David Tilley
Registered Member
Posts: 43
(24/3/08 3:14)
Reply
|
March Ambassador Report
Happy Easter Matchbox Collectors,
I thought I would get this in quick before I head off to California to attend the 2008 Line Preview. Well report number 7 is here. Not too long a report this time after the hefty February report last month. But before I dive right in I would just like to make a small announcement. Christian Zentner has transferred departments inside the Mattel umbrella. He is now going to be working for the Hot Wheels team. We would just like to wish him good luck. In his place we welcome a new addition; Samantha Lau. I am sure we would all like to welcome Samantha to the Matchbox team and hope she enjoys her new position. This week a few of us will catch our first glimpse of Samantha (and also George Benz) at the Matchbox line preview.
So now let’s move on with the latest news. The German Matchbox website was updated recently to show the ROW basic range for 2008. Germany uses a completely different team to mastermind their website, with the other countries working mainly after the USA main site. The USA website is still with the web group who are just making final tweaks to the pages before it goes live. It should be up any time now. Keep an eye on it.
As many are now aware, the USA posters have now been printed up and are currently being prepared for shipping as we speak. However, there is one thing that people will notice when they take a look at them. The MB4 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA has been covered up (as well as the Corvette and Lotus). Originally the team had come up with a nice metallic green scheme for the vehicle (this has been seen on the German website), but sadly Alfa Romeo decided to reject it. The refusal came just before the poster got printed, so as a precaution, it got re-covered up. With the original vehicle only really being available in reds and whites, Alfa Romeo is not keen on other colors being made up for miniature versions as they are not genuine factory versions. Therefore a decision has been made to create another white version. However, this will not be the same as 2007 version 2. Matchbox are going to ensure that it will be different, for instance maybe utilizing a different wheel or changing the tampo scheme and incorporating the cloverleaf in a different way. Although the finished design is not ready, it will be separate to the 2007 version 2 example.
Talking of alterations, there have been a few changes made to upcoming 5-pack releases. The Haunted House 5-pack listed down the MB700 1963 Cadillac Hearse as one of the vehicles included. Unfortunately, there are a few problems with the vehicle as in some areas of the world it is deemed an inappropriate model, so it will be replaced by the MB559 Lincoln Premiere. The Ocean Research 5-pack has also had a change of vehicle, as the MB677 Jeep Rescue is not going to be a part of the set, being replaced by the MB687 International CXT. It was noted in the February report that there was still a pack to be determined. This is a Spongebob Squarepants pack, although final choice of vehicles is still to be sorted.
Now on to the basic range batch listings. Batch E is almost upon us. It should be arriving any time now as we head into April. Expect to find 2 brand new castings in this batch, the MB46 VW Caddy and MB47 Garbage Truck. Although if you live in the LAAM area you sadly will not be getting the Garbage Truck. As well as this, all ranges will see the MB40 Range Rover Sport, MB83/52/21 Hummer H3 and MB94/66/44 Off Road Rider, the USA and LAAM ranges will get the MB5 Chevy Chevelle, the USA and ROW ranges will see the MB66 Tractor Plow and USA only will receive the MB85 Land Rover Discovery and MB96 GMC Terradyne. We all will see a second color on the MB1 Citroen DS too. Batch F will be coming in May, and will contain only one brand new casting, the MB58 Scraper. There will be 3 new additions to all 3 ranges, MB22 TVR Tuscan S, MB34 Mercedes Benz CLS500 and MB89/69 Ford Bronco 4x4, as well as the MB87/59 Chevy Silverado for the USA/LAAM ranges and MB73 Ladder Truck for the USA/ROW ranges. As well as these, we will all see 2 recolors on the MB20 Audi TT Roadster and MB57 Quarry King, and a completely new design on the MB78/29/8 Chevy Stepside.
There have been thoughts from many collectors about creating special manufacturer or model themed 5-packs (Ford, Mustang, Corvette, Porsche etc). This is something that Hot Wheels has done fro a number of years, and people have thought whether a Matchbox 5-pack of one vehicle/manufacturer could be something that may be done in the future. Sadly, although it does seem to work for Hot Wheels, Matchbox is trying to take a different approach to how they build up their 5-packs. With variety being one of the main core beliefs of the Matchbox brand, the thought of such a narrowly themed pack is against their plans. So there are no plans for 5-packs of this nature at this time.
A number of people have been asking about an abundance of Volvos and Bentleys on the pegs. The team at Matchbox are behind which vehicles make up each assortment that come in the box. They try to use a variety of factors to determine the mixes, but sometimes things just don't work out how they planned. This is particularly true when a new model is released. Sadly, by the time they realize that a model is not selling, it is already too late as the final assortments have already been produced.
Many people ask questions about Wal-Mart and their exclusive deal with Matchbox for the Superfast series. This is something that Wal-Mart requested, and once they receive the models it is down to them as to how they get distributed. Mattel sadly do not get a say in how the models get distributed around the stores. Now talking of the Superfast series, the next batch of 10 is currently scheduled for a June release. This will be all for 2008, but Superfast is set to continue as a Wal-Mart exclusive into 2009. As many may have realized, 2009 will be the 40th Anniversary of the Superfast series, and the event will be noted. More details on the 40th Anniversary Superfast series will be passed out as and when they become available.
The final 2007 Convoys only recently arrived in stores, but hot on their heels will be the first 3 2008 issues. Apart from the licenses for Simpson Racing (box truck) and Conoco (tanker) there will be a Matchbox liveried Box Truck being pulled by an MB664 Tractor Cab. Yes, we haven't seen the last of this truck. The theme is that of a dinosaur. To quote Michael Heralda: “the deco for this "awesome" dinosaur theme comes from our one-and-only MATCHBOX Shuttle that can be seen driving Mattel employees between the Mattel buildings here in El Segundo, CA. The original Shuttle artwork illustration was created by our "King of Mega-Rigs" designer, Mauricio Bedolla. I adapted his original artwork to fit the Convoy trailer”.
Finally, for this instalment, a question was posed as to whether there are official color names for the paintwork on models. With the transition into recreating official manufacturer color schemes, do the guys in the Matchbox team come up with names for the colors they use on models? Well, the answer is no. There are no official color names on Matchbox models.
So that is it for now. Next month will see a different Ambassador report from me. Instead of the usual news of Matchbox items, I will be creating the 2008 Official Line Preview Ambassador Report or OLPAR for short. With the preview taking place at the end of March, there will be a lot of information and news coming out of the event. So expect an OLPAR from me in April, and it will be back to normality come May.
So until then, this is your Ambassador saying "El Segundo, here I come!"
  
Edited by: David Tilley at: 24/3/08 3:15
|
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies