Model Bus Zone News
March 2021
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Omnidekka Models    OOC    Oxford    Resin Models    Other   

Wednesday 31 March
Model Bus Scotland Latest Kit News
The second run of Model Bus Scotland's first kit, an Optare Tempo, will be in stock in April and is priced £45.00.

Kit 001 Optare Tempo Mk I single deck bus - Second Run Due April 21


The master for the 10.6m version of the Optare Tempo as used for TFL services in London has also been completed & pre-orders are now being accepted. This kit will also be priced £45.00 with an optional roof air con unit available for a extra £5.00.


(Photographs above show the master with & without the optional air con roof pod.

Kit 002 Optare Tempo Mk I 10.6m (TFL length) single deck bus (Air con pod available for £5.00 extra)- Pre-order now

Postage is free for members of the Model Bus Scotland Facebook Group.
Postage & packing for non-members of the (free to join) Facebook group is charged at cost.

For more details about the group & model kits, please visit the Model Bus Scotland page.

Tuesday 30 March
New MBF Members Online Shop Opens
Model Bus Federation has published the following press release:

Model Bus Federation Press Release - 25th March 2020

The Model Bus Federation is delighted to announce that their member Shop is now open for purchases online – www.model-bus-federation.org.uk/mbf-shop

The MBF Shop has always been hugely popular since it was opened 50 years ago. And now it is set to be even more so as members can make purchases online. Live stock levels, showing all sorts of different items for scratchbuilding and detailing are available, including wheels, radiators, external and internal model accessories, plus some scenic items. You can also purchase our range of member-only resin kits and model bus books through the online shop too. New photos of each item are still being uploaded, making it easy to identify a particular part for your project but, with over 200 different accessory items alone now available in the exclusive MBF Streetscene range, this will take a bit of time to complete. Even if you aren’t a member, you can still view the range of products, but you will of course need to join the MBF to make a purchase.

Members can pay quickly and easily using PayPal, credit or debit cards and, whilst processing of payments is being handled by PayPal, you don’t need to have a PayPal account to make purchases. For further information or to join the MBF, visit www.model-bus-federation-org.uk, visit our Facebook Page, email: or write to us at Publicity Officer, 21 Plough Close, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 9AD.


Friday 26 March
Another Brekina Routemaster Model
Brekina has announced another release of their 1/87th scale AEC Routemaster model is due next month.

The latest version will feature the model in London Transport red livery with gold fleet names, however no fleet or registration numbers are applied and the destination displays are blank.

61109 London Transport Red (blank model) - AEC Routemaster RM Bus

This is no doubt aimed at those wishing to produced customised versions of the model. I'm not aware of any sources that make suitable 1/87th scale transfers for this purpose however.

The latest Brekina Catalogue for April 2021 can be viewed HERE.

Article source: www.mo87.de

Friday 26 March
Latest Corgi OOC Pre-production Model Sample
The latest Corgi Diecast Diaries Blog posting contains has a section on the latest sample of the forthcoming OOC New Routemaster in Sehba Basras Our Hillingdon livery.



This livery is certainly one of the more colourful & intricate designs applied to one of London's New Routemaster fleet, it has no doubt taken a lot of work by Corgi team to shrink it down to 1/76 scale.
Larger photographs of the sample model and some background information on how livery came to be, can be found on the Corgi Diecast Diaries Blog.

The models are currently scheduled for release this Summer.

OM46632A New Routemaster Bus - Arriva London {LT230 Route 38 Hackney Central} Sehba Basras Our Hillingdon allover livery


OM46632B New Routemaster Bus - Arriva London {LT230 Route 38 Victoria} Sehba Basras Our Hillingdon allover livery

Friday 26 March
Secrets of the Transport Museum
There's a new TV series starting next week (30th March) that will go behind the scenes at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey.
The ten part series looks at the work of the volunteers who run the museum & carry out restoration work on the historic cars, buses, planes & motorbikes housed at the Brooklands Museum & the London Bus Museum.

A trailer for the series can be viewed on the Brooklands Museum website.

The first episode will air at 8pm on Tuesday 30th March on the free to air channel Yesterday which is available on the following TV channels -
Freeview, BT, Youview, Talk Talk TV: 26, 74(+1)
Sky: 155, 255(+1)
Virgin: 129, 200(+1)
Freesat: 159

London Bus Museum Spring Gathering
The London Bus Museum's Spring Gathering event has again been canceled this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the Museum is instead planning to organize a bus running day over route 65 between Ealing Argyle Road & Leatherhead.
This event is due to take place on Sunday 11th April between 10:00 & 17:00, but this is subject to the current Government Covid-19 Restrictions being relaxed as planned.

For the latest update on the status of this event please check the London Bus Museum's website.

Sunday 21 March
Irish Railway Models Britbus Commissions
Irish Railway Models have commissioned two further Britbus Lryland Olympian models in Dublin Bus Cityswift livery.


IRM1203-126-13A Dublin Bus Cityswift RH126 (92-D-126) Route 13A Cearnog Mhuirfean Merrion Square via Coultry - Leyland Olympain Alexander Belfast Bus


IRM1292-70-51B Dublin Bus Cityswift RH70 (91-D-1070) Route 51B An Lar City Centre via Clondalkin Village - Leyland Olympain Alexander Belfast Bus

The models are priced £51.49 & limited to 252 pieces of each version. They can be ordered online via the retailers website at: https://irishrailwaymodels.co.uk/collections/vehicles.

For further background information on the vehicles depicted please check out the Irish Railways Models Blog.

Wednesday 17 March
Iwan's Bus Bits
A new spare parts store has been opened on Facebook, initailly there are parts for Model 1 & Northcord/CMNL models. Iwan is planning to further expand the range of new and used parts to cover the other popular model bus manufacturers.


To view the full range of parts currently available and for postage rates please visit the Iwan's Bus Bits Facebook page.

Wednesday 17 March
Omnidekka Models Update
Chris Cotton has sent me an update on the commissioned models currently in production for his Omnidekka Models Range.
Production of the Corgi OOC Optare Solo in Quality Line livery is expected to begin soon with the model scheduled for release in June. These will be availble with a choice of two different destinations and are priced £25.00 each or £48.00 for the pair.

A second Britbus Scania Omnidekka bus is now in production and will depict one of the vehicles operated by Bluestar. Two versions with different destinations will be produced.
The photograph below shows the application of the fleet names & stars design on the lower side panels, this involves precise alignment of the different coloured components.


The packaging & certificates artwork has also been finalised & is shown below.


The bluestar models will be priced £50.00 each or both destination can be ordered as a pair for £98.00.

ES-17A bluestar 1004 (YN56 FFK) Route 4 Romney Via North Baddesley - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus
ES-17B bluestar 1004 (YN56 FFK) Route 4 Southampton Via Lordshill & Shirley - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus

Pre-orders are now open for the bluestar & Quality Line models and these can be placed by visiting the omnidekkamodels.com site.

Details of two further proposed Scania Omnidekka models, one in First Group livery with adverts for Prostate Cancer and a second in the blue version of Metrobus livery can also be found on the site.

Thursday 11 March
Corgi OOC Releases Due This Month
The following Corgi OOC models are expected to be release later this month.


OM46625A New Routemaster Bus - Stagecoach London, {LT406, Route N8 Tottenham Court Road} Supporting World Environment Day allover livery


OM46625B New Routemaster Bus - Stagecoach London, {LT406, Route N8 Hainult} Supporting World Environment Day allover livery


OM46627A New Routemaster Bus - Go Ahead London, {LT394, Route 15 Blackwall} Royal Fusilliers 50th Anniversary allover livery
(Same livery as previous twin pack model (OM46620) with different destination)


OM46627B New Routemaster Bus - Go Ahead London, {LT394, Route 15 Stepney Arbour Square} Royal Fusilliers 50th Anniversary allover livery
(Same livery as previous twin pack model (OM46620) with different destination)

Information kindly supplied by


Tuesday 9 March
Model Bus Federation March Journal Review
The Model Bus Federation's March 2021 issue of the Model Bus Journal has recently been sent to members recently. This is the only publication solely dedicated to model bus news & other related articles in the UK.

Below is summary of the contents of the latest issue.
If the contents below are of interest, you may wish to consider becoming a member of the MBF, the annual subscription starts at £25.00 with special reduced rates available for younger members aged 14-18.
For further details please visit the https://www.model-bus-federation.org.uk.

The Model Bus Journal - Issue 599 March 2021 - 36 pages

  • Editorial
  • Cover Story - The cover model photograph.
  • Diddler To LT Conversion by Martin Hare - A detailed guide on how to convert the Matchbox Diddler Trolleybus model into a LT Class double deck bus.
  • 50 years of the MBF Shop Postscript - Follow up on the previous issue's article about the history of the MBF Shop.
  • The buses that never were No. 21 by David Rowe - The Red 'RA'. A London Transport Dublin Corporation style Leyland PD3/2 with Spa Road built body.
  • Ken Johnson's Memorable Models No. 18 - Midland Red Leyland PD/12 JBC 989. A look at the Oxford Diecast & Little Bus Company Kit
  • Christmas Routemaster by Paul Dudfield - Pual's Christmas present was a 1:30 scale tin plate Routemaster produced Czech manufacturer Kovap.
  • More LT Service Vehicles by Michael Whent - A further selection of Michael's various models of some of the ancillary vehicles operated by London Transport to support its bus & underground services.
  • Welcome Aboard - Welcome to new & returning members.
  • MBF Events & Area Meetings - Update of the Covid suspended events & meetings.
  • Product News UK - Ryan Birch Ford Transit Minibus, Paul Ellender ADL E200 & E400 kits, Mark Hughes N scale bus kits, Alan Johnson's lengthened Harrington Cavalier & Grenadier EFE coach models. Model 1 Optare Solo & Oxford Diecast Alexander M Type Coach
  • Over To You - Alan Morgan offers more information on the Maidstone & District Panthers mentioned in issue 597.
  • Stevensons' DMSs by Eric Wain - Stevensons snapped up 71 of London Transport's redundant Daimler Fleetline DMS class vehicles between 1979 & 1987 wth 45 entering service. Eric's models represent some of the vehicles he drove and the different liveries applied during their time with the Uttoxeter operater.
  • In Detail: Mercedes Benz Sprinter 45 City by David Cole - Collection of photographs showing the exterior & interior of the vehicle.
  • The Mark 3 Metrobus / Plan of the Month by Paul Ellender - MCW planned to produce a Metrobus mark 3 but it never made it off the drawing board. Paul looks at its background & has produced a plan of what might have been.
  • Area News - Reports from the latest virtual online area meetings in South Wales & Herefordshire, North Midlands, Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Cumbria & Yorkshire
  • MBF Shop 1 - The MBF Streetscene, Little Bus Company & Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
  • MBF Shop 2 - The first batch of former ABS white metal bus kits have now been added to the MBF Streetscene range & are available exclusively to members.
  • The Back Page - A selection of shots showing the rarely photographed rear aspect of five Devon General vehicles.

