BRITBUS MODELS DUE FOR RELEASE VERY SOON
John Ayreys have advised that they have now received the following models which no doubt will be dispatched to stores in the near future:
GL10A GUY ARAB III W.ALEXANDER & SONS
Route: 'HIGH VALLEYFIELD - 14B
GL10B GUY ARAB III W.ALEXANDER & SONS
Route: 'TOWNHILL - 305'
AE-06A AEC REGENT III - CIE (AR295) (TO DROGHEDA)
AE-06B AEC REGENT III - CIE (AR301) (TO ST ANNES)

OXFORD DIECAST MODELS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
Oxford Diecast have advised that the following models are scheduled for release next week:
NQ1005 BUT Trolleybus Cardiff CLICK HERE
RM108 AEC Routemaster Southend Transport CLICK HERE

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM EFE
The following EFE models were released earlier this month and are now on sale:
99935 Isle of Wight Tube Train CLICK HERE
22517 Alexander Y Type Northern General CLICK HERE
27627 Wright Renown CMT Buses CLICK HERE
35206 BET East Yorkshire CLICK HERE

CORGI OOC MODELS
Corgi advised me today that there are no OOC bus models scheduled for release between now and week commencing 15th August.

AN ITEM OF BUS NEWS (NOTHING TO DO WITH MODELS)
I have been sent a link to a news article which may amuse you. Very scary but it made me smile CLICK HERE to view.

STAFF HOLIDAYS
The office is now closed for staff holiday until Wednesday 17th August 2011. Please continue to send me news and any purchase enquiries for models from my "Models for sale page" whilst I am away and I will deal with correspondence on my return.

Friday 29th July 2011

Wednesday 27th July 2011

CORGI OOC OM46401 CAETANO LEVANTE NATIONAL EXPRESS - PHOTOGRAPHS
Click on the links below to view photographs of my model:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view

CORGI OOC OM41707 RTW OK MOTORBUS SERVICES - PHOTOGRAPHS
Thank you to everyone who sent me photographs, unfortunately it is only possible to publish a few of them:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Tuesday 26 July 2011

NEWS FROM THE LT MUSEUM
A lengthy letter was received from the LT Museum this morning outlining the new Model Collectors Club which replaces the old Standing Order Customer Scheme. The letter comprised 9 pages so I have taken extracts from the letter which I reproduce below. Most of the details I have not copied relates to the terms and conditions of the scheme and an order form for customers who do not have an online facility:

MODEL COLLECTOR’S CLUB

London Transport Museum is delighted to announce that we have upgraded our systems in preparation for launch of our new Collectors Club (which succeeds our Standing Order Club).

The new Club will be available as a self service online facility at

www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/collectors-club

The new service will commence at 14.00, Monday 1 August 2011

Customers who are not yet online will be able to return the attached form to the Museum in the usual way.

This letter contains the following information;

• Overview (Pages 1, 2 & 3)

• Details of the new online Model Collectors Club and what to do (Pages 4,5 & 6)

• Details of the new Model Collectors Club and Order form for customers who DO NOT have online access (Pages 7, 8 and 9)

As you may be aware, we have had to upgrade our systems to comply with challenging new laws on Data Protection and Transport for London’s new policies to accompany these laws.

The new laws are designed to give customers maximum actual and legal protection in their dealings with any business who require personal data to be held, and confers considerable corporate and personal responsibility on business employees dealing with such data.

We have taken the opportunity at the same time to streamline our own administration systems to ensure a smoother dispatch process.

• We have also decided (and we regret the inconvenience to you) to ask all customers to reconfirm orders that may have been outstanding for up to 3 years.

• We have dispatched all DM and DMS models, the Royal Blue Plaxton Panorama, the Red & White Bristol RELH coach and the two United Bristol RELH coaches and no longer hold old order information for these models.

• As from the date of this letter ALL credit card information we hold (even though we cannot access this) will have been destroyed by Barclays Bank.

• Terms and Conditions of the club have been slightly revised. When the service goes live on 1 August online customers will need to read and tick the Terms and Conditions box to make any online purchases.

• For customers without online access, the new Terms and Conditions are printed on pages 7 and 8. When making an order using the form on page 9, please sign and tick the box to confirm that you have read and understood these. In all cases please keep a copy of all paperwork for your records. If you are eligible for discount (Friend of the Museum, TfL staff or Retired LT/TfL staff) we also require you to disclose your Friends membership number or TfLlRetired TfL employee number on the form. This information is an audit requirement.

