TFL "NEW BUS FOR LONDON DESIGN COMPETITION"
EFE have advised me that the model featured in my News article on 20 December is a code 3 model

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD LTD
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
UKBUS1041 Alexander ALX400/Dennis Trident Stagecoach Devon CLICK HERE
UKBUS5020 Mercedes-Benz/Citaro NCP Services Heathrow CLICK HERE
UKBUS6018 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 West Midlands CLICK HERE
UKBUS8009 Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart Arriva serving London CLICK HERE

HAPPY CHRISTMAS
I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. Thank you very much for all the emails of best wishes that I have received.

Wednesday 24 December 2008

20447 Bristol VR3 Western National
Fleet number: 1236
Registration number: LFJ 883W
Route: 84
Destination: Plymouth
CLICK HERE to view

EFE state that they will commencing processing orders week commencing 26 January 2009

Monday 22 December 2008

"..... I thought you might be interested in the attached photos of a model issued today to winners of the "A New Bus For London" design competition. I had the opportunity to accompany my son Matt as a guest to the press event where the awards were presented by the Mayor - he had won the second prize for over 18 year olds in the "imagine" section of the competition (the section aimed at non-professional designers of all ages).

As well a their main award, each winner was presented with two identical models as illustrated here. It is based on the second EFE (new RM casting) version of prototype Routemaster RM1 (31601)with the advert replaced by the "New Bus For London" graphics used for the competition. It is a limited run of 100. Each has the number written on the underside and on the box. The box retains it 31601 model label. There is also a numbers certificate of authenticity provided with each model, signed by Peter Hendy of TfL, one of the competition judges".

Click on the links below to view photographs of the model and Matt's design:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE
Photograph 5 CLICK HERE
Photograph 6 CLICK HERE
Photograph 7 CLICK HERE

At this time I do not know whether the model is code 2 or 3, I will make some enquiries early this next week.

Saturday 20 December 2008

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM BRITBUS
I can confirm that the following model has now been released and is on sale:
R501 Leyland Olympian Leaside Buses

Friday 19 December 2008

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
UKBUS5019 Mercedes Benz - Citaro EEV Oxford Bus Company CLICK HERE
UKBUS7013 Scania OmniCity Ipswich Buses CLICK HERE
UKVAN1004 Sprinter Panel Van London Buses CLICK HERE

Wednesday 17 December 2008

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
The following press release has been received this morning from CMNL:

UKBUS5021 Mercedes-Benz Citaro EURO5

Go North - East

Following the great success of the launch model of the brand new Mercedes-Benz Citaro EURO5 casting, Creative Master Northcord Limited is pleased to announce the release of UKBUS5021, carrying allover gold colour with Citylink branding, in the Go North-East fleet.

Between March and May 2008 Go North-East added 26 Mercedes-Benz Citaros to its fleet of 670 buses – 80% of which are low-floor, easy-access. These Citaros were part of an investment of £7 million in fleet replacement and refurbishment within the current financial year.

All 26 new Citaros were painted in a striking gold colour with “cross city service” lettering on the front windscreen. The 12 buses allocated to Deptford depot received Laser route branding for route 35 from South Shields to Hetton-le-Hole / Low Moorsley.

The remaining 14 gold Citaros, allocated to Gateshead depot, received Citylink branding for route 58 from Heworth Metro to Hadrian Park via Gateshead and Newcastle. UKBUS5021 represents Citylink-branded bus 5292 that is registered NK08 CGO.

UKBUS5021 features the smooth, curved windscreen with the destination display set behind the windscreen glass.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro EURO5 UKBUS5021 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, double-glazed windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the UKBUS5021 model is its extensive portrayal of handrails. The headlight / indicator units at the front and indicator / tail light units at the rear are made of individual, translucent components to look more realistic.

Additionally, UKBUS5021 brings some features that represent the special requirements of the Go-Ahead Group - such as the full-width and full-detail rear destination display. The specially colour-coded buses of the Go North-East fleets also feature ticket machines that are colour-coded similarly to the bus exterior, and this feature is replicated correctly on the UKBUS5021 model.

The brand new single door Mercedes-Benz Citaro EEV bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), TransitGraphics (Australia), cnmycar.com (P. R. China)  and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS5021 model is limited to 1100 pieces worldwide.

Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Creative Master Northcord Limited (CMNL)

------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Tuesday 16 December 2008

2nd posting Monday 8 December 2008

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
The following press release received this morning gives details of a  previously unannounced model:

UKBUS6019 Alexander Dennis Enviro400

Quality Line – Epsom Coaches Group

Following the great success of the launch models of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 in two different overall lengths, Creative Master Northcord Limited is pleased to announce the release of UKBUS6019, the fifth dual-door, short-wheelbase Alexander Dennis Enviro400 model for a London operator, on this occasion in Quality Line standard Transport for London livery.

