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 61 - ASSEMBLING THE TOP THREE STEPS
A very straightforward build with no issues whatsoever and took me approximately 20 minutes. In the magazine articles, the Route 188 is now in Greenwichand describes the history of the Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark. The second article describes damage to London  buses, depots, bus stations and underground stations during WW2

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 61 - ASSEMBLING THE TOP THREE STEPS

BUILD ISSUE 61 - ASSEMBLING THE TOP THREE STEPS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 62 - KICK PLATES AND STAIRWAY ASSEMBLY
This issue on the whole was more complex than previous and took be about an hour to complete. Adding the kick plates to the steps put together in issue 61 was very straightforward. However, the next step was to fix the stairs together. On a couple of stairs I found it necessary to remove the three screws from the lower edge of the kick plate as they got in the way and did not allow the steps to connect together properly. After joining the steps, I then re-fixed the screws i had previously removed. Fitting the stairs side section was going ok until I found that two of the holes on the stair section had not been cleaned out during manufacture and it was necessary to use a very small file file to open up the holes slightly. The remainder of the build was straightforward. In the magazine articles, the Route 188 bus passes through along the south bank of the river, through Deptford, Surrey Keys, Canada Water and Rotherhithe to Bermondsey. The third article describes driving the Routemaster, the controls and under the bonnet.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 62 - KICK PLATES AND STAIRWAY ASSEMBLY

BUILD ISSUE 62 - KICK PLATES AND STAIRWAY ASSEMBLY

MAGAZINE ISSUE 63 - PLATFORM AREA AND REAR WALL
This build took me approximately 45 minutes. The first part of this build involved fixing staircase structure from build 59 to the platform and stairs. It was then followed by fixing the metal platform assembly from issue 59 to the stair assembly and finally affixing the pole to the platform. I have taken the advice of the instructions and removed the pole for safe keeping after taking a photograph until later it is required later in the build. In the magazine articles, Route 188 journeys eastward towards Southwark via Elephant and Castle. The second article describes how buses joined the war effort during WW2.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 63 - PLATFORM AREA AND REAR WALL

BUILD ISSUE 63 - PLATFORM AREA AND REAR WALL

MAGAZINE ISSUE 64 - FITTING THE BONNET
On face value this build appeared reasonably simple, Everything went well until the final part of fitting the friction hinge links to the bracket on the bulkhead. I just could not get the screws to go through, I watched a video and the guy just held the parts up and the screws went straight in and took about 5 seconds each, It took over half an hour a lot of frustration made worse by getting cramp in my fingers! In hindsight, I probably need a screwdriver like he was using in the video, which appears to have sections to make the shaft longer or shorter as required and a number of changeable tips. I am afraid that the really cheap Hachette screwdrivers supplied at the beginning of the build were just not up to the job. I found that the length of the screwdriver meant that the Utility box fitted in issue 48 (to the rear wall of the drivers cab), seemed to be getting totally in the way, unfortunately it was not feasible to remove this so I persevered and suddenly the screw went in and I wonder why it did not go a lot more quickly. The magazine articles continue to describe Route 188 between Waterloo and Russell Square. I did not realise that Waterloo Bridge was named after Wellingtons victory over Napoleon in 1815. Waterloo Station was originally called Waterloo Bridge Station as the railway owners originally hoped that the tracks would continue to the city. This never happened and the station became a terminus and known to the public as Waterloo. The railway company formally changed its name to Waterloo in 1882. The second article features  an number of Routemaster's that have been turned into bars and cafes since retirement.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 64 - FITTING THE BONNET

BUILD ISSUE 64 - FITTING THE BONNET

MAGAZINE ISSUE 65 - FITTING THE LOWER DECK TO THE CHASSIS
After my struggles with the previous issue, I looked at the instructions for fitting the body to the chassis and thought this looks complicated. I decided to view the video I found on YouTube for issue 65 published by "backto1985NET" and am glad I did. I followed the video through step by step, pausing each step as I worked through it. The two biggest items of help on the video were removing the rear entrance wall fitted in issue 55, before I started fitting the body work, and also removing both rear wheels when fitting the screws inside the wheel arches to secure the wheel arches to the body. I would not recommend, using the handle on the bonnet lock the bonnet shut, it is not very strong and mine broke shortly after I took the photograph. I am able to fix it and will do so later in the build, but strongly recommend not using it. With issue 65 came the first seats that will eventually be fitted in the upper deck, although nothing is done with them in this issue. The magazine articles feature Route 70 between Chiswick Park and Ladbroke Grove. The second article describes post WW2 recovery and how not only the city, but the transport network needed reconstructing.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 65 - FITTING THE LOWER DECK TO THE CHASSIS

