| EFE Zone News September 2008 |
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| August 2008 | News Archive Index | October 2008 |
| Use the links below to view the further details related to the News items. |
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anyone can supply reliable news stories about EFE or
Gilbow models, then please feel free to drop me an email. |
Sunday 28 September |
| Special Showbus Report |
There were a few surprises at today's Showbus Rally provided by EFE, the first shots of four new SLF Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer single deck buses were on show. The models depict the a Plaxton Pointer I in both single & a dual door layout. There are also two versions with Pointer II bodywork that again come with with dual & single door layout, these are similar to the models produced for New World First Bus some years ago. All 4 versions appear to be based on either 10.3 or 10.7 metre long vehicles and have glazed destination displays and flush single peice side glazing on to which it appears the window detailing will be tampo printed.     Finally here's a list of all the new models announced at today's event, release dates for these are yet to be confirmed by EFE although posters suggested the BEA Routemaster & Trailer would be released in December. |
| The following ten models were announced at the event. Buses 14014 Eastern Scottish (dark green livery) - Bristol FLF 23319 London Transport (green / route 432) - AEC RF Bus 22716 West Coast Motors - Alexander Y Coach 29205 Stagecoach East London (Route 174 Stagecoach white livery) 31503 London Transport (route 9) - AEC Routemaster RM 32401 Bristol Omnibus - Bristol RELH Coach (T shape Destination layout) 36201 BEA - AEC RMA Routemaster & Luggage Trailer        Trucks 31002 D.A. Macrae -Foden 4 Axle Flatbed 32701 Bass Worthington - Ford Thames Trader 2 Axle Flatbed 35002 Barton Transport - AEC Mercury Articulated Flatbed     Click the marquee to view larger pictures of the EFE display at Showbus Dial up users please note this links to a page with a very large graphics content 54 pictures from the event can be found on my Fotopic site in the 'Showbus 2008' collection. |
Thursday 25 September |
| Confirmed Releases |
The following models have been released and should be available from the normal outlets.    20444 Bristol VRT Series 3 - Mansfield & District (East Midland Motor Services) 26622 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Coach - National Holidays (Southern Vectis) 28817 Leyland Titan Dual Door - London Northern Buses 34901 Leyland Olympian (coach seating) - Wilts & Dorset |
| Showbus |
| This years EFE sponsored Showbus Rally takes place this coming Sunday (28 September) at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. As usual EFE are expected to have a large display of many of their future releases and it's also expected that pre-production samples of some of the new tooling such as the Olympus, 1:24 RF and BEA Routemaster luggage trailer will be on public display for the first time. Many collectors are hoping that EFE will use the event to announce the identity of least some or all three of the as yet unnamed 1:76 bus models that are in development. The event will see the release of the first re-tooled post-war RT3 type model, EFE will offer this to visitors on the day for a special reduced price.  For those unable to make to Showbus, I'm planning to post a full report and pictures of all the new models on Sunday evening following my return from Duxford. The process of preparing each photograph and collating the details takes some time so a rolling update will be used to bring you the news as fast as possible. The report will appear on the following page hopefully starting around 7pm. |
| Showbus Update - 27 September |
| The latest subscriber's newsletter arrived this morning and contains some of EFE's plans for tomorrow's Showbus event, there will be a comprehensive fully updated display of operator fleet boards and this year's Tombola will offer prizes of some rare models, two of the winning one pound tickets will each reward their lucky holders with a 1:24 scale DMS model. The working display this year is a town scene with working Tramcars, there will also be the usual competitions and last year's very popular EFE Scrap Yard sale of unboxed or slightly damaged models is also to be repeated and will open for business just after lunch. On show in the display cabinets will be the 1st shots of a brand new single deck bus, the tooling patterns for the new Olympus bus, details of two versions of a new single deck bus, shots of the new accessories and samples of forthcoming model releases. EFE have also received the first samples of the RMA Routemaster and trailer in the original BEA livery so this will be something else to look out for. The five models planned to mark EFE 20th Anniversary are now being offered to all collector's, the latest subscriber's mailing includes details & a pre-order form, the cut off date for all pre-orders has been set as 28 November 2008. Each model will then only be produced in quantities to fulfill the pre-orders to ensure these are rare and valuable to EFE Collectors. The models are to be released in intervals over the next 12 months and each is priced including P&P: £16.50 (UK), £18.50 (Rest of Europe) or £19.50 (Rest of World). A scan of the rear of the latest release sheet showing the anniversary models can be viewed by using the thumbnail below, order forms can be obtained by phoning the EFE sales office on: 0208 344 6720. 
   Scans of the latest Release Sheets issued by EFE. |
Monday 22 September |
| Eight New Models Announced |
The latest trade bulletin from EFE contains details of 6 new 1:76 scale buses, the next 1:24 scale MCW Metrobus and an Isle of Wight Line tube train set. These model are all currently scheduled for release in either October or November.
