News_April 2020

April to June 2020 - News

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HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN ROUTEMASTER - FOLLOW MY PROGRESS CONSTRUCTING THE MODEL BY CLICKING HERE

BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA ES2-04A&B – UPDATE
I have received an update from Chris Cotton earlier this afternoon. Chris says:
“Go-Ahead contacted me on Friday to say they love the model but the roof markings were wrong, they have given me a picture so I could have it changed. Find attached is the new marking from BLT SO5 to GAG SO5. They went on to say the BLT ref is to do when it went to Borehamwood Travel on loan”.

Click here for a higher resolution image

Sunday 28th June 2020

BRITBUS OMNIDEKKAS ES2-04A&B UPDATE
The attached photographs have been received from Chris Cotton who received them yesterday from China. Chris advises that the next stage is fitting the inside, seats, poles and driver area in to them. They are still on course for July delivery.

Monday 22nd June 2020

NORTHCORD MODEL COMPANY - PRESS RELEASE
The Following press release has been received from the Northcord Model Company:

UKBUS1501 Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident Open-Topper - megasightseeing.com

Northcord Model Company is proud to make the official announcement to relaunch its open top model based on the casting of the Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident. This is UKBUS1501, a replica of an open-top ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident in the fleet of megasightseeing.com in London.

UKBUS1501 represents fleet number 18496 (LX06AHC).

The brand-new, first low-cost London sightseeing tour was launched by megabus, along with Stagecoach London on St. George’s Day, 23rd April 2018. The visitors to the capital were then able to use the great service to take them across London to view 50 of its best known sights. The new service makes a circuit of London without stopping, so customers get to see the sight rather than waiting for other customers at each stop. Each trip on the route is approximately two hours long, and uses a GPS activated pre-recorded ‘guide’. The three circular routes, which run hourly on the hour start from Tower of London, The London Eye, and Park Lane.

With ticket prices staring from only £1 online at the start of the operation, passengers would get to view sights like Big Ben, the Tower of London and London Eye from only 2p a sight, all from the comfort and convenience of a megasightseeing.com bus. The current price is £9 online.

Nine vehicles, initially used on the service, are former East London and Selkent 2005/06 Alexander ALX400-bodies Dennis Tridents. All Dennis Trident employed on the tour were adapted by manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) in Anston and Harlow. Four vehicles are fully open top and five offer a partially covered top deck. 18496 is one of the partially covered top deck Dennis Trident.

The exterior of the buses proudly sport the well known face of megabus.com mascot Sid and each vehicle has been named after a famous person with a London link. 18496 is known as Sir Christopher Wren with the St Paul’s Cathedral logo on the bus. The names on the other buses include: King Henry VIII, King George V, Queen Elizabeth II, Lord Nelson, King Charles II, King William I, Sir Winston Churchill, and Queen Victoria.

18496 was new to Stagecoach East London (Selkent) in March 2006 and was amongst the final batch of Alexander Dennis ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident entering service in East London.

The ALX400 open-top replica features excellent detailing inside and out. This is a one-piece casting whose clean lines enhance the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible.

The interior plastic blister has been redesigned to ensure the secure positioning of the model on the plinth by following the shape of the megasightseeing.com open-top model.

The brand-new Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident Open Top UKBUS1501 bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS1501 model is limited to 888 pieces worldwide.

Northcord Model Company (NMC)
------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Wednesday 17th June 2020

CONFIRMED RELEASE OF IXO MODEL BUS018
Hattons have advised of the release of IXO BUS018 AEC Regent III. The model is portrayed in a London Transport red Sightseeing livery. Unfortunately the model appears to be displaying the fleet number of RM94 and a registration number of VLT93 (former Routemaster fleet number and registration number).

Tuesday 16th June 2020

THE BUCKIE MODEL CENTRE - VDL FUTURA 2 TAMAR COACHES - UPDATE
Further to my news of 15th May, Chris from The Buckie Model Centre has contacted me to advise that Tamar Coaches have updated their livery to include the wording "Diamond Class", see below photographs. The model is being amended accordingly, so it will be issued in the correct variation of the livery. Chris has advised me that he will send me photographs when the model arrives from the manufacturer.

