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, Stagecoach North West, Go North East, Stagecoach North Scotland, Go South Coast, Reading Buses, Greater Manchester Bee Network and McGill’s Midland Bluebird, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the twenty fourth version – ukbus 6537 in the livery of Stagecoach South with full branding for Coastliner.

ukbus 6537 represents fleet number 11600 (YN23 ORG) that has 10.9 metre, single door bodywork and was new to Stagecoach South in 2023. 11600 carries a full, branded livery for route 700 Coastliner, showing the destination to Chichester via Bognor Regis. The special, comprehensive livery and branding are 100% reproduced onto the ukbus 6537 model. The stand-out features of the branding are : “Coastliner”, “Connecting the coast” on both sides and the rear and the name of every main stop “Portsmouth, Havant, Chichester, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton. Worthing, Shoreham, Hove, Brighton” on both sides, together with the route indication with the main stop names on the offside. The place names are contained as part of a seaside picture within the advert frames on each side and reinforced within the vertical stroke of the “T” of the offside advert frame.

Another significant feature of the branding is at the rear. There is a full picture illustrating Chichester Cathedral with the wording “Discover the delights of Chichester by bus” and “sit back, relax and let us do the driving”. Stagecoach introduced a fleet of 22 new ADL Enviro400 MMCs on the popular Coastliner 700 that connects Hampshire and the West Sussex Coast. Such investment represents the largest fleet of new vehicles introduced by the company since the pandemic. The double-deckers feature USB charging ports at seats, plus audio and visual next-stop announcements.

ukbus 6537 is the second ADL Enviro400 MMC Coastliner model produced by Northcord Model Company which, in turn, followed on from a CMNL Alexander ALX400 / Dennis Trident.

The CMNL Coastliner model was ukbus 1027 representing fleet number 18510, with registration GX06 DXH and destination 700 Brighton via Shoreham, that was launched in August 2006. The model featured the Coastliner name on each side, front and rear along with the strapline “cruise along the coast”. On each side and rear the place names served were listed enhanced with, on the rear, a pictorial representation of a similar bus and view of the coast. A seagull graphic also featured on some body panels and glazing.

The previous Enviro400MMC, ukbus 6520, representing 10942, and registered SN18 KNF, carries full branding for Coastliner with the destination at the front displaying “Brighton 700”. A map showing the route served featured on each side and contained the place names. ukbus 6520 models were launched in January 2021. One feature that links all 3 models is the representation of seagulls across each body.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6537 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 ukbus 6537 model is its tree deflector at the front to protect the front screen, front dome and side window. 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 Enviro400 MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6537 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide.

Utilising the 10.9 metre, single door casting, ukbus 6536 represents fleet number 8937 (SN65 CVL), that was new to Midland Bluebird, as a subsidiary of FirstGroup, in September 2015 as fleet number 39304 and painted in orange UNILINK livery.

Prior to the sale of Midland Bluebird to McGill’s, SN65 CVL was repainted into the Midland Bluebird version of First “Urban” livery in early 2022 that featured a dark blue rear wedge preceded by a mid-blue flash; additionally it carried a gold wedge at the front on which X10 route details (Stirling to Glasgow via Balfron) were carried on the nearside, and simply X10 on the offside.

On September 6, 2022, McGill's announced the acquisition of First Scotland East from the FirstGroup and the sale was completed on September 19.

Almost one year on from the sale to McGill’s, and eight years after the 5 Unilink deckers were introduced onto the service, a re-launch took place with the original 5 buses rebranded and each featuring an “iconic” aspect of supposed university life.

ukbus 6536 is displaying the unique route destination UNiLINK To Uni.

8937 is carrying full Unilink livery, including ‘campus to city every 8 mins UNiLINK’ on both sides and the rear, and ‘UNiLINK’ on the front. The Unilink livery and branding are 100% reproduced onto the ukbus 6536 model. The stand-out features of the branding also includes the fleet name ‘Midland BLUEBIRD’ as well as ‘we’re McGill’s’ on both sides; ‘go somewhere new every 8 mins’ and ‘bean there done that’ on the rear. The most eye-catching picture of some beans forming the capital letter ‘U” on a slice of toast feature on the rear engine access door and on both sides. A special roundel of ‘Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity LEGACY PARTNER’ is reproduced above the destination display on the first lower deck window at the nearside.

