26322B Guy Utility - London Transport
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Fleet number: G148
Registration number: GYE 92
Route number: 79
Destination: Alperton LT Station
Certificated quantity: 400 pieces

26410A Daimler Utility - London Transport
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Fleet number: D73
Registration number: GYE 62
Route number: 88
Destination: Clapham Common
Certificated quantity: 231

Other models on sale
Julian Bowden had his two commissioned models from the Maidstone & District East Kent 60 show on sale on his stall:

17226A Leyland National East Kent
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Fleet number: 1115
Registration number: MFN 115R
Route number: 15
Destination: Dover Eastern Docks
Certificated quantity: 200

24203A Daimler Fleetline Maidstone & District
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Fleet number: 5004
Registration number: GCN 806G
Route number: 362
Destination: Leysdown
Certificated quantity: 200

I will publish details of how to purchase the models shortly.

Other model on display
Jotus - BEA AEC Regal IV RF
As reported last evening,  Colin Lawrence had a pre-production sample of the model with him CLICK HERE, if anyone can help with details of the correct paint colour codes used on the real bus, please email me and let me know.

Monday 30th March 2012

The highlight of the day for me was being able to drive STL2377 for about 30 minutes, superb and having never driven a bus with pre-selector gears before it took a little getting used to. However, after about 10 minutes I felt quite happy and had a very enjoyable time. There was also opportunities for people to drive a First Bus Marshall Dart but having driven similar I did not bother.

The two show models were on sale:
26410A Daimler Utility London Transport (with Spring gathering side ads) CLICK HERE
26322B Guy Arab Utility - London Transport (with London Bus Museum side ads) CLICK HERE
I hope to publish some additional high resolution photographs of both tomorrow evening. When I left the Daimler had sold out but there was some stock of the Guy Arab. EFE did not attend the event so there is no news from them.

Further to my News of 26th April, I was able to meet Colin Lawrence in the Museum tent and had a look at the new Jotus  BEA AEC Regal IV RF. The detail really is superb and photographs do not really do it justice. I was very impressed with the ads under the roof of the model (these can partially be seen on photograph 14, I published on Friday evening).

I took a number of photographs around the rally site and hope to publish these during the coming week including a line up of RT1, RM1 and LT1 plus newly restored RT2775 which was unveiled after a 15 year restoration.

Sunday 29 April 2012

Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE
Photograph 5 CLICK HERE
Photograph 6 CLICK HERE
Photograph 7 CLICK HERE
Photograph 8 CLICK HERE
Photograph 9 CLICK HERE
Photograph 10 CLICK HERE
Photograph 11 CLICK HERE
Photograph 12 CLICK HERE
Photograph 13 CLICK HERE
Photograph 14 CLICK HERE
Photograph 15 CLICK HERE

NEW EFE COMMISSIONED MODELS FROM ARRIVA HERITAGE
EFE have advised today they have been commissioned to produce two models for Arriva Heritage fleet as follows:

31908A Routemaster RML901
33103B Routemaster RMC1464

Both models will be displaying Route 38 And will Carry adverts on Nearside for "Maggies Charity" and "Arriva Heritage" on offside. Further details will be given when known

Friday 27th April 2012

We are going to release the next resin model - BEA AEC Regal IV RF.  Please find attached the flyer for the introduction. Colin Lawrence, who is a friend of Joe Kwong of Jotus, will have a sample of the model with him whilst working in the London Bus Museum shop at the Spring Gathering (Wisley) Sunday 29th April 2012 from 13.00. He will be glad to show the model to those interested, but he asks can they also buy something in the shop as that is what he is there for!

Joe advises that the colour of the sample is not correct but will be corrected before release.

CLICK HERE to view the flyer: Please note this is a large .pdf file (260KB approx) and may take a while to download

TTC DIECAST - UPDATE
Chris at TTC Diecast has advised me that his Resin page on his website has been updated releases and includes pre production pictures of the Spectra and Solo SR CLICK HERE

Chris also advises that the TTC Diecast (Loughborough Model Centre) now has its own Facebook page. To follow them CLICK HERE

Thursday 26 April 2012

Tuesday 24 April 2012

New EFE's reported in Buses magazine
The latest issue of Buses magazine out last week mentioned 4 previously unannounced models. EFE advised that they have the following stock codes:

17228 Leyland National Devon General
26209 Guy Arab Maidstone
34108 AEC Regent 3 Coventry Transport
35306 BET Maidstone

I shall let you know more information as soon as I receive it.

