| CMNL Zone News June 2010 |
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| May 2010 | CMNL Zone News Index | July 2010 |
| Click the links to view the further details related to the News item. |
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Wednesday 30 June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Two Confirmed UK Releases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following pair of models have now been released in the UK and should be available from all the normal outlets in due course.  UKBUS4017 West Coast Motors - Single Door Alexander Royale Volvo Olympian UKBUS6028 Arriva Merseyside - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 21 June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Press Releases: UKBUS9004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CMNL has issued the following press release today. Thames Travel Creative Master Northcord Limited is pleased to announce the release of ukbus 9004, the Polish-built double-deck single-door Scania OmniCity and the distinctive, modern double-decker in the United Kingdom. The fourth livery to be carried on the brand new model is Thames Travel, in its standard livery. ukbus 9004 represents fleet number 408 (DU08 HGM), working on route X40 bound for Oxford.  Thames Travel is based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. The company started in 1998 with a fleet of four vehicles and has gone from strength to strength, expanding to its position as the third largest bus operator in Oxfordshire. Thames Travel currently employs about 75 staff and maintains a fleet of 34 vehicles. Its services cover the geographical area of South Oxfordshire and part of West Berkshire, carrying 1.25 million passengers per year. 408 is one the low floor, easy access vehicles, fitted with the latest CCTV technology, spacious wheelchair and buggy area, in the fleet of Thames Travel. The ukbus 9000 series is seeing a new design feature for the first time on a CMNL ukbus series double deck model - namely the side windows are all fitted from the outside. This method gives a smoother finish to the model’s sides that can assist in the application of tampo printing and waterslide decals. The roof of ukbus 9000 models features many of the add-on vents or aerial cover. The Polish-built OmniCity double-decker ukbus 9004 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, bonded windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the ukbus 9004 model is its twin tree protectors at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with its curved windscreen, and the large windscreen on the lower deck is a single-piece unit without any centre dividing strip. Creative Master Northcord 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 OmniCity, such as an additional window at the back, above the rearmost double seats, the additional ventilation equipment on the upper deck ceiling above the straight staircase, and the extensive portrayal of handrails on the upper and lower deck, etc. The headlights and turning signal lights at the front are made of individual components to look more realistic.  The brand new OmniCity bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Transit Graphics (Australia), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 9004 model is limited to 804 pieces worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 17 June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confirmed UK Releases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following models have now been released in the UK and should be available from all the normal retailers.   UKBUS4015 Lothian Transport - Alexander Royale Volvo Olympian UKBUS6022 Stagecoach in Devon - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 UKBUS6027 Western Greyhound - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CMNL Price Increases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There appears to be a price increase coming across the CMNL range, the recommended retail prices shown on the wholesaler's John Ayrey Die-casts site for the most recently announced models indicate an average increase of around £4 per model. Many retailers already undercut the RRP prices but it seems likely some of the increase will have to be passed on to collectors. The new RRP for each of the model types are as follows: UKBUS1000 Series - £36.99 UKBUS2000 Series - £36.99 UKBUS3000 Series - £34.99 UKBUS4000 Series - £39.99 UKBUS5000 Series - £39.99 UKBUS5100 Series - £43.99 UKBUS6000 Series - £42.99 UKBUS7000 Series - £39.99 UKBUS8000 Series - £39.99 UKBUS9000 Series - £42.99 UKVAN1000 Series - £14.99 UKPLUS1000 Series - £13.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Press Releases: UKBUS4018 & CNBUS1017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CMNL has issued the following pair of press releases today. West Coast Motors, Campbeltown Creative Master Northcord Limited is pleased to announce the release of Alexander “Royale” / Volvo Olympian ukbus 4018. It is carrying West Coast Motors’ all-red livery. ukbus 4018 represents N401 GSX that was new to Lothian Buses.  