BUILD ISSUE 65 - FITTING THE LOWER DECK TO THE CHASSIS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 66 - FITTING THE PLATFORM AND CONNECTING CABLES
Well this was fun! I fitted the rear platform with no issues and side securing the staircase structure to the right side with no problems. When I came to attach the wires to the circuit board under the stairs, I quickly realised that two of my cables were too short. I ended up reversing things and disconnecting the wires, removing the platform and stairs and then removing the entire bodywork from the chassis. After checking my wiring, I was able to take up some slack on one of the cables to get sufficient length, but on the second I could not. Being someway behind in the build, I forgot that Hachette issued a replacement cable in a later issue (very annoying to forget that). I did however, manage to reroute the offending cable on the chassis (the only way you would see that was if you totally turned the bus upside down to look, but the cable is hidden behind the offside rear wheel and taped down, so even having the bus upside down you would have trouble seeing it. I then reassembled the bus, and fitted the cables to the circuit board. In eager anticipation, I put some batteries in the battery box. The two buzzers (you have to change the wiring later on, on the circuit board to get it to make a bell sound) for the conductor worked but alas the front headlights and fog lights did not. I then posted a question on the "Build the Routemaster model 1:12 scale" Facebook page and was promptly reminded that there are two micro switches on the dashboard in the drivers cab. Once pressed the lights worked and so did the horn.

Late last evening I received an email from Alan Fludgate advising me that he had been looking at my photographs and noticed that on two of the seats on the lower deck, I had fitted the seat squab the wrong way around. You can see just make out the two offending seats on the photo above on issue 65.  I have looked at the model, and I think the work to swap them over might be too much. I would have to access the screws holding the seats to the flooring by removing the chassis from the body work to then get at the screws under the seat squabs. I think I might strategically position a couple of passengers on those seats to hide my error ( I wont make the same mistake with the upper deck seating). As I struggled with the electrics as described above, I would hate to dissemble the model, to correct the seats and then find my lights did not work again. A shame I did not know about my error when stripping the model back to fix the electrics yesterday, as I would have fixed those at the same time.

You will see that the bulkhead light on the nearside front of the passenger compartment does not work. Hachette never included an led bulb or wiring for this light. I am aware from the "Build the Routemaster model 1:12 scale" Facebook page that some people have purchased a bulb and joined the wiring from it to the wiring for the nearside headlamp and fog light under the bonnet. I am not proposing to do this on my model.

The seats issued with issue will be completed in issue 68..

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 66 - FITTING THE PLATFORM AND CONNECTING CABLES

BUILD ISSUE 66 - FITTING THE PLATFORM AND CONNECTING CABLES

MAGAZINE ISSUE 67 - FOOTBALL FAN
No building with this issue. The latest of the figures that arrived with this issue is a 1960's World Cup football fan complete with his England scarf. The magazine article include articles about the London Transport Museum. Route 70 journeys between Bayswater Road and South Kensington. The final article is entitled "Growing the RT" and details the early history of the RT through to preservation and has a number of photographs taken at the London Bus Museum.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 67 - FOOTBALL FAN

BUILD ISSUE 67 - FOOTBALL FAN

MAGAZINE ISSUE 68 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 1
In this issue the seats supplied with Issues 65 & 66 will be put together. The task was very easy and took me approximately 40 minutes in total. I have included just a few photographs to show some of the seats I put together. The seats supplied with Issue 68 will be constructed in issue 69. This issues bus route features Route 65 between Ealing and Brentford. The second article was an interesting read, and describes the organisation of the garages. In addition to the buses and their maintenance, it gives an insight into the administration that took place in the background such as duty planning, timetabling of schedules for individual crew members. End of the day routines, checking the takings against tickets sold and rest and recreation facilities that some of the larger garages had.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 68 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 1

BUILD ISSUE 68 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 1

MAGAZINE ISSUE 69 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 2
This build comprised, the seats supplied with Issue 68 together with the ones supplied with this issue. Again it was very easy with no problems encountered. I have included just a few photographs for you to look at. In the articles Route 65 travels between Brentford and Richmond. The second article describes the ups and downs of passenger numbers from the post war highs through to the 1950's when passenger numbers dropped significantly due to an increase in car ownership and changes in lifestyle.

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 69 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 2

BUILD ISSUE 69 - SEATING FOR UPPER DECK - PART 2

MAGAZINE ISSUE 70 - REAR SEATS FOR THE UPPER DECK
At last, construction of the final seats for the upper deck. This time it is the one remaining side seat and the rear seat for the bus. Again no issues and it took me approximately 20 minutes to complete. It was nice to put together a different type of seat. The magazine continues describing Route 65 as it makes its way through Richmond. The second article covers advertising on Routemaster's and shows a selection of adverts including the all over Yellow Pages advert, illuminated adverts, Royal Wedding buses and the Silver Jubilee, sliver Routemaster's. 

INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE 70 - REAR SEATS FOR THE UPPER DECK

BUILD ISSUE 70 - REAR SEATS FOR THE UPPER DECK

BUILD YOU OWN ROUTEMASTER

ISSUES SIXTY ONE TO SEVENTY

This page last updated Friday, 24 April 2020