| EFE Zone News September 2009 |
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| August 2009 | News Archive Index | October 2009 |
| 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. |
Wednesday 30 September | ||
| LT Museum Charity Auction | ||
The Friends of the London Transport Museum are currently holding their annual eBay auction to raise funds for the museum's activities, among the various items being offered are ten examples of a special limited edition LOndon Transport EFE Routemaster. | ||
Tuesday 29 September | ||
| Next Ian Allan Commission | ||
EFE have updated the model "Master List" on their www.exclusivefirsteditions.com website, the downloadable Excel .xls file (the HTML Version links don't currently seem to work) contains details of all the models announced at Sunday's Showbus and a handful of as yet unannounced models including RML Routemaster 31906, this is described as Thomas Tilling (B&H) and I've been informed by Phillip Stephenson that Ian Allan indeed had two sample models and were promoting them as "Coming Soon" on their stand at Showbus. The Master List details indicate the model will be on route 5 to Patcham.  Brighton & Hove RML2317 in Thomas Tilling livery at Showbus 2009 These as yet unannounced & unconfirmed models also appear on the Master List, we'll have to wait and see if these actually come to fruition as described. 23605 Bedford TK Luton Box Van - Woodlands Transport, Tunbridge Wells - (GKM140D) 24909 Bristol RE Dual Purpose Bus - Cambus 153 (GCL344N), route 799 CAMBRIDGE 29202 Single Door Leyland Titan - China Motor Bus (No other details listed) 35202 BET 6 Bay Bus Single Headlamps - Yorkshire Traction 1297 (CHE297C), route 42B KINGSTONE 35701 BET 4 Bay Bus Twin Headlamps - Green Line RC12 (CUV 70C), route 705 WINDSOR VIA LONDON AIRPORT EXPRESS and details for this pair which have been briefly mentioned in recent Subscriber newsletters 25004 Bristol RELL Bus - Eastern National SD 1510 (FVX 612H), route 19 SOUTHEND VICTORIA BUS STATION 98002 1:24 Metrobus - Metroline M326 (EYE326W), routes 6, 52, 266, 302, METROLINE ... | ||
Sunday 27 September Revised 30 September | ||
| Special Showbus Report | ||
EFE announced at Showbus that they are planning to produce two new double deck buses, the first is a series I version of the Bristol VRT with the flat windscreen, the second model is described as an Alexander bodied Fleetline / Atlantean which I believe is a D type.    It appears the model has been designed to allow various versions of the RF to be produced including coach versions with side route boards and crew and OPO versions with and without folding doors. The front panel is also a seperate component suggusting a modernised version is also an option. Finally here's a list of the 13 new models announced at this year's Showbus plus the first view of the Isle of Wight Tube Train Set & the London Transport RTL previously announced. Release dates for all of these items have not been disclosed by EFE.  Click the cat numbers for full specifications & pictures Bus Models 16128 Leyland PD2 - Southdown 16223 Bristol MW/LS ECW - Crosville NBC 23320 RF Bus - London Transport RF507 Route 218 (The Last RF in Service) 26323 Guy Arab II Utility - Walsall Corporation 27314 Leyland TD1 Enclosed Staircase - Scout 29622 Leyland Olympian Bus - Isle of Man 30606 AEC Renown - Tynemouth 31504 AEC Routemaster - London Transport (red with white roundels / Route 229) 32206 Bristol RELH Coach - Hants & Dorset 34904 Leyland Olympian Coach - Southern Vectis 36002 Leyland RTL - London Transport (Red / route 35A) 36703 Dennis Dart SLF Pointer 2 - Aldershot & District (Stagecoach South) Lorry & Other Models 22911 Bedford TK Box Van - United Dairies 34404 AEC Mark IV Flatbed Lorry & Trailer - Vic Hallam 99934 Isle of Wight Line Tube Set (Network Southeast Livery) Additionally these pre-producton models that have been announced recently were also on show 20639 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer - North Western Premier 26322 Guy Arab II Utility - London Transport (route 79) 30005 AEC 10T10 Bus - London Transport (route 200) 32402 Bristol RELH Coach - Bristol Greyhound 1:24 Scale RF Tooling Pattern Ten pictures of the pattern. Front Nearside Rear Off-side Front Off-side Door Close Up Door Close Up showing blind thumb wheel Interior Rear Close Up Front Close Up Engine Detail Off-side and last but not least the model released by EFE at the event. 35301 BET 6 Bay Bus (twin Headlamps) - Southdown 60 large pictures taken inside the EFE Marquee can be found on my Fotopic site in the 'Showbus 09' gallery. | ||
Thursday 24 September | ||
| Confirmed Releases | ||
These models have now been released by EFE.
