Production update

To our valued retailers and collectors :

Herewith we itemise an update on likely release dates and status for announced models in the UKBUS6200, UKBUS6500 and UKBUS6800 range. In addition, three further future releases are announced.

Production delays due to shortage of appropriate labour in all factories in southern China are affecting many manufacturers and it is appropriate that NMC should advise you accordingly. 

The continuing influence of Covid is also having a negative impact on the timescale of our release schedule because of the inability to have face-to-face meetings at the production facilities which has slowed down the decision-making process in approving the minutiae of our models.

Furthermore, the deliveries are experiencing delays worldwide. Covid, Importing, and now a war in Europe have each impacted shipping badly.

UKBUS6200 Range (Alexander Dennis Enviro400)

UKBUS6201 – All Plain White : pre-production samples will be prepared with an anticipated production slot being available during late January 2023.

UKBUS6500 Range

UKBUS6529 – Stagecoach South (10945 – SN18 KNJ) The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee : models are now available in the UK.

UKBUS6530 – Go North East (6341 – YX20 OKA) xlines : models are currently being shipped to the UK.

UKBUS6527 – Stagecoach North Scotland (11173 – SK19 EKU) : production will be concluded by mid October 2022.

UKBUS6518 – Go South Coast (1650 – HF66CGE) : production will be commenced shortly.

UKBUS6800 Range

The preparation of the new casting of ADL Enviro400 City on Trident 2 and BYD ADL Enviro400EV City is scheduled to be commenced in the second part of 2023. The newly developed comprehensive casting will initially include the following versions of Britain’s best-selling double-decker buses :

1. 10.8 metre 1 & 2 door BYD ADL Enviro400EV City
2. 10.9 metre 1 & 2 door Enviro400 City Trident 2-chassised to follow as a continuation of the previous Enviro400 MMC Licence Agreement

Northcord Model Company will make an announcement in detail about planned liveries and model dimensions nearer to its launch date. The range will be expanded with the shorter versions of each type in due course. 

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

Monday 19th September 2022

UKBUS6530 - ADL Enviro400 MMC - Go North East

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus, Xplore Dundee and Stagecoach North West, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the sixteenth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – UKBUS6530 in the livery of Go North East.

UKBUS6530 represents fleet number 6341 (YX20 OKA) that was new to Go North East in early 2020. 6341 carries a full and colourfully branded livery for Xlines working route X71, heading to Consett. Such unique feature, and the special, comprehensive livery and branding are 100% reproduced onto the UKBUS6530 models.

The stand-out features of the branding are : “TALKING BUS” and “WIFI USB” at the front; the big “Xlines” on both sides and rear, along with key locations served “fast into Newcastle, Sunniside, Stanley or Consett”, together with “bring your bike on board”, “comfortable, WIFI USB, talking bus, this is a low emission Euro 6 bus” with unique symbols respectively. Further slogans include : “take a ride on the green machine”, “super low emission engines & stop start tech for a greener city”, “frequent, rapid links from Go North East” together with an icon illustration of the city on the rear. Furthermore, a full-length destination display is carried on both sides, with the offside one mounted amidships.

As 6341 is carrying the registration number with “OK”, it will create additional interest to the model collectors far away from the Newcastle and North east area. The “OK” will recall the link to the OK buses from the same area.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC UKBUS6530 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the UKBUS6530 model is its dual tree protectors at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.

Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 MMC 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 UKBUS6530 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide.

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

Monday 12th September 2022

To order the model, please visit the Buckie Model centre website at https://buckiemodelcentre.com/

The Buckie Model Centre have also advised that they hope to take delivery of their stock of Bluebird Weymouth VDL Futura model next week (I published details last week), again assuming there are no delays in customs.

Wednesday 7th September 2022

OM46635 New Routemaster – First West Yorkshire
Route: 590
Destination: Halifax
Anticipated release date: Autumn 2022

I understand that this model is not being sold to the Trade, so you will only be able to purchase it direct from the Corgi website at full RRP.

Monday 5th September 2022

Saturday 3rd September 2022

“MX06LUO Stagecoach Enviro 400 - I am pleased to announce pre-ordering is now open for these models which are due for release around March/April 2023. They will come with a limited card and a designed box. 800 are going to be made in 2 routes as below
2 Newton Abbot
155 Exeter
Prices will be £52 for 1 or £102 for both routes plus your postage option. Please pre-order at https://www.omnidekkamodels.co.uk/. Ace Model Buses and myself will be the only ones selling these models”.

Chris Cotton has asked me to point out that “the logos on the side will be in the correct place on the models and not as shown on the livery plan”.

2nd posting Friday 2nd September 2022

Relaunch Castings - ADL Enviro400 & Scania OmniCity Double-Decker

Northcord Model Company is proud to make the official announcement to relaunch two castings that had been developed by CMNL before being continued by Northcord Model Company. These castings are being relaunched for both normal release and commissioned project.

