Model Bus Zone News
May 2021
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Sunday 30 May
Oxford Diecast Delay New Catalogue Announcement
The end of May usually sees Oxford Diecast issuing details of the planned model releases for May to September, however due to delays in the production of new products & a the current high shipping fees to the UK, Oxford Diecast has decided not to issue a catalogue for this period. It's hoped that the next catalogue will be published in September with details of further new products.

Oxford Diecast has posted a update on Facebook, this gives the current status of the new model tooling that has already announced.
The only bus related item mentioned is the Alexander M type coach which is in the "early stages of development".
Monday 24 May
Latest UK IXO 1/43rd Scale Bus Releases
Two further IXO 1/43 scale buses have now been released in the UK according to wholesaler John Ayrey Diecasts.


BUS027 GMC Scenicruiser White/Silver Greyhound 1956


BUS028 Skoda 706 RO Blue/White 1947

Both models have a UK RRP of £58.99
Saturday 22 May
Corgi OOC Model Release Schedule Update
Corgi has revised the expected release dates for many of the the model announced in 2021 Corgi Catalogue.

These are the outstanding 2021 OOC & other Corgi range bus