• All future communication with online customers will be by email. If you are eligible for discount (Friend of the Museum, TfL staff or Retired LT/TfL staff) we also require you to email us at collectorsclub@ltmuseum.co.uk your Friends membership number or TfL Retired TfL employee number. We will then email you back a discount code to be used when ordering online. This information is an audit requirement.

• With a new, more flexible and automated online service, we hope in due course to increase the scope of the Collectors Club, including special online offers and special online availability of very limited edition bus and train models.

• Please do NOT opt to use both online and manual systems — it will just mean that your orders are doubled!

As many customers are aware, continuing difficulties beset the model bus business. We regret that our last programme advertised in Spring 2009 has been only partially fulfilled. We are assured by Exclusive First Editions (EFE) that all models listed are still being produced, but as is usual, there is no timetable for this.

The models (all EFE) still awaited are;

• Pre War RT bus in pre-war red livery on Route 28

• Post war RT bus in red livery on Route 94

• RLH (lowbridge) in LT green livery on Route 336

• RML Arriva (red) on Route 38 (last few weeks of service); Version B

• 10T10 in pre war Green Line livery Version A on Route N

• 10T10 in pre war Green Line livery Version B on Route C1

• Museum’s own 4 car 1938 tube train

All customers - please re-order these either online or using the attached form (non online customers)

New models (all EFE) announced in this newsletter are;

• Bus Set 15A. Prototype Green Line coaches. CRL4 (prototype Routemaster coach) on Route 715 and RC 1 in two tone green livery in London Country service on Route 711

• Bus Set 15B. Prototype Green Line coaches. CRL4 (prototype Routemaster coach) on Route 715 (identical to model in Set 15A) and RCL 2242 on Route 704

These sets differ from previous releases in that they will be 2 separately boxed models within a fully illustrated sleeve. Unfortunately, the market is not strong enough for us to commission the volume of models that are required to justify the expense of the previous bespoke boxes.

• Bristol Greyhound RELH/Eastern Coachworks Version A — London via Reading and M4

• Bristol Greyhound RELH/Eastern Coachworks Version B — Southend on Sea

• Guy Arab (red with cream waistrail) LT Utility — Route 107

• STL red LPTB — silver roof — no roof box — Route 54

• RE red — LTE — underlined LT fleet name — Route 240A

• United Counties Bristol LS — Route 359 (joint with LT)

• GS—LT green—Route3l6

An unusual release from EFE will be the unique single deck Routemaster (which will be a standard release). We hope to be able to secure a large quantity of models and we are including them in our online and ‘manual’ order system.

As is usual, we will produce special models for the Acton Weekend on 8/9 October 2011. Any residue will be advertised online after the event (subject to availability).

Details of the special models (there will be 2 variants of the same casting) will be published online a few weeks before the event.

Corgi (Original Omnibus Company) are releasing a model of the New Bus for London early in 2012. A 1:76 scale model of this wonderful addition to London’s bus fleet will be eagerly sought after by many. The Museum will provide fuller details nearer the time of the model’s release.

There is no significant news from Creative Master Northcord or Britbus, and in the case of Britbus, new releases are now very sparse.

However, following from the huge success of the Jotus 2 door Ailsa/Alexander on Routes 77 and 170, Jotus have announced 3 FRM models, probably retailing for around £80 - £90 each. These models are made in a combination of white metal and resin. Details are;

• FRM1 LT livery Route 76

• FRM1 LT livery (with roundel) Route 284

• ERM1 LT livery — Round London Sightseeing Tour

Later this year we are hoping to launch a new series of bus and model railway commissions, and details will be emailed and mailed to members when specifications have been agreed with manufacturers.

All our Model Collector’s Club customers are looked after by Sam Harrison, who in addition to this work looks after all our Internet and Trade interests as well as managing the Acton Depot shop. She has a busy workload, and it helps us to help you to include your daytime telephone number on the “Manual” order form to process queries quickly.

Please feel free to email us your suggestions and ideas, and we will take these into account in future range planning.

Your continued support of the Museum helps us maintain and improve many services for our visitors. We are very grateful.

