• Editorial
• Cover Story - The cover model photograph (see article below)
• MBF Meetings and Shows - Information on the provisional plans to resume the MBF Area Meetings & Shows as the UK Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
• Members Services - A model collection for sale & an appeal.
• Over to You - Some feedback on an earlier Journal article
• The Buses That Never Were! Part 3: LT LF Class by David Rowe - London Buses borrowed some former Greater Manchester PTE Leyland Fleetlines in 1987, these were used to cover the late delivery of a batch of Mark II MCW Metrobuses that had been ordered for use by the new low cost Harrow Buses subsidy.
  The Harrow Buses operation had its own cream & red livery, but the loaned Fleetlines retained there original Manchester PTE livery & operated from Harrow Weald Garage.
  David Rowe images what would have been if these vehicles had been acquired by London Buses & repainted into the standard red livery of the time (See cover photo).
• Bournemouth Revisited by Martin Hare - Martin explains how he improved his original model of a Bournemouth Corporation BUT Trolleybus.
• Developments at Temple Bridge by John Wood - John gives details of some of the recent additions to his Temple Bridge layout. Includes a quick method to add rear doors to the low cost version of the Corgi New Routemaster.
• My United Counties Models: Part 3 by Roger Pope - In the third part of this series Roger describes the 30 models in his collection that depict the vehicles used by the operator between 1952 & 1969 .
• Product News UK - The latest kit news from the Little Bus Company, news of the new Facebook spares & accessories service from Iwan's Bus Bits & an update on the latest model proposals from Omnidekka Models.
• Plan of the Month by Alan Johnson - 1946-48 Manchester 2xxx Series Crossley double deck bus.
• Area News - Reports & numerous photographs from the latest virtual online area meetings in Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, South Wales & Herefordshire, & the North Midlands.
• Welcome Aboard - Welcome to new & returning members.
• Finishing Touches - Two models recently finished by members, a Yutong TC9 coach in Glenelg livery & a Stagecoach Scania Enviro300 in Highlands Local livery.
• MBF Shop 1 - The MBF Streetscene, Little Bus Company & Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members. (3 page list)
• MBF Shop 2 - The first tranche of former ABS white metal bus kits have now been added to the MBF Streetscene range & are available exclusively to members at low cost (from £5.00 to £20.00)

Model Bus Federation Press Release – 16th April 2021

The Model Bus Federation is delighted to announce their next resin kit has just gone for casting.

Announced at the end of 2020, MBF2K-09 is a model of the Alexander Enviro 300 with gasket glazing. This model, designed and cast exclusively for the MBF in the U.K., will come complete with conversion parts enabling the modeller to create a model of either a Dennis or MAN as a chassis. CNC machined, this beautifully detailed original kit comes complete with cast white metal wheels, screen-printed glazing and also a brass fret with both mirrors and wipers. Paint and glue is all that is required to complete the model, which will also come with assembly instructions. We anticipate it being released to members during the summer.

MBF member kits have always been keenly priced, with any profits from kit sales being reinvested into making masters for new kits for our members. Advance orders have, unsurprisingly, been very strong. So, if you are a member and haven’t yet pre-ordered, please get in contact with the MBF shop now to reserve your kit.

Click to enlarge images

The Model Bus Federation - supporting YOUR hobby for over 50 years. Online, on Facebook and in print. For further information or to join the MBF, visit www.model-bus-federation.org.uk, visit our Facebook Page, join our Model Bus and Coach Facebook Group or email or write to us at Publicity Officer, 21 Plough Close, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 9AD.

Northcord Model Company is pleased to announce the release of iebus 0007, the fifth release of the 10.3 metre, 2-door casting of this distinctive, modern, double-decker in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The fifth livery to be carried on the brand-new Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC model, is Dublin Bus, produced in yellow and green livery.

iebus 0007 represents fleet number AH1 (191-D-44403) that has 10.3 metre, dual-door bodywork and was new to Dublin Bus in 2019.

After a 2 year discussion, in 2019, Dublin Bus received 9 trial buses, 3 electric battery assisted Wrights, 3 Volvo Wright hybrids, and 3 Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMCs (AH1-3). All 9 buses are in an attractive yellow and green version of the Dublin Bus livery and feature flowers and leaf patterns on the livery.

