Photographs taken by me of the magazine pages are purely to illustrate the build stages, so that the entire project can be followed from the start to the completed model in issue order. The copyright of Hachette Partworks is acknowledged.

MAGAZINE ISSUE 41 - FITTING THE WINDOWS TO THE DRIVERS CAB
I experienced no issues with this weeks build, everything went smoothly for me. The magazine article was an interesting read regarding the General strike of 1926. It gives details of the build up to the strike which began with a dispute between mine owners and miners, before it developed further. When the General strike took place, most bus drivers also went on strike, The London General Omnibus Company had contingency plans and trained new volunteer drivers in 3 days! They also had to mobilise buses which were not usually used in their fleet as some depots were blocked by pickets. It would have been an interesting time for bus spotters, is anyone aware of whether spotters were around in those days or had the hobby not developed. Next weeks issue is the fitting of cab and front wings to the subframe and also fitting wiring along the length of the subframe. Sounds interesting and perhaps a little complicated.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 41 - FITTING THE WINDOWS TO THE DRIVERS CAB

BUILD ISSUE 41 - FITTING THE WINDOWS TO THE DRIVERS CAB

MAGAZINE ISSUE 42 - FITTING THE CAB, GRILLE AND WIRING TO THE SUBFRAME
This build was more complication than issue 41. The most difficulty I had was correctly positioning the drivers cab assembly. A slight casualty was the Relief pipe part 40I when attaching it to the coolant header tank. In hindsight, I would not have attached this pipe earlier in the process, as I managed to inadvertently snap it whilst positioning the cab assembly. Luckily the pipe was easily repaired with a small dab of modelling glue. When tracking the wires from the front of the vehicle through the chassis to the rear of the vehicle, I needed to slightly adjust the position the of cab assembly to give me a few more millimetres of wire. After a small amount of fiddling, it all fitted correctly in place. The article this week covered the introduction of the Routemaster - Press and public reaction. Apparently some commentators felt that the Routemaster was rather old fashioned with its front engine and rear entrance door with a conductor. The Routemaster was entering service at the same time as European countries were favouring single deckers with front entrance door, rear engine and single crewing. Interestingly, Buses Illustrated noted that the RM was more shapely than the RT, but failed to reach RT standards, let alone improve on it!

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 42 - FITTING THE CAB, GRILLE AND WIRING TO THE SUBFRAME

BUILD ISSUE 42 - FITTING THE CAB, GRILLE AND WIRING TO THE SUBFRAME

MAGAZINE ISSUE 43 - THE REAR SECTION OF THE LOWER DECK 
This issues work only took me  a couple of minutes and was very straight forward. This months magazine articles are about Route 35 between Brixton and Camberwell, and an article entitled "Centralised Control" about the setting up of the London Passenger Transport Board. An interesting fact that I had not previously realised, was that London Transport was the operating brand name of the LPTB. The article describes how 92 transport companies came under its control including the largest of London's independent companies London Underground and The London General Omnibus Company. The next issue involves assembling the first 4 seats and fitting them to the lower deck.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 43 - THE REAR SECTION OF THE LOWER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 43 - THE REAR SECTION OF THE LOWER DECK

MAGAZINE ISSUE 44 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE FIRST FOUR SEATS
Again this was a very straight forward build which only took me about 15 minutes. I am aware that some people have filled the holes in the rear of the seats, to cover the screw heads and then repainted the rear of the seats, although I am not doing this. The magazine article continues on Route 35 and describes the area of Southwark. I have been to Elephant and Castle many times and wondered about how it got its name. The article describes how the area is thought to have got its name from the name of an old coaching inn. It is believed the inn got its name from the crest of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers. The coaching inn had been built on the site of a building occupied by a blacksmith and cutler. The emblem of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers features and elephant with a castle on its back. The next issues involves assembling more seats for the lower deck.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 44 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE FIRST FOUR SEATS

