Two new EFE Christmas Subscriber only models:
12113 Harrington Cavalier - Royal Blue
Fleet number: 403
Registration number: 540 CFJ
Route number: -
Destination: Yeovil

30304 Routemaster RM Prototype - London Transport
Fleet number: RM2
Registration number: SLT 57
Route number: 406
Destination: Kingston

I understand that details and order forms will be sent to subscribers with the next newsletter.

Other new models on display included:

16130 Leyland PD2 Highbridge - Burnley Colne & Nelson
Fleet number: 56
Registration number: ACW 622
Route number: -
Destination: Harle Syke

16226 Bristol MW - Western National NBC
Fleet number: 2906
Registration number: 621 DDV
Route number: 310
Destination: Lynton

16523 Leyland Atlantean - City of Manchester
Fleet number: 3626
Registration number: UNB 626
Route number: 40
Destination: Albert Square

25306 Duple Half Cab - East Yorks
Fleet number: 503
Registration number: HWJ 990
Route number: - 
Destination: Hemsby

26409 Daimler Utility - Lytham St Annes
Fleet number: 23
Registration number: FTD 618
Route number: 11
Destination: Blackpool

34906 Leyland Olympian - Western National
Fleet number: 1802
Registration number: A752 VAF
Route number: 83
Destination: Tavistock

35205 AEC BET - Devon General
Fleet number: 16
Registration number: 16 RDV
Route number: 46
Destination: Newton Abbot

Sunday 31st October 2010

COBHAM BUS MUSEUM RUNNING DAY
A reminder that the "Goodbye Redhill Road" event - the final farewell takes place tomorrow Sunday 31st October 2010, 10.00-1700 before the museum closes for redevelopment. As well as trade stalls, rides etc, the special EFE commissioned model Green Line RMC1491 on route 720A CLICK HERE will be on sale.

Saturday 30 October 2010

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

UKBUS1050 Alexander Dennis ALX400-bodied Trident

Stagecoach in Hull

CMNL is proud to release another brand new livery on its well-known casting – the Alexander Dennis ALX400-bodied Trident. This is UKBUS1050 carrying the special “110 Years of Service in Hull” livery.

This model features Stagecoach in Hull 18434 (YN06 LML).

2009 was to see the 110^th Anniversary of the former Kingston upon Hull Corporation Transport Department and to celebrate this, Stagecoach in Hull has painted two of its Dennis Tridents in Anniversary liveries.

18434 is one of a batch of 11 Alexander Dennis-bodied Tridents (18425 – 18435) which entered service in April 2006. This vehicle has been repainted into the “1972” livery which was introduced to replace the famous 1930’s “Streamline” livery which was first introduced on the motorbus fleet in 1935. At the same time, the company name had a slight change by losing the “Corporation Transport” and becoming “City Transport”.

18434 left the paintshop on the 5^th July 2009, the 110^th birthday of the birth of Hull City Tramways along with sister bus 18435 which has also been painted in the “Streamline” livery. Both buses can be seen around the city, the liveries being retained for three years.

18434 also carries the name “Melvin Bentley” on the front in memory of a long serving driver who passed away very suddenly at the time of the anniversary.

Both 18434 and 18435 are being modelled by Creative Master Northcord Ltd with model number UKBUS1050 (18434) and UKBUS1048 (18435).

The replica features excellent detailing, inside and out. This 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 unnecessary metal poles to hold it together.

The brand new UKBUS1050 model is based on a Limited Edition of 840 pieces produced. They 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.

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

Creative Master Northcord Limited (CMNL)

------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Thursday 28 October 2010

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM CORGI OOC
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
OM44116A Optare Solo Wilts and Dorset - Poole CLICK HERE
OM44116B Optare Solo Wilts and Dorset - Salisbury CLICK HERE

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM EFE
EFE have confirmed that the following models have now been dispatched to the shops so should be on sale within the next few days:
12308 Harrington Grenadier Barton Transport CLICK HERE
13204 Atkinson 4 axle round tanker Bulwark CLICK HERE
16129 Leyland PD2 Highbridge Ashton Under Lyne CLICK HERE

Wednesday 27 October 2010

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD LTD - PRESS RELEASE
The below press release has been received from CMNL

CNBUS3002 Sunwin SWB6120V4LE / Volvo B7RLE

Shanghai Ba-Shi Wuqi

Shanghai Expo Route 1

There is no doubt that the really big success story in China in 2010 is the Shanghai World Expo 2010. With only 10 days until it closes its doors, the target of 70 million visitors looks to be reached with the total standing at over 67 million today.

