CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD LTD 
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
UKBUS2006 Plaxton President Brighton & Hove
UKBUS3001 Plaxton Dennis Dart MPD Cardiff Bus

EMAIL NOW WORKING
My email has now been restored and all messages that have built up over the last few days have now been delivered.

Saturday 28 February 2004

Thursday 26 February 2004

NEW MODELS ANNOUNCED BY BRITBUS
Whilst in Hong Kong I met with Britbus and was fortunate to be given details of a number of new models that have not yet been announced. At present details of most are a closely guarded secret but I will publish the details and exclusive photographs as soon as I am authorised by Britbus to do so.

In the meantime I am able to give details of two of these new models as follows:
N6102A MCW Metropolitan Glasgow PTE (see photograph below)
N6102B MCW Metropolitan Trans-Clyde PTE

Photograph © British Model Buses

You may recall that last year I reported that the Bulldog used on the certificate of Britbus models was a real dog who lived at the Britbus factory in China. You may be interested in the photograph below of him. His name is "Loh Fu Chai" in English meaning "Little Tiger". My correspondent advises that whilst very friendly towards humans he will ferociously  protect his territory from any other creature that strays into it including mice and other dogs!

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE WEEK COMMENCING 23 FEBRUARY 2004
The following models are scheduled for release next week:
UKBUS2006 Plaxton President Brighton & Hove
UKBUS3001 Plaxton Dennis Dart MPD Cardiff Bus

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM EFE
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
20130 Bedford OB Coach Western
24903 Mercedes Beaver Metrobus (Minimetro)
29501 Plaxton Panorama Type B Bristol Greyhound
29601 Leyland Olympian Type B Capital Citybus

CODE 3 MODELS FROM COUNTRY BUS RALLIES AND LONDON BUS REPAINTS AND TRANSFERS FOR 2004
Nigel at London Bus Repaints and Transfers has kindly advised me of models planned for this years Country Bus Rallies as follows:

East Grinstead - EG04 AEC RT (green) RT940 route 409
Hertford - HG04  OOC (green) STL2990 route 327
Knockholt Pound - KP04 AEC RT (red roofbox) RT698 route 47
Dorking - DS04  10T10 (green) T512 route 425 (if stock of donor model becomes available)
Northfleet - NF04 green STL2660 route 496 (donor 27708)

Other models being released by LBRT during 2004 include:
Amersham Rally 2004 - AM04 red RF370 route 353 (on hire from LT)
AEC Q (double deck Q) LT red Q3  for Bus Stop Models on route 114. 
RTL LT RTL501 route 51.

For further details and to order please contact Nigel at lbrtransfers@aol.com

Sunday 22 February 2004

Friday 13 February 2004

MODEL COLLECTOR BRIGHTON AND HOVE MODEL
I am grateful to Terry Stapley for advising me a letter has been received regarding the above as follows:
"Unfortunately the delivery of these models into the UK has been delayed from early February and the shipment is now due in during week commencing 8th March, at which point they will be despatched immediately."

Thursday 12 February 2004

COBHAM 2004 OPEN DAY MODEL
This years model will be a Leyland STD in London Transport livery. Full details will be given as soon as known.

Monday 9 February 2004

CONFIRMED CODE 2 RELEASE FROM EFE
I am able to confirm that further to my news article of Sunday 1 February 2004 the following Code 2 model has now been released:
28003A DMS Type B Trainer - London School of Theology

Saturday 7 February 2004

FURTHER MODELS ANNOUNCED BY EFE
EFE have announced details of three new models exact release date unknown at present:
11113
RTL - London Transport
Fleet number: RTL1
Registration number: JXN 313
Route number: 21
Destination: Sidcup

26804
Leyland Tiger Duple - Wallace Arnold
Fleet number: -
Registration number: LUB 260
Route number: -
Destination: Torquay

27505
Wright Scania - Midland Bluebird
Fleet number: 579
Registration number: P579 RSG
Route number: 37
Destination: Falkirk