BUILD ISSUE 44 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE FIRST FOUR SEATS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 45 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE NEXT FOUR SEATS
As with the previous build, no problems whatsoever and another four seats assembled and attached. The magazine articles include the continuation of Route 35 to Shoreditch and Country buses and coaches - Green Line. On Route 35 the bus travels along Eastcheap. I worked in Eastcheap when I first left school (many years ago). Despite having worked there I did not know its history. The article describes that Eastcheap market was in medieval times, the main meat market for the City of London and was the location of the Boars Head Inn which featured in some of Shakespeare's plays, in particular Henry IV, Part 1. The Inn was destroyed in the Great Fire of London but later rebuilt and was eventually demolished in 1831. The sign depicting the boars head was saved and can now be seen in The Globe Theatre. Issue 46 sees the arrival of the first figurine passenger for the bus.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 45 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE NEXT FOUR SEATS

BUILD ISSUE 45 - ASSEMBLING AND FITTING THE NEXT FOUR SEATS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 46 - PASSENGER IN BOWLER HAT
Well this one was easy. One seated passenger to travel on the upper deck when the build is complete. The magazine says several figurines will be supplied including passengers, driver and a conductor.  The magazine articles feature articles on the habits and dress codes of passengers, with a number of photographs showing dress over the years.  The bus route featured in this magazine is Route 25 between Ilford and Stratford and the final article details variations on the Routemaster including RML, RMC, RCL, RMF, RMA and FRM. Next weeks issue continues with fitting seats to the lower deck.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 46 - PASSENGER IN BOWLER HAT

BUILD ISSUE 46 - PASSENGER IN BOWLER HAT

MAGAZINE ISSUE 47 - FITTING THE LAST SEATS AND ASSEMBLING THE BENCHES
This issue was again very straightforward and a continuation of building more seats. In total it took me approximately 20 minutes. The magazine articles described Stratford and the Olympic Park and alos tells about some old buildings that can be found in the area such as Three Mills, 3 old flour mills that are now used as an education centre. The bus related article describes the original T, LT and ST buses.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 47 - FITTING THE LAST SEATS AND ASSEMBLING THE BENCHES

BUILD ISSUE 47 - FITTING THE LAST SEATS AND ASSEMBLING THE BENCHES

MAGAZINE ISSUE 48 - FRONT WALL AND ACCESSORIES
Another very straightforward build involved fitting the two bench seats and adding accessories to the rear wall of the drivers cab. The magazine articles Feature Bow to Mile End on the Route 25 and an article on bus preservation, something would love to do but probably don't have sufficient mechanical knowledge to do. I still regret not purchasing a Routemaster when they all came out of service, considering the price they now go for. 

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 48 - FRONT WALL AND ACCESSORIES

BUILD ISSUE 48 - FRONT WALL AND ACCESSORIES

MAGAZINE ISSUE 49 - FITTING THE FRONT SIDE WALLS
Another straightforward build which again took me approximately 20 minutes. The magazine articles continue Route 25 between Stepney and Aldgate and Chiswick, Building and Overhauling Buses. Stepney was once a small village in the 15th Century, but gradually became part of London as it spread and in the 18th and 19th Century, it became an area for the poor and with that came crime and violence associated with such areas. The number 25 bus passes the Blind Beggar pub on Mile End Road, in which the Kray twins Ronnie and Reggie carried out a notorious sixties gangland murder. The article about Chiswick Works, details its history from shortly after WW1 when LGOC purchased a 30 acre cabbage field and by 1923 had a site with vast factories and testing grounds. The article then details the overhaul of buses, testing and training and its use in WW2 as an aircraft production factory. Next weeks sees us fitting the rear side walls to the seats and floor of the lower deck.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 49 - FITTING THE FRONT SIDE WALLS

BUILD ISSUE 49 - FITTING THE FRONT SIDE WALLS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 50 - FITTING THE REAR SIDE WALLS
I feel like I am saying this is another straightforward build for every issue at the moment, I have this feeling that I might soon be saying that it was a very difficult build. In the magazine articles, the Route 25 goes from The City to Holborn and passes along Cheapside. An interesting fact is that the name Cheapside does not mean cheap, but is from the old English word "ceapan" meaning buy or market. The names of other roads in the area reflect this including Poultry (where I also worked after I left school), Bread Street, Honey lane and Milk Street. The second article details the start of restoration of RM857, which we are now building.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 50 - FITTING THE REAR SIDE WALLS

BUILD ISSUE 50 - FITTING THE REAR SIDE WALLS

BUILD YOU OWN ROUTEMASTER

ISSUES FORTY ONE TO FIFTY

This page last updated Friday, 24 April 2020