Now, Creative Master Northcord Limited is proud to make the official announcement of its second Sunwin SWB6120V4LE / Volvo B7RLE model. This is CNBUS3002, a replica Shanghai Expo 2010 route 1, in service between Shanghai Railway Station and Gate 6 at Shanghai Expo Pudong-side, in the fleet of Shanghai Ba-Shi Wuqi Public Transport Company Ltd (巴士五汽).

CNBUS3002 represents fleet number S2M-830E (滬B‧D5256).

The livery is that of the Shanghai Ba-Shi Group on which many Expo 2010 decorations have been applied.

These include :

Ø      Front, side and rear destinations with special Expo wording

Ø      “Haibao”, the mascot for Shanghai Expo, on the rear engine access door

Ø      On both sides, the wordings “Expo Bus 世博專綫” applied.

Ø      The Expo 2010 emblem applied to the outside of the front and rear destination glass in addition to the bodysides. The emblem, depicting the image of three people - you, me and him/her holding hands together - symbolises the big family of mankind and is inspired by the shape of the Chinese character "世" (meaning the world).

CNBUS3002 exemplifies all features on the new casting of a Volvo B7RLE with Sunwin body from the real bus. The CNBUS3000 range carries forward the family resemblance of the original CNBUS1000 range onto this new, low-floor range.

CNBUS3002 captures the latest development from the well-known Shanghai Sunwin / Volvo B7R. The face of the Sunwin SWB6120V4LE retains the updated look with a subtle re-design because of the super low floor interior.

The most recognisable change from CNBUS1000 is in the sleek look of the side windows with their deeper glazing that brings the bottom of the window line very close to the top of the wheelarches. This allows the few passengers who are fortunate to be seated within the low-floor area and the many passengers who are standing in crush-loading conditions an unrivalled view through the side windows.

The glazing is applied from the outside on the CNBUS3000 range, in line with recent CMNL developments.

The brand new CNBUS3002 model also features correctly replicated handrails and the two LCD monitors. The driver’s area has lost the manual gearstick that has been a feature throughout the CNBUS1000 range because the B7RLE chassis has an automatic gearbox. Also within the driver’s area is a centrally mounted, internal, rear-view mirror below the destination box.

CNBUS3002 features excellent detailing, inside and out. This is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and application of the livery on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible on the white / green paint. The model has no unnecessary metal poles to hold it together.

The CNBUS3002 model is limited to 636 pieces for worldwide distribution. They will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), Transit Graphics (Australia), cnmycar.com (P.R. China) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively.

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

Creative Master Northcord Limited (CMNL)

------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Thursday 21 October 2010

16225 Bristol MW/LS Coach Midland General
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
16608 Leyland National MK1 South Yorkshire
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
26408 Daimler Utility Bus Wilts & Dorset
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
32602 AEC MKV 4 Axle Oval Tanker - Pickfords
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Tuesday 19 October 2010

25710B DM1238 - London Transport all red. Route 207 
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view

35701A BET 36ft AEC Reliance Green Line Express
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view

Monday 18 October 2010

EFE 27315 LEYLAND TD1 WILTS & DORSET
Click on the links below to view a photograph of the actual bus to be represented courtesy of EFE:
27315 Leyland TD1 - Wilts & Dorset CLICK HERE

Saturday 16 October 2010

LT MUSEUM ACTON OPEN WEEKEND
A reminder that the following commissioned EFE models will be released this weekend at Acton (Saturday and Sunday)
25710A DMS1644 - London Transport all red. Route M1 CLICK HERE
25710B DM1238 - London Transport all red. Route 207 CLICK HERE
35701A BET 36ft AEC Reliance Green Line Express CLICK HERE

