EFE Zone News January 2008
December 2007	News Archive Index	February 2008
Use the links below to view the further details related to the News items.

If anyone can supply reliable news stories about EFE or Gilbow models, then please feel free to drop me an email.

Tuesday 29 January

First Subscriber Newsletter of 2008

The latest newsletter arrived from EFE today and in it Frank Joyce recalls some of the ups & downs of his company that this year marks its 20th Anniversary. To celebrate this milestone EFE will producing some special low priced reworked models exclusively for its subscribers. Details and images of these models will be revealed in a later newsletter mailing. The London Toy Fair is being held later this week and EFE as usual will be attending and displaying their forthcoming model releases to members of the model and toy trade. Frank Joyce has decided to try and recreate for EFE collectors, some of the excitement that existed previously in the 1/76th scale model market. In an attempt to achieve this EFE will withhold the identity of new models that they are currently tooling and identify these new models closer to the date that each will be released. Brief details of two new models are listed among the forthcoming releases. 98002 1/24th MCW Metrobus - Metroline (Willesden Garage routes - AC) 34701 AEC Mk V 8 Wheel Tanker - Southdown NBC The first release of the new pre-war 2RT2 34001 appears to have slipped slightly and the latest release sheet now indicates that the model is due in March. The two New Year Subscribers Stagecoach models appear to have sold well with only 130 examples of one of the models now left. A new model offer is included with the latest newsletter and gives subscribers the opportunity to purchase the Melbourne W6 class trams announced last year. Two different models have been exclusively produced for EFE and each is priced £39.00 (inc UK P&P), only 600 examples of each has been produced and these are expected to be released in March. Details of how to join EFE Subscription Service can be found on their official www.exclusivefirsteditions.com site.

Image scanned from an EFE release sheet AT1001 - W6 Single Melbourne Tramcar Operator Melbourne Fleet No. 873 Route No. 1 Destination East Coborg Livery Green with yellow window surrounds and beige roof Adverts -- Release Expected March 2008

Image scanned from an EFE release sheet AT1002 - W6 Single Melbourne Tramcar Operator Melbourne City Circler Tram Fleet No. 1020 Route No. 35 Destination City Circle Livery Brown with gold band and green roof Adverts Australian Impressionism Release Expected March 2008

Thursday 24 January

Confirmed Model Releases

The following models have now been released by EFE and should be available from the usual EFE stockists in the coming days. 28815 Leyland Titan Double Deck Bus - Bexleybus 33901 Ford Thames Trader Articulated Car Transporter Lorry - Toleman 34201 AEC Regent III Weymann RLH Double Deck Bus - London Transport Central Area (Route 230)

Friday 18 January

Subscribers Models Released

EFE have now started to post out the two special Stagecoach models produced for their Subscription Service members. 28816 Leyland Titan Double Deck Bus - Stagecoach East London 20638 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer Single Deck Bus - Stagecoach in the South Downs

Tuesday 15 January

Planned Late January Releases

The next batch of models are expected to be released during the week commencing the 21 January and will include the first release of the much anticipated RLH double deck bus. 28815 Leyland Titan Double Deck Bus - Bexleybus 33901 Ford Thames Trader Articulated Car Transporter Lorry - Toleman 34201 AEC Regent III Weymann RLH Double Deck Bus - London Transport Central Area (Route 230)

Information kindly supplied by

Friday 11 January

Confirmed Model Releases

The following models have now been released and should be available from all the usual suppliers. 19709 AEC Regent V Metro-Cammell Orion Double Deck Bus - Merseyside PTE 29616 Leyland Olympian Double Deck Bus - Chester City Transport 33701 ERF KV Box Van Truck - Gestetner Copiers

Wednesday 9 January

Four New Models Announced

A release sheet has been sent out to traders and contains details of four new models and also confirms the expected release dates for the two Southern Vectis models previously announced in a Subscribers' newsletter before Christmas.

Pictures of the models can be found at Jim's Diecast Buses

14405 - Short Single Door Leyland National Mark I Operator Grey Green Registration NPK229R Fleet No. 806 Route No. 151 Destination Chatham & Halling Livery Grey with green skirt. Orange relief band and door Adverts None ? Release Expected March 2008

20637 - Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer Single Deck Bus Operator West Coast Motors Registration J60 WCM Fleet No. -- Route No. 403 Destination Oban Supermarkets & Hospital Livery Red with white window pillars and roof Adverts -- Release Expected February 2008

26621 - Plaxton Paramount 3500 Coach Operator First Southern National Registration RIL1069 Fleet No. 8015 Route No. X96 Destination Taunton Livery Green with cream roof and waistband Adverts -- Release Expected March 2008

34401 - AEC Matador Mark V 4 Axle Flatbed with 2 Axle Drag Trailer Operator Alan Firmin Registration AF 105 Fleet No. -- Livery Dark Blue with black chassis and blue tarpaulin load covers Release Expected February 2008

And the two previously announced Southern Vectis Models:

16221 - Bristol LS Coach (MW Casting) Operator Southern Vectis Registration JDL 760 Fleet No. 311 Route No. -- Destination On Tour Livery Cream with green window surrounds and mudguards Adverts -- Release Expected February 2008

29617 - Leyland Olympian Double Deck Bus Operator Southern Vectis Registration TIL6725 Fleet No. 725 Route No. 6 Destination Ventnor Livery Green with darker green upper deck front and skirt Adverts -- Release Expected March 2008

Friday 4 January

New EFE model for Australian Trux Range

The Trax Topgear site contains details of a new Mercedes Benz Minibus based on the EFE Casting. This second Australian version for the Trux range is decorated in Toronto Bus Service livery and is depicted working on branch line replacement service "The Train". Full details and pictures of TX14B can be found on the Trax website. I presume that like all the previous Trax models produced by EFE these will be offered direct to its Subscribers at some point in the near future.

Wednesday 2 January

Planned Early January Releases

The following models are due to be released during the week ending the 11th January. 19709 AEC Regent V Metro-Cammell Orion Double Deck Bus - Merseyside PTE 29616 Leyland Olympian Double Deck Bus - Chester City Transport 33701 ERF KV Box Van Truck - Gestetner Copiers

Information kindly supplied by

Tuesday 1 January

Happy New Year

I'd like to wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year and hope you continue to find this site of use throughout 2008. The free EFE Zone 2008 calendar is available to download and print. You can download the PDF version using the picture link below. If you don't have the Adobe PDF reader software installed, you can obtain a Jpeg version of the calendar from my Fotopic site. View Jpeg Version Click the picture above to download the PDF file (Size: 2.6 Meg)

December 2007

News Archive Index

February 2008