Monday 8 February & updated 9 March
Next Northcord UK Model Release
The following Northcord model is expected to be released in the UK later this week.

Click to enlarge
UKBUS6520 Stagecoach South Coastliner 700 - ADL Enviro400 MMC Double Deck Bus

The forthcoming Dublin Bus ADL Enviro400 MMC Hybrid model has been renumbered IEBUS007/N6523, it was previously allocated ref code IEBUS005 which has already been used for an earlier model.

Information kindly supplied by


Sunday 7 March
Model Bus Scotland Optare Tempo Kit

Model Bus Scotland's first kit is soon to be released, the first run has already sold out and pre-orders are now being taken for a second run.

The photographs below show the sample version of the Optare Tempo Mark I model, the kits are priced £45.00 each, postage is free if you are a member of the Model Bus Scotland Facebook group while non-members will be charged postage at cost.

The Model Bus Scotland Facebook Group is open to all those interested model buses whether they be Scottish or from elsewhere. The group is subscription free and was started in 2016, membership has since grown to 1300 members and although the activates are centred around social media the group had been holding regular local meet ups until they were suspended due to current pandemic, there are plans to resume these once its deemed safe to do so.

You can find more details about the groups activities and kit range on the Model Bus Scotland Page.

For those not wishing to join the Facebook Group and who would still like to pre-order the kit, you can contact Model Bus Scotland by email at:


Sunday 7 March
Latest London Bus Museum Commissioned Models

The London Bus Museum at Brooklands has taken delivery of its latest pair of commissioned Jotus Resin Specialist models and these can now be ordered from their online store.

This pair of models both depict vehicles from the first batch of RF class AEC Regal IV delivered. The first twenty five vehicle were unique among this 700 strong class in being shorter (27ft 6in) compared to their (30ft) cousins & having glazed roof cove panels. These were originally brought for use on private hires & tours, but ten of the vehicle RF16-25 were subsequently repainted into Green Line livery & transferred to the country area.

The first model depicts RF19, which is part of the museum's vehicle collection, in the original Private Hire green & flake grey livery with red London Transport fleet names. The model has destinations blinds for the Hampton Court Tour. The other model features the last of the batch RF25 in Green Line livery with destination blinds & roof boards for 715 service to Guildford.

Both models are priced £99.00 each (Museums members can get a £9.00 discount) and as per usual for these highly detailed models they are both limited runs.

Further details and photographs of the models can be found on the Museum's website: https://www.londonbusmuseum.com.


Friday 5 March
Oxford Diecast Models Search Tool

A new listing has been added to the Oxford Diecast section of the site, it contains a list of the majority of the standard issue models produced by Oxford Diecast and includes 1:43, 1:76, 1:87, 1:72 and N scale models.
There are also listings for the early Oxford models such and the Ford Model A & T vehicles and other ranges such as Cararama, Welly & Triang Ships.

The list contains the model's product code and description along with a indication of whether there are photographs of it on the relevant page on the official Oxford Diecast site. Clicking the reference number will open a direct link to that page for further details & stock availability.

Additionally there are also Google Image & Ebay.co.uk search links for each model based on their reference code which may provide sources for the model.

It's possible to copy the list data from the page, and produce a personal check list for your own model collection in Excel, Open Office Calc or a similar spreadsheet application.
The embedded page links can be removed by setting the column formatting to default.

The list has been built using Google's sitemap data and only contains the models currently listed on the Oxford Diecast site. Some commissioned items are therefore missing although this seems to be only a small number.
This page originally produced to make the checking of the model details within the OO & N scale Oxford Diecast model listings an easier & quicker task.
The original Google model descriptions have been tidied up in places & some of the Ref Codes extracted from the page links have been edited to match these shown on the model packaging/certificates.

The page can be found in the Oxford Models section of the Oxford Zone or Click Here.



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