BUSES MAGAZINE MODEL BUS SUPPLEMENT
The November issue of Buses magazine contains a 16 page diecast and model bus supplement. A number of items of news are included (see below). In addition there are articles on Britbus, CMNL Corgi OOC and Oxford Diecast:

A two page article about EFE makes very interesting reading and mentions a couple of items of news not previously published on this site:
Olympus Double Deck -  Mock ups of this model have been on display at Showbus for the past couple of years. The article states that EFE still hope to produce this model. Because of East Lancs amalgamation with Optare EFE is waiting for the new Integral Olympus to be finalised before committing this casting to production.
Steeply rising costs - The supp0lement reports that Mr Joyce states that the "exchange rate has fallen from HK$16.5 to £1.00 to as low as HK$11.8 to £1.00 this equates to a 40% increase in price per unit -  figure it could not pass on to collectors. The exchange rate has recovered a little since that low point. It is only by carefully selecting which castings and livery variants most likely to sell that EFE and other diecast companies can continue to make a decent - if reduced profit and charge affordable prices that continue to satisfy an increasingly discerning collector's market".
1/24th scale RF - For reasons including that above the new model has been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

New models from Britbus
An advert for John Ayrey shows two new Britbus models:
GL-08 Guy Arab - W. Alexander & Sons 
R404 Scania Alexander R - Stagecoach East London CLICK HERE
A photograph is shown for previously announced model
LLB-08 Leyland Lowlander - East Midland CLICK HERE

OXFORD DIECAST MODEL SCHEDULED FORE RELEASE
Oxford Diecast have announced that the following model is scheduled for release after 20th October:
NOB009 Bedford OB Seagull Coaches CLICK HERE

Friday 15 October 2010

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Reading the Leyland PD3 Story booklet I was pleased to see British Model buses and my regular correspondent John Bennett mentioned in the acknowledgements on the back page of the booklet.

Monday 11 October 2010

NOTICE TO ALL STANDING ORDER CUSTOMERS

EFE DM 1238 Route 207 & DMS 1644 Route M1

London Transport Museum would like to apologise for the significant delay in despatching the DM and DMS models to Standing Order Customers.

In addition to the much delayed delivery from EFE, our Standing Order administration system continues to undergo mandatory upgrades to ensure that the system operates at the most recent level of Data Protection standards that Transport for London is now implementing for the security of all of its customers.

London Transport Museum has therefore made the decision to release these models to Standing Order customers at the Acton Depot weekend event on the 16/17 October.

Customers will be able to buy these models at Acton weekend and cancel their Standing Order for the DM and DMS only. No other Standing Orders will be affected by this cancellation.

These models will not be released to the general public after this event until the remaining Standing Orders have been fulfilled.

When the latest upgrade work to our Standing Order system has been completed, all customers will be contacted with details of how to manage their accounts online and, for those customers without internet access, how to buy special models in the future.

In addition, all customer’s will be invited to reconfirm their outstanding orders.

London Transport Museum would like to thank the Standing Order customers for their patience with this matter and their valued custom which helps to support the museum.

I spoke with the Museum this evening and they stated that these models will be available to all customers at Acton 16/17 October 2010 (not just standing order customers) and at the end of the weekend they will be withdrawn from sale until all Standing Order Customer orders have been fulfilled at which point if there are any remaining they will go back on general sale.

NEW BRITBUS MODEL ANNOUNCED
Britbus have announced a new model, no further details are known at this time.
ES-12 Scania Omnidekka - Nottingham City Transport

BRITBUS MODEL R504 REGISTRATION NUMBER ERROR
The pre-production photograph of this model, fleet number AV9 showed the model displaying an error on the registration number. It showed P489 NBY, it should have read MBY. Peter at Yardley Wood Bus Club has advised me that the production version of this model still carries the incorrect registration number of NBY.