THE BUCKIE MODEL CENTRE - VDL FUTURA 2 - NEW MODELS
Chris from The Buckie Model Centre has advised me that he has launched a new range of VDL Futura 2 models (see photographs below). The models are hand finished to order by Chris, using waterslide transfers and can be found listed for sale on The Buckie Model Centre website: https://buckiemodelcentre.com/

The models represent the following companies:

VDL Futura 2 - Allan and Black
VDL Futura 2 - Bremners of Aviemore
VDL Futura 2 - Caledonian Travel
VDL Futura 2 - D&E Coaches
VDL Futura 2 - Dewar Coaches
VDL Futura 2 - MacPhails
VDL Futura 2 - McLeans of Stranraer

Thursday 11th June 2020

NEW MODELS ANNOUNCED BY IXO
Many thanks to Peter at the Yardley Wood Bus Club for advising me of a new model announced by IXO which is scheduled for release in October this year:

1:43rd scale
IXO BUS026 AEC Regent III RT - London Transport (Red)
Adverts Black + White 1939
Fleet number: RT2043
Registration number: Route number: LUC291
Route number: 62
Destination: Creekmouth Power Station

Two non British model have also been announced:
IXO BUS024 Skoda 706 RO White/Brown 1947
IXO BUS025 Ikarus 66 White/Red 1972

Friday 5th June 2020

PHOTOGRAPHS ADDED TO GALLERY PAGES
A number of photographs have been added to the Gallery pages courtesy of Frank Houlden:

Bedford OB - East Yorkshire Motor Services, Caetano Levante - National Express (Silverdale), Commer Commando – Royal Air Force, New Routemaster - First West Yorkshire and Plaxton Elite - East Yorkshire Motor Services.

Click on the thumbnails below to be taken to the relevant Gallery page and read about the bus and the model represented by it.

Wednesday 3rd June 2020

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM NORTHCORD MODEL COMPANY
I can confirm that the following model has now been released in the UK and is on sale:
UKBUS0063 ADL Enviro400 MMC – Ensign Bus
Fleet number: 132
Registration number: YX66WLH
Route number: -
Destination: Private Hire
Quantity: 1008

Thursday 28th May 2020

BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA – LONDON GENERAL UPDATE
Further to my recent updates over the past couple of weeks, Chris Cotton has sent me photographs showing the design of the certificates that will accompany the models. You will note that the model stock code has changed from the previously advised ES2-06A&B to ES2-04A&B. Chris has confirmed to me that the correct stock code for the models is as shown on the certificates.

3rd posting Sunday 25th May 2020

PHOTOGRAPH ADDED TO GALLERY PAGES
I have added a photograph to the Wright Eclipse Gemini Gallery page of Transdev Lancashire United fleet number 408 (YK55ATV). To read about the bus and the models represented by it, please click on the thumbnail image.

2nd posting Sunday 25th May 2020

CORGI LEYLAND OLYMPIAN 3 AXLE SERIES 432XX
A large number of photographs of the entire 432xx and OM432xx series, courtesy of Mr J P Chen have been added to Corgi Page 4. Click on the thumbnail photograph to be taken to the page.

Sunday 25th May 2020

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM OXFORD DIECAST
Many thanks to Iain MacLennan for reminding me that I had not published details of the below release. I reported it on Facebook on 12th March, but inadvertently forgot to upload details to the website.

76TK016 Bedford TK - MacBraynes
Fleet number: L155
Registration number: FYS92T

Friday 22nd May 2020

BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA – LONDON GENERAL UPDATE
Chris Cotton sent me the attached photograph a short time ago. He writes “I have in the last ten minutes just got the following picture from Britbus, the next stage is cleaning then painting into the base red”.

Wednesday 20th May 2020

BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA – LONDON GENERAL UPDATE
Chris Cotton has sent me some updated drawings for his two commissioned Britbus models.

Go Ahead London - Docklands Buses

ES2-06A – Destination Clapton
ES2-06B – Destination Stratford

Since publication of the original drawings, Chris has received a number of comments and has taken advice. As a result, changes have been made to the window layout and the legal lettering.

Tuesday 19th May 2020

PHOTOGRAPH ADDED TO GALLERY PAGES
I have added a further photograph to the Gallery pages this morning:

ADL Enviro400 MMC - Xplore Dundee 6695 (SK68MBO) courtesy of Stefan Dunn

Click on the thumbnail below to be taken to the relevant Gallery page and read about the bus and the model represented by it.

