Forward Models

Table listing releases in model number order

I am very grateful to Mr Derek Perry from Forward Models for his assistance in compiling this page.

During April 2011, I reported that Mr Perry had registered a company called Forward Models (Birmingham ) Ltd to investigate the feasibility of producing a 1;76th scale diecast Birmingham standard double deck bus (1950-54). During May 2011, I received a report from The Yardley wood Bus Club who had met with Mr Perry. The first models to be produced were announced as Model 1: Birmingham New Look Guy Arab from 1950 (JOJ533). Model 2: Similar to model 1 but with different fleet number in 1950's condition with advertisements. Details to be confirmed. Models 3&4: Exposed radiator types with JOJ and HOV registrations details to be confirmed. The first models were released during November 2012. The models were initially released in a yellow box with a solid cardboard lid. During August 2017, Forward Models unveiled a new company logo based on the bonnet badge of Daimler buses from the 1950s and the boxes were updated in response to requests from the Trade and collectors. The new carton features a transparent lid, allowing the model to be seen without removing the lid. Forward Models described the new packaging as "The lid is entirely made from clear acrylic with the sides printed with Forward Models' distinctive blue and yellow stripes along with new logo prominent. The base packaging remains the same, with the model easy to remove and replace for display". A the time of writing (28/2/2019) only models GDM-19 (Glasgow) and GDM20 (Manchester) have been released in the second style of packaging. I have shown below, images of the two styles of packaging and a selection of Newsletters and other communications released by Forward Models. Click on the thumb to view larger images.

Finally, you will see in the list of models below that models 16 and 17 are missing, Mr Perry has advised me that these were to be commissioned models, but were never produced.

On Monday 29th July 2019, Mr Derek Perry from Forward Models published the below text on his Facebook page. A similar post was published on the Forward Models Facebook page.

Forward Models At The Terminus

"Forward Models (Birmingham) Limited has announced that it is closing down. The announcement was made following the retirement of the founder, Derek Perry, due to ill health and prices rises which affected the sale of new models.

The company was set up by in 2011 by Derek who wanted to make a few models of the buses he remembered growing up in Birmingham in the 1950s and 1960s. Derek went on to produce 4,000 buses in that first batch of Birmingham 'Standards' including 'tin fronts' and Crossley radiators. Further models were produced in WMPTE livery and later in Edinburgh, Hull and Newcastle colours.

Designs were also prepared for buses from Manchester and Glasgow, to be followed by Belfast, Coventry, Rotherham, Cardiff and other cities. The order was to be sent to the factory in China at the end of June 2016, coinciding with the result of the referendum. There was an immediate and regrettable reaction on the international money markets. The value of the pound dropped massively.

The models were eventually delivered in early 2018 but at a selling price that was 50% higher than the previous models. Inevitably, they did not sell well enough in a market that was already in turmoil with the loss of EFE and other manufacturers. Derek was diagnosed with a serious illness. This made it impossible to continue the tasks of administering the company and marketing the new models. Derek decided to wind up the company in early 2019. He says: 'My plans for the future are sadly ended. It is with much regret that I am simply unable to continue as Forward Models. I can, at least, say that I am proud of the models I was able to produce and I thank everyone who has supported this enterprise'."

For more news about Forward Models, and offers on their models, please go to: https://www.forwardmodels.net/Forward-Models-at-the-terminus.html?fbclid=IwAR1sWrnk1uUtg6LlUKE7e95W2tL4H1-Vf8ZlVutniHqWgiMbl3yZtABRlKY

 

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MODELS BY VEHICLE TYPE

Crossley DD42 Daimler CVG6 Guy Arab IV

 

CROSSLEY DD42
Model No Fleet Fleet No Reg No Route No Quantity Release date
ECB-04
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham Standard - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Wittington Oval, Yardley - Adverts: M&B Beers and Fillerys Toffee 1647 GOE647 15A 800 11/12
ECB-05
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
PHOTO 4
PHOTO 5
Birmingham Standard - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Outer Circle - Adverts: Swan Vestas and Vernons 2397 JOJ397 11 800 11/12

 