Whilst looking at the pre-production model photograph earlier today I realised that the real bus with registration number P489 MBY is now owned by Essex operator Hedingham Omnibuses. Does anyone have a photograph of the bus either in Metroline or Hedingham livery that they could email me for inclusion in the Gallery 

Saturday 9 October 2010

2nd posting Friday 8 October 2010

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
The below press release has been received from CMNL:

CNBUS2002 Shanghai Sunwin Bus SWB6110 

Shanghai Ba-Shi Tourist Transit Co., Ltd.

Following the great success of the previous model in the new scale CNBUS2000 range, Creative Master Northcord Limited is pleased to announce the latest model. This is CNBUS2002 that carries Shanghai Ba-Shi Tourist Transit standard livery in allover galaxy green colour, with grey skirt.

Shanghai Ba-Shi Tourist Transit Company Limited is one of the biggest operators in Shanghai offering coach services. It has a comprehensive fleet of different type of coaches. The galaxy green colour seems a trade mark in its premier fleet in the territory of Shanghai.

This coach does not carry a fleet number. The fleetname is carried on the sides in large, green characters which distinguishes, as another trade mark, the coach fleet from the service bus fleet.  Above the side fleet names the manufacturer’s name is carried in blue on black that reads 申沃客车.

The Sunwin SWB6110 coach is based on an overall length of 10560mm, with a wheelbase of 5160mm. Its height is 3160mm and width is 2500mm. Within its length there are 45 seats for passengers (plus one driver seat and one for the courier / tour guide). The Sunwin SWB6110 coach is powered by a Sunwin-developed Euro-3 engine that is rated at 177hp ~ 184hp. 

Shanghai Sunwin Bus Corporation is a joint venture invested by SAIC Motor Company Ltd., Volvo (China) Investment Corporation and Volvo Bus Corporation (Sweden).

Shanghai Sunwin Bus is one of the major sponsors of Shanghai Expo 2010.

The model features a high level of detailing as befits this scale for CMNL.

Because CMNL does not set the pricing of its models in the countries where they are sold, retailers and collectors will be informed of the pricing structure through their usual distributor. In Hong Kong the brand new Sunwin SWB6110 models will retail for 440HKD.

The brand new Sunwin SWB6110 coach models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK & I), Transit Graphics (Australia), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), cnmycar.com (P. R. China) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The CNBUS2002 model is limited to 384 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.

To view additional high resolution photographs of the model click on the links below:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE
Photograph 5 CLICK HERE
Photograph 6 CLICK HERE

Friday 8 October 2010

NRTL003 RTL Barton Transport
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

NQM005 Queen Mary Boroline
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

PHOTOGRAPHS OF CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD LTD BROOKESBUS  COMMISSIONED MODEL
Click on the links below to view photographs of UKBUS0033 courtesy of Bob Belcher:

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

To view a photograph of the real BrookesBus Enviro 400 fleet number 201 CLICK HERE

Wednesday 6 October 2010

TWO NEW KITS FROM MIRROR IMAGE MODELS
Mirror Image Models have advised me of two new kit additions to their range. They are M24 and M25 are made from one piece resin polyurethane body shell with seating / chassis unit, complete with white metal parts plus printed glazing and instructions.

Bus kit M24 Weymann bodied MCW Orion 30ft (this kit can be ordered as a Leyland PD3/4, Daimler. AEC Regent V or a Guy Arab the choice is yours at £40.00 each. CLICK HERE to view.

Bus kit M25 Leyland PD3 Metro Cammell bodied MCW Orion Ribble or Bolton please state operator you want £40.00 each CLICK HERE to view.

£3.00 postage & packaging per order UK only.

Buy online at my website www.mirror-image-models.co.uk

(if ordering by post make cheques to A's Models of Bolton) and post to:

A's Models of Bolton
Dept BMB
P.O. Box 514
Bolton
Lancs
BL1 5YD

From Gareth: I have memories of travelling to school on an ex Ribble Leyland PD3 as per the kit. The bus passed from Ribble to Hardings Coaches of Redditch, Worcestershire. Does anyone know the identity of that vehicle, I have tried researching it a number of times but never had any luck?