Yours sincerely

Michael Walton

Sam Harrison

Information sheet for Online Customers

Please see website for details.

www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/collectors-club

Models previously announced but needing re-confirmation

EFE Pre-war RT LT red Route 28 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE Post war RT LT red Route 94 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE RLH LT green Route 336 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE 1OT1O Green Line Pre war Route N MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE 1OT1O Green Line Pre war Route Cl MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE RML Arriva Route 38 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE 4 car 1938 Tube Car set (Museum’s own) MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £1 50.00*

New models not previously announced by LTM

EFE Bristol Greyhound RELH/ECW Version A MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE Bristol Greyhound RELH!ECW Version B MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE Guy Arab LT red (1 cream band) Rte 107 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE STL red LPTB silver roof (no r/box) Rte 54 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE RF red LT (underlined LT f/name) Rte 240A MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE Bus Set 15A Prototypes Set (CRL4 & RC1) MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £66.99*

EFE Bus Set 15B Routemaster Set (CRL4 & RCL)MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £66.99*

EFE United Counties Bristol LS bus Route 359 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

EFE GS LT (green) Route 316 MUSEUM SPECIAL Price £33.99*

Jotus FRM1 Route 76 Standard release Price £89.99*

Jotus FRM1 Route 284 Standard release Price £89.99*

Jotus FRM1 Round London Sightseeing Tour Standard release Price £89.99*

EFE Single deck RM Standard release Price £49.99*

* Expected price is fisted but is subject to variation

Contact details

Please email the following address if you have any queries about the Collectors Club or are eligible for a Friends / retired staff/ TfL staff discount (email address live from 1 August 2011

collectorsclub@ltmuseum.co.uk

Tel no: 020 7565 7273

This is a voicemail service only. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Photograph 1 Box Front showing correct description CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 Box End showing incorrect description CLICK HERE
Photograph 3 Nearside view showing light blue window surround on upper deck CLICK HERE
Photograph 4 Offside view as Photograph 3 CLICK HERE
Photograph 5 Nearside view showing light blue window surround and poor finish where blue joins white paint below lower deck windows CLICK HERE
Photograph 6 Front view showing very poor finish below upper deck window CLICK HERE
Photograph 7 Rear view showing very poor finish around platform and lower deck window CLICK HERE
Photograph 8 Showing botched repair to left of upper deck rear window CLICK HERE

This one is going back to Atlas Editions with a complaint, I will let you know how I get on.

Additionally, yesterday I emailed Atlas Customer Services asking for details of fleets of forthcoming models for publication. I received what I would term a standard reply referring me to their website and frequently asked questions. Needless to say details of new models are not listed within frequently asked questions which details returns policy etc. 1 out of 10 for customer service!

Thursday 21st July 2011

One further glaring error is the wording on the box. The sides of the box show a photograph of the model and the correct wording of Lytham St Annes MCW Orion. The ends of the box show the model and the wording West Riding Bedford Val/Plaxton:

4655517 MCW Orion - Lytham St Annes
Fleet number: 67
Registration number: 50 NTD
Route number: 11
Destination: Squires Gate

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM CORGI OOC
Peter at Yardley Wood Bus Club has confirmed that the following model has now been released:
OM46401 Caetano Levante National Express W24 Wembley Stadium CLICK HERE 

NEW KIT ANNOUNCED BY KINGSWAY MODELS
Kingsway Models have announced the following new Bus Garage kit:

Enfield London Transport bus garage card kit in 1/76 scale for use with EFE, OOC and other model buses. Enfield Garage (known as Ponders End), was built by the LGOC for the use of the London Public Omnibus Co. in 1928.

Between 1938 and 1961, its forecourt was used as a trolleybus turning circle: the area is now used as a large bus park. The front of the building has since been rebuilt. The model measures approximately 21" wide by 6" deep. Available from www.kingswaymodels.com

Photograph 1 CLICK HERE
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE

Wednesday 20 July 2011

OM40818A&B
Bristol Lodekka FS - Central SMT Glasgow
50% Route 44 to Glasgow
50% Route 240 to Lanark
Release: March 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view

OM43916A&B
Utility Bus Provincial
50% Route to Gosport Ferry
50% Route to Fareham West End
Release: March 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view

OM41114A&B
East Lancs PD3 - Blackburn
50% Route to Blackburn
50% Route to Highercroft Infirmary
Release: January 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view

OM46404A&B
Caetano Levante - National Express "British Armed Forces Day"
50% Route to Bristol
50% Route to Portsmouth
Release: January 2012
Quantity: Less than 2000 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view

NEW CASTING
OM46601
Wright New Bus For London (Boris Master)
Release date: March 2012
Quantity: More than 2001 pieces
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view

Monday 18th July 2011

OM40818A&B
Bristol Lodekka FS - Central SMT Glasgow CLICK HERE
50% Route 44 to Glasgow
50% Route 240 to Lanark
Release: March 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces

OM43916A&B
Utility Bus Provincial CLICK HERE
50% Route to Gosport Ferry
50% Route to Fareham West End
Release: March 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces

