***EXCLUSIVE***

I am able to reveal that the sliding door on the East Lancs. models shown in the current OOC catalogue will open!  I understand that this feature was added late in the tooling programme and has hence details have not been published in the catalogues.

Monday 31 March 2003

Sunday 30 March 2003

I have published photographs of the actual buses represented by two of these buses on the Gallery pages and links can be found from the Updates page. These buses being the Leyland Titan and Bristol VR3

CORGI OOC OM43704 BUT 9641T TROLLEYBUS - BOURNEMOUTH CORPORATION TRANSPORT
I have received a number of emails regarding the above model. The most common complaint being the model having one additional bay on the lower deck than the real vehicle. For those who would like to make a direct comparison between the model and the actual vehicle, a picture of the actual trolleybus in service can be found on the Gallery Tram and Trolleybus page CLICK HERE to view.

Saturday 29 March 2003

ARRIVA

ukbus 1010 -- Alexander ALX 400 – bodied Dennis Trident

Creative Master Northcord Limited (CMNL) has released its tenth replica bus on its well-known casting, the Alexander ALX 400-bodied Dennis Trident. The ukbus1010 model carries Arriva the Shires & Essex colours.

Arriva the Shires & Essex introduced 27 Alexander ALX400 buses at its Luton and Southend depots in July 2000 as part of a major fleet upgrade. Twenty of these were allocated to Luton, including 5429, and many received route branding for the busy 38 route, linking Luton, Houghton Regis and Dunstable. These low-floor Dennis Trident buses replaced elderly Bristol VRs and were instantly popular with customers, bringing the benefits of easy access to an important corridor on which buses run up to every 10 minutes.

The replica is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. The model has no ugly metal poles to hold it together and has a new anti-branch feature. The ukbus 1010 model is limited to 2800 pieces worldwide.

The Arriva bus models will be distributed by Corgi Classics Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively.

Photograph © Creative Master Northcord Ltd

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM CORGI OOC
I can confirm that the following model has now been released and is on sale:
OM43704 BUT 9441T Trolleybus Bournemouth Corporation

Thursday 27 March 2003

Wednesday 26 March 2003

Monday 24 March 2003

Photograph © Model Collector Magazine

Photograph © Model Collector Magazine

Saturday 22 March 2003

CORGI OOC
OM43506 Balloon Tram Blackpool 1980's livery, Special Edition
OM44007 Brush Rail Car Blackpool Brannigans, Special Edition
OM45307 Bova Futura The Kings Ferry

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD
UKBUS1009 Dennis Trident ALX400 Travel Coventry

Friday 21 March 2003

RML's (scheduled for release May 2003)
25514
RML 2600, NML 600E, London United, adverts Mars Celebrations, route number 9

25514A
RML 2305, CUV 305C, London General, adverts TfL Jubilee, route number 22

25514B
RML 2405, JJD 405D, First London, adverts Felix, route number 23

25514C
RML 2499, JJD 499D, London Central, adverts Surf, route number 12, please note this model has no fleet name – (the actual vehicle did not carry one).

RT's (scheduled for release March 2003)
10131
RT4712, NXP 997, TfL, adverts TfL Road Safety, route number 23

10131A
RT4712, NXP 997, TfL, adverts TfL Road Safety, route number N/A.
Please note: 10131A is a private commission for TfL and no models will be available for public sale. Please do not contact the Museum shop regarding this model.

GIFT SET 11 (scheduled for release April 2003)
10131B - RT4712
15632 - RM6
28803 - T172

Monday 17 March 2003

Saturday 15 March 2003

Friday 14 March 2003

GALLERY PICTURE OF RF368
My apologies to Phil Willson as I made a couple of errors when I added his picture of RF368 to the Gallery. Firstly I spelt his surname wrong and secondly I missed the .uk from his web address. Click on the hyperlink to visits Phil's Routemaster Association web site www.routemaster.org.uk.

Thursday 13 March 2003

Can anybody send me a digital picture (highest resolution possible please) as I have not ordered one of these models at this time?

