I hope everyone is well and have been enjoying the 2023 Model Buses Creations announcements. MBC have two excellent Corgi Wright Gemini 2 models on their way.

The first of which is the Brighton and Hove “ Love Bus” branding. This is an exciting release for Brighton and Hove collectors, as it follows a number of general release models by Corgi, all in special Brighton liveries. I think these models will sit well together with the Pride, Snowman and Get Bus, liveries perfectly. Like most B&H buses, it carries the name of a significant person and this bus carries the name of Sir Harry Ricardo, who established the World famous Engineering consultancy near the old Toll Bridge in Shoreham in 1927 after inventing the 2 stroke engine for the Dolphin car also used for boats and power plants.

The second of our Wright Gemini 2 models is in the stunning Elizabeth line livery with the bus being operated by Go Ahead London. This striking livery is promoting, Transport for Londons latest cross London train service. The Elizabeth Line all over decoration depicts a host of stops on the line and we are really pleased with the detail Corgi have bene able to replicate on this model. This model is a must for London collectors and would also look excellent on a modern image London railway layout.

The buses feature all the details you would expect from a Corgi model, and for the first time will be in our new box design which will be featuring on all Corgi and Northcord releases in the future.

The models should arrive in the Corgi warehouse on the 17th of November. We will then take delivery at our London warehouse before shipping orders out to customers around the 20th of November. This is subject to change if the delivery is delayed.

We are producing 2 destinations including route 77 to Devils Dyke and Palace Pier limited to 500 units on each destination for the Brighton and Hove model. With the Go Ahead London model we are producing 2 destinations route 104 to Stratford and Beckton Station limited to 500 units on each destination.These models have already proven to be very popular and are selling fast. We still some models available to pre order at www.modelbus.uk

I hope you look forward to the next update, which will be go into more detail of our new MBC Corgi box design. We should also have some updates on our northcord releases too.

We will have the finished examples on display at Brooklands TransportFest this Sunday (22 Oct), we will also have some excellent early Christmas bargains only available at the event.

We hope to see you then.

Ambassador, Driver Trainer and Other release updates coming soon.

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 and Go South Coast Northcord Model Company is now releasing the nineteenth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting UKBUS6532 in the livery of Stagecoach South with full branding for Sussex Brain Bus.

UKBUS6532 represents fleet number 10945 (SN18KNJ) that has 10.9 metre, single door bodywork and 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 in January 2021) and then was wrapped to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in early 2022 (as replicated on UKBUS6529 in July 2022).

The Sussex Brain Bus, as said, is one of the Stagecoach South 700 Coastliner fleet running from Brighton to Littlehampton, and is emblazoned with art and information about dementia research and tips for keeping brains healthy. It is a joint project between psychology researchers at the University of Sussex and a local artist, Daniel Locke. Ideas for the bus design were crafted from workshops run by the researchers with members of the local Brighton community.

The aim of the event was to encourage conversations about dementia – which affects nearly one million people across the UK - and how people can keep their brains healthy. The Sussex Brain Bus was official launched at Hove Lawns on 24th March 2023.

UKBUS6532 carries a full, branded livery for Sussex Brain Bus, showing the destination to Littlehampton. The special, comprehensive livery and branding are 100% reproduced onto the UKBUS6532 model. The stand-out features of the branding are : “think brain health” on the front and on the rear; “reducing the risk of dementia”, “USB charging” and “sussexbrainbus” on the nearside; “happy healthy head” and “sussexbrainbus” on the offside; “www.sussexbrainbus.org”, “Alzhelmer’s Research UK” and “US UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX” on the rear.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC UKBUS6532 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 UKBUS6532 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 (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6532 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide

• Area Meetings - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & events.
• Other Public Shows & Exhibitions
• Editorial
• Cover Story - A Bedford M with 12 seat Duple bodywork in the fleet of Shirley's of Meriden - See next article.
• Shirley's Bedford M / Duple LAC 488 by Paul Ellender - Paul latest edition to his Shirley's collection is a scratch-built model of the operators first coach new in May 1951. In this article he explains how he planned & built this small 12 seat Bedford coach model.
• North West Show 2023 by Mick Piela - A review of the annual MBF North West Model Bus & Transport Show held in July.
• The Five C's of Bus Modelling by Chris Pearson - Five points of consideration for bus modellers in the present day.
• Tribute to Chris Pearson by Bob Heathcote - Chris Pearson joined the MBF in 1968 and was member number 41, he was well know to members and attended most society events through his involvement with the MBF shop. Chris' long service to the MBF shop lasted nearly 50 years, and pnly ended in August 2021. Chris has been one of the "characters" of the MBF and will be remembered with great affection by almost all of the MBF members who met him.
• Bradford Front Entrance Trolleybus by Martin Hare - In this project Martin takes an OOC Southdown Queen Mary PD3 and converts it into a Bradford Trolleybus
• Members Services - Member looking for an EFE East Yorkshire 30ft BET bus.
• Over to You - Identifying a mystery repainted model in Leicester City Transport livery based on a EFE Leyland Titan TN series. Dinky Toys price sale tags found on ebay, and two important vehicles missing from Rodger Popes list of Horseshoe Coaches featured in issue 628.
• Welcome Aboard - Seven new members
• Area News - Thirteen pages of reports & 74 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the Yorkshire x2, West Midlands, London, North West, South Wales & Herefordshire, Kent, & Manchester areas.
• 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 £5.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)

• Area Meetings - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & events.
• Other Public Shows & Exhibitions - Sat 7th Oct 1000-1500 Chester Model Bus Show, St Columba's Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Plas Newton, Cheshire CH2 1PL.
• Editorial
• Cover Story - A open-top extended ERM Routemaster operating in the Southwestbus fleet. - See next article.
• Southwestbus Routemasters by Steve Oxbrow - Steve has built up a collection of 30 Routemaster models many of which have a personal connection and use identities of buses he conducted. 18 of the models are covered in the article.
• Worksop Model Transport Exhibition 2023 - Details of the show held in early September.
• Chester 2023 - Details of the show taking place on 7th October (See "Other Public Shows" above for details)
• From the Editor - It's been pointed there are some inaccuracies in the Plan of the Month published in the July issue, members are reminded that photographs of the subject vehicle should also be referenced as even manufacture plans have been know to have detail differences to the final production vehicle.
• It's All Their Fault! - Photograph taken at a recent Yorkshire Area meeting showing members 1 & 2, Bob Heathcote & Martin Popplewell, the two schoolboys who founded the Model Bus Federation back in 1968.
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Part 2 by Gordon Braithwaite - A final article from the late Gordon Braithwaite, part 1 was never submitted, but part 2 looks at some of the 1950s coach designs inspired by the Burlingham's Seagull body styling.
• SYTM / MBF Exhibition, Aldwarke by John May - A brief review of this years event held in June.
• Jones of Taunton Update by Ken Jones - Ken's latest model is an Oxford Diecast N scale Plaxton Panorama which was re-painted by MBF member Malcolm Hall and finished with fleet names done by Roy Finney.
• Copy Cat Crosville AEC Regal / Strachan by Martin Hare - Martin explains how he converted a OOC Bristol L ECW model into an AEC Crosville vehicle.
• Members Services - Some unbuilt resin kits for sale
• Model Bus Supplement - Latest issue of the quarterly published & optional subscription extra supplement, that contains articles & covers the developments within members fictitious fleets. Watch out for a upcoming Model Bus Zone review of this publication.
• Atlantean Prototype STF 90 by Michael Whent - Michael has used a OOC Weymann Trolleybus model to produce a model as close as possible to the unique arly experimental Saro bodied Leyland Atlantean built in the early 1950s.
• Airport Shuttle Bus by Brian Groombridge - An articulated airport shuttle bus produced by converting an RF bus into a trailer & cutting down a Base Toys Leyand Comet rigid lorry.
• Product News - Paul Ellender re-run Kit NK12 Yutong TC9 and most the kits being spoken for. The latest kit NK15, the Mercedes Tourismo 13.1 metre, was released in early August while the VDL Futura FHD2, kit NK16, has gone for production & should be available around October. Only small numbers of both kits are left unspoken for.
• Welcome Aboard - Seven new members & two returnee's.
• Plan of the Month by Alan Johnson - Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Alexander AL Panoramic 31ft
• Area News - Eleven pages of reports & 68 colour photographs covering the latest MBF meetings in the North West, West Midlands, East Anglia, Dorset / New Forest, Greater Manchester, West, & Yorkshire areas.
• 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 £5.00 to £35.00 - see the MBF page for a list of these model kits)