| Model Bus Zone News December 2023 |
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| November 2023 | Model Bus Zone News Index | January 2024 |
| Click the links to view the further details related to the News item. |
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| Filter Content: EFE Kits MBF Model Buses Creations Northcord Omnidekka Models Oxford Other |
Saturday 30 December |
| Model Buses Creations Update |
| There were a couple of recent facebook posts from Model Buses Creations with news of the progress on the outstanding previously announced models. Due in early January are the Northcord commissions of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 models in Stagecoach London Ambassador livery (UKBUS0070A/B) and the Go Ahead London Driver Trainer (UKBUS0071). The Stagecoach London Scania Omnicity (UKBUS0072) is also due during Q1/2024. Pre-production samples have arrived of the Corgi OOC Go Ahead London New Routemaster in the King's Coronation livery (CP46601A/B), and although there are a few tweaks needed before the final production versions are produced, these are on course to be released around March. Pre-orders for this pair of models will open on Friday 12 January via the MBC's website at www.modelbus.uk.     Model Buses Creations will reveal their upcoming model programme for 2024 on Friday 5 January, again via the MBC website. The two announcements mentioned above can be viewed in full on the Model Buses Collection Facebook page. |
Friday 29 December |
| Model Bus Federation December 2023 Journal Review |
| A brief overview of the latest issue of the Model Bus Federation's Model Bus Journal for December 2023. This is the only publication solely dedicated to model bus news & other related articles in the UK. 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. Back issues of the Journals are also available to members where stock permits. The Model Bus Journal - Issue 632 December 2023 - 2023 National Show Special - 40 pages - ISSN 0953-435 
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Christmas Eve 24 December | ||
| Happy Christmas | ||
There will probably be a few updates over the next week, although I'm not expecting there to be any further model releases this side of the new year. |
Sunday 24 December | ||
| OOC Range In Hiatus | ||
| The annual Corgi Christmas Q&A video was posted on You Tube earlier today, and there were three questions relating to the OOC range answered during it. The answers to the questions revealed that Corgi, from it own releases point of view, has put the OOC Range in to hiatus and also paused development work on the planned new Wright Streetdeck model mentioned in a video posted earlier this year. Corgi is however still open to produce Corgi Premium range OOC models using existing tooling, models have already been produced this way for commissioners such as Omnidekka Models & Model Buses Creations during 2023. In the answer to the third question, it is stated that there are no new OOC releases currently planned by Corgi in 2024. The reason for this suspension of OOC activity is that they currently have a lot of unsold stock of earlier releases in their warehouse, it doesn't make good business sense to add more until the existing stock is reduced. The OOC section starts at the 26:00 point To view video full screen, please use the YouTube link in the video options bar & select "View on YouTube". |
Thursday 21 December & Updated 23 December | ||
| EFE Road Cravens RT Photographs | ||
| Bachmann have kindly supplied samples of the final production versions of their newly released Cravens RT models. These are the first completely new EFE Road range toolings since the EFE business was acquired in 2016. The four versions below should be distributed to model retailers before Xmas, although with the Christmas Holiday break fast approaching some retailer orders may not be delivered until after Xmas. Bachmann have inform me that they have sold out of their stock of all four models. There are four versions of the Cravens RT, two central area red vehicles & two country area green examples. Each colour is available either with the earlier style cream upper deck window surrounds or the later simpler design without this feature. Some features I've spotted on the model, there are internal poles, no they aren't the traditional EFE type, but actually representations of the vertical grab rails along passenger gangways. The three main destination displays have glazing over the blinds, the rear platform grab rails around the used ticket bin & on the rear bulkhead are separate wire components. There are nicely scaled driving mirrors & a etched wiper on the drivers cab. Internally the ceilings on both decks are painted the correct fawn colour and finally the body is a single piece casting