Monday 18th May 2020

PHOTOGRAPHS ADDED TO GALLERY PAGES
A number of photographs have been added to the Gallery pages:

AEC Regent 1 Tilling - London Transport ST922 (GJ2098) - Courtesy of Phil Hambling.
AEC Regent 1 Tilling - Thomas Tilling GJ2098 - Courtesy of Phil Hambling and myself.
AEC RT - Browns Blue - Courtesy of Phil Hambling.
Daimler DMS - Ensignbus - Round London Sightseeing Tour - Courtesy of Phil Hambling.
East Lancs Scania Omnidekka - Transdev SLE38 (YN55 NKG) - Courtesy of John Bennett
Leyland National - East London LS35 - Courtesy of Phil Hambling

Click on the thumbnails below to be taken to the relevant Gallery page and read about the bus and the model represented by it.

Sunday 17th May 2020

THE BUCKIE MODEL CENTRE ANNOUNCES TWO ENGLISH COACH MODELS
The Buckie Model Centre has announced their first two English coach models. Both will be available in approximately 10 weeks, further details will be released when known:

VDL Futura 2 – Tamar Coaches WA13DXC
VDL Futura 2 Double Deck – Barnes WJ18EAE

The models will be available directly from the Buckie Model Centre via their website www.buckiemodelcentre.com or email info@buckiemodelcentre.com

Friday 15th May 2020

BUCKIE MODEL CENTRE - BAY TRAVEL COACHES (KIRKALDY)
The Buckie Model Centre issued model number 14 in their Scottish Coach Collection in late January. The model a VDL Futura 2 in1/87 Scale, represents Bay Travel Coaches (Kirkaldy) registration number SJ19VNP.

The model is priced at £36.00 and is available directly from the Buckie Model Centre via their website www.buckiemodelcentre.com or email info@buckiemodelcentre.com

PHOTOGRAPHS OF A BUS AND COACH BOTH REPRESENTED AS MODELS
Please see photographs of one bus and two coaches that have been represented in model form:

ADL Enviro400 MMC – First Glasgow 33201 (SK68LWN) taken in its depot and on route 75 to Castlemilk via City Centre, as represented by Northcord Model Company model UKBUS6514. Photographs courtesy of Campbell Morrison.
Scania Irizar i6 - City Link Air YS16LMV on route to Edinburgh Airport via Harthill, as represented by Oxford Diecast model 76IR6006. Photographs courtesy of Campbell Morrison and Blair Cameron.
VDL Futura 2 - Bay Travel Coaches (Kirkaldy) registration number SJ19VNP, as represented by Buckie Model Centre, Scottish Bus Collection model number 14. Photographs courtesy of the Buckie Model Centre.

Click on the thumb nails to be taken to the Gallery page for that bus/coach to view the high resolution photographs.

Thursday 14th May 2020

SCANIA OMNIDEKKA – LONDON GENERAL DOCKLANDS BUSES
Further to my news updates over the past couple of days regarding the commissioning of a Britbus model of fleet number SO5 (BV55UCY), two photographs have been added to the East Lancs Scania Omnidekka Gallery page courtesy of John Bennett and Terry O'Neill.

Wednesday 13th May 2020

BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA – LONDON GENERAL UPDATE
Chris Cotton has sent me some updated details for his two commissioned Britbus models:

Go Ahead london - Docklands Buses

Both models will be limited to 200 pieces each.
ES2-06A – Destination Clapton
ES2-06B – Destination Stratford
The updated images show the mirrors in the correct position.

Tuesday 12th May 2020

EFE CRAVENS RT – UPDATE
The latest edition of the Bachmann Times arrived today and features an update on the Cravens RT casting.

“EFE announced an all-new model of the Cravens RT during the 2019 London Bus Museum’s Spring Gathering event and we had hoped to share the latest progress on these models with visitors to this year’s event – but that was not to be due to the event being cancelled due to the current situation. We are however delighted to share with you here images of the CAD drawings which have now been completed and the project moved forwards to the next stage which is to produce the tooling”.

The article also states that the tooling is underway for both the Leyland Atlantean Open Top and the Volvo Olympian/Palatine 1, but no dates are given.

