The Model Bus Federation is delighted to announce that their member Shop is now open for purchases online – www.model-bus-federation.org.uk/mbf-shop

The MBF Shop has always been hugely popular since it was opened 50 years ago. And now it is set to be even more so as members can make purchases online. Live stock levels, showing all sorts of different items for scratchbuilding and detailing are available, including wheels, radiators, external and internal model accessories, plus some scenic items. You can also purchase our range of member-only resin kits and model bus books through the online shop too. New photos of each item are still being uploaded, making it easy to identify a particular part for your project but, with over 200 different accessory items alone now available in the exclusive MBF Streetscene range, this will take a bit of time to complete. Even if you aren’t a member, you can still view the range of products, but you will of course need to join the MBF to make a purchase.

Members can pay quickly and easily using PayPal, credit or debit cards and, whilst processing of payments is being handled by PayPal, you don’t need to have a PayPal account to make purchases. For further information or to join the MBF, visit www.model-bus-federation-org.uk, visit our Facebook Page, email: or write to us at Publicity Officer, 21 Plough Close, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 9AD.

• Editorial
• Cover Story - The cover model photograph.
• Diddler To LT Conversion by Martin Hare - A detailed guide on how to convert the Matchbox Diddler Trolleybus model into a LT Class double deck bus.
• 50 years of the MBF Shop Postscript - Follow up on the previous issue's article about the history of the MBF Shop.
• The buses that never were No. 21 by David Rowe - The Red 'RA'. A London Transport Dublin Corporation style Leyland PD3/2 with Spa Road built body.
• Ken Johnson's Memorable Models No. 18 - Midland Red Leyland PD/12 JBC 989. A look at the Oxford Diecast & Little Bus Company Kit
• Christmas Routemaster by Paul Dudfield - Pual's Christmas present was a 1:30 scale tin plate Routemaster produced Czech manufacturer Kovap.
• More LT Service Vehicles by Michael Whent - A further selection of Michael's various models of some of the ancillary vehicles operated by London Transport to support its bus & underground services.
• Welcome Aboard - Welcome to new & returning members.
• MBF Events & Area Meetings - Update of the Covid suspended events & meetings.
• Product News UK - Ryan Birch Ford Transit Minibus, Paul Ellender ADL E200 & E400 kits, Mark Hughes N scale bus kits, Alan Johnson's lengthened Harrington Cavalier & Grenadier EFE coach models. Model 1 Optare Solo & Oxford Diecast Alexander M Type Coach
• Over To You - Alan Morgan offers more information on the Maidstone & District Panthers mentioned in issue 597.
• Stevensons' DMSs by Eric Wain - Stevensons snapped up 71 of London Transport's redundant Daimler Fleetline DMS class vehicles between 1979 & 1987 wth 45 entering service. Eric's models represent some of the vehicles he drove and the different liveries applied during their time with the Uttoxeter operater.
• In Detail: Mercedes Benz Sprinter 45 City by David Cole - Collection of photographs showing the exterior & interior of the vehicle.
• The Mark 3 Metrobus / Plan of the Month by Paul Ellender - MCW planned to produce a Metrobus mark 3 but it never made it off the drawing board. Paul looks at its background & has produced a plan of what might have been.
• Area News - Reports from the latest virtual online area meetings in South Wales & Herefordshire, North Midlands, Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Cumbria & Yorkshire
• 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.
• The Back Page - A selection of shots showing the rarely photographed rear aspect of five Devon General vehicles.

Model Bus Scotland's first kit is soon to be released, the first run has already sold out and pre-orders are now being taken for a second run.

The photographs below show the sample version of the Optare Tempo Mark I model, the kits are priced £45.00 each, postage is free if you are a member of the Model Bus Scotland Facebook group while non-members will be charged postage at cost.

The Model Bus Scotland Facebook Group is open to all those interested model buses whether they be Scottish or from elsewhere. The group is subscription free and was started in 2016, membership has since grown to 1300 members and although the activates are centred around social media the group had been holding regular local meet ups until they were suspended due to current pandemic, there are plans to resume these once its deemed safe to do so.

You can find more details about the groups activities and kit range on the Model Bus Scotland Page.

For those not wishing to join the Facebook Group and who would still like to pre-order the kit, you can contact Model Bus Scotland by email at:

The London Bus Museum at Brooklands has taken delivery of its latest pair of commissioned Jotus Resin Specialist models and these can now be ordered from their online store.

This pair of models both depict vehicles from the first batch of RF class AEC Regal IV delivered. The first twenty five vehicle were unique among this 700 strong class in being shorter (27ft 6in) compared to their (30ft) cousins & having glazed roof cove panels. These were originally brought for use on private hires & tours, but ten of the vehicle RF16-25 were subsequently repainted into Green Line livery & transferred to the country area.

The first model depicts RF19, which is part of the museum's vehicle collection, in the original Private Hire green & flake grey livery with red London Transport fleet names. The model has destinations blinds for the Hampton Court Tour. The other model features the last of the batch RF25 in Green Line livery with destination blinds & roof boards for 715 service to Guildford.

Both models are priced £99.00 each (Museums members can get a £9.00 discount) and as per usual for these highly detailed models they are both limited runs.

A new listing has been added to the Oxford Diecast section of the site, it contains a list of the majority of the standard issue models produced by Oxford Diecast and includes 1:43, 1:76, 1:87, 1:72 and N scale models.
There are also listings for the early Oxford models such and the Ford Model A & T vehicles and other ranges such as Cararama, Welly & Triang Ships.

Additionally there are also Google Image & Ebay.co.uk search links for each model based on their reference code which may provide sources for the model.

It's possible to copy the list data from the page, and produce a personal check list for your own model collection in Excel, Open Office Calc or a similar spreadsheet application.
The embedded page links can be removed by setting the column formatting to default.

The list has been built using Google's sitemap data and only contains the models currently listed on the Oxford Diecast site. Some commissioned items are therefore missing although this seems to be only a small number.
This page originally produced to make the checking of the model details within the OO & N scale Oxford Diecast model listings an easier & quicker task.
The original Google model descriptions have been tidied up in places & some of the Ref Codes extracted from the page links have been edited to match these shown on the model packaging/certificates.

The page can be found in the Oxford Models section of the Oxford Zone or Click Here.