Bus 8937 still retains a link with its Midland past life from First days in retaining some of the dark Midland blue paint on the rear dome in the strip between the white roof and matt black on the rear dome above the upper rear window, even though not immediately apparent from ground level.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6536 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 ukbus 6536 model is its tree deflector at the front to protect front screen, front dome and side window. 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 Enviro400 MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6536 model is limited to 1200 pieces worldwide.

• Diary & Events - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & net forum.
• Shows & Exhibitions - MBF Events & other public events
  STOP PRESS The London Area MBF Show that was scheduled to take place on Saturday 8th March has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
  Saturday 15th March 10:00 - 16:00: Worksop MBF Model Transport Exhibition. The Crossing Church & Centre, Newcastle Street, Worksop S80 2AT (Buses & Railways) Adults £5.00, Children £1.00
  Saturday 22nd March 10:00 - 15:00: The Midland Bus Kits Model Show. Genesis Entertainment Centre, 32-46 King St Afreton, DE55 7DQ - Adults £3, Concessions £2, Under 16s free. Facebook or www.midlandbuskits.co.uk.
  Saturday 10th May 09:30 - 16:00: The South Shields Model Bus Show 2025. Salvation Army Hall, Wawn Street, South Shields NE33 4EB. Adults £3, Concessions £2
  Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26th May 10:00 - 16:00: The West Midlands Area Show. The Transport Museum, Chapel Lane, Wythall B47 6JA.
• Editorial
• Cover Story - Accington Corporation's unique rear entrance East Lancs bodied Guy Wulfrunian, scratchbuilt by Tony Newbould.
• A New Start for Bournemouth by Martin Hare - Martin explains how he converted the MBF Leyland PD3A kit MBF2K-03(L), to produce a Weymann H71F bodied Leyland PD3A/1 that depicts one of ten 1963 Bournemouth Corporation (160-169) examples.
• Upcoming Events - See Shows & exhibitions above
• Photographing My Models - Part 2 by Bob Belcher - Bob explains how he produces & uses dioramas to enhance his model bus photographs.
• More Service Vehicles by Michael Whent - Another selection of models from Michael's extensive collection of London Transport Service Vehicle models
• N-Gauge Buses by Rodger Pope - A selection of 3D printed N Scale models finished in Green's of Swincote liveries.
• Product News UK 1 - N'Tastic Scale Models range has over 300 vehicle kits & is produced by Copper Mine Miniatures. It's latest N scale buses are Bristol L & K types. www.ntastic-scale-models.co.uk.
• Welcome Aboard - A welcome to five new members & four returnees.
• The Tale of Two Red Buses by Paul Tattam - A detailed history of the two Kowloon Motor Bus vehicles Daimler CVG5 4961 & 4202 re-produced in model form by Corgi as OOC releases 40407 & 40408 in 1996 & 1990s.
• MBF Shop News - New kits due in stock in the coming four months are R398 Dennis Dominator / Alexander R Type (based on SYPTE examples), R255 further Plaxton Supreme 11m coach with roof destination box & grant doors, R326 BEA 1 1/2 deck AEC Regal IV & R244 Alexander T Type coach.
• Behind Euro Bus Expo 2024 by David Cole - A selection of rear end photographs of some of the new vehicles exhibited at the event.
• Plan of the Month by Alan Johnson - 11m Plaxton Supreme III Grant Coach as used by the NBC & Green Line (RS class).
• Area News - Ten pages of reports & over 50 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the North West, Yorkshire, Mid Anglia, North Midlands, & West Midlands areas.
• Product News UK 2 - Latest news from Paragon Kits is that short re-runs have been requested of bodyshells PB07 Plaxton M1 full front & PB18 Burlingham Sun Saloon. A re-run of kit PK58E Duple Viceroy 32 Express Ford R192 is viable if another dozen orders are forthcoming. A few more dual door lower deck conversions are possible for the EFE Leyland Olympian. More details and latest catalogue can be found on the Paragonkits Facebook page.
• MBF Shop - The MBF Streetscene,& Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
• MBF Streetscene White metal Bus & Coach Kits - The former ABS white metal bus kits added to the MBF Streetscene range. These are available exclusively to members at low cost (from £10.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)