There was also no update on the previously announced Routemaster model 42301 Routemaster RML - Clydeside Scottish

2nd posting Monday 11th May 2020

NEWS OF A BRITBUS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA COMMISSION
Chris Cotton has contacted me to advise that he has commissioned two models on the Britbus Scania Omnidekka casting.

Both models feature Go Ahead London vehicle fleet number SO5 (BV55UCY)

One model is on route 425 to Clapton
The second model is on route 425 to Stratford

The models will be priced at £60 for 1 model or £115 for both (postage is included in the prices).

Chris advises that the driver’s side mirror will be changed to the right place prior to production. Delivery is expected in late July.

To order one or both models, please contact Chris at cwc18@live.co.uk for further details

Monday 11th May 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER – UPDATE
I have now completed Issues 91 to 95. Click on the magazine front cover below and scroll down the Build Your Own Routemaster page 91 to 100 to read about how I got on.

Wednesday 6th May 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER – UPDATE
I have now completed page 9 covering Issues 81 to 90. Click on the magazine front cover below and scroll down the Build Your Own Routemaster page 81 to 90 to read about how I got on.

Wednesday 29th April 2020

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM THE NORTHCORD MODEL COMPANY
I can confirm that the following model has now been released in the UK and will be in the shops imminently:
UKBUS6516 ADL Enviro400 MMC - Stagecoach South Gold
Fleet number: 10770
Registration number: SN66VYR
Route number: 1
Destination: Aldershot
Quantity: 1008 pieces

Thursday 23rd April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER – UPDATE
I have now completed page 8 covering Issues 71 to 80. Click on the magazine front cover below and scroll down the Build Your Own Routemaster page 71 to 80 to read about how I got on..

Sunday 19th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER – UPDATE
I have now completed page 7 covering Issues 61 to 70. Click on the magazine front cover below and scroll down the Build Your Own Routemaster page 61 to 70 to read about how I got on..

Friday 17th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER – UPDATE
Another major landmark was reached this morning with Issue 66, all front lights and horn now working. The bulkhead light was not designed to work by Hachette and no wiring was supplied. I am aware that some people have fitted their own led light and wired it into the circuit for the nearside headlamp and fog light. I won’t be doing this on my build. Click on the magazine front cover below and scroll down the Build Your Own Routemaster page 61 to 70 to find photographs showing the working front lights.

Monday 13th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER - UPDATE
I have just updated page six with builds 61 to 65. Each issue has its own section with photographs showing the magazine, and the progress of my build. Click on the image below (to be taken directly to page seven), or on the "Build Your Own Routemaster" link on the menus to the left, and then select weeks 61 to 70 from the menu.

Sunday 12th April 2020

NORTHCORD MODEL COMPANY – UKBUS0063 ADL ENVIRO400 MMC – ENSIGN BUS
Please see photographs of my model which has arrived from Hong Kong:
Fleet number: 132
Registration number: YX66WLH
Route number: -
Destination: Private Hire
Quantity: 1008

Thursday 9th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER - UPDATE
I have just updated page six with builds 59 & 60. Each issue has its own section with photographs showing the magazine, and the progress of my build. Click on the image below (to be taken directly to page six), or on the "Build Your Own Routemaster" link on the menus to the left, and then select weeks 51 to 60 from the menu.

Wednesday 8th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER - UPDATE
I have been busy catching up over the weekend and have just updated page six with builds 51 to 58. Each issue has its own section with photographs showing the magazine, and the progress of my build. Click on the image below (to be taken directly to page six), or on the "Build Your Own Routemaster" link on the menus to the left, and then select weeks 51 to 60 from the menu. Updates will slow this next week as it is back to work tomorrow, but I will try and do a couple of updates per week.

Sunday 5th April 2020

HACHETTE PARTWORKS BUILD YOUR OWN 1:12TH SCALE ROUTEMASTER - UPDATE
I have been taking advantage of the enforced social isolating by recommencing work on my model. For various reasons, I put this on hold roundabout Easter last year, but have now got everything out and have restarted. I have just updated page five which covers builds 41 to 50. Each issue has its own section with photographs showing the magazine, and the progress of my build. Click on the image below (to be taken directly to page five), or on the "Build Your Own Routemaster" link on the menus to the left, and then select weeks 41 to 50 from the menu.

Saturday 4th April 2020

April to June 2020 - News

This page last updated Sunday, 28 June 2020