DETAILS OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED EFE MODELS
I am able to give details for the following models announced earlier this week:
17216
Leyland National MK1 (Long) - Stagecoach
Fleet number: 25476
Registration number: UIB 3076
Route number: 90
Destination: Mount Stuart

24322
BET Leyland Tiger Cub - Stratford Blue
Fleet number: 40
Registration number: 2743 AC
Route number: 64A
Destination: Evesham

BRITBUS NEW RELEASES
A's Models of Bolton have advised me that they today took stock of the 3 Britbus models mentioned in yesterdays news article.

Friday 6 February 2004

Thursday 5 February 2004

Firstly, two new models are announced, these being:
17216 Leyland National MK1 - Stagecoach
24322 BET Leyland Tiger Cub - Stratford Blue

Secondly, an explanation is given by Mr Joyce (Managing Director) of Gilbow (Holdings) Ltd regarding the confusion surrounding the East Yorkshire Daimler/Guy Arab models last year as follows:
"A few collectors are confused regarding the corrections that were made to the error on the Daimler utility model, I will try to clear up the mystery. The model that we first identified and put into production was a Daimler Utility fleet number 653 registered DBT 533 model number 26404. After releasing the model we discovered that the lower deck, the radiator and the chassis used to make the model was the Guy tooling and not the Daimler. Guy and Daimler parts are not interchangeable, and at that point in time it was not practical to remake the model. The only solution was to change the identity of the model to replicate one of East Yorkshire Guy Arab's, fleet number 410 registered GRH 194, and that is what we did. In making this change the model had to be correctly identified in our range as a Guy Arab II and it was renumbered 26313, creating a very collectable, small run model. We are also aware that this Guy Utility ran through the notorious Beverly Bar but as an already low 7'-6" wide body the reduced width above the upper windows at model size is almost undetectable. It is possible that in the distant future the correct, original Daimler might be made".

Wednesday 4 February 2004

NORTH WEALD AND SOUTHSEA CODE 2 MODEL'S 2004
I understand that there will not be a special Southsea model this year as the rally is not taking place. Provisionally the North Weald model will be based on EFE model 20203 Leyland STD London Transport, but this is not confirmed. Further details will be given as soon as they are known.

Tuesday 3 February 2004

The new style monthly release sheets are no longer issued in respect of specific months but instead are numbered sequentially e.g. Issue 1 2004. Within the sheet the models displayed each have their anticipated release date published on their entry. The example of the new release sheet shown is unfortunately only in black and white and is taken from a photocopy.

Please click on the links below to view the sheets. Please note these are large images and may take some time to load

EFE New Casting Catalogue Cover CLICK HERE
EFE New Casting Catalogue Cover CLICK HERE
EFE New Casting Catalogue Cover CLICK HERE
EFE New Casting Catalogue Cover CLICK HERE

EFE Release Sheet Issue 1 2004  CLICK HERE

"EFE 28003A DMS Type B Trainer - London School of Theology

To highlight the change in name of the London Bible College to The London School of Theology, EFE have produced a Code 2 model bus.

The model is based on EFE 28003, an ex-London Transport DMS operating London Sightseeing Tours for London Transport but actually in legality an Ensign vehicle, but displaying London Transport on its sides.

The front route blind reads ‘Driver under instruction’ and ‘L’ appears in the route number box with Northwood in the destination box. The rear route number box carries an ‘L’ as well. Side adverts read ‘London School of Theology’ and ‘the new name for London Bible College’. The rear engine cover has an advert ‘Resources for life’ with an ‘L’ plate in the two lower corners. It carries fleet number DF1682, registration number THM 682M and garage plate PT1. Each model will come with a numbered certificate.

The production run is of only 264 models, and many of these models will be used as give-aways. Any leftovers have been made available to a selected mailing list with a special order form".

Sunday 1 February 2004

February 2004 - News

This page last updated Monday, 25 February 2013