 
 14605 Leyland National Series 2 - London Country North West - Nov 20445 Bristol VRT Series III - Devon General (cream & maroon livery) - Oct 23708 Daimler Fleetline Alexander A Type - Maidstone & District (in Northern General style red livery) - Oct 28007 Single Door Daimler Fleetline DMS - Bexleybus (London Buses Ltd) - Nov 29010 GM Standard Daimler Fleetline - Badgerline 34102 Post War AEC RT (Re-tooled)- London Country (RT604 / Route 403) 98003 1:24 Scale MCW Metrobus - London Transport (Fulwell Garage Routes 90B, 110,267, 270 & 285) - Nov 99932 1938 Stock Tube Train Set - Isle of Wight Island Line (2 Carriage Set) - Oct |
Information kindly supplied by & Exclusive First Editions. |
| The pop-up model thumbnail feature has now been added to all the yearly release pages, at the present time this feature doesn't work with the Opera browser, the feature also requires the JavaScript option to be enabled in your browser (usually the default setting). I'd be interested to receive feedback from anyone who is having any problems or is unable to see the pop-up thumbnails. |
Monday 15 September |
| Late September Releases |
| The following models are scheduled for release in the week ending the 27th September. 20444 Bristol VRT Series 3 - Mansfield & District (East Midland Motor Services) 26622 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Coach - National Holidays (Southern Vectis) 28817 Leyland Titan Dual Door - London Northern Buses 34901 Leyland Olympian (coach seating) - Wilts & Dorset |
| Information kindly supplied by |
Thursday 11 September |
| Confirmed Releases |
The following models have now been released by EFE and should be available from model outlets.   17507 Long Leyland National Mark II - Merseybus 20640 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - London Buslines (also described as London Busways in EFE Publicity) 34402 AEC Mark V 4 Axle Flatbed Truck - British Road Services |
Monday 8 September |
| EFE's Future Plans |
| The current Diecast Collector magazine (October 2008 Issue) contains a feature entitled 20 Years of EFE, the article includes an interview with Frank Joyce which looks back at the last 20 years and some of the future plans. The article includes several pictures of decorated versions of the plastic railway, bus and trucks accessories announced at the London Toy Fair back in January, the intention with these is to release them in various sets that will be produced in both painted and unpainted forms. The Underground station seats are designed to be used either singly or back to back in pairs with an hoarding in between. The station escalator will come in two pieces allowing it to be cut to a desired length if required. For road vehicle modellers and collectors there will be a set of three London Transport style bus stops, these will each have different styles of post finials and timetable display cases. The truck range will also get some additional loads, these will include wooden pallets with sperate sack, brick or bag layers to place on them, coal sacks, milk churns and various lengths of iron girder will also be added to the existing backload range. These will all join the existing range of bagged lorry backloads and will also be used with future lorry releases when appropriate. Finally four different pillar boxes and a telephone box complete with interior detailing are also in development, these and all the other new accessories mentioned above will be shown to the public for the first time at the Showbus Rally later this month.  London Transport MCW Metrobus M6 preserved in it's original 1979 livery by the Cobham Bus Museum If demand is strong enough its possible the Metrobus could be produced in some provincial liveries later on. The five special EFE 20th Anniversary models which are being produced principally for EFE Subscribers are all pictured and are also to be made available to Diecast Collector readers via a special in magazine offer later in the year. The RMA luggage trailer will appear with the buses in four different liveries. The article suggests that the Olympus double deck model development has been held up somewhat by the changes that have affected East Lancs over the past year or so. The specifications of the real vehicle are also being revised following a tilt test failure, the model will appear once specifications and seating capacity have been finalised. Frank Joyce mentions upgrading and changing existing castings, he specifically highlights the Bristol MW and various destination displays found on theses vehicles, he also mentions the fact that its just been realized that the Leyland TD1 body can be used with AEC and Crossley radiators to produce further 1930s style vehicles. Prototypes of a new double deck and a pair of single deck models should be on display at Showbus, consideration is also being given to producing another new coach and further lorries in the future. The interesting article also contains some background information about the process of producing the models and some of the problems encountered, the same issue also contains a detailed feature on London Transport 1:76 scale models. |
Monday 1 September |
| London Transport Museum News |
| I've received a mailing from the LT Museum today updating the situation regarding four limited edition models that were offered to standing order customers earlier this year. 27702A AEC STL Bus - London Transport Red, route 8A (produced for the Bow Depot Open Day in June) 31701B AEC Routemaster RMC Coach - Green Line, route 716 (produced for the March Acton Depot Open Weekend) 15633A AEC Routemaster RM Bus - Arriva London, Gold / Arriva Heritage Fleet 31703A AEC Routemaster RMC Coach - Arriva London, Red / Arriva Heritage Fleet The Museum is currently upgrading it's Standing Order System to the highest standard in compliance with the Data Protection Act. This will make the ordering process more efficient and speedy in the future. Regrettably this work may not be completed until the end of October and while this upgrade is ongoing the Museum is unable to process or check the status of any orders. All the above models are currently being stored in the Museum's secure warehouse and once the upgrade is completed all the outstanding orders will be processed and dispatched as a priority |
| Early September Releases |
| The following models are expected to be released during the week ending the 13th September. 17507 Long Leyland National Mark II- Merseybus 20640 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - London Buslines (also described as London Busways in EFE Publicity) 34402 AEC Mark V 4 Axle Flatbed Truck - British Road Services |
| Information kindly supplied by |
| August 2008 | News Archive Index | October 2008 |