Model Bus Zone News
March 2020
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Monday 23 March
Northcord Models Press Release: UKBUS0063
Northcord Models issued the following press releaase today. The UK distributor John Ayrey Diecasts is expecting the model to arrive in the UK during late April or May.

ADL Enviro400 MMC
ukbus 0063 Ensign Bus

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of Go-Ahead London, National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach London, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Reading Buses, First Bristol, Bluestar, Abellio, Yellow Buses, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Metroline and First Glasgow, Northcord Model Company is releasing the twentieth version – ukbus 0063 in the livery of Ensign Bus.


ukbus 0063 represents fleet number 132 (YX66 WLH), utilising the 10.9 metre, single door casting (the actual bus has 11.5 metre long body, H49/37F-seated), that was new to Go Goodwins Coaches of Eccles, Greater Manchester in January 2017. Ensignbus had acquired and numbered it 132 in early 2019. 132 is portrayed carrying Ensignbus’ full, standard livery. ukbus 0063 also carries the very special UK Bus Awards commemorative strapline below the fleetname on both sides, that reads, “UK BUS TOP INDEPENDENT OPERATOR”.

Further details carried by the model include the additional marker lights above the upper deck windows on both sides, and on the front and rear bumper. Furthermore, the model replicates the rear advertising to promote the private hire service that is carried on the rear engine access door and which reinforces the message that is carried in all 3 destination apertures.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 0063 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the ukbus 0063 models is twin tree protectors 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 Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 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 UKBUS0063 model is limited to 1008 pieces.


Northcord Model Company (NMC)------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Wednesday 18 March
London Bus Museum Cancel Two Major Events
The London Bus Museum at Brooklands has today announced that its annual Spring Gathering (5th April) and the On the Buses (28th June) have both been cancelled in light of the latest goverment advice concerning the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Transportfest 2020 event due in take place in October is still on at present but no doubt a final descision will be made nearer the event based on circumstances.

The London Bus Museum itself remains open, as does Brooklands Museum for the time being. However, this situation may change and any changes will be advised on the museum's website: https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/coronavirus

Wednesday 18 March
Roden B Type Bus Kit
A 1/72nd scale plastic kit of the London General B Type omnibus was released by Roden last year with stock reaching the UK in late November.
These kits have been quite hard to find in the UK, I managed to order one via a UK based eBay seller in January but have yet to construct it.

Melvyn Grosberg at Ace Model Buses has sent me some photographs and his experience of building the kit.

Thought you might be interested in the above, as you have highlighted the kit some months ago, so thought I would build one, pictures attached.

It’s a charming kit when finished, very fine detail, the kit on the whole went together very well.

Not for the faint hearted, looks easy, around 90 parts, but in this scale, you have to be very careful how you handle the Grey plastic parts when putting the kit together.



I airbrushed the kit, as well as hand painting some parts, the decals are a combination of waterslide, for the body, the main adverts and destinations are on thin card that needs to be cut out very carefully.

Just a tip, for the card transfers, I photo copied mine onto thin card and had a test run, cutting the pieces out with sharp nail scissors, which worked well for me and if you make a mistake, you have a back up copy. I also stuck the card to the model using Revell Contacta Clear, as it will not smear and you can peel it off if you make a mistake.

I have still have a few of the Ole Bill version in stock at the present time, the kit has a RRP of £15.99


The kits are slightly larger than the more familar 1/76th scale UK bus models, but given the compact size of thia vehicle its probably not going to be that noticable.
There are some photographs below showing the parts, instructions & transfers supplied with each of the kits. As far as I can tell the parts supplied are indentical for both the military & civilian versions. The instructions & transfers are spefic to each version however.

With many us being asked to isolate or stay at home as much as possible during the growing covid-19 pandemic, a kit or some other modeling project might just be the thing to help break the tedium of the weeks ahead.





Information kindly supplied by


Sunday 15 March
Confirmed Corgi Model Bus Releases
The following Corgi models should be with UK model retailers in the coming week.


CC82333 The Beatles London Bus 'Yellow Submarine' - AEC Routemaster Bus (1/64th scale toy range)


CC82334 The Beatles London Bus 'A Hard Day's Night' - AEC Routemaster Bus (1/64th scale toy range)


CC82335 The Beatles London Bus 'Help!' - AEC Routemaster Bus (1/64th scale toy range)


Wednesday 11 March
Next Oxford Diecast Release
The Oxford Diecast models releases for March have been announced, there aren't any actual bus or coach models among thos latest small batch of 11 models, however the long announced MacBraynes Bedford TK box van truckis among the models & may be of interest to collectors of this well known Scottish bus operator.