OM41114A&B
East Lancs PD3 - Blackburn CLICK HERE
50% Route to Blackburn
50% Route to Highercroft Infirmary
Release: January 2012
Quantity: Less than 1500 pieces

OM46404A&B
Caetano Levante - National Express "British Armed Forces Day" CLICK HERE
50% Route to Bristol
50% Route to Portsmouth
Release: January 2012
Quantity: Less than 2000 pieces

NEW CASTING
OM46601
Wright New Bus For London (Boris Master) CLICK HERE
Release date: March 2012
Quantity: More than 2001 pieces

Saturday 16 July 2011

NRM012 Routemaster Kelvin Scottish
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

LONDON BUS MUSEUM MEMBERS DAY MODEL - PHOTOGRAPHS
Click on the links below to view photographs of the model released on Sunday:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 5 CLICK HERE to view

Tuesday 12 July 2011

As reported last evening, the Museum commissioned EFE 36002B model CLICK HERE  was on sale today. As yet the Museum does not have a phone line connected and they are not taking orders for the model. Richard the shop manager will be letting me have ordering details when work is sufficiently advanced and phones connected etc so they can accept orders. It is not known at this time when that will be.

CLICK HERE to visit a page of photographs I have compiled showing the new museum (I will caption the photos at a later date when time permits)

JOTUS FRM1 RESIN MODEL
I have received pre-production sample photographs from jotus.com this evening showing the first of their FRM models. Click on the links below to view the photographs:
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 3 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 4 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 5 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 6 CLICK HERE to view

Sunday 10 July 2011

The model features a Shillibeer Routemaster on route 29 to Tottenham Court Road Station. It will be limited to 400 pieces only. No release date is given at this time. 
Fleet number: RM2130
Registration number: VLT 23
Route number: 29:
Destination: Tottenham Court Road Station

CLICK HERE to view a scanned image from the magazine showing the model

LONDON BUS MUSEUM (FORMERLY COBHAM BUS MUSEUM MEMBERS DAY AND NEW MODEL
The London Bus Museum are holding a members only day at the new museum tomorrow (10th). Please note this is members only and admission is on production of membership card, non members will not be admitted. On sale will be a new commissioned model from EFE:
36002B RTL London Transport
Fleet number RTL139
Registration number: KGK 803
Route: 277
Destination: Smithfield

Any models left over after tomorrow will go on general sale. I will notify details when I hear them

Saturday 9 July 2011

Friday 8 July 2011

CONFIRMED RELEASE CORGI OOC MODELS
I can confirm that the following models have now been released and are on sale:
OM46015A Wright Single Deck Lothian Buses - Easter Road CLICK HERE
OM46015B Wright Single Deck Lothian Buses Clermison CLICK HERE

Tuesday 5 July 2011

25811 Daimler DMS Western S.M.T
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

26624 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Brighton & Hove
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

29626 Leyland Olympian Barton Transport
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

34502 Bedford TK Bulk Tipper Marston Bricks
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

36604 SLF Dart Twin Door - Arriva London
Photograph 1 CLICK HERE to view
Photograph 2 CLICK HERE to view

Monday 4 July 2011

There was little to report on the model bus front. Unfortunately the Show model V3 was not received in time from Hong Kong. The model will be available to those who have already pre-ordered from TTC Diecast. If you would like to acquire one of the models when they are released please contact TTC Diecast to check on availability.

The Routemaster Association EFE model 31907 model was on sale today for the first time on open public sale on the Routemaster Association stand although this was released to those who ordered direct during the later part of June.

I took a number of photographs showing the real buses on display and I will publish a small selection of photographs during the week.

Sunday 3 July 2011

CONFIRMED RELEASES FROM BRITBUS AND CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD LTD
Many thanks to Peter at Yardley Wood for advising me that the following models have now been released and are on sale:

Britbus
GL09A Guy Arab 3 W. Alexander – Fife CLICK HERE - 300 pieces
GL09A Guy Arab 3 W. Alexander – Fife CLICK HERE - 300 pieces

CMNL
UKBUS6033 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 ADL E400H Transdev London United (ADH2 – SN58 EOS) CLICK HERE

NORTH WEALD BUS RALLY
I will be attending the Rally tomorrow and will post a report after the event. EFE are not attending the event but regular contributors The Yardley Wood Bus Club and TTC Diecast will be there. It is hoped that the Rally model NWR1 Volvo Ailsa V3 - Blue Triangle Buses will be available but I have not received confirmation.

Saturday 2 July 2011

July 2011 - News

This page last updated Monday, 25 February 2013