The first casting is the former UKBUS6000 series, the replica of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 available in two length, 10.1 metre two door Transport for London version, and 10.8 metre Provincial specifications with single door and dual door versions. The first UKBUS6001 model was launched in 2006 with Stagecoach London ‘Spirit of London’ livery. In the following years since then, all UKBUS6000 series models have gained excellent success and reputation worldwide, and especially in both Hong Kong and UK markets.

Northcord Model Company will put the new products into a new-series categorised UKBUS6200 et seq, as a continuation from the relaunch casting on UKBUS6000 model range before that.

The second relaunch casting is the former UKBUS9000 series, which features the Polish-built double-decker Scania OmniCity in both single-door and dual-door format within the 10.6 metre length. With the launch model of the new UKBUS9000 series being Selkent, part of East London Bus Group, in November 2009, more high-profile British bus fleets, such as Bluestar, Metrobus, Thames Travel, Reading Buses, Stagecoach London and London United RATP Group were added to the list of the UKBUS9000 model range since then.

In a similar way to the arrangement for UKBUS6000/6200, Northcord Model Company will put the new products into a new-series categorised UKBUS9500 et seq, as a continuation from the relaunch casting on UKBUS9000 model range before that. The collectors will therefore recognise these models as the follow-on version with both the ADL Enviro400 and Scania OmniCity double-decker bus family.

Relaunched production of both former CMNL/NMC castings will take place under the same arrangement as exists for the UKBUS6500 family of models.

Northcord Model Company will make an announcement in detail about planned liveries and model dimensions nearer to its reissue and launch date.

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

76AMT003 Alexander M Type - Eastern Scottish, Coach 5
Fleet number: -
Registration number: HSG564N
Route number: - 
Destination: Edinburgh from London

76DB002 Duple Britannia - Barton 
Fleet number: 914
Registration number: VHO500
Route number: -
Destination: Blackpool

76IR6008 Irizar i6 - Bus Eireann Expressway
Fleet number: SE32
Registration number: 151-D-2631
Route number: X8
Destination: Dublin Airport

Friday 2nd September 2022

76AMT003 Alexander M Type - Eastern Scottish - Release date not known
76DB002 Duple Britannia - Barton - Q2 2023
76IR6008 Irizar i6 - Bus Eireann Expressway - Q4 2023 

CONFIRMED RELEASE FROM OXFORD DIECAST
The following model was released late July and is now on sale in the shops:

76IR6009 -  Irizar i6  - Dealer white - No vehicle markings

Thursday 1st September 2022

Wednesday 31st August 2022

CONFIRMED RELEASE OF NORTHCORD MODEL COMPANY UKBUS6529 ADL ENVIRO400MMC - STAGECOACH SOUTH
I can confirm that the following model has now been released in the UK and is on sale. Please see photographs of the production model below:

Fleet number: 10945
Registration number: SN18KNJ
Route number: 700
Destination: Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays
Quantity: 1008

Tuesday 30th August 2022

Fleet number: 10945
Registration number: SN18KNJ
Route number: 700
Destination: Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays
Quantity: 1008

Wednesday 13th July 2022

“The second Streetdeck to be made will be Tower Transit WH31101 SN68AGD. They will come in the following 2 routes 
25 Ilford 
473 Stratford
1000 will be made and will come in a special designed box and limited cards. These will be released in late 2023 as these need a modification to the front window for the destination blind”.

Photograph courtesy and copyright John Bennett was taken on Monday 4th July at Stratford Bus station and shows fleet number WH31101 (SN68AGD) on route 473.

Tuesday 12th July 2022

UKBUS6529 ADL Enviro400 MMC - Stagecoach South Platinum Jubilee

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus, Xplore Dundee and Stagecoach North West, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the fifteenth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – UKBUS6529 in the unique livery of Stagecoach South Platinum Jubilee.

UKBUS6529 represents fleet number 10945 (SN18KNJ) that was new to Stagecoach South in 2018. 10945 originally carried a full and branded livery for route 700 coastliner (as replicated on UKBUS6520 by sister bus 10942 / SN18KNF).

As the United Kingdom prepared to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer, Stagecoach South unveiled 2 platinum jubilee themed buses to mark this unprecedented anniversary, 10945 is one of these 2 buses.

Such special, comprehensive livery details are100% reproduced onto the UKBUS6529 model. The stand-out features of the branding include the official Platinum Jubilee emblem, and UKBUS6529 has been finished in a white, platinum and purple adaptation of the Stagecoach livery scheme. The platinum colour represents Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne, whilst the purple colour is synonymous with royalty.

As 10945 has been in service at Andover depot in Hampshire throughout 2022, UKBUS6529 features the destination to Portsmouth working on route 700. 

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC UKBUS6529 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the UKBUS6529 model is its single tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.

Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 MMC 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 UKBUS6529 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide.

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

Thursday 7th July 2022

July to September 2022 - News

This page last updated Thursday, 05 January 2023