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Corgi James Bond Die Another Day Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
by Jake Speed
Die Another Day, the infamous 2002 fortieth anniversary James Bond film, is possibly best known now for the 'invisible' stealth Aston Martin V12 Vanquish that Pierce Brosnan drove in it, the car soon to join things like double-taking pigeons and Denise Richards playing a nuclear physicist in hotpants as something that the series probably ... could have done without. The car featured in the film's big gadget laden ice chase sequence and the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is also part of Corgi's excellent series of die-cast replica James Bond cars in the 1:36 scale range. The Corgi Aston Martin Vanquish is every bit as attractive and detailed as the other models in this enjoyable 007 themed line and another nice addition to any collection or toy box. These replica cars are great fun and of a high standard with the sparkly exteriors and all the appropriate contours. Sadly, this car can't turn invisible (I would have doffed my cap to Corgi if they'd included this option!) but it does ape the Aston from the film with many intricate little details and a few gadgets.
The replica has front firing missiles and machine guns on the bonnet and these are nicely done although, as ever, with the little bits and pieces that come out (or can be pulled out) the toy is recommended for ages 13+ on Corgi's official website. Although these models tend to be for collectors too the cars are certainly sturdy enough to whizz around on the floor if you do want to buy it as a toy for a young relative. The little black machine guns look good and the missiles located in the grill above the number plate add a nice splash of red to the model. Other nice touches on this are spoked wheels and spiked tyres and I find the little plastic tyres with their intricate silver centres are always wonderfully done on this range of replicas. The wing mirrors are really good too. The interiors are always excellent with these models also, to the extent that you imagine if you were shrunk to thimble size you could get into this car and drive off in it!
The interiors are rather stylish and look great with the darkish tint to the windows. There are lights too at the back and front and even a tiny hubcap. This incarnation of the Aston Martin lacks the charm of the more vintage model driven by Sean Connery so it isn't as sleek and attractive as the Goldfinger Aston Corgi replica but part of the fun of a collection like this is having all the different eras side by side to compare and contrast. The fact that the film version of this was festooned with gadgets is a plus as some of the more obvious and prominent gadgets are replicated here for the model. Some of the cars in this range, like the Diamonds Are Forever Ford Mustang for example, are just more or less normal cars rather than cars specifically designed for James Bond to fend off villains in chases and can be a trifle dull in model form, lacking the iconic aura of a Lotus Esprit or just about any version of the Aston Martin.
The Die Another Day Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is well up to the standards set by the other entries in this range and another well crafted and attractive Bond replica from Corgi. These retail at around £10 to £13 (at the time of writing) but you might be able to get an even better deal than that if you investigate a bit. These Bond replicas aren't outrageously expensive and if you keep the box and the model in good condition then you have a Bond collectible of sorts.
One slight disappointment I found with this though is that the box it came with was rather generic and uninspired, which is a shame as anyone collecting these will more than likely keep the boxes. It's perfectly competent for the purposes of storage and includes the familiar clear plastic front (so you can put the car in it as if it was in a miniature showroom and keep your replica in pristine condition) but the actual design doesn't look like too much effort went into it. The box is just mostly black with a basic Bond gunbarrel silhouette on the top and then '007' and 'Corgi' across the lower part of the front. The graphic font used for 'Die Another Day' on the film posters is replicated on the box at the top. I suppose the simplicity of the design is appealing in a way but I tend to think some sort of photo montage might be a nice touch with these boxes. A few stills from the film would make it seem a bit more novel.
Corgi's legacy in producing replica James Bond cars and vehicles has been an excellent on on the whole, from the 'Little Nellie' Gyrocopter from You Only Live Twice to the classic Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger. The attention to detail and ability to capture some of the character of the real thing is always laudable and these toys are therefore held with a good degree of fondness and affection by people who like collecting things that tie in with films and television. They don't necessarily have to be left in a box and never touched though. When I was about 12 I would have got good value out of these Bond replica vehicles, making them attack each other as they raced around the hall or something.
While Die Another Day, with its dreadful CGI, dialogue that Sid James might have baulked at and idiotic plot involving a North Korean villain disguising himself as a overacting Toby Stephens, has not stood the test of time terribly well the Corgi replica inspired by the film is well up to the usual standards and an attractive and detailed little toy. And now, if you'll please excuse me, I'm due for tea at the ice palace and need to go and find my tuxedo and invisible roller skates...
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Corgi Go Go Rollers Travel Town
by laurasc
My son received this corgi go go rollers travel town for his Christmas 2 years ago and to start with he loved it but it didn't last long! It costs around £22.99 from amazon but I am unsure if that is the price which was paid as it was a gift.
The idea of the travel town is that you place a ball which is clear with a car ... inside it into the lift which is located at the side of the town. You then lift the lift to the top and the ball rolls out down the hill til it comes to a barrier where your child then needs to press the appropriate coloured button to release the ball and let it roll down further until the next barrier. When the lift is elevated there is lights in the front of it which light up and also sounds which are activated. When the ball hits a barrier this also activates a sound and also a light which is on the bottom of the town flashes to help show your child which button should be pressed to release the car. Altogether there are three barriers so therefore three lights which can be pressed either yellow, blue or red. There is also three parts which are pushed into slots on the town but my son has managed to loose all of his and we cant find them! They do come out very easily so that is a flaw in this toy.
Although my son did enjoy watching the flashing lights and listening to the sounds this did not last long. He was around 1 when he got this as a gift and he was able to press the buttons by himself but after around one or two months he quickly got bored with it and it has been in his cupboard since. Overall I think this toy is ok but not great. Young babies will like it due to the flashing lights and sounds.
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Corgi Go Go Rollers Spin n Go Car Wash
by broxi3781
Ages 6 months - 5 years
My oldest son chose this for his brothers first Christmas. He was 3 at the time and I suspect the choice was largely due to him wanting to play with it himself. My youngest was only four months at the time, so was not able to a lot with this, although he did seem to like the balls and watching as his ... brother made them spin round and round. By about 6-8 months though this toy really comes into its own, and is a wonderful baby toy for children old enough to sit up for extended periods of time.
The toy reminds me a lot of the old push tops. The child drops a ball down the chute and pushes the button at the top to make the ball spin around and hear car wash noises. This really does work best with a few balls, but only one is included in the set. The ball is clear plastic with a yellow car inside, that is balanced so it will always go upright no matter which way the ball rolls. We purchased this with another set and also bought an extra set of balls. If there is only one ball it will end up rolling to the exit, where they push a button which makes a ding sound, a red light and raises the barrier to let the ball roll out. With more balls they can keep spinning indefinitely if they choose.
The toy is sturdy and well made and still gets a lot of play almost two years later. In fact my youngest still enjoys it so much I am hoping to buy a few more cars or the ferry to go with this for Christmas if I have enough vouchers left.
The main drawback to this toy, as mentioned with the other go go rollers toy I reviewed is that very young children to tend to see something that looks like a ball and throw it. These balls are quite hard, so they could break things, and do hurt if you get hit in the head with one. Other than that though, it is a very nice toy. I especially like the fact that unlike many baby toys, this also appeals to older children and even my five year old will still play with it a bit.
Unfortunately, they never really took off as much as I would have thought and only a few items are available on Amazon, although you can often find other bits on ebay. It really is a lovely toy and I wish they had made more sets.
This toy requires 2 AA batteries, but they do last a long time. i do not believe we have changed these since buying this. It will be two years old on Christmas.
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