The Alexander Y-Type buses and coaches were manufactured by Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd at its works in Falkirk, Scotland. The prototypes first appeared in 1961, with the first production versions entering service two years later. Some 3,266 production examples were constructed over the next 20 years, including small window buses and large window coaches in both long and short bodied variants. Over 2,800 of those constructed were delivered to the Scottish Bus Group and its predecessors.

It was a very versatile body design, capable of being built on a wide range of chassis types. The most notable of these was the Leyland Leopard, but the bodies were also carried on the AEC Reliance, the Seddon Pennine 7, and the Ford R series amongst others. It was also very adaptable thanks to its modular construction, and Alexander could offer various options according to the customer’s requirements. These included single piece, 2-leaf or 4-leaf entrance doors, as well as the various seating configurations depending on its purpose.

The front face of the Y-Type changed a few times during its 20-year construction, with different grille and headlight arrangements appearing as the design evolved. This saw it become the AY or AYS Type in 1971 - the ‘A’ denoting its new alloy construction, and the ‘S’ signifying the bus specification. This change included the introduction of a new front end design, typically with twin grilles in an elongated moulding. In 1983, the Y-Type made way for Alexander’s P Type, a lighter and more modern successor, but continued to give good service well into the 2000s.

The new EFE Road models are based on EFE Road’s updated AY-Type coach tooling, and now feature such enhancements as mirrors and opaque glazed roof vents. Options of 2-leaf or 4-leaf doors are also offered, according to the prototype.
The new models are:

39102 - Alexander Y-Type Strathtay Scottish SCS360M Service 15 St. Fillans.
This model depicts Strathtay Scottish fleet number SL 12, registration SCS360M; an AY-Type bodied Leyland Leopard built in 1975. It was part of a batch of 43 dual purpose 49-seaters that originally operated with Western SMT from new. The model captures it during its time with Strathtay Scottish, wearing full orange and blue livery, complete with 2-leaf doors, as working Service 15 to St. Fillans in Perthshire.

39103 - Alexander Y-Type Highland Scottish SCS337M Service 25 Inverness
Our model represents registration SCS337M, an AY-Type bodied Leyland Leopard built in 1974 as part of a batch of 43 dual purpose 49-seaters for Western SMT. This example later became part of the Highland Scottish fleet, operating as number L53. The model depicts it in its circa 1984 condition, again with 2-leaf doors, as working Service 25 to Inverness.

39104 - Alexander Y-Type PMT NBC FEH168J Service 23 Hanley
Potteries Motor Traction, or PMT, had some 25 Y-Types on its books, taking delivery of the last six in 1971. One of these was registration FEH168J, a dual purpose 49-seat AY-Type with 2-leaf doors, built on an AEC Reliance chassis. Our model depicts this bus as operating under National Bus Company ownership as PMT No. 168, carrying red and white livery and working Service 23 to Hanley around 1976.

39201 - Alexander Y-Type Stevensons of Uttoxeter MFR18P Service X38 Burton
AY-Type registration MFR18P was built for Lancaster City Council in 1976 on a Leyland Leopard chassis with 4-leaf doors. It later joined the Stevensons of Uttoxeter fleet and carried a variation of the in-house yellow livery advertising Stevensons Express Services to Blackpool, North Wales, Skegness and the South Coast. Our model is finished in its 1984 condition as fleet number 18 and working service X38 to Burton via Lichfield.

The four models are expected to reach retailers during December 2025 and have an RRP of £46.95.

