During the early part of 2010 Atlas Editions carried out an extensive advertising campaign with flyers included in many of the major TV and newspaper magazines. The initial offer was to buy a 1/76th scale RTW for £1.99 with free P&P.
I was initially informed that the models were being produced for Atlas Editions by Corgi and the models are BEING produced in the same factories as produce Corgi's standard release models. When phoning to order the RTW callers were offered a second model (Bristol Lodekka open top, Southdown) at a discounted price together with a number of free items. The models are not hand painted as indicated on their initial flyer (see below).
The models appear to have been produced in a similar way that Base Toys produced the range of models for a Spanish magazine a couple of years ago, in that they lack some of the refinements of the standard release models. The RTW model being released has a few changes/omissions to the standard release model.
CLICK HERE to view a scanned image of the RTW model taken from the TV Easy magazine flyer.
CLICK HERE to view an image of the Corgi model OM41703 on which this model appears to be based.
A few differences between the standard release model and the Atlas Editions model is the lack of mirrors, lack of indicators, lack of legal lettering, lack of details on the windows and the registration for RTW5 but the model displays fleet number RTW4 (The actual release version of the RTW carried no fleet number at all).
An
article in the Mr Richard West column of Model Collector magazine (May
2010 edition) Mr West gave some additional information regarding the Atlas
models. I have listed some items of interest from his article:
1.
Within a few days of the RTW model being offered Atlas Editions had taken
orders for almost 90,000 pieces.
2. The RTW is the first in a series of approximately 30 models which will
normally be priced at £14.99 but the numbers of models could be increased
if there is demand.
3. Corgi have loaned Atlas their tooling and the models will be produced
by Atlas in China. With the exception of the Routemaster casting which
Corgi will produce.
4. Corgi are providing assistance with the research and artwork so that
liveries/decoration will not be exactly the same as previously released by
Corgi.
5. Each model will come with a booklet giving background information
regarding the vehicle and six cards (similar to cigarette cards) which can
be kept in an album supplied.
6. Lastly Richard comments that with nearly 90,000 orders experience has
shown that the number that become hooked is likely to be in the region of
35,000 to 40,000.
The RTW was released in late March 2010 and the Lodekka during April 2010. My parcel containing both models and free gifts arrived on Friday 16th April 2010. Photographs of the released models can be found in the listings below. Click on the links below to view photographs of the free items that arrived with my parcel:
RTW Booklet CLICK
HERE
Bristol Lodekka Booklet CLICK
HERE
Replica pin badge CLICK
HERE
Travel Alarm Clock CLICK
HERE
Travel Alarm Clock embossed case CLICK
HERE
"Best of British Buses DVD" CLICK
HERE
Card Collectors Album CLICK
HERE
Collectors cards CLICK
HERE
150 Years of London Buses Poster CLICK
HERE
When I first started listing these models as the packaging of the models carries no apparent stock number I therefore allocated my own stock numbers e.g. ATLAS001 to assist me listing the models. During June 2010 I was very grateful to Ian Houston who wrote to Atlas Editions enquiring how many models would be in their series, they replied with a list detailing 31 models with their Atlas stock code numbers which I have now listed below. Further details for each model will be added as they become available