eliminating the joint between the decks. The models are supplied in plastic display cases enclosed in an EFE Road branded outer card box. The UK RRP for the models is £44.95. Update 23 December Original selection of photographs have been re-done and an extra selection of close ups of the models added. Country Area Green Models  E40301 London Transport County Area Green & Cream - RT1406 / JXC 169 - Garage: WA (Watford High Street) - Route 345 Kingswood - Side adverts: Whitbread / C.W.S. -Era: Circa 1950                          E40302 London Transport Country Area Green - RT1414 / JXC 177 - Garage: WA (Watford High Street) - Route 306 New Barnet Stn - Side adverts: Golden Arrow Night Ferry / National Savings - Circa late 1953/4                           Central Area Red Models  E40303 London Transport Central Area Red & Cream - RT1460 / JXC 223 - Garage: X (Middle Row) - Route 15 Aldgate LT Stn - Side adverts: National Savings / Gilbey's Gin - Circa Late 1953                        E40304 London Transport Central Area Red - RT1493 / KGK 752 - Garage: AH (Nunhead) - Route 63 Honor Oak Forest Hill Tavern - Side adverts: Curtis Gin / Hovis - Circa late 1953                   |
Thursday 21 December |
| Model Bus Federation November 2023 Journal Review |
| A brief overview of the latest issue of the Model Bus Federation's Model Bus Journal for November 2023. This is the only publication solely dedicated to model bus news & other related articles in the UK. 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. Back issues of the Journals are also available to members where stock permits. The Model Bus Journal - Issue 631 November 2023 - 32 pages - ISSN 0953-435 
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Tuesday 19 December & updated 28 December | ||
| Airfix Quickbuild London Bus Kit Released | ||
| Airfix have released the Quickbuild New Bus For London kit which although officially doesn't have any quoted scale, is believed to by roughly 1:37 scale. The RRP in the UK is £24.99 and the model consists of 88* parts which snap together and don't require any glue or paint. The final production model comes with a set of stickers containing decals for both routes 22 Oxford Circus & 38 Victoria, registration plates (LT61 BHT), white TFL roundels, green bus signs & two side advertisements. Instructions come as two folded A4 sheets containing a seven page assembly guide & a sticker application diagram. The model carries a generic TFL red livery, there are no fleet numbers or operator names supplied with the kit. The Airfix picture of the built model below features an assembler error! I've bought one these kits from Airfix and I can confirm that the driver's side mirror can be fixed the right way up, the instruction sheet supplied with the kit claims there are 82* parts, rather than the 88 listed on Airfix's website product page. I can't as yet confirm which is the correct figure as I've not actually counted them. Below are some photographs of the kit & packaging as supplied, I'll add some photographs of the built model after Xmas. Update 27 December Right, I've now built this kit and can confirm it actually has 97 parts, although my example only came with 96, yes there was piece missing. Looks like I've just been really unlucky and will have to get in contact with the Airfix Support team. Disregarding that slight disappointment, the kit goes together really well and took me about 30 minutes to complete, all the parts fit extremely well together with little in the way of noticeable gaps between the various external parts. Indeed, with a few spots of paint here & there to highlight some of missing colour detailing, this model would make an excellent display piece for any New Routemaster collecter. Two photographs showing all parts have been added to the selection below. The "fit the box" scale is true for this item as the model will fit snuggly back in the original packaging once assembled, if you detach the offside mirror. Some measurements for the assembled model: Weight - 455g / 1 lbs 0 oz Length - 303mm / 12" Width - 67mm / 2 5/8" (including mirrors 95mm / 3 3/8") Height - 121mm / 4 3/4" Total weight as supplied with packaging, stickers & instructions - 613g / 1 lbs 6 oz Update 28 December A selection of 20 photographs of the built model have been added below, as you will see the missing part is the small black panel below the windscreen, the stickers have not been applied as I'm not sure how the missing part issue will be resolved once Airfix Support re-open after the holidays.              The photographs below show the assembled model from my kit, this is currently missing a front body panel part which I have contacted Airfix Support about. Once I have received this part, I will redo the affected photographs.                      
