| EFE Zone News March 2008 |
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| February 2008 | News Archive Index | April 2008 |
| Use the links below to view the further details related to the News items. |
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| If
anyone can supply reliable news stories about EFE or
Gilbow models, then please feel free to drop me an email. |
Monday 31 March |
| 2RT2 Release Date Announced |
| The following models are due to be released during the week ending the 12th April. 26621 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Coach - First Southern National 29617 Leyland Olympian - Southern Vectis 34001 AEC Pre-war RT (2RT2 type) - London Transport (route 22) |
Information kindly supplied by |
Saturday 29 March |
| Confirmed Model Releases |
| The following models have been released by EFE and should now be available from the normal outlets. 14405 Short Leyland National Mark I - Grey Green 20632DL Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - First Leeds (De-Luxe Series) 34701 AEC Mark V Elliptical Tanker - Southdown NBC |
Thursday 27 March |
| New Subscriber's Model Announced |
The latest EFE subscriber's newsletter contains an order form for the Toronto Bus Service Mercedes Benz Minibus recently produced for the Australian Trux range. Subscriber's are being offered the model for £18.00 inclusive of standard UK P&P. Only 250 examples have been allocated for subscriber. Non subscribers interested in the model can still obtain it direct from the Trux www.topgear.com.au website. 24816 Toronto Bus Service Mercedes Benz 609D Minibus (Trux TX14B) EFE have kindly supplied me with pictures of the new models announced last week and these have now been added to the relevent pages listed below under the 20 March entry. Larger versions can also be found on my Fotopic site in the new Forthcoming Models gallery. EFE will be attending the annual Cobham Bus Museum Open Day and Vehicle Gathering on Sunday 6th April and will have a display sited inside the main Museum building. The event returns to Wisely Airfield this year and two specially commissioned EFE models will be available at the event. 30509A Guy GS Single Deck Bus - London Transport Green (Route 464) 33601B Pre-war Leyland STD Double Deck Bus - London Transport Red (Route 83A) |
Thursday 20 March |
| Two Models Released & Three More To Come |
| The following models are now be posting out to EFE Subscriber's who ordered them. The models are expected to go on general sale shortly and will be advertised in a future issue of Model Collector Magazine. AT1001 Melbourne W6 Class Tramcar (Traditional livery) AT1002 Melbourne W6 Class Tramcar (City Circle Tram livery) The following models are expected to be released during the week ending the 29th March. 14405 Short Leyland National Mark I - Grey Green 20632DL Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - First Leeds (De-Luxe Series) 34701 AEC Mark V Elliptical Tanker - Southdown NBC |
| New Models Announced By EFE |
| Eight models have been announced in the latest EFE trade bulletin, these include the London Transport Ford Thames Trader Tipper & Kelvin Scottish RM briefly mentioned in the last subscriber's newsletter. 26206 Guy Arab I Utility Bus - Wolverhampton Corporation Transport 29618 Leyland Olympian - Tyne & Wear Transport (Northern General N.B.C.) 29619 Leyland Olympian - Maidstone & District 31502 AEC Routemaster RM - Kelvin Scottish 32103 Long Front Entrance Routemaster (RMF) - Stevensons of Uttoxeter 32204 Bristol RELH ECW Coach - Mansfield & District / Midland General 32802 Ford Thames Trader Tipper Truck - London Transport 34202 AEC RLH Double Deck Bus - London Transport (Country Area route 462C) |
| Pictures of the above models available at |
Thursday 13 March |
| Confirmed EFE Releases |
| The following models have now been released by EFE and should be available from your normal suppliers. 20637 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - West Coast Motors 29505 Plaxton Panorama Coach - Eastern Counties 34601 AEC Mark III Articulated Boxvan Truck - Monks Transport, Uxbridge |
Saturday 8 March |
| Acton Depot Open Weekend |
| EFE were present at the Acton Depot event today, the 2RT2 was once again exhibited and is now reported to be in production, its release should now be April at the latest. Also present on the EFE stand was a green version of the RLH with route 462C blinds & an Addlestone destination, the first green RLH is currently earmarked for a July release although this may slip due to the ongoing production uncertaintities in China. With thanks to Tony Price at www.worldwidemodelbuses.com I'm able to reproduce some pictures of both models below.       The special Green Line RMC was released as planned and reports suggest there was no limit on the number of models allowed per person. The special commissioned version Metropolitan Line East Tube Train set produced to mark the transfer of the line from the Underground to Overground Network (99931A) was also available at the event. 31701B RMC Routemaster - London Transport Green Line (Route 716) |
Monday 3 March |
| Next Scheduled EFE Releases |