DAIMLER CVG6
Model No Fleet Fleet No Reg No Route No Quantity Release date
NDB-06
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Warstock via Showell Green Lane - Adverts: Elkes Biscuits and Hercules Cycles 3225 MOF225 24 800 4/13
EDE-11
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
PHOTO 4
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham body - Edinburgh Corporation - Destination: Fairmilehead, Princes Street, Pilrig Street - Adverts: Tern Shirts and Drinka Pinta Milka Day 168 GSF999 11 800 3/14
EDN-12
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham body - Newcastle Transport - Destination: Walker via Haymarket - Adverts: Tizer and Isaac Walton 69 KVK969 2 800 3/14
EDH-13
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham body - Hull Corporation Transport - Destination: via Market Place - Adverts: Littlewoods and Hull Bewery 129 KVK971 50 800 3/14
EDB-14
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Harborne and Bartley Green - Adverts: Black & White and Schweppes 1571 GOE571 12 800 3/14
EDB-15
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham body - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Cranes Park Estate via Coventry Road - Adverts: Smarts Sausages and Bull Ring Centre 1809 HOV809 60 800 3/14
EDE-18
PHOTO 1
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham body - Edinburgh Corporation - Destination: Morningside, Mound, George IV Bridge - Adverts: Wm Youngers Beer and Maitland Radio - Harburn Hobbies commissioned model - Please note the copyright of PHOTO 1 is unknown. It was passed to me in good faith. If this is your photograph please let me know so that I can acknowledge you. 168 GSF999 23 200 2014
GDG-19
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
PHOTO 4
Daimler CVG6 with Birmingham front - Glasgow - Destination: Yoker, Castle Street, Charing Cross, Great Western Road - Adverts: Omo and Rentaset Televisions D69 FYS524 11 500 8/18
GDM-20
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham front - Manchester Corporation Transport - Destination: East Didsbury, Broughton Ba, Slade Lane, Didsbury - Adverts: Crawfords Crackers and Heinz Ketchup 4474 NNB284 95 500 5/18
GDC-21 Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham front -  Coventry Corporation Transport - Destination: Earlsdon - Adverts: M&B Beers - On Monday 29th July 2019, Forward Models announced it was ceasing to trade, this model will therefore not be released 128 KVC128 9 500 Cancelled
GDR-22 Daimler CVD6  with Birmingham front - Rotherham Corporation - Destination: Sheffield - Adverts: Rediffusion - On Monday 29th July 2019, Forward Models announced it was ceasing to trade, this model will therefore not be released 220 KET220 77 500 Cancelled
GDW-23 Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham front -  West Bromwich Corporation - Destination: Dudley - Adverts M&B Beers - On Monday 29th July 2019, Forward Models announced it was ceasing to trade, this model will therefore not be released 187 PEA187 74 500 Cancelled
GDA-25 Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham front - Aberdeen Corporation - Destination: Castle Square - Adverts: Daily Express and Littlewoods - On 27/2/18 I was advised by Forward Models that this mode; has been cancelled and will not be released. 175 GRG175 TBC - Cancelled
GDC-26 Daimler CVD6 with Birmingham front - City of Cardiff Transport - Destination: Newport - Adverts: TBC - On Monday 29th July 2019, Forward Models announced it was ceasing to trade, this model will therefore not be released n/k LBO524 30 500 Cancelled

 

GUY ARAB IV
Model No Fleet Fleet No Reg No Route No Quantity Release date
NGS-01
PHOTO 1
Birmingham Standard - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Acocks Green via Moseley - No adverts 2533 JOJ533 1 800 11/12
NGS-02
PHOTO 1
Birmingham Standard - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Quniton - Adverts: Haig and Co-op 2548 JOJ548 9 800 11/12
NGS-03
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham Standard - Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Gospel Lane Loop via Lakey Lane - Adverts VAT 69 and Levins 2598 JOJ598 32 800 11/12
NGB-07
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Turves Green via Pershore Road - Adverts Drinka Pinta Milka Day and Dulux 2935 JOJ935 41 800 4/13
NGB-08
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
Birmingham City Transport - Destination: Acocks Green Road, Lincoln Road North - Adverts Co-op and Littlewoods Pools 3001 LOG301 44 800 4/13
NGW-09
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
West Midlands PTE (ex-BCT) - Destination: Pheasey Estate via Kingstanding - Adverts Prudential and Gold Leaf 2613 JOJ613 90 800 4/13
NGW-10
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
West Midlands PTE (ex-BCT) - Destination: Walsall - Adverts Vernons and Visionhire 3058 MOF58 15 800 4/13
GGL-24 Birmingham front - Lancashire United - Destination: Leigh - Adverts: TBC - On Monday 29th July 2019, Forward Models announced it was ceasing to trade, this model will therefore not be released   6208 TF 73 500 Cancelled

 

Dates please note the following:
Date in Red = the expected release date
Date in Green = the original advertised release date when the actual release date is not known
Date in Black = the actual confirmed release date

 

This page last updated Friday, 09 October 2020

© British Model Buses 2019