Confirmed releases of EFE subscriber models
EFE confirmed that they have begun posting the two Leyland National Subscriber Offer models:
17309 Leyland National Midland Red BMMO CLICK HERE
17509 Leyland National Merseybus CLICK HERE

Next EFE models scheduled for release
EFE have advised that the following models are scheduled for release week commencing 7th May:
28606 G.M. Atlantean Bus First Manchester CLICK HERE
29507 Plaxton Panorama Black & White CLICK HERE
38101 Bristol VRT Flat Fronted Midland Alexander CLICK HERE

11.00pm Monday 23 April 2012

OM41226A Wright Eclipse Gemini - The Lancashire Way  - X41 Manchester
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

OM41226B Wright Eclipse Gemini - The Lancashire Way - X41 Blackburn
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

OM41414A Roe Trolleybus - Doncaster - Hexthorpe
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

OM41414B Roe Trolleybus - Doncaster - Wheatley Hills
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

OM46307A Routemaster RM - Scottish Clydeside - 36 Glasgow
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

OM46307B Routemaster RM - Scottish Clydeside - 38 Johnstone
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

OM46405A Caetano CT650 Levante - Kings Ferry - 007 Dover
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

OM46405B Caetano CT650 Levante - Kings Ferry - 007 London
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

OM46406A Caetano Levante - National Express (Gold England) - London
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

OM46406A Caetano Levante - National Express (Gold England) - Brighton
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

OM46601 New Bus for London
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

10.00am Monday 23 April 2012

OM41226A Wright Eclipse Gemini - The Lancashire Way  - X41 Manchester
OM41226B Wright Eclipse Gemini - The Lancashire Way - X41 Blackburn

OM41414A Roe Trolleybus - Doncaster - Hexthorpe
OM41414B Roe Trolleybus - Doncaster - Wheatley Hills

OM46307A Routemaster RM - Scottish Clydeside - 36 Glasgow
OM46307B Routemaster RM - Scottish Clydeside - 38 Johnstone

OM46405A Caetano CT650 Levante - Kings Ferry - 007 Dover
OM46405B Caetano CT650 Levante - Kings Ferry - 007 London

OM46406A Caetano Levante - National Express (Gold England) - London
OM46406A Caetano Levante - National Express (Gold England) - Brighton

9.15 am Monday 23 April 2012

Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE

CORGI RELEASE UPDATE
Corgi have sent me a list of updated release dates for the OOC range, you will see there are some significant delays:

OM46403A Caetano Levante - National Express - 450 Mansfield via Nottingham May-12

OM46403B Caetano Levante - National Express - 450 London via Nottingham May-12

OM46016A Wright Eclipse Urban - McGill's Glasgow - 38 Glasgow Jun-12

OM46016B Wright Eclipse Urban - McGill's Glasgow - 38 Paisley Jun-12

OM46601 New Bus for London - 1st Route Jul-12

OM46210 Scania Irizar PB - Brighton and Hove Jul-12

OM41413A Daimler Roe - Tyne & Wear PTE - 30 Cleadon Aug-12

OM41413B Daimler Roe - Tyne & Wear PTE - 11 Marsden Aug-12

OM41608A Crossley DD42 - Luton Corporation Transport - 1 Seymor Avenue, Park Square, Dunstable Road Aug-12

OM41608B Crossley DD42 - Luton Corporation Transport - 4 Park Square Dunstable Road Aug-12

OM49904 3 Piece London Transport Bus Set 'Then and Now' - TrolleyBus, RM and NBfL (New Bus for London) Aug-12

Saturday 21 April 2012

76OWB003 Bedford OWB City of Portsmouth CLICK HERE
NPE002 Plaxton Elite Parks of Hamilton CLICK HERE

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Atlas Editions
ATLAS013 4655513 Blackpool Balloon Tram
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

BT-Models
B009 Bedford YMT Duple Dominant II Dual Purpose Coach Eastern National
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

EFE
35209 BET 36ft 6 Bay Bus Ribble
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Oxford Diecast
76OWB002 Bedford OWB Ministry of Supply
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
NBS002 Burlingham Sunsaloon Yelloway
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
NBS003 Burlingham Sunsaloon Wallace Arnold
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
NQ1006 Trolleybus Nottingham
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Monday 16 April 2012

To view the photograph CLICK HERE

London Transport, the beginning - George Shillibeer began running his horse drawn ‘Omnibus’ on 4th July 1829, as a cheaper and more practical alternative to stage coaches and within 34 years London had its first Underground, which was soon to expand. In 1902 the Underground Electric Railways of London was founded and over the next eleven years took control of the District Railway, five tube companies, the private tram companies and the giant bus company, the London General Omnibus Company. The new group, sometimes referred to as the London Traffic Combine, was officially the Underground Group.

