An overrun of 144 models are to receive new Harpenden destinations which will replace the original St Albans. This operation is being carried out by Nigel Mitchell at L.B.R.T. the resulting model will be classed as a code 3 and will receive box labels bearing catalogue number 10128Ba.
The SRT is initially going to be offered to customers who ordered the delayed OOC 4Q4 Ramblers model.
More details can be found at British Model Buses.com
- The long awaited green STL is being manufactured now and should be available in Summer 2005.
- Also in production now are the four Routemasters, Great Northern RM25 and Shillibeer RML2524 which should also be available in Summer 2005. Each model is being produced in two versions, with or without adverts.
- The last Routemasters in normal public service are expected to be withdrawn in November, either on route 38 or 159, both operated by Arriva. The museum have commissioned special models to celebrate the event. Details are to be revealed in the next newsletter.
26805 - Leyland Half Cub Duple Coach - Ribble
28005DR - Single Door Daimler Fleetline DMS Double Decker - Western Scottish
30501 - Guy GS Sinlge Deck Bus - London Transport (Route 494)
The Blue Tea-room at Pen-ffynnon, Llangeler
Good Friday will see the opening of the new tea-room at Pen-ffynnon, Llangeler. This forms the first phase of the West Wales Museum of Childhood, a project designed to bring new tourists into the area as well as to provide for local residents. The new toy and model shop will offer a wide selection of new and obsolete toys and diecast model vehicles as the aim is to provide for not only old and new collectors alike, but also young children.
The shop also will have a good selection of gifts and souvenirs to satisfy the needs of tourists and local people alike.
The toy and model shop at Pen-ffynnon, Llangeler
The museum will be housed in two converted stone barns, and will feature a multitude of toys and childhood memorabilia from the last two hundred years.
The collection of over 20,000 artefacts was formed by Paul and Hilary Kennelly and Vic Davey pooling their individual collections and includes diecast motor cars, lorries and buses, tinplate toys, model railways, dolls and dolls houses, teddy bears, Action Men, Barbies and Sindys, pull-along toys, dolls prams and pushchairs, board games, costumes, rocking horses and pedal cars from the past.Hilary said 'We have toys of all ages for all ages - they include a dolls tea set dating from 1790, a Kylie Minogue doll of 2004, and many more in between. We have also in our collections many toys that were made in Wales and we plan to have a special display for these - Corgi Toys and Louis Marx toys from Fforestfach (Swansea), Crescent from Cwmcarn, Triang at Merthyr Tydfil, Jolly Roger, Wendy Boston teddy bears and a cuddly Welsh dragon from Cwmpengraig'
The owners plan to open the museum's display galleries in May this year but to give a taste of things to come, they have provided a preview of toys in the tea-room.
Part of the collection preview on show in the Tea-room
For news of the museum's progress, you can see the website at www.toymuseumwales.co.uk, or you may wish to enquire by phone at 01559 370428 or by email to info@toymuseumwales.co.uk
Local residents say they will be pleased to see the new tea-room, which has its own good size car park, as they point out that there is little provision for refreshment along the A484.
The project is part funded by the European Union European Regional Development Fund through Community Enterprise, arranged by the Foothold Group of Llanelli.
Bus Set 13 will be titled "London Country GS & RF Buses" and will contain a GS on route 336A and an RF on route 336. Both vehicles will carry London Country fleet names and liveries as used around the Rickmansworth area in 1971 and early 1972.
The set is now expected to be released this summer and is priced £39.95 plus £6,00 p&p (UK & Europe) or (£8.00 rest of the world)
Orders can be placed on the museums web site www.ltmuseum.co.uk
26315 - Guy Arab II Utility - Southdown (Route 31)
80003 - 1938 Driving 'A' Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line (Destination Uxbridge)
80103 - 1938 Driving 'D' Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line (Destination Uxbridge)
80203 - 1938 Motor Trailer Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line
80303 - 1938 Trailer Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line
30901 - AEC Mark III Mammoth Major Flatbed Truck & Trailer
Operator : British Road Services
Registration : EVH 23
Fleet No. : 42 D 107
Livery : Red with black chassis.
Notes : Supplied with a crated Church organ back load
Expected : Late May
15002DR - Long Dual Door Leyland National Mark I
Operator : Brighton & Hove
Registration : UFG 51S
Fleet No. : 51
Route : 36A
Destination : Brighton Old Steine
Adverts : None ?
Livery : Red with cream roof and waistband.
Expected : Early June
24904DR - Mercedes Benz Minibus (Small Destination)
Operator : South Wales Transport (SWT fleet names)
Registration : F320AWN
Fleet No. : 320
Route : 6
Destination : Port Tennant
Adverts : None ?
Livery : Green and yellow with red and orange bands.
Expected : Late May
29607DR - Single Door Leyland Olympian
Operator : London United Busways
Registration : G296UYK
Fleet No. : L296
Route : 140
Destination : Heathrow Airport via Northolt, Yeading and Hayes
Adverts : None ? / (has Route 140 branding)
Livery : Red with light grey upper deck windows and roof. Dark grey skirt.
Expected : Early June
Pre-production pictures of these models can be found at Jim's Diecast Model Buses
For more details visit the London Bus Preservation Trust's Web Site
The museum and airfield will also host a large selection of stalls selling various bus releated items including a usually large selection of models.
The museum is hoping two have at least two special EFE models available at the event. The official Open Day model will be post war STD140, which should be joined by a Guy Arab II Utility bus, this has been based on the Trust's London Transport G351 which will make its first public appearance at the event following a long period of restoration.
The museum have also commissioned a replica model of thier Guy Special Vixan GS34 however it is not clear yet whether this will be ready in time for the Open Day.
These models will only be available on the day, no pre-orders can be accepted by the museum.
26315 - Guy Arab II Utility - Southdown (Route 31)
80003 - 1938 Driving 'A' Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line (Destination Uxbridge)
80103 - 1938 Driving 'D' Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line (Destination Uxbridge)
80203 - 1938 Motor Trailer Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line
80303 - 1938 Trailer Tube Train Carriage - Piccadilly Line
29607DR - Leyland Olympian Single door - London United Busways
(this is presumed to be the route 140 branded model shown at the Toy Fair.)
30901 - AEC Mammoth Major Mark III Flatbed truck with flat drag trailer - British Road Services
15107DR - Long Leyland National Mark I Dual Door
Operator : Surfside Bus Lines
Registration : 626 OMD
Fleet No. : --
Route : --
Destination : Unknown
Adverts : None
Livery : Orange with white roof and window surrounds.
16702DR - Short Leyland National Mark I Dual Door
Operator : Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board
Registration : IAC 821
Fleet No. : 821
Route : 277
Destination : Melbourne via Templestowe
Adverts : None
Livery : Orange with white roof.
Note I've now corrected the operator details for 99206 & 99207 below which I unfortunately transposed.
The next special models being prepared are for the Cobham Bus Museum Open Day on the 3rd April. These are expected to be an STD, and a just announced Guy Arab II. A GS model is also expected later in the year.
Here's an interesting section from the latest EFE newsletter.
While talking with collectors at Acton some were under the impression that we had raised the prices of the 10T10 and the forthcoming Guy GS models but this is wrong because the prices are the same as our standard current release models. The unfortunate situation is that some entrepreneurial dealers have taken the opportunity to exploit the situation and put their prices up. It is up to the individual to decide, because if they are prepared to wait, there will always be another similar bus following along behind.
Models provisionally planned for late March release.
28005DR - Daimler Fleetline Single Door DMS - Western Scottish
26805 - Leyland Duple Half Cab Coach - Ribble
30501 - Guy GS Special Bus - London Transport (route 494)
99206 - Daimler Utility Double Deck Bus
Operator : Birmingham City Transport
Registration : FOP 339
Fleet No. : 1339
Route : 11
Destination : Outer Circle
Adverts : None
Livery : Grey with white black out markings.
99207 - Leyland Titan TD1 Enclosed Staircase Double Deck Bus
Operator : Plymouth City Transport
Registration : DR 7405
Fleet No. : 124
Route : --
Destination : Theatre
Adverts : None
Livery : Grey with brown front mudguards and white black out markings.
Pictures of these latest editions can be found at Jim's Diecast Model Buses
13915A - Bristol Lodekka FLF with late radiator
Operator : Western S.M.T.
Registration : TCS 159
Fleet No. : DB1711
Route : D5
Destination : Queensberry Square
Adverts : Parcels by bus and Haig Scotch Whisky
Livery : Red with cream bands, black mudguards and lining
Notes : Produced as a reader offer for Classic Bus Magazine