J6050 London TFL Red (LT61 BHT / Routes 22 & 38 decals included) - TFL New Bus For London Airfix Quickbuild Kit (appx 1:37 scale) | ||
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Monday 18 December | ||
| Omnidekka Models: Photographs of Latest OOC Commissions | ||
| Omnidekka models have supplied photographs of the four versions of their most recent Corgi OOC commissioned releases. All four versions are still available to order from the Omnidekka Models site and are priced £42.00 each plus delivery.    CP46401A Edwards Coaches (National Express Welsh Dragon livery / 508 Haverfordwest Dest'n) - Caetano Levante Coach    CP46401B Edwards Coaches (National Express Welsh Dragon livery / 509 Cardiff Dest'n) - Caetano Levante Coach    CP46401C Edwards Coaches (National Express Welsh Dragon livery / National Express Dest'n) - Caetano Levante Coach    CP46401D Edwards Coaches (National Express Welsh Dragon livery / Edwards Dest'n) - Caetano Levante Coach News of other recent & upcoming models releases from Omnidekka Models. Recently Released  ES-WHITE Plain White Livery - Britbus Scania Omnidekka Single Door Double Deck Bus - Initial batch of 50 models sold out, 2nd batch of 40 due January 24 Upcoming Pre-oder Models  MMC01 Stagecoach South Wales (Pontypridd Circular 99 Branding) 99 Pontypridd or 404 Bridgend - Omnidekka Models ADL Enviro200 MMC Single Door Single Deck Bus  OM3A/B Stagecoach South (Cancer Research UK livery) Cancer Research UK or 21 Gunwharf Quays - 80M Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Single Door Double Deck Bus  NK18 EDX Go North East (routes 703, 40 or 23) - Optare Solo SR Single Deck Bus  OM1A/B/C Lancashire United (routes 4 Leyburn Road, 46 Blackburn or 18 Shadsworth) - Jotus Optare Versa Single Door Single Deck Bus Other Planned Models ES-22A/B First Midland Bluebird (36023 - SN05 HWD / 324 Dollar The Ness or X6 Haymarket Limited Stop) - Scania Omnidekka Single Door Double Deck Bus - Due Q2/2024 MMC02A/B Abellio London (839 - YX16 OBP / 481 West Middlesex Hospital or K1 New Malden Station) - ADL Enviro200MMC Single Deck Bus WSD2A/B Stagecoach London (18913 - SK19 FDD / Route 473 or 262) - Streetdeck Dual Door Double Deck Bus Orders & pre-orders can be placed on the Omnidekka Models site. |
Monday 18 December | ||
| Two UK Northcord Model Releases | ||
The following Northcord model has now been released in the UK. UKBUS6532 Stagecoach South (Sussex Brain Bus) - ADL Enviro400 MMC Single Door Double Deck Bus | ||
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Sunday 17 December |
| Midland Bus Kits Update & New One Ten Bus Kits |
| Midlands Bus Kits are producing a free monthly email newsletter covering model bus coaches you can view a sample & sign up on their website. The latest product news from Midland Bus Kits is the upcoming release of the following pair of 1:76 scale resin kits.   MBK011 Leyland Leopard Duple Dominant I with bus grant door & 53 bus style seats - Due December 2023  MBK012 Temsa H13 RHD 13M 57 seat executive coach - Due Early 2024 Further details about the above kits can be found on the Midland Bus Kits site. Midland Bus Kits have also launched a new range ‘One Ten Bus’ that focuses on 1:110 scale resin bus kits, these are the same scale as the diecast Tiny (Hong Kong) models and similar in scale to the early Matchbox (Lesney) RM & Fleetline models. They also match the European TT 1:110 scale models produced by the likes of Trix. These kits are ‘easy to build’, basically being a 2 part kit for single deckers and a three part kit for double deckers, plus wheels and glazing. Any curved glazing that is required is supplied with the kit. Further details about this range can be found on the Midland Bus Kits One Ten Bus site. There are currently three kits available with plans to produce a whole range of classic buses and coaches from those around in the 50s up to modern vehicles. These will all be to the same 1:110 scale and will be compatible in size and comparable in cost with those models coming from the far east. They will be ideal for model fleet operators, both modern and historic, preservationists and those who simply want a model of the bus they rode on or drove, or have a particular affection for. Models from ‘one ten bus’ are less costly than some of the bigger scale commercially produced models and the bigger kits, they are well detailed and more easily stored and displayed.  --- Barton AEC Regent V NCME double deck bus - In Stock - £35.00  --- Leyland National Mark I Long Singe Door - In Stock - £30.00  --- Leyland National Mark I Long Dual Door - In Stock - £30.00 Finally, a note for your diaries.  |