In 1933 the Government created a single transport authority, the London Passenger Transport Board, this would be responsible for most of London’s transport network. The LTPB took control of the Underground Group’s rail and road operations, the Metropolitan Railway, the council tramways and virtually all of London’s independent bus operators. The new operator adopted the title London Transport and it has remained the same for the Capital ever since.

Trolley Buses, Tramways and the RT Bus - A new advanced double decker appeared from Chiswick Works in 1939, the AEC ‘RT’ based on an AEC Regent III chassis, and although production was interrupted by the WWII production of the ‘RT’ re-started in 1947 where the total of the ‘RT’ family in the London Transport fleet would number just under 7,000. London’s extensive tramway system was to have been replaced by a Trolleybus network, but due to the difficulties endured during the war years and many other well documented reasons this never happened, and the new London Transport Executive decided to replace the trams and Trolleybus networks with buses. The last tram ran in July 1952 and a decade later on 8th May 1962, what had once been the World’s largest Trolleybus network ran its last service. It was now the age of the Routemaster.

Routemaster - London’s next generation of buses began a test programme in 1954, and then entered into full service in 1959. The new ‘Routemaster’ (RM) like its predecessor the ‘RT’ was jig-built, though without a chassis and had sub-frames incorporated within an advanced all alloy body. Sixty-four seat RMs were then followed by the longer 72 seater versions, these were Greenline Coaches and rural area versions, and a forward entrance version operated for airport services. Over 500 RM and RML vehicles remained in service at the start of the 21st Century and in 2004 the fiftieth anniversary of the building of RM1 was celebrated with a rally at Finsbury Park. The last red Routemaster’s ran in December 2005, although it can still be seen operating heritage routes 9 and 15 in London today.

Millennium - Since July 2000, London’s buses, tubes, trains, taxis, cycle routes, main roads and Thames boat services have come under the control of Transport for London. Articulated or ‘bendy’ buses have been used on busy routes, but objections to road blockages caused by them led to their premature withdrawal. The London Mayor Boris Johnson, launched a competition to design a Routemaster replacement and in November 2010 Wrightbus and Heatherwick Studio presented the first finished example of the new designed New Bus for London (NBfL) which entered service in February of 2012, operating route 38.

This three piece set celebrates the technical evolution of buses in London over the past six decades which to this day continues to serve millions of Londoners, tourists and city workers on a daily basis.

Friday 13 April 2012

NEXT EFE MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
EFE have advised that the following models are scheduled for release week commencing 23rd April:
29410 Bristol RELH D/P coach Cumberland National Express CLICK HERE
29506 Plaxton Panorama Southern National CLICK HERE

Thursday 12 April 2012

Tuesday 10 April 2012

LONDON BUS MUSEUM PRESS RELEASE
The following press release has been received this evening from The London Bus Museum:

A globe-trotting London bus is back - 60 years on

Exactly 60 years after its ground-breaking 12,000-mile tour of the USA and Canada in 1952, a red London double-decker bus is set to be re-launched at 2pm on Sunday 29 April at London Bus Museum’s Spring Bus & Coach Gathering at Wisley airfield in Surrey. The re-launch will be presented by Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner, in the presence of Audrey Dennis, 90-year old widow of Albert Dennis, one of the original tour drivers, together with members of the family of another of those drivers, George Gwynn.

The bus, an AEC Regent type numbered RT2775 and one of nearly 7,000 similar vehicles which were a familiar sight on London streets from the 1940s to the 1970s, was one of three chosen to represent the UK on a “Come to Britain” campaign organised by the British Travel and Holidays Association. After being shipped across the Atlantic in March 1952, the buses travelled to 56 towns and cities in 28 US states, from New York in the east to San Francisco in the west, and on to 26 towns and cities in Canada, including Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto

A total of 82,000 passengers were carried on the tour and 132,000 people visited the accompanying exhibition on one of the buses. Throughout their tour, the buses were met by civic dignitaries and large welcoming crowds, all eager to catch a ride on a London double-decker, something most had never seen before. The destination displays on the buses read  “Greetings from Britain” to the particular location they were visiting and advertisements were carried for many well known British brands. All travellers were issued with special souvenir tickets carrying a greeting and bearing the names of iconic London landmarks.

Such was the sturdy construction of the buses, they covered the 12,000 miles without a hitch, requiring only routine maintenance. None of the major spares carried for the journey were needed and it was said at the time that they returned to the UK with the original London air still in their tyres! A large home crowd greeted the buses upon their return to London at Horse Guards Parade in August 1952, following which all three were returned to normal London service. Throughout their subsequent London life, the buses carried their original ‘GB’ plate at the rear as evidence of their overseas adventure.

