ford F-150 Lightning as this is a US exclusive. All 3 ranges will see 2 of the second issue recolors that will be found in this batch. The MB22 TVR Tuscan S is going to change to a light pearl orange color scheme, with different tampoing effects. I would like to point out that this is another of the Mattel team color designs that was noted in the June report for the Range Rover Sport and is not an official TVR color. Also released in this batch will be the MB34 Mercedes Benz CLS500 in a dark burnt orange color scheme. The third recolor is not for the ROW market. US and LAAM ranges only will receive the MB87/59 Chevy Silverado SS in dark gray with a black and green striping effect on the sides. This is actually a different tampo design to the first 2008 issue 3 batches previously.

So finally, before I move away from basic range issues, a few people have been asking about Mattel possibly re-creating various models that Matchbox made in the 1960s and 1970s. Now obviously, any castings from that era are long gone, so anything that they did make would be totally from scratch, and may or may not look like the castings that Lesney made back in the day. Matchbox has a particular way of making a model now, and most would be very careful recreations of original vehicles garnered from sketches and plans supplies from the manufacturers. In the Lesney era, a model was just made by Matchbox, and as long as it looked like the vehicle in question, it was fine. The technology was not there at the time, and in some cases, a model was created simply by looking at a photograph or 2, and then using fair judgment. So anyway (I digress) Matchbox are not specifically aiming to re-cast some of the original Lesney models into new vehicles, but if they feel a particular model would be ideal for the range again, they will set about making a new casting of it. However, in some cases, they may make a slightly different version to what was originally made. Some people may have noticed that many licensed vehicles are now sporting a year on the base of the model, regardless of whether it is a current vehicle or classic vehicle. This is there to help Mattel easily identify a model without trying to remember the MAN number. With a number of Corvettes being made, it is much easier to say the '04 'Vette, or '00 'Vette than trying to remember the MAN number of the particular casting. For older vehicles quite often they receive a set of plans from the manufacturer detailing a specific model. Therefore they try to incorporate as much information as possible into their casting.

So now we move on to a few non-basic range items. For those wondering, the latest Battle Kings has an MB716 Ridge Raider in place of the MB732 Badlander that was originally penciled in to be a part of the set. This was a decision made by the team late in the day, as the Badlander casting was better suited to different playsets, and was not ideally suited to the pack. Occasionally they do make these changes after we have listed down the contents of the sets due. Quite often I do state that things are subject to change.

For those interested, there are no scheduled Halloween packs due by Matchbox. The next seasonal item from them will be the Christmas packs. Target will be releasing an exclusive Nickelodeon pack, although there are no planned exclusives going to be included. You never know what variation may appear though. Outside of this will be a standard Christmas set (much like last year) which will contain an exclusive model.

Now there are new Skybuster castings appearing. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner is due soon, as well as a brand new civil helicopter from the Robinson Helicopter Company. Mattel have also been working on 2 generic Skybuster castings due for release shortly too.

Talking of Skybusters, a set of 6 Skybuster Action packs have been released in Target stores in USA. These 6 sets consist of a Skybuster model, 2 basic range miniatures along with 3 accessories. These sets are a Target exclusive in USA, and although there are only 6 in the offering for 2008, further sets are in the pipeline for 2009.

Finally in this write-up a small tidbit on the MCi coach. There are no plans for including this model in any series. For now it is simply being used as a promotional tool for the Disnayworld theme park and for MCi themselves.

Well, this is it for me. Look out for a review of the Gathering in a few weeks from me before passing over the reigns to my successor. But for now, I hope that you have all enjoyed reading my monthly reports as much as I have enjoyed preparing and writing them for you.

Still (but only just) your current Ambassador
David Tilley

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