We are well and truly into 2024 now and at Model Buses Creations we are really getting busy! Our online shop is going through some updates and changes, to make it more user friendly and display our fantastic releases to our customers. Our logistics team are busy packing orders as well as taking photos of all our stock, which is starting to appear on the website. We have some news about our Corgi and Northcord releases plus some final sample images to share as well.

Lets start with our ukbus 0070//72 releases with Northcord. We are pleased to say that the pre orders kept coming for these models and we have now SOLD OUT of Pre Orders. As some of you may already know we sold out of ukbus 0071 within an hour of pre orders going live. These have all proven to be very popular models and will look excellent in our customers collections. We can share that production for these models has finished in China. They are now in Hong Kong loaded onto the ship. We are still on target for a Q1 release date with them arriving to the UK in an early March. Please be aware the conflict in the Red Sea means that ships are taking different routes which is causing delays in getting products to the UK.

Three production samples were shipped by airmail and they arrived in the UK yesterday. Northcord have really captured the detail of these models perfectly with a few additional details that were not featured on the original samples. Everyone at MBC is extremely happy with these models and we can honestly say these have been our most popular buses to date.

I think its time to talk about our Corgi New Bus For London models. We have been sent the final samples which we approved last week with the Corgi Team. Production of these models is set to start next week. We are extremely pleased with these samples and the amazing work Corgi have put into them, to include the extra details we wanted to make these models our own.

When Mark suggested to me, that we should do a NBFL, the first thing I said was “It must have a black dashboard” and that’s what we have done. We feel these additional details bring the model to life and perfectly compliment the Kings Coronation livery. This won’t be the last MBC NBFL to feature these additional details….oh I may have let that slip out.

We made the hard decision recently to delay Pre orders and we are now pleased to announce that pre orders will open on Friday 16th of February 2024 at the normal time of 12:00pm. We have 1000 models split right down the middle with two routes. 500 of CP46601A which is 87 Aldwych and 500 of CP46601B which is 87 Wandsworth. Please be aware these models are final samples and not production models.

Finally, the 2024 model range from MBC is coming this month. We have a couple of models to finalise and we can then share our plans, this will be our biggest release plan to date.

With the Announcement earlier in the week about the Kings Cancer diagnosis, GoAhead London and MBC will be announcing a fundraising campaign with The Kings Coronation model release.

To keep up to date with these releases, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and on our website, at www.modelbus.uk.

Northcord Model Company is proud to release its first model of the ukbus 6200 range on the former CMNL 10.1 metre short wheelbase Enviro400 tooling.

This is ukbus 6203, replicated in the fleet of Stagecoach London carrying the unique Transport for London all-red with ‘hybrid Electric Technology’ livery.

ukbus 6203 features Stagecoach London 12144 (LX61 DDZ) working on the famous London route 15 to Regent Street. 12144 was new to Stagecoach London in 2011, representing the revolutionary modern double-decker in the capital.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400H Hybrid double-decker has taken the market by storm with its excellent reliability and fuel consumption saving of greater than 30%. The hybrid drive system also delivers improved emissions including reduced Particulate Matter and Oxides of Nitrogen. The ADL Enviro400H is fitted with Cummins ISBe Euro V, EEV engine fitted in conjunction with the BAE system Hybridrive equipment. The BAE-supplied batteries use Lithium Ion technology.

NMC retooled the ADL Enviro400 casting in early 2010 for the Enviro400H Hybrid version from its successful Enviro400 which launched with the ukbus 6001 with ‘Spirit of London’ decoration in 2006. Continuing from the E400 tooling, NMC is creating new design standards in the layout of the interior of both saloons. These features inside the compartments represent the really outstanding layout of the Enviro400H Hybrid in new specifications, such as, re-located destination blind at the rear, newly design ventilation grill above the lower-deck window at the back, and extensive portrayal of handrails on upper and lower deck, etc.

Another main feature on the ukbus 6203 model is its dual individual tree protectors at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with its curved windscreens on both upper and lower deck. The re-tooled ukbus 6203 model replicates all new items at the engine room correctly. The headlights at the front are made of individual components to look more realistic. The Enviro400H model is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible.

The brand new ukbus 6203 bus models will be The ukbus 6203 is based on a Limited Edition of only 1008 pieces produced.

• Area Meetings - Upcoming MBF members only area meetings & events.
• Other Public Shows & Exhibitions - Sat 20th April 2024 1000-1530 - 45th Model Bus Extravaganza: Blessed William Howard Roman Catholic School, Rowley Avenue off Newport Road, Stafford ST17 9AB. Admission £3 (accompanied children free) Senior Citizens £2.
• Editorial
• Cover Story - A centre-entrance Anbrico Burlingham Seagull kit converted to front-entrance in the fleet of Shirley's of Meriden (see next article).
• Chairman's Christmas Message 2023 - The chairman locks back on 2023 & reflects on it continuing evolution.
• Front Entrance Burlingham Seagull by Paul Ellender - A conversion of the centre-entrance Abrico white metal Burlingham Seagull kit to front entrance.
• Memories of my Youth, BH&D Early Open-top Lodekka by Martin Hare - Martin converts a standard issue open-top Southdown Bristol Lodekka into a early Brighton, Hove & District version with blanked of front grille.
• Ken Johnson's Memorable Models Number 81 ...continued - A review of Little Bus Company's Leyland Fleetline FE30 N.C.M.E. kit NC78 completed as South Notts 114 (HNN 114V).
• In Detail Yutong U11DD Electric Double-Decker by David Cole - A photographic gallery showing the exterior & interior of this futuristic looking new electric bus.
 
• Leyland Lion by Ian Bamford - Ian recreates the Trent Leyland Lion his mother use travel to work. A modified MBF kit R231 was used for the project.
• Product News - News of the latest kit releases from PSG & Paragon Kits
• Tower Models Leyland National Kit by Steve Oxbrow - Steve gives a detailed account of the construction of his pre-owned Tower Models plastic kit. It is used to produce a model of Southern National 2879 (FDV 775V) in a special livery used for free services to the Leo supermarket.
• Welcome Aboard - A welcome to five new members & two returnee's.
• Bradford Regent III - A Bradford AEC Regent III built from a MBF Shop kit by Rodger Pope.
• Plan of the Month by Alan Johnson - Leyland PD3 / Northern Counties - Western SMT.
• Area News - Eleven pages of reports & 59 colour photographs covering recent MBF meetings in the North Midlands, North West, South Wales & Herefordshire, Dorset & New Forest, Greater Manchester, & Ireland areas.
• Journal Editorial Staff Changes - The unofficial Assistant Journal Editor has sadly passed away at the ripe old age of 18, but on the plus side a new 11 week old four trainee has be found.
• 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)