Tuesday 5 October 2010

NEW OXFORD DIECAST MODELS - IMAGES
Click on the links below to view images showing the Design Cells for the models I reported on Saturday. Please note these are large images (so may take a while to load) and I have deliberately left them larger than my normal images so you can read the detail:

NBS001 Burlingham Sunsaloon Alexander Bluebird - Due Q2 2011 - CLICK HERE to view
NBS002 Burlingham Sunsaloon Yelloway - Due Q2 2011 - CLICK HERE to view
NBS003 Burlingham Sunsaloon Wallace Arnold - Due Q2 2011 - CLICK HERE to view

NOB009 Bedford OB Seagull Coaches - Due Oct 2010 - CLICK HERE to view

NQ1003 BUT Trolleybus Newcastle - Due Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view
NQ1004 BUT Trolleybus Glasgow Corporation - Due Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view
NQ1005 BUT Trolleybus Cardiff - Due Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view

NRF003 AEC RF Metrobus Wealdsman - Due Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view
NRF004 AEC RF BEA - Due Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view

NRM011 Routemaster London Transport RM1000 - Due Q4 2010 - CLICK HERE to view

NTR001 Tram London Transport - Due Q4 2010 - CLICK HERE to view
NTR002 Tram Birmingham - Due Q4 2010 - CLICK HERE to view
NTR003 Tram Blackpool - Q1 2011 - CLICK HERE to view

NSET01 Set comprising 5 model RM / RT / RTL / Trolleybus / RF London Transport - Q4 2010 - No image yet available

Monday 4 October 2010

NBS001 Burlingham Sunsaloon Alexander Bluebird - Due Q2 2011
NBS002 Burlingham Sunsaloon Yelloway - Due Q2 2011
NBS003 Burlingham Sunsaloon Wallace Arnold - Due Q2 2011

NOB009 Bedford OB Seagull Coaches - Due Oct 2010

NQ1003 BUT Trolleybus Newcastle - Due Q1 2011
NQ1004 BUT Trolleybus Glasgow Corporation - Due Q1 2011
NQ1005 BUT Trolleybus Cardiff - Due Q1 2011

NRF003 AEC RF Metrobus Wealdsman - Due Q1 2011
NRF004 AEC RF BEA - Due Q1 2011

NRM011 Routemaster London Transport RM1000 - Due Q4 2010

NTR001 Tram London Transport - Due Q4 2010
NTR002 Tram Birmingham - Due Q4 2010
NTR003 Tram Blackpool - Q1 2011

NSET01 Set comprising 5 model RM / RT / RTL / Trolleybus / RF London Transport - Q4 2010

LT MUSEUM MODEL FOR ACTON
The LT Museum have advised details of their model for the Acton weekend 16/17 October:

EFE BET 36ft AEC Reliance, with Willowbrook bodywork (pearl grey and Lincoln green livery). RC1 (CUV 59C) in as delivered condition without detailed route boards and with Green Line Express fleet names. Several vehicles of this small were delivered in such condition, but all had fleet names altered to plain Green Line before entering service.

Saturday 2 October 2010

CORGI OOC MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
Corgi have advised that the following models are scheduled for release week commencing 25th October:
OM44116A Optare Solo Wilts and Dorset - Poole CLICK HERE
OM44116B Optare Solo Wilts and Dorset - Salisbury CLICK HERE

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM CORGI OOC
I can confirm that the following models were released earlier this week:
OM40102A Trolleybus Wolverhampton CLICK HERE CLICK HERE
OM40102B Trolleybus Wolverhampton  CLICK HERE

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM OXFORD DIECAST
I can confirm that the following models were released earlier this week:
NRTL003 RTL Barton Transport
NQM005 Queen Mary Boroline

PHOTOGRAPHS OF EFE ON THE DAY SHOWBUS MODEL
Click on the links below to view photographs of the EFE on the day Showbus model courtesy of Ian Kirby:
35702 BET 36ft Green Line
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

2nd posting Friday 1st October 2010

Friday 1 October 2010

October 2010 - News

This page last updated Monday, 25 February 2013