Sun Star

Table listing releases in model number order

2004 sees the 50th anniversary of an international design icon, the London Transport Routemaster bus, the first prototype of which was unveiled at the Commercial Motor Exhibition at Earl's Court on 24th September 1954. Sun Star Models Development Limited, renowned in the model world for its high quality die-cast road vehicles, has focused all its design expertise on producing a scale model Routemaster and in so doing, has created the best model bus ever manufactured.

The first model stock number 2901 was "officially" announced by British Model Buses on the Internet at 9.00am on 29th January and was unveiled at the London Toy Fair later the same morning.

On 24 January 2006 Sun Star announced a second casting in the form of a 1:24 scale Bedford OB Duple Vista coach. The text below gives a brief history of the OB:

Introduced in August 1939, the Bedford OB chassis was designed specifically for public transport. The off-set differential on the rear axle combined with the mounting of the engine and the gearbox at a slight angle permitted a sunken, central gangway for easier passenger access. However two months later, following the outbreak of World War II, production was stopped after only 73 chassis had been manufactured. In January 1942, production of a more utilitarian version known as the OWB recommenced. In October 1945, production of the OB resumed and the Bedford OB chassis went on to play a major role in the re-equipping of many transport fleets as demand rose sharply. Over 40 different coach-builders used the chassis, but by far the biggest was the Hendon-based firm of Duple, whose Vista body was to become synonimous with the OB coach.

However, the Vista body underwent many changes during its life. Unlike the original pre-war and the first 46 post-war Duple Vistas, which had an entrance door which slid behind the main side body panel, the door on the following models slid open into an external recess. During 1947, the destination and fleet-name boxes were modified, a rounded outer edge replacing the earlier angular one.

In 1948, due to material shortages,  the characteristic side “flash” was omitted and replaced by a single aluminium bead about 3 inches below the waistline, and the operator’s name plate box was removed from the rear. The original 4-spoked steering wheel was replaced by a 3-spoked version. In 1949, the side flash and the operator’s plate returned. Later that year, the luggage door locks, which had been operated by a T-key, were replaced by a single locking handle and the rear direction indicator lights were changed. The large chromed bumper over-riders were removed, a deeper rear bumper/body trim was added which incorporated the wording Bedford-Duple and a Duple motif was added to both sides of the 1950. As an option for sight-seeing services, quarter-lights in the roof were offered which necessitated different, tubular luggage racks.

A third casting featuring the AEC Regent III was announced on Monday 15 January 2007