76TK016 MacBraynes - Bedford TK Box Van Lorry

Tuesday 10 March
Northcord Models Press Release: UKBUS6516
Northcord Models issued the following press releaase today. The UK distributor John Ayrey Diecasts is expecting the model to arrive in the UK in late April.

ADL Enviro400 MMC - ukbus 6516 Stagecoach South Gold

Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland and Southern Vectis, Northcord Model Company is now releasing the eighth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – ukbus 6516 in the livery of Stagecoach South with full Gold branding for the famous route 1.

ukbus 6516 represents fleet number 10770 (SN66 VYR) that has 10.9 metre, single door bodywork and was new to Stagecoach South in 2017. 10770 carries a full Gold branded livery for route 1, showing the destination to Aldershot. The special, comprehensive livery and branding are 100% reproduced onto the ukbus 6516 model. The stand-out features of the branding are : “stagecoach gold’ on all sides; the regal route between Adershot, Farnborough, Camberley & Old Dean”, and “every 30 mins mon-sat daytime” frequency with the prominent route number “1” on both sides and at the rear.


Further additional details carried by the model include the free wifi and USB charging logos on both sides.

Stagecoach Gold is a luxury bus sub-brand used by various Stagecoach bus subsidiaries in the United Kingdom. Stagecoach Gold (originally Goldline) was launched in 2007 and was designed to attract more middle-class passengers to choose bus travel as a method of transport as well as to reward passengers on some busy and popular routes. Gold routes have a luxury specification. Buses have stitched leather seats, metallic paint, special flooring and free WiFi.

In 2015, all brand-new Stagecoach Gold vehicles came equipped with USB charging facilities underneath every seat which enabled passengers to charge their mobile devices whilst onboard.

In the following year, Stagecoach took the delivery of the first Stagecoach Gold branded Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC and Enviro200 MMC vehicles. The liveries on the new buses remained the same as the previous model however Stagecoach slightly modified the interior with new wood effect flooring and updated the upholstery with new style leather seats that incorporate a cream coloured headrest.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6516 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the ukbus 6516 model is its single 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 Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc.

The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 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 UKBUS6516 model is limited to 1008 pieces.


Northcord Model Company (NMC)------The World’s Miniature Bus Co.

Sunday 8 March
Latest UK IXO 1/43rd Scale Coach Release
The following IXO 1/43rd scale model has now arrived in the UK.


IXO BUS023 Mercedes Benz O 302 Beige/Green 1972 - RRP £53.99

Friday 6 March
Confirmed Corgi Model Bus Releases
The following Corgi models have now been released to UK model retailers.


OM46316A Stagecoach London (London Transport Heritage Route 15 Tower Hill) - AEC Routemaster RM Class Double Deck Bus


OM46316B Stagecoach London (London Transport Heritage Route 15 Trafalgar Square) - AEC Routemaster RM Class Double Deck Bus


GS82336 Best of British London Bus Union Jack (route 53 Trafalgar Square) - AEC Routemaster Bus (1/64th scale toy range)


GS82337 London Bus Rainbow livery - AEC Routemaster Bus (1/64th scale toy range)

Sunday 1 March
Saltire Model Kits Update
Saltire Models have sent me an update on their resin kit plans for 2020.
The next kit release will be the Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora single deck bus. Once this has been released new masters will be produced for kit of the Optare Tempo MkI bus, this will be available firstly in long & later in short length versions.

A re-run of KIT001 ADL 200 MMC mini 8.9m single deck bus is also being prepared.

Production runs of all these kits will be based on pre-orders, so it's strongly suggested you use this option if any of these models interest you.
For contact details please see the Saltire Models kit page or visit Saltire's Facebook page.


Kit001 ADL 200 MMC mini 8.9m single deck bus - Re-run due 2020 pre-order now


------ Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora single deck bus - Next new kit release - Pre-order now


------ Optare Tempo Mk I Single deck bus Long & Short version) - Will follow the MCV Evora release - Pre-order now

 February 2020  Model Bus Zone News Index April 2020