Build Routemaster Page 10


HACHETTE PARTWORKS - BUILD YOU OWN ROUTEMASTER

ISSUES NINETY ONE TO ONE HUNDRED

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Photographs taken by me of the magazine pages are purely to illustrate the build stages, so that the entire project can be followed from the start to the completed model in issue order. The copyright of Hachette Partworks is acknowledged.

MAGAZINE ISSUE 91 - FRAMEWORK FOR THE OUTER WALLS OF THE UPPER DECK
I found the build to be treasonably straightforward and it took me approximately 40 minutes.

The first magazine article follows Route 44 from Wandsworth Town to Earlsfield. In an interesting fact, the route runs close to HMP Wandsworth. The prison was built in 1851 and included toilets in every cell. These were removed in the early 20th century to increase capacity before being reinstalled in 1996. The prison is famous for the escape of Ronnie Biggs of Great Train Robbery fame. The second article is called just the ticket and tells the story of tickets from the early ticket machines through to the Gibson in the 1950's and then Rover and Travel cards under Fares Fair through to Freedom Passes..

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INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 91 - FRAMEWORK FOR THE OUTER WALLS OF THE UPPER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 91 - FRAMEWORK FOR THE OUTER WALLS OF THE UPPER DECK

MAGAZINE ISSUE 92 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK
Again I found this build top be straight forward. However, just before I completed this build, I accidentally leant on the curved window part 92G causing it to crack. I quickly phoned Hachette and they advised me that they had this issue in stock and would mail it to me (I should get it in approximately 2/3 weeks, so this may hold up my build. Update: 1/12/20, this part has now been replaced and this issue is now complete.

The first article follows Route 44 from Garratt Park to Tooting Terminus. The second article features bus renovation specialists South East Coachworks.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 92 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 92 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK
Because this build is effectively a repeat of issues 91 and 92, it took me a lot less time to complete and I was careful not to damage any more windows!

The first magazine article features Route 141 from Down Green Lanes which travels to London Bridge Station. The second article features the end of LT bus manufacturing and discusses the Leyland Titan and the MCW Mterobus.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 93 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 93 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

MAGAZINE ISSUE 94 - BEATNIK MAN
No build with issue as another passenger for my bus is provided. This time a Beatnik man to accompany the Beatnik lady received in Issue 83. The first magazine article features one of my favourite places, the London Bus Museum at Brooklands. Photographs are shown of some of the buses and also photographs taken at previous bus events at the Museum. Additional details describe the Brooklands Museum and show photographs of some of the aircraft and cars on display. The second article describes Route 141 between Manor House and London Bridge. The final article is called "Proud Buses" and shows a variety of buses appearing at Pride festivals. The article gives the history of Pride events which are held in July each year to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in the USA in 1969.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 94 - BEATNIK MAN

BUILD ISSUE 94 - BEATNIK MAN

MAGAZINE ISSUE 95 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK
Again I found this to be straight forward and no breakages. You will see how I have put small pieces of tape to hold the window bars into place as until the outer frame is fitted into place, they could easily fall off.

This issue features a river bus operator "Thames Clippers" and the service it operates between Putney Pier and Chelsea Harbour. Thames Clippers is more correctly known as MBNA Thames Clippers. MBNA is a banking company that provides sponsorship. Thames Clippers operates under licence from Transport for London. The second article features Sightseeing services that have run through London for many years. London Transport Tours were re-branded The Original Tour in about 1967 and later sold to London Coaches/Blue Triangle and then taken over by Arriva, which was then taken over by current owner RATP Dev.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 95 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 95 - FRAMEWORK AND WINDOWS FOR THE UPPER DECK

MAGAZINE ISSUE 96 - WORK ON THE LOWER DECK AND UPPER DECK
The parts supplied with this issue will be assembled in issue 97. The build in this issue involved a lot of work. I had no issues fixing a selection of passengers to the lower deck and fitting the lower deck roof. At this point I deviated from the instructions. I read on a Facebook page that after fitting the external frame and windows to the upper deck sides, a number of people had difficulty aligning the poles with the mounts on the upper deck ceiling. I decided to seat my remaining passengers in the top deck and fit the roof to the upper deck before fitting the side frames and windows. I attached the lighting wiring to the upper deck roof, attached the passengers to their seats (on this occasion using extra strong double sided tape) and attached the roof. I started by attaching the roof using size JP screws to the first two fixing points and then aligned the poles with the roof mounts. I repeated the process gradually working to the rear of the bus with no difficulty. Finally to complete the build on this issue, I affixed the side frames to the upper deck which I had constructed in previous issues.

This issue describes the London Clipper route on the Thames between Chelsea Harbour and Battersea Bridge.