RT2775 is the only survivor of the three, both the others having long since been scrapped, one after export for further use in Sri Lanka. The survivor completed 25 years’ service on the streets of London before retirement in 1977. Acquired by the Museum for preservation, it has now been the subject of a complete and meticulous rebuild by Museum volunteers to original condition. Externally, it carries the displays and advertisements it would have worn on its trip across North America although the inside has now been fitted with seats in place of the stores, workshop and crew quarters with which it was originally kitted out!

Photographs:
The bus being unloaded in New York watched by a Pearly King & Queen from London CLICK HERE

Souvenir ticket given out in New York in March 1952. CLICK HERE

CORGI OOC RECENTLY RELEASED MODELS - PHOTOGRAPHS
Click on the links to view photographs courtesy of www.ehattons.com

OM40818A Bristol Lodekka FS - Central SMT Glasgow - 500 pieces
Destination - Route 44 to Glasgow
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
OM40818B Bristol Lodekka FS - Central SMT Glasgow - 500 pieces
Destination - Route 240 to Lanark
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
OM46404A Caetano Levante - National Express "British Armed Forces Day" Destination Portsmouth - 950 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view 
OM46404B Caetano Levante - National Express "British Armed Forces Day" - 900 pieces
Destination Bristol
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Friday 6 April 2012

ATLAS EDITIONS - DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF RELEASED MODEL
The details model ATLAS013 4655513 Blackpool Balloon Tram released last week are:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Fleet number: 250
Registration number: -
Route: -
Destination: Fleetwood via Promenade

BT-MODELS - DETAILS OF RELEASED MODEL
The details model B009 Bedford YMT/Duple Dominant II Dual Purpose Coach Eastern National released earlier this week are:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Fleet number: 1209
Registration number: BNO 695T
Route: 261
Destination: Brentwood

CORGI OOC MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
Corgi have advised that the following models are scheduled for release:

Week commencing 23rd April:
CC82321 Diamond Jubilee Routemaster - Quantity Non limited CLICK HERE

Week commencing 14th May:
OM46403A Caetano Levante - National Express - 550 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Destination: Mansfield via Nottingham

OM46403B Caetano Levante - National Express - 550 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE
Destination: London via Nottingham

Thursday 5 April 2012

News Release

ModelZone are pleased to announce our latest, Exclusive Limited Edition Sunstar Routemaster Bus – RM6, in the popular Route 159 livery.

This exclusive item can be pre-ordered in all of our 46 nationwide stores, and online @ www.modelzone.co.uk, and will be available late 2012. Pre-ordering of this item is strongly advised, to avoid disappointment.

H2917 Routemaster RM6 Route 159 Livery 

Retail £149.99 Limited Edition of 600

Brief History

RM6, reg VLT 6 was delivered in May 1959, as a trainer to Clay Hall, before  entering service from West Ham Garage, working at various north and south London locations before becoming part of the pre privatisation South London Transport fleet. In 1993 a new contract was awarded to South London, for route 159, commencing in January 1994, and RM’s on that route received a stunning new red & cream livery with advertisements replaced by route branding.  During January 1995 South London was sold to Cowie Group PLC. The attractive livery was short lived livery, having been swept away by standard LT red by early 1997. RM6 went on to survive to the end of normal service by Routemasters in December 2005, by then repainted in gold livery, and used mainly for special events. RM 6 joined in with RM5, and RM2217 to be the final normal service Routemasters on the 159. RM6 is still owned by the successor to Cowie Group, Arriva, and is now kept by Arriva London as part of its Heritage Fleet.

This exciting new item can be ordered in advance from ModelZone stores Nationwide, and at www.modelzone.co.uk

Or from:

ModelZone Ltd
Unit 31 Centrale Shopping Centre
North End
Croydon
Surrey
CRO ITY

Tel 020 8686 0096

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM BT MODELS
I can confirm that the following model has now been released and is on sale:
B009 Bedford YMT/Duple Dominant II Dual Purpose Coach Eastern National CLICK HERE

2nd posting Monday 2 April 2012

29206 Leyland Titan (1 Door) East London Coaches
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
29410 Bristol RELH D/P coach Cumberland National Express
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
38701 Alexander Y Type Bus (4 leaf door) Midland Scottish
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE For those interested this photograph is a close-up and shows the radiator/wipers and the door

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM ATLAS EDITIONS
I received a report over the weekend that the following model has been released. Mine arrived this morning:
ATLAS013 4655513 Blackpool Balloon Tram

Monday 2 April 2012

April 2012 - News

This page last updated Tuesday, 26 February 2013