    28819 Blue Triangle - Leyland Titan Dual Door Bus 36302 Ribble - Bedford TK Short Dropside Lorry 36702 First Western National - Single Door Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer Mark II | ||
Monday 21 September | ||
| New Model Announced By Cobham Bus Museum | ||
| The following news release has been recieved from the London Bus Preservation trust regarding EFE model 34301A. Most London bus enthusiasts "of a certain age" will remember from their spotting days when London Transport's driver training fleet was made up largely of the early RT-type, the so-called "pre-war" RTs. These 150 buses had been delivered shortly after WW2 had begun and the commencement of hostilities ensured that no more of the famous RT-type buses would be delivered until after the War. This batch therefore remained unique and with distinct differences from the thousands of standard RT family vehicles built later. By the mid-1950s, the "pre-war" RTs were no longer required for passenger service and many of them then began a long association with driver-training, becoming the so-called "learner buses", an operation based at London Transport's famous Chiswick Works and responsible for giving thousands of rookie drivers their first experience of driving a London bus. The buses continued on these duties until final withdrawal for scrap in 1962/63. Cobham Bus Museum, the Home of London's Bus Heritage, has teamed up with Exclusive First Editions to produce a reminder of these well-known buses in their training role and has selected RT79, registration no. FXT 254, to represent the class. RT79 has been chosen for two reasons: firstly, it was one of only 7 of this batch to operate in green livery in London Transport's Country Area. Secondly, this bus is believed to have been the very last of its kind to be used on training duties - still in green colours, nearly 6 years after it last carried passengers. The model has been carefully created to represent the last 3 years of the life of RT 79 - based at London Transport's Dunton Green Garage (coded "DG") near Sevenoaks in Kent, where the bus trained hundreds of Country Bus drivers to drive for LT. Complete with "L plates" front and rear, destination blinds set to "Private", "DG" garage code and authentic period advertisements, this model has been produced as a limited edition of just over 400 and will be available for purchase at Cobham Bus Museum's Event Day on Sunday 25 October at Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1EF. The event is entitled "London On The Fringe" and commemorates the various "provincial" bus companies whose services met with London Transport's on the edges of LT's operating area in the 1950s and 1960s, operators such as Southdown, Maidstone & District, Eastern National and Aldershot & District. Buses from those companies, as well as LT, will be on display as well as operating free services on the day.  Click thumbnail for Hi-Res version Click Here for off-side picture Click Here for front & rear pictures | ||
Monday 14 September | ||
| Latest Subscribers Newsletter | ||
| EFE latest subscribers newsletter arrived this morning, EFE are preparing for this years Showbus Rally and will have their unusual marquee which will once again contain many popular features including Tombola, The Model Scrap Yard, free prize competitions, a working model layout and the extensive display of bus & truck companies and fleets. The newsletter arrived with a Subscriber's pre-order form, giving those not able to attend Showbus the chance to purchase the Southdown BET 6 Bay Leopard model. Below are links to PDF versions and scans of the latest release sheet, Issue 8 2009 along with the rear of the sheet that gives further details about the Showbus Rally & the associated Southdown BET model. | ||
Click Thumbnails for Scans of Release Sheets (325k & 268k)
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There are no details of any further new models included on the latest newsletter. A number of people have contacted me recently regarding the status of the planned second version of the 1/24th scale Metroline MCW Metrobus which is set to feature routes operated by Willesden Depot, the model (98002) that was first listed as a forthcoming model in January 2008 hasn't been released yet but is still listed as a future release in the latest newsletter. These models are due for release during the week ending 26th September: This model will now have bus seats rather than the high backed coach seats shown in the earlier pre-production picture. 28819 Blue Triangle - Leyland Titan Dual Door Bus 36302 Ribble - Bedford TK Short Dropside Lorry 36702 First Western National - Single Door Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer Mark II | ||
Model Release details kindly supplied by  | ||
Thursday 10 September | ||
| Confirmed Releases | ||
EFE has now released the following models.   36701 Bus Eireann - Single Door Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer Mark II 99647 Western National / Sealink - Long Single Door Leyland National Mk I and Luggage Trailer (Gilbow Railway Collection) | ||
Wednesday 2 September | ||
| Next Model Releases | ||
| The following models are due to be released during the week ending the 12th September. 14702 City of Portsmouth Corporation - Short Single Door Leyland National Mk II 36701 Bus Eireann - Single Door Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer Mark II 99647 Western National / Sealink - Long Single Door Leyland National Mk I and Luggage Trailer (Gilbow Railway Collection) | ||
| Information kindly supplied by | ||
Tuesday 1 September | ||
| 2009 Showbus Model Details | ||
| Andrew Morgan & Peter Harrison have informed me that an article in the October issue of the Diecast Collector Magazine has confirmed the identity of this year's special Showbus model. The model will be available from the EFE marquee at the Duxford Imperial War Museum on Sunday 27th September. As suggest in the news item published on 23rd August this year model will be a Southdown BET single deck bus. The following model details along with pictures were published in the magazine.  Click to view larger picture Model No: 35301 Model: Leyland Leopard with Marshall bodywork (6 Bay with twin headlights) Fleet No.: 112 Registration: 112 CUF Route Details: 197 TOP OF BEACHY HEAD, BIRLING GAP, EASTBOURNE Livery: Green & cream EFE's Subscription Service members will be able to mail order the model, it will also be available from selected dealers after the event. | ||
| August 2009 | News Archive Index | October 2009 |