Monday 10 March 2003

Photograph © British Model Buses

Photograph © British Model Buses

Saturday 8 March 2003 (second posting)

BRITBUS MCW METROPOLITAN: MODEL BUS FEDERATION MEMBERS MODEL

I am extremely grateful to the Model Bus Federation for providing the following press release. I hope to bring photographs of the actual model later today/tomorrow.

PRESS RELEASE

MCW Metropolitan diecast metal model bus

From: Model Bus Federation (London area)

Date: 8^th March 2003

The London area of the Model Bus Federation is pleased to announce the release of a new model bus casting, The Metro Cammell Weymann “Metropolitan” double decker, a type that first appeared on British streets in 1974.

 This all new casting has been produced in China by the Britbus Company and is to a scale of 1/76.

The new model has the following features;

• One-piece body casting.
• No ugly poles through the model to hold it together.
• Front wheels that can be posed.
• Etched brass body side grilles.
• Front destination set behind `glass`.
• Opening engine cover and detailed engine.
• Detailed chassis components.
• Separately fitted headlights, front trafficator, windscreen wipers and rear light clusters.
• Detailed interior with seats, floors, draft screens, seat back hand rails and cab picked up out in different colours.
• Detailed exterior printing.

The first release of this model is of London Transport MD34 (KJD234P). This vehicle entered service on route 36B (Grove Park-Paddington) after display at an LT event at Syon Park. This bus has carried special adverts for this event and retained them for a few weeks after entering passenger service from Peckham garage. The model depicts this bus in this condition.

The model has been chosen as a tribute to the memory of MBF members, the late Peter and Leah Burrows, through whose generosity it was possible to produce this model.

This model has been commissioned by the Model Bus Federations` London area and will only be available to members via the Model Bus Federation sales organisation.

Future releases of this casting will be available to all collectors, via retail outlets.

End of Press release.

To view pictures of the real MCW Metropolitan MD34 in the livery represented by the MBF model, please visit Gallery Page 4 or CLICK HERE to be taken directly to them.

Saturday 8 March 2003

***TWO EXCLUSIVES***

I have just been advised by the LT Museum of two items of news exclusive to British Model Buses:

1. The LT Museum will be releasing a special EFE model to be on sale at this weekends Acton Open Weekend as follows:
Model number: 27809A (provisional to be confirmed)
AEC STL Post War Red
Route: 134
Destination: Hadley High Stone
No other details are known at this time.

2. The LT Museum have commissioned a museum exclusive Britbus Metropolitan which will be available during the summer. No other details are known at this time.

LT MUSEUM GIFT SET 11 (GOLD SET)
It is hoped that the gift set will be posted to customers who have pre-ordered on or about 1st/2nd April with the remainder being available in the shop from about 8th April. 

NEXT MODELS TO BE RELEASED BY EFE
I spoke with EFE this morning and understand that the following models will be the next to be released. At present it is hoped they will be released towards the end of March although no actual date has been set:
15633 RM Routemaster Arriva Golden Jubilee
20904 Leyland PS1 Windover Southdown
22512 Alexander Y Type Western
27610 Volvo / Wright SLF Ulsterbus
29002 GM Standard Fleetline Lancashire United

Thursday 6 March 2003

I have today replaced the scanned images of the following models:
OM41101 AEC Regent V/E. Lancs. St. Helens Corporation
OM41102 Daimler CVG6/E. Lancs. Huddersfield Corporation
OM41103 Leyland PD3A/E. Lancs. Accrington Corporation

C'SM 1/50TH SCALE UPDATE
I am able to give details of model MCW-73103 Arriva The Original Tour as follows:
Registration number GYE 539W
Quantity: 300 pieces.

I understand from C'sM that of the models currently shown on my C'sM page as outstanding, models numbers MCW73104 and MCW73105 are scheduled for release within the next few months all others are pending and a release date is not known.

Tuesday 4 March 2003

Sunday 2 March 2003

Saturday 1 March 2003

March 2003 - News

This page last updated Monday, 25 February 2013