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Monday 27 April

Boulogne Corgi OOC Routemaster

Corgi has published several new photographs of early pre-production versions of OM46315A/B, the London Transport AEC Routemaster in all over Boulogne advert livery is scheduled to be released this Autumn. The photographs can be found in the latest Diecast Diaries posting on the official Corgi website.

Sunday 26 April

20 Years Ago

This piece has been inspired by a similar article posted by Graham White on the Oriental Model Buses site earlier this month. I started the first of my websites, the EFE Zone, in mid 2004, so I thought it would be interesting to look back 20 years & see exactly how much activity there was among the main UK model bus producers during April 2000. Back then there were only three main ranges of UK bus models. Corgi & EFE were very much dominating the 1/76th scale market while ABC Models were still several months away from the release of first UK related model. April was a bit of a quiet month for EFE with only six releases, they averaged around eight releases throughout 2000 overall. Corgi was still producing some of the larger scale Classic range models in 2000, but as can be seen the OOC models were being released in fairly large numbers. 20 years on, both these ranges would struggle to issue this number of releases over a whole 12 month period, hightlighting just how much the market for UK model buses as declined. ABC Models There were no UK related model releases during the month but three Hong Kong based models were issued. 00202 China Motor Bus - Dennis Jubilant Alexander LE103A Gold Plated - MCW Metrobus 3 Axle LE103B Chrome Plated - MCW Metrobus 3 Axle Britbus & Creative Master Northcord Neither company was active in April 2000. Corgi (OOC) 40410 Widness Corporation - AEC Regent II Weymann 41903 Southdown (NBC) - Leyland Titan PD3 Queen Mary 42729 British Airways - Van Hool Alizee Coach 43612 Nottingham City Transport - Northern Counties Palatine 2 43712 London Transport - AEC Q1 Trolleybus 43916 Lytham St Annes Corporation - Daimler Utility Bus| 43917 Yelloway Motor Services - Daimler Utility Bus 44006 Blackpool Corporation (Hot Ice) - Brush Railcoach Tram 44705 Barton Buses - Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 44802 Kowloon Motor Bus, Hong Kong - Leyland Victory Bus 45102 London Transport - MCW Metrobus Mk I Exclusive First Editions 17502 South Yorkshire Transport - Leyland National Mark II Single Door 18107DL Stockton Corporation - Leyland Atlantean Park Royal 20423 Stagecoach United Counties - Bristol VR Series 3 24809 First Eastern Counties - Mercedes Benz 609D Reebur Minibus 25705A London Transport (Cobham Bus Museum Commission) - Daimler Fleetline DMS 26607 Skills Motor Travel - Plaxton Paramount 3500 Mark II Coach Oxford Diecast Only had a AEC Routemaster bus model during 2000 and there were no releases in April 2000.

Friday 24 April Updated 26 June

Help Needed With Planned Lothian Buses Model Commission

Chris Cotton is planning to produce a commissioned model of Lothian Buses (999) SN04 CPE to raise funds for a charity. I presume this model will make use the existing Britbus ES series model tooling. A photograph of the vehicle being modeled can be found on flickr. Chris needs some help with photographs depicting the vehicle at work on either route 37 or 37A. A clear shot showing the small legal lettering on the skirt behind the passenger door on this vehicle would also be a great help. If anyone can help, please email this site & I'll put you in contact with Chris. Update 26 June Chris has informed me that he decided not to go forward with commission this model due to a lack of reference matieral.

Friday 24 April

Confirmed UK Northcord Models Released

The latest release from Northcord models has now reached the UK and is currently being distributed to model retailers. UKBUS6516 Stagecoach South Gold - ADL Enviro400 MMC Double Deck Bus (10770 / SN66 VYR - Route 1 Aldershot)

Information kindly supplied by

Thursday 9 April

TiNY Model Kits Update

TiNY has sent me more details of their new 1955 AEC Regal IV Park Royal kits which are being prepared for release. These are TiNY's first "Super-Smooth" kits developed using CAD/3D technology. Full details of the other planned & current in stock kits can be found on the TiNY kits page along with full contact details.

Image	Kit Ref No.	Model	Availability
	TK71F	CIE, ex GNR(I) AEC RG IV - PRV B45F	Very Limited Availabilty
	TK71R	NEW – GNR(I) AEC RG IV - PRV B45R	Due April 2020 Reserve now
	TK71C	NEW – CIE, ex GNR(I) AEC RG IV - PRV C40R	2020 Reserve now

Thursday 2 April & updated 30 June

COVID-19 - Model Retailers Status

With model shops now closed & events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the UK obtaining models & materials has become difficult. For those wishing to fill time while in lock down I've decided to add a list of model retailers which are still offering a mail order service. This list is by no means extensive and is based on website & social media postings. The retailers listed are those known to supply bus & coach models or related items. If any other model retailers would like to be included, please drop me an email, along any site links or contact details and I'll gladly add you to the list below. May I wish all readers & their families my very best wishes & hope you all stay healthy & safe during these difficult times. I will try and post some model articles on this site over the coming weeks. Bachmann has also published a list of its appointed stockists that are operating a mail order service. Retailer / Website Mail Order Retail Shop Other Details Social Media Ace Model Buses Open N/A --   Facebook Allsorts Models Open N/A --   Facebook Buckie Model Centre Open Closed * * Visitors will be by appointment only Facebook Cheltenham Model Centre Open Open * * Please check website for revised opening hours Facebook Corgi Open N/A --   Facebook / Twitter Daves Diecast Models Open N/A eBay Store also open   Facebook Diecast Models Direct Open N/A eBay Store   Facebook Dorset Model Buses Open N/A --   Facebook Elizkeith Model Shop Open N/A --   -- Hattons Model Railways Open Closed --   Facebook / Twitter Invicta Model Rail Open Open * See website for revised shop opening hours Facebook Kingsway Models Open N/A --   -- LBRT Transfers Open N/A --   Facebook Leons Models of Cardiff Open Unknown * * Please check with retailer Facebook Little Wheels.com Open N/A --   Facebook / Twitter London Bus Museum, Brooklands Open Closed Online shop orders now being accepted & dispatched Facebook / Twitter / Instragram London Transport Musuem Shop Open Closed --   Facebook / Twitter / Instragram Loughborough Model Centre / TTC Diecast Open Pre-arranged Click & Collect Only * * Please check website for click & collect details Facebook / Twitter The Modelstore Open N/A --   Facebook Oxford Diecast Open N/A --   Facebook / Twitter Rails of Sheffield Open Pre-arranged Click/ Phone & Collect Only * * Please check website for further details Facebook / Twitter Time Tunnel Models Open Reopens in July * * Check website for store reopening date Facebook / Twitter Yardley Wood Bus Club Open N/A Mail Order Service: Operating - & phone orders (07814 403173) accepted -- Model Retailers List: Last Updated: 30 June 2020

Thursday 2 April

Sunrise Models - New 2020 Product Catalogue

Sunrise Models have just issued their latest catalogue listing the full range of transfers & planned future kits. Sunrise have also taken over the Modelmaster range of bus & coach paints and intend to expand the range in the future. Catalogue 14 - April 2020 Due to the current COVID-19 advice/restrictions Sunrise have decided to suspend the dispatch of both paint & kit orders until further notice. Transfer orders are still being accepted & dispatched as per normal. The Sunrise Model page on this site has a list of current contact channels and will be updated with the latest kit information in due course.