Dublin Bus Conyngham Road depot operates the ADL hybrids on busy west Dublin route 25/25A/25B and the model is featured on its route 25B, heading to Adamstown Station. Route 25B runs every 10 minutes and is complimented by ADL Enviro500s operated by sister depot Broadstone to boost passenger capacity. The route starts in the affluent Merrion Square of D2, and travels along the River Liffey ‘Quays’, Heuston Rail Station, Chapolizod bypass, and into Adamstown where its terminus is located at another railway station, ‘Adamstown Station’. AH1 to 3 are the shortest double deckers operating with Dublin Bus and are, body wise, identical to London’s but with the difference being that the wheelchair ramp is at the front door.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC iebus 0007 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-cornered, patented quick-release windows of the real bus and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the iebus 0007 model is its individual tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.

Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400H MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc. Further additional detail carried by the model include the special sunlight protection shade on the top of the front upper windscreen.

The brand new Enviro400H MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The IEBUS0007 model is limited to 1200 pieces worldwide.

• Editorial
• Cover Story - The cover model photograph (see article below)
• Letter from America by Dave Jessop - Dave has obtained some Holland oto 1/76 scale Scania Irizar i6 coaches from a supplier in the Florida and details how he dismantled the models & converted them from left to right-hand configuration for his Eldorado Motors fleet.
• MBF Events & Area Meetings - Update of the Covid suspended events & meetings.
• Welcome Aboard - Welcome to new & returning members.
• Fleet Update - Eldorado Specialist Recovery fleet's latest heavy lift vehicle: ACME TB2.
• Easily Distracted by Alan Morgan - Alan explains how his desire for a model of a Pontypridd Urban District Council Roe bodied Guy Arab lead to four further EFE & OOC modified models joining his PUDC collection.
• Ken Johnson's Memorable Models No. 79 - Kenborough & District 175 AUF. The Little Bus Company Weymann Castilian coach kit WEY63.
• Northfields Union Bus Fleet: A History by Derek Perry - Derek re-imagines the fictional "Union" fleet originally invented by the late John Short who was an early pioneer in the model bus industry & setup "Mabex" transfers .
• Kit Review: Sunrise Northern Counties bodied PD2s by Eric Wain - A review of the low & high-bridge versions of the Sunrise resin kits.
• Product News UK - Photographs of the masters for Paul Ellender's upcoming kits of a ADL E200 EV, ADL E400 EV, Caetano e City Gold & ADL E200 MMC 10.5m Euro 6 diesel mentioned in the previous issue. Comprehensive update on the Marsden Models kits range for 2021 with photographs of samples of a Burlingham Leyland PD3, Roe Dalesman coach & 1962 Alexander 30ft saloon with curved waistband.
• Arpley Bus Station: What if....? by Nick Thomson - North Western Road Car creased to trade in 1972 with services in Manchester taken over by SELNEC & Crosville & Trent absorbing the operations in Cheshire & Derbyshire. Nick's models depict might have been if things had been the other way a round & North Western had continued to trade.
• Over To You - Some feedback from members regarding earlier Journal articles.
• Non-UK N-Gauge Models - Ken Jones of the West Midlands N Gauge Club has compiled a list of N Gauge/ N Scale non-UK buses between 1:144 & 1:160, and has given permission for copies to be emailed to any MBF members who may be interested.
  Ken's N Scale list of UK Buses can be found on the Model Bus Zone site.
• 1950 Leyland PD2/3 Roe H30/26R (Beverley Bar) / Plan of the Month by David Marshall - East Yorkshire operated a number of unique buses with distinctive roof profiles required to pass through the historic Beverley Bar. The plan this month is for the 1950 batch of vehicles 527-550 (LAT55-78)
• Area News - Reports & numerous photographs from the latest virtual online area meetings in Lancashire & Cumbria, Dorset / New Forest, South Wales & Herefordshire, & the North Midlands
• MBF Shop 1 - The MBF Streetscene, Little Bus Company & Paragon range of white metal/resin parts & accessories, plus the MBF Streetscene 2K resin model kits that are exclusively available to MBF members.
• MBF Shop 2 - The first batch of former ABS white metal bus kits have now been added to the MBF Streetscene range & are available exclusively to members.