UKBUS6019 represents fleet number DD02 (SK07 DZB).

Quality Line is the bus operating division of Epsom Coaches Group and introduced its first double-deckers in June 2007.

Fleet no. DD02 is one of ten Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses purchased to service Transport for London routes 406 and 418, Epsom to Kingston. They are fitted to TfL specification with capacity for 90 passengers. Extra specification includes electronic roller destination blinds and upper saloon cooling, with a unique interior base colour in pale green.

Unusually the vehicles are not fitted with advertisement frames enhancing the handsome profile of this well regarded bus.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 UKBUS6019 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, gasket windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the UKBUS6019 model is its dual individual tree protectors at the front. The front dome on the model is also significant, with its curved windscreen on the upper deck.

Creative Master Northcord is creating new design standards in the layout of the interior of both saloons. These features inside the compartments represent the really outstanding layout of the Enviro400, such as an additional seat behind the driving cab, additional ventilation equipment on the upper deck ceiling, and extensive portrayal of handrails on the upper and lower deck, etc. The headlights at the front are made of individual components to look more realistic. 

Although scheduled for Period 1/2009, production of this model has been advanced and therefore it did not feature in the Period 3/2008 News Release.

The brand new Enviro400 UKBUS6019 bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Transit Graphics (Australia), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), cnmycar.com (P. R. China) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6019 model is limited to 1100 pieces worldwide.

Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Creative Master Northcord Limited (CMNL)

------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Monday 8 December 2008

Details of previously announced models:
27624 Wright Volvo Renown FIRST ABERDEEN
To view photograph CLICK HERE
Fleet number: 62179
Registration number: Y637 RSA
Route number: 1
Destination: King Street Depot
Anticipated release date: January 2009

32902 Thames Trader Short Dropside ELDRIDGE POPE & CO LTD
To view photograph CLICK HERE
Fleet number: -
Registration number: LPR 395
Anticipated release date: January 2009

34204 AEC RLH Bus LONDON TRANSPORT
To view photograph CLICK HERE
Fleet number: RLH 29
Registration number: MXX 229
Route number: 178
Destination: Stratford via Carpenters Road
Anticipated release date: January 2009

36301 Bedford TK Short Dropside G.M. BUSES
To view photograph CLICK HERE
Fleet number: -
Registration number: OBN 143M
Anticipated release date: February 2009

NEXT CORGI OOC MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
Corgi have advised me that the following models are now scheduled for release Week commencing 12th January 2009:
OM41601 Crossley DD42 Manchester CLICK HERE
OM44712 Dennis Dart Pointer SLF - Cardiff Christmas Livery  (Central Station/Penterennan Split run, 2 of each destination) CLICK HERE

Saturday 6 December 2008

Friday 5 December 2008

4 new models are announced, these being:
27624 Wright Volvo Renown First Aberdeen
34204 AEC RLH London Transport (red)
32902 Thames Trader Dropside Eldridge Pope & Co Ltd
36301 Bedford TK Dropside G.M. Buses
No further details are given.

Other news:
Two special subscriber only models are being produced early in the New Year and details will be sent out with the next mailing.

Mr Joyce advises that they have received the first shots of the new BET 36 foot dual purpose bus. Click on the links below to view images of them, There will be 4 variations of this model:
6 window bay bus and coach seating with single or twin headlamps. 
4 window bay coach seating with single or twin headlamps. Mr Joyce also advises that the latter mentioned vehicles bodied by Willowbrook were used by London Transport as class RC.

First shot of the 4 window bay variation of the casting CLICK HERE
London Transport RC class coach CLICK HERE
Standard BET design 6 window bay 36 foot dual purpose bus and coach CLICK HERE
First shot of the 6 window bay variation of the casting CLICK HERE

10.7m SLF Plaxton Pointer Dart casting, this should be ready for release in early spring 2009.

Wednesday 3 December 2008

These photographs have now been removed, confirmed details for the 2nd half 2009 catalogue will be published as soon as I receive them from Corgi.

EFE RELEASES WEEK COMMENCING 15TH DECEMBER
EFE contacted me today and advised me that the following model will also be released in addition to the ones listed in yesterdays news article:
28007 Daimler DMS 1 Door BEXLEYBUS CLICK HERE

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Tuesday 4 December 2008

December 2008 - News

This page last updated Monday, 25 February 2013