EFE Zone - News - April 2005
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Latest Confirmed Releases 28 April
   These models have now been released by EFE.
       18007       - MCW Daimler Fleetline - Belfast Corporation
       13916DR - Bristol Lodekka FLF Double Deck Bus - Stagecoach (current livery)
       20436DR - Bristol VRT Series III Double Deck Bus - Yorkshire Rider Bradford

Two new EFE models releases the Australian Trax Trux range 22 April
   Kevin Ford has alerted me to the fact that the Trax Topgear website site now has details of two new Australian buses produced by EFE. Both are based of the Leyland Tiger TS8 Single Deck bus.
Presumably these will like previous Trax Trux models be offered in limited numbers to EFE Subscribers at some point in the future.

    18307A - Leyland TS8 Half Cab Single Deck Bus (Small Front Destination)
       Operator        : Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways
       Registration   : AT - 119
       Fleet No.        : 119
       Route No.       : None
       Destination     : Collingwood
       Livery             : Green with dark green mudguards and light grey roof.
       Notes              : Produced for the Trax Trux Range in Australia (TX12).
       Released        : April 2005 in Australia / UK release unknown.
View page at Topgear website for the above model

    18307B - Leyland TS8 Half Cab Single Deck Bus (Small Front Destination)
       Operator        : Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways
       Registration   : 272-117
       Fleet No.        : 117
       Route No.       : None
       Destination     : Port Melbourne
       Livery             : Green with dark green mudguards and light grey roof.
       Notes              : Produced for the Trax Trux Range in Australia (TX12B).
       Released        : April 2005 in Australia / UK release unknown.
View page at Topgear website for the above model

   Thanks goes to Kevin Ford for once again bringing new Australian releases to my attention.

New Hong Kong Model Commissioned 21 April
   Graham White's Oriental Model Buses site reports that Kowloon Motor Bus have commissioned EFE to produced a model of one of their former London Transport DMS Daimler Fleetlines. The only details confirmed so far are that the model will be on route 2C to Star Ferry, no release date is known yet.
A picture of one of the real vehicles can be found on the news page at Graham's site.

Next Planned Releases 19 April
   These models are expected to be released to retailers on the 27th April.
       18007       - MCW Daimler Fleetline - Belfast Corporation
       13916DR - Bristol Lodekka FLF Double Deck Bus - Stagecoach (current livery)
       20436DR - Bristol VRT Series III Double Deck Bus - Yorkshire Rider Bradford
Source : Jim's Diecast Model Buses

Confirmed New Releases 14 April
   These models have now been released by EFE and should be with retailers shortly.
       29404DR - Bristol RELH Dual Purpose Coach - East Midland
       27901DR - Open Top Fleetline DMS Single Door with Engine Bustle - The Big Bus Company
       29607DR - Leyland Olympian Single Door - London United Busways (Route 140)

Next Weeks Releases 9 April
   These models are expected to be released around the 13th April.
       29404DR - Bristol RELH Dual Purpose Coach - East Midland
       27901DR - Open Top Fleetline DMS Single Door with Engine Bustle - The Big Bus Company
       29607DR - Leyland Olympian Single Door - London United Busways (Route 140)
Source : Jim's Diecast Model Buses

Cobham Bus Museum GS - A Correction 5 April
   I've been informed the pre-production GS model shown by EFE at the recent Cobham Bus Museum Open Day will in fact be the second standard release of the casting, and not as stated in my report on the 3 April the version which has been commissioned by the museum. Apologies for the confusion.

Cobham Bus Museum Open Day & Bus Gathering 3 April
   The Cobham Bus Museum today released the two commissioned models as planned, and both had sold out by the end of the event.

The two red London Transport models released were -:
       20203B - Roof Box STD - STD140 - Route 167 Ilford Station Cobham Open Day side adverts
       26307B - Guy Arab II Utility - G351 - Route 175 Collier Row - Period adverts

   The museum also announced that the planned GS would be released at 'Cobham's 1950s Day' to be held on Sunday 19 June. Visitors buying the open day models were invited to complete a self address envelope and for a small charge of 30p an order form would be sent out after the June event if any stock of the GS remained.

   EFE were present and had a pre-production version of the Cobham GS on display. The model will depict GS34 MXX334 (although the mock up was of GS62) it will carry gold London Transport fleet names and have route details for the 471 Pratts Bottom (Circular) Knockholt Cudham Orpington.
Most of the announced forthcoming models were also displayed along with a pre-production version of the AEC Renown. This was painted in the red & cream livery of North Western. The model carried fleet No. 125, Registration AJA125B, and had destination blinds for route 6 Glossop. The pre-production model certainly looks pretty impressive.
Sadly no photo's of these two were obtained, the placement of both on turntables in glass display cases defeated my rather basic digital camera.

Regarding the shortage of the first GS release only a handful of models were seen on sale from the many traders present.

Rambler's Re-worked SRT 1 Released 3 April
   10128Ba new limited edition of just 144 models produced from an overrun of the original release have now been produced, the unallocated models were available at the Cobham Open Day from Stuart Alderman's stall, I'm informed that all but 11 of the production run were reserved by existing mail order customers who had suffered a delay in receiving the Code 3 Ramblers OOC Q.

The only difference between the new reworked version and the original produced by EFE 10128B is the blind displays which has been changed from St Albans to Harpenden, the conversion was carried out by L.B.R.T. so the models are classified as code 3.

Forthcoming Release Update 2 April
   There were no new model announcements in the subscriber newsletter, however it did reveal April's planned releases.

Early April Releases
       29404       - Bristol RELH Dual Purpose Coach - East Midland
       27901DR - Open Top Fleetline DMS Single Door with Engine Bustle - The Big Bus Company
       20436DR - Bristol VRT Series III Double Deck Bus - Yorkshire Rider Bradford

Late April Releases
       18007       - MCW Daimler Fleetline with Engine Bustle - Belfast Corporation
       13916DR - Bristol Lodekka FLF Double Deck Bus - Stagecoach (current livery)
       29607DR - Leyland Olympian Single Door - London United Busways (Route 140)

Cobham Bus Museum Open Day & Bus Gathering 2 April
   The latest EFE subscribers newsletter arrived today, and confirms that the two double deck models commissioned by the Cobham Bus Museum will be available at Sunday's annual open day and bus gathering.
The event is centered on Wisely Airfield just off the A3, the large site has room for up to 300 visiting buses, and ample car parking space. EFE intend to be present at the event, Brenda & Frank Joyce hope to be there in person, but this will depend on the arrival of their first grandchild, which is due about the same time.

More details about the event can be found on London Bus Preservation Trusts site

The commissioned models catalogue numbers and destination details have also been confirmed by EFE.
       20203B - STD Roof Box Double Deck Bus - London Transport STD140 - (Red) Route 167 Ilford Station
       26307B - Guy Arab II Utility Double Deck Bus - London Transport G351 - (Red) Route 175 Collier Row
   The museum have also commissioned a model of their GS and this is expected to be available later in the year.


The New Guy GS Bus 1 April
   It's been over a year since EFE announced that they intended to add a London Transport GS casting to the range. Well the long wait is now over and the first release is now on sale and no this is not an April's Fool!

30501 Guy GS Bus - The latest new casting from EFE
30501 The Guy GS Bus London Transport Route 494

Has the wait been worth it? Well take a look at this selection of pictures and read my brief review.


This Weeks Releases 1 April
   The following models were released on Wednesday and should now be available from normal outlets. There are reports that many traders have had their GS model orders cut back.
       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)

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