In addition to the above, EFE Road has worked with model bus retailer, TTC Diecast, to produce two additional exclusive edition Alexander Y-Types based on the same tooling. These are:
39101Z - Alexander Y-Type Lincolnshire NBC SJA363J Service 850 Cleethorpes
39105Z - Alexander Y-Type Western SMT Co Ltd SCS335M Service 15 Ardrossa

Tuesday 14th October 2025

To order the models or for more information, please visit the Buckie Model Centre website at: https://buckiemodelcentre.com/

Monday 13th October 2025

UKBUS6542 ADL Enviro400 MMC - Newcastle Busways

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus, Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach North West, Go North East, Stagecoach North Scotland, Go South Coast, Reading Buses, Greater Manchester Bee Network, McGill’s Bluebird and East Yorkshire, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the twenty seventh livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – UKBUS6542 in the livery of Newcastle Busways.

UKBUS6542 represents fleet number 10646 (SN66WKB) that was new to Stagecoach North East in 2016 based at Slatyford depot with registration SN16OYM. Bus 10646, as replicated, working route 62, heading to North Walbottle, via Cowgate & West Denton.

Stagecoach North East has recreated the local liveries of Busways Travel Services in August 2024, to mark 30 years since it acquired the former PTE bus operations in Tyne & Wear from their employee owners. 10646 has the Newcastle Busways version which are 100% reproduced onto the UKBUS6542 models.

10646 attended the 2024 North East Bus Preservation Trust rally at Seaham Park on 26th August 2024 together with 11297 (SN69ZRC) which has the retro City Busways fleetname. Both ADL Enviro400 MMCs share the maroon, yellow and white colours.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC UKBUS6542 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the UKBUS6542 model is its tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.

Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (Hong Kong) respectively. The UKBUS6542 model is limited to 1200 pieces worldwide.

UKBUS6207B Alexander Dennis Enviro400 - GMS Buses

Northcord Model Company is proud to release its sixth model of the UKBUS6200 range on the former CMNL long wheelbase Enviro400 tooling.

This is UKBUS6207B, carrying the livery of GMS Buses. UKBUS6207B represents Stagecoach Manchester 19532 (MX09 KTT) on route 256 to Flixton with ‘via Hulme’ carried in the front destination. 19532 was new to Stagecoach in 2009. Stagecoach Manchester had painted 19532 in the orange, white and brown livery with dark grey window surrounds on both decks and blue GMS Buses fleetnames in the third quarter in 2024.

Greater Manchester Buses South Limited was incorporated on 12th May 1993 to acquire the bus operations in South and East Manchester which had been part of GM Buses since 1986, and it adopted the fleet name GMS Buses. GMS was one of two companies formed to prepare for privatisation following the 1985 Transport Act.

GMS was sold to a partnership of employees from 1st April 1994 and continued as such until 29th February 1996 when it was acquired by the Stagecoach Group and became Stagecoach Manchester. The livery on 19532 commemorates the short period of employee ownership.

Stagecoach continues to operate as a provider within the fully-franchised Greater Manchester bus system, taking on the yellow livery of the Bee Network. Alongside buses in other commemorative liveries, 19532 was used on 4th January 2025 from Hyde Road depot in the hours leading to the handover, and thereafter became a training vehicle based at Little Hulton then.

19532 carries full GMS Buses livery, including ‘HE’ code at the front and the rear for Hyde Road depot, together with the circle showing ‘HYDE ROAD DEPOT’ on the first window in the nearside and below the cab window in the offside. The blue ‘GMS Buses’ with ‘A STAGECOACH SUBSIDIARY” is carried on both sides, on the front panel below the drivers’ windscreen, on the upper front screen and on the rear, upper emergency exit.

UKBUS6207B features excellent detailing, inside and out, such as realistic-looking handpoles and handrails. The Enviro400 model is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible.

Another main feature on the UKBUS6207B model is its dual individual tree protectors at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with its curved windscreens on both upper and lower deck. The headlights at the front are made of individual components to look more realistic.

The brand new UKBUS6207A bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (Hong Kong) respectively. The UKBUS6207B is based on a Limited Edition of only 1200 pieces produced.

Northcord Model Company (NMC)
------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Friday 10th October 2025

October to December 2025 - News

This page last updated Tuesday, 14 October 2025