| The following models are due to be released during the week ending the 15th March. 20637 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - West Coast Motors 29505 Plaxton Panorama Coach - Eastern Counties 34601 AEC Mark III Articulated Boxvan Truck - Monks Transport, Uxbridge A commissioned RMC Routemaster is also due to be available at the London Transport Museum's Acton Depot Open Weekend on the 8th & 9th March. 31701B RMC Routemaster - London Transport Green Line (Route 716) |
| Information kindly supplied by |
Saturday 1 March |
| Latest EFE Newsletter |
| The second EFE Subscribers Newsletter of the year has arrived and contains news of some production problems in China which are affecting EFE's planned model release program. A severe shortage of labour and the coldest winter for 50 years are causing manufacturing problems across a wide range of industrial and commercial products including models & toys. However these problems vary between the factories used to produce EFE models and in an attempt to maintain a regular supply of new models EFE plan to move their mould tooling between factories to make the best use of the available labour. A knock on affect of these problems appears to be a further delay in the release of the much anticipated 2RT2 which is not now listed among models expected to be released during March. EFE will be attending the Open Weekend at the London Transport Museum's Acton Depot on the 8th & 9th March, a special model of Green Line RMC1517 on route 715 to Chertsey 31701B has been commissioned by the LT Museum for this event. The recently released Mercedes Benz Minibus in Toronto Bus Service livery produced for the Australian Trux range is to be made available to Subscriber's in the near future. The two Melbourne W8 type Tramcars that were offered to Subscribers at a special low price are also soon to go on general release at a higher price and will be advertised in Model Collector Magazine.  Additionally three new truck back loads are shown comprising milk churns, sacks and girders, these will be available separately and with some of the future truck releases.  The revised list of March Releases is given as: 20637 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - West Coast Motors 34601 AEC Mark III Articulated Boxvan Lorry - Monks Transport, Uxbridge 34701 AEC Mark V 4 Axle Elliptical Tanker - Southdown N.B.C. 14405 Leyland National Short Single Door - Grey Green 29505 Plaxton Panorama Coach (Bristol Dome) - Eastern Counties 26621 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Coach - First Southern National Two new models are also mentioned in the list of forthcoming models 31502 AEC Routemaster RM - Kelvin Scottish 32802 Ford Thames Trader Tipper - London Transport A second commissioned model has today been announced on the Cobham Bus Museum website for the their Open Day & Vehicle Gathering on the 6th April, the model will depict GS1 on route 464 bound for Chart Church and won't carry any Cobham related branding. This certificated model "will be produced in very low numbers". The GS and the red Cobham 2008 branded STD64 on route 83A to Golders Green will be available from the Cobham Shop on a first-come first-served basis. Purchasers will be limited two examples of each model and no pre-ordering is available, if any models do remain after the Open Day they will go on sale at the Museum's next event on June 15. |
| EFE Zone Contact Page |
| If you want to submit comments or have an enquires your welcome to use the form provided on the "Email EFE/OOC Zone" pages, however if you want me to reply it's important that you enter your email address in the box provided, if this is left blank I will not receive any email address to reply too! Two messages have been received in the last couple days which clearly expected a reply but didn't supply any return address. I'll answer the queries here. 1. Manchester Trolleybuses To date no die-cast 1/76th scale Trolleybus models have been produced depicting any Manchester area operators to my knowledge. Corgi Classics did produce a 1/50th scale Sunbeam Utility Trolleybus in Ashton Under Lyne livery in 1996, catalogue no. 34702, This model depicts no.61, registration ETE 645 on route to Manchester Piccadilly. 2. Spare Parts For EFE Buses Replacement base plugs suitable for EFE models which have been dismantled for modification can be obtained from www.lbrt.me.uk these are available in both white metal & brass and come in packs of six for £1.20 plus P&P. I don't know of anyone who can supply original or similar plastic base plugs. |
| Code 3 MS Funding Raising Model Announced |
  The revised code 3 model 'MS01' shown above has new side and rear advertisements for the Eastbourne & South Wealden Branch of the MS Society. The models are a limited edition of 150 certificated pieces and are priced £32.50 plus £1.75 UK P&P. Cheque & postal orders should be made payable to L.B.R.T. and sent to: L.B.R.T PO Box 125, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1WG Credit & debit card orders can be placed by phoning 01323 849856 during office hours. Further details and additional pictures can be found on the www.lbrt.me.uk site along with details of the code 3 models planned for this years Country Bus Rallies & Amersham & District Running Days. |
| February 2008 | News Archive Index | April 2008 |