Saturday 16 December |
| EFE Cravens RT Model Released |
| Bachmann have announced the arrival of the first four London Transport Cravens RT models shown below. The models should be arriving with UK model retailers the week commencing 18 December. The models are the first to be produced from all-new tooling since Bachmann’s acquisition of EFE in 2016, and represent the 120 RT-type double deckers built for London Transport (LT) by the Cravens Railway Carriage & Wagon Co of Sheffield in the immediate post-war years. While superficially similar to the standard RTs, the Cravens RTs were in fact quite different; the distinctive 5-bay body design could not be mixed with standard bodies at overhaul, and they were always the odd men out amongst the 6,800+ buses that made up the RT family. As a result, all except one were sold on after only seven years’ service in and around London. The majority of the Cravens RTs received LT’s familiar red and cream livery for use in the central area, where they were spread at random across many garages. However, 27 were painted in London Country’s green and cream, with all being allocated to Watford High Street (WA) or Windsor (WR). A further 23 of the central area RT3/4s were later also transferred to the Country area. The UK RRP for the models is £44.95. E40301 London Transport County Area Green & Cream - RT1406 / JXC 169 - Garage: WA (Watford High Street) - Route 345 Kingswood - Side adverts: Whitbread / C.W.S. - Circa 1950  E40302 London Transport Country Area Green - RT1414 / JXC 177 - Garage: WA (Watford High Street) - Route 306 New Barnet Stn - Side adverts: Golden Arrow Night Ferry / National Savings - Circa late 1953/4  E40303 London Transport Central Area Red & Cream - RT1460 / JXC 223 - Garage: X (Middle Row) - Route 15 Aldgate LT Stn - Side adverts: National Savings / Gilbey's Gin - Circa Late 1953  E40304 London Transport Central Area Red - RT1493 / KGK 752 - Garage: AH (Nunhead) - Route 63 Honor Oak Forest Hill Tavern - Side adverts: Curtis Gin / Hovis - Circa late 1953 |
Thursday 7 December |
| New Sunrise Transfers Catalogue |
| Sunrise Models & Transfers has released an updated catalogue containing several thousand waterslide transfers, this is the first update since 2020 and also includes the products acquired with the MBC Decals business. The catalogue contains 117 pages and over 95,000 words. Printed versions are not being produced due to it's size, but it is available to view as a PDF document, there also a Microsoft Word version which can be downloaded. (see links below)  Catalogue 15 - November 2023 (PDF) Download Microsoft Word version |
Wednesday 6 December |
| Model Bus Scotland New Kits Announced |
| Model Bus Scotland have announced the following two new kits that are both due in the first quarter of 2024. Pre-orders are being accepted for the kits, details of how to do this can be found on the Model Bus Scotland page along with details of other current & proposed kits.   Kit 17: Volvo B10M Nortern Counties body- Due April 2024   Kit 20: Volvo B9TL Optare Olympus - Due February 2024 |
Tuesday 5 December |
| Another Oxford Omnibus Range Release |
Another small batch of new model releases have been posted on the Oxford Diceast website today and include the following 1:76 scale Oxford Omnibus range model. 76DB003 York Bros - Duple Britannia Coach This model is expacted to be available from UK model retailers next week. |
| November 2023 | Model Bus Zone News Index | January 2024 |