| EFE Zone News October 2011 |
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| September 2011 | News Archive Index | November 2011 |
| 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. |
Friday 28 October |
| Four Confirmed EFE Releases |
The following standard issue models have now been released by EFE and should be available from the normal outlets.   15110 SELNEC P.T.E. - Long Leyland National Mark I Dual Door 26807 Barton Transport - Leyland Tiger Duple Half Cab Coach EFE have also posted out the second of the two special models to members of their subscription service who order it.  18614 Cornish Fairways NBC - Bristol VR Series III Open Top Bus |
Tuesday 25 October |
| Two EFE Model Releases |
The following EFE models have now been released.
The London Bus Preservation Trust released it's planned commissioned RF model at it's first special event at the new Brooklands Museum last Sunday. The first of the two EFE Subscriber models is now being posted out to members who placed orders.  |
Monday 24 October |
| Commissioned EFE Tube Train Set |
| The London Transport Museum is now taking orders for a four carriage 1938 Tube Stock set which depicts the Museum's own preserved & operational 4 car set. The models will wear a the maroon & grey livery and carry Metropolitan Line destinations for Amersham.  You can place orders by visiting the Museum's on-line Shop. This set was originally announced by the Museum back in 2009 but has been delayed until now. |
Monday 17 October |
| Next EFE Releases |
| The following three models are scheduled for release during the week ending the 29th October. 15110 SELNEC P.T.E. - Long Leyland National Mark I Dual Door 26807 Barton Transport - Leyland Tiger Duple Half Cab Coach |
Release Information kindly supplied by  |
The following commissioned EFE model is due to be released on Sunday 23rd October at the first special event at the new London Bus Museum (formerly Cobham Bus Museum). Further details about the model and the open day can be found on the Museum's new website at www.londonbusmuseum.com. The Museum have announced that next year's annual Spring Bus & Coach Gathering will be returning to the Wisely Airfield venue but will be held later than normal on Sunday 29th April 2012. |
Thursday 13 October |
| Photographs of EFE Models Announced At Acton |
| EFE have kindly supplied photographs of the new models which they exhibited at the Acton Open Weekend. They have also supplied photographs of the first shots of the new Bristol VR I casting.   The following seven new models made their public debut at Acton, three of them were previously mentioned in the newsletter posted out to EFE subscribers earlier this month. Please bear in mind that the photographs & specification shown below relate to the early pre-production samples and may still be subject to change. |
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Wednesday 12 October |
| Confirmed EFE Releases |
The following models have now been released by EFE.   17227 Hants & Dorset - Long Leyland National Mark I Single Door 30711 Greater Manchester PTE - AEC Renown Bus |
Monday 10 October |
| EFE Announces New Models At Acton |
| EFE had a number of previously unannounced model samples on display at the Acton Depot Open Weekend. Barry Sullivan has sent details of the following models he spotted along with some photographs he took. First shots of the new flat fronted VR & Bristol RE Alexander Y Type were also on display.  15807 SMT (route 12 to Bathgate) - Leyland PD1 Lowbridge 16012 East Yorkshire (destination Hull) - Leyland PD2 Lowbridge  29011 Strathtay Scottish (SD 17 / LJA476P / route 74 to Invergowrie) - Daimler Fleetline / Northern Counties  31507 London Transport RM2105 (ALM105B) on route 3 to Camden Town - AEC Routemaster RM Barry has also provided more details for a couple of the models listed in the last subscribers newsletter. 18613 Arriva Wales (3992 / YMB512W / route 101 to Rhyl) - Bristol VRT Series III Open Top (the model can be seen in the background of the photograph of 29011 above) 31506 Strathtay (route 75 to Carnoustie / Similar blue & orange livery to 29011) - AEC Routemaster RM 35502 Russell of Bathgate with new load of three large pipe sections - ERF KV 4 Axle Flatbed The pair of commissioned Southdown 36' BET Single Deck Bus models, 35301A & 35301B, were both released by the Museum at the event as planned. (See my 4th October news item below for more details) Both models can now also be ordered via the Collectors Club section on the Museum's website. |
Thursday 6 October |
| Next EFE Releases |
| The following three models are scheduled for release during the week ending the 15th October. 17227 Hants & Dorset - Long Leyland National Mark I Single Door 30711 Greater Manchester PTE - AEC Renown Bus |
| Release Information kindly supplied by |
Tuesday 4 October |
| Latest EFE Subscriber's Newsletter |
| The 8th Subscriber Newsletter of 2011 arrived today from EFE. There is an interesting piece by Frank Joyce about some of the costs involved in producing the models. When talking with model collectors I am often asked questions about the mould tooling, the materials used in making our models and how the decoration is achieved. With the current situation of the World economy and the pressures on manufacturing and market sales it might be of interest for subscribers to know some of the ways we are affected. Advances in Computer Aided Design and manufacturing over the past years has slightly reduced lead times but hardly affected the mould tooling costs. To reduce tooling costs some model companies have come away from die cast and are producing models in plastic and resin and although this reduces tooling costs it creates its own problems and time will tell if these are as collectable. Manufacturers in China are under pressure implementing statutory welfare reforms, significantly reducing the workforce, and closing many factories resulting in a lack of manufacturing capacity, which has pushed prices up. On top of this the Pound has lost over a third of its value against the Hong Kong Dollar. At home, the pressure on personal finances has reduced model sales causing us to make smaller quantities and this seriously affects the unit cost. If for instance the cost of artworks, print plates and mask spray plates is £2500 and we make 2500 models it adds £1 to the manufacturing cost of each model if however we only make 1000 models it adds £2.50. To make our models of interest to the widest audience we like to include models of some small local and municipal operators, which obviously have less general appeal and if we make only 600 pieces then it could add over £4 to the cost of each model. In this environment it is not surprising that all companies are struggling to maintain product prices against spiralling costs and supply issues. Details & order forms for following pair of subscriber exclusive models have been included with this posting, the VR is priced £27 while the GS is £28. |
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| Frank & Brenda Joyce will be attending the London Transport Museum's Acton Depot Open Days this coming weekend (8 & 9 October). They will have a selection new & forthcoming model samples on display and if the first shots of the new flat fronted VR I & II arrive in time these will also be exhibited. A small scrap yard of models will also be available on each day of the event. The Museum's recently released Green Line Prototype Set 15A and the following pair of specially commissioned EFE models will be available from the Museum Shop during the event. |
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New Models Announced Briefly mentioned in the newsletter are these three new models. 18613 Arriva Wales - Bristol VR III Open Top 35502 Russell of Bathgate - ERF KV 4 Axle Flatbed 31506 Strathtay - AEC RM Class Routemaster |
Courtesy of EFE, a PDF version of the latest Release Sheet plus smaller scans of the latest release sheets  Click Here for PDF Version (4.3mb) |
| September 2011 | News Archive Index | November 2011 |