Lothian Buses’ fleet number 401 was a significant bus in the Lothian fleet as it was, numerically, the first “Royale”-bodied Volvo Olympian in that fleet, following on from two previous batches of R-type Volvo Olympians. After withdrawal by Lothian Buses, their former 401 was repainted into West Coast Motors’ livery at Ferrymill Motors, Torrance. After completing its inspections, 401 entered service from Dunoon depot which is located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. From Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, Dunoon is accessible by road and ferry, using the Cal-Mac or Western Ferries service from Gourock, or by the scenic road route via Loch Lomond and the “Rest and Be Thankful”. ukbus 4018 is featured on route 485 to Blairmore. The intermediate blind carries the place names : Hunter’s Quay, Sandbank and Kilmun. ukbus 4018 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted gasket windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Collectors can now make a detailed comparison of all the different lettering on the ukbus 4017 model of P281 PSX and ukbus 4018 model of N401 GSX that set them apart from each other. Another main feature on the ukbus 4018 models is the extensive handrails on both upper deck and lower deck. It is one of the significant achievements on this casting. The headlight and indicator units at the front are made of individual components to look more realistic.  The brand new Volvo Olympian Royale bus models in West Coast Motors livery will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Transit Graphics (Australia), cnmycar.com (P. R. China), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 4018 model is limited to 528 pieces worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sunwin / Volvo B7R SWB6120V4 cnbus 1017 Shanghai Ba-Shi No.2 Company Having made the significant success of its cnbus 1016 replica, Creative Master Northcord Limited has proudly released its third Sunwin / Volvo B7R model of a bus working on route 49 in Shanghai Puxi Area, cnbus 1017. It is carrying the brand new standard white / green Shanghai Ba-Shi Public Transportation (Group) Company Limited livery. The model is contained within the new generic box for cnbus family models. cnbus 1017 represents fleet number SWK 226 (registration 沪B 46479) and it is featured running on 空調49 (air-con route 49).  cnbus 1017 features the new face of the well known Shanghai Sunwin / Volvo B7R. It has new front lights and front dome representing the latest unique style of these Chinese-built bus bodies on the European-design Volvo chassis. The model also replicates the new style of driver rear-view mirrors that are less expensive to repair and to replace, instead of the “rabbit ear” style previously replicated. The new style of mirror arm also includes the high-mounted door-step illumination and reversing indicator within the mirror arm on the nearside of the bus. The rear dome and deeper engine access door are further notable modifications to the original cnbus 1000 range casting. CMNL is making further modification onto the tooling. cnbus 1017 has a brand new seating plan. There is a row of single seats on the offside together with a backward-facing single seat on the front wheel arch behind the driver’s position. Furthermore, cnbus 1017 is the first model to feature the lady driver figure who is sitting on the driving seat. The driver figure is modeled wearing the new uniform that was introduced from the beginning of May 2010. cnbus 1017 is the third Sunwin / Volvo B7R replica carrying the route 49 since 2003. These models are telling a brief history of the development of the public transport in the City of Shanghai within the same period. cnbus 1002 was carrying white and pink colours representing, at that time, the ownership of the company, Shanghai Shen Xin Bus Company, which was a Sino-Singapore joint venture company that commenced operation in March 1998. Soon after, with the acquisition by Shanghai Dazhong Group Company, cnbus 1008 was produced, carrying the red and metallic blue colour. In March 2009, the Shanghai Ba-Shi Public Transportation (Group) Company Limited was established. The Company currently operates most public transport bus services in the Puxi Area in Shanghai. The buses are all carrying the standard white and green colours. Shanghai Shen Xin Bus Company was renamed Shanghai Ba-Shi No.2 Company after becoming a member of the Company. cnbus 1017 features excellent detailing, inside and out. This is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and application of the standard Shanghai Ba-Shi Public Transportation (Group) Company livery on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible on the white / green paint. In particular, the model features the brand-new metal badging, on the sides above the wheelarches, of Shanghai Ba-Shi No.2 Company and also features the special banner at the top of the front windscreen that advertises the big event of 2010 – the Shanghai Expo 2010. The side destination blinds are carrying the bilingual wordings ( Chinese / English ) which is unusual on Shanghai buses. Two routes that terminate at Shanghai Stadium carry such bi-lingual destination boards – the other being route 926. The model has no unnecessary metal poles to hold it together.  The cnbus 1017 model is limited to 456 pieces for worldwide distribution. They will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), Transit Graphics (Australia), cnmycar.com (P.R. China) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 June / Updated 8th June | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vehicle Pictures Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pictures showing the real vehicles upon which fourteen of the recently announced new models will be based have been published by John Ayrey Diecast.
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| May 2010 | CMNL Zone News Index | July 2010 |