Forward Models (Birmingham) Ltd was a new company set up in 2011. It released a series of diecast models based on the "Birmingham Standard" style of double decker body. The Standards were used by Birmingham City Transport to replace it's aging double deck fleet after World War II and were purchased in large numbers.

The body design was actually far from standard and there were many variations between the batches supplied by body builders such as Metro-Cammell & Crossley. The vehicles also came in both concealed (tin front) & exposed radiator versions and were mounted on chassis provided by several manufacturers including Guy, Crossley, Leyland & Daimler.

Five models were initially announced and all were released in limited quantities at the Showbus Rally in September 2012. The main consignment of models were released in November 2012.

The models feature both tin front & exposed radiator variants and although the first five all depicted Birmingham City Transport vehicles, in traditional dark blue & cream colours. A further batch of Birmingham & west Midlands PTE models followed in the Spring of 2013 and number of other liveries and operators were released in 2014.

Further batch of models with modifications to depict vehicles operated by other operators were planned for 2016, but these were delayed due the value of the pound falling shapely in mid 2016 following the result of Brexit referendum.
Eventually in 2018 two of these models were released, however due to the large increase the models price these didn't sell as well as had been hoped & the remaining models were put on hold again.

Sadly in September 2019 Derek Perry announced that due to health issues & the continuing rising production costs he had decided to close his Forward Models (Birmingham) business and retire. The company assets including the remaining stock, model tooling etc were all offered for sale, at the time of writing it isn't known if any buyers have been found.

The first pair of models were produced for the Wythall Transport Museum while all the others were standard releases available from model retailers. Three of earlier models were also amended by Forward and offered with different routes & adverts on a made to order bases during 2015.
Forward also produced a range of alternative destination blind transfers available for the Birmingham models along with a kit which included a Bundy clock, bus stop & bus shelter.

Models are still on sale (Sep 2019) to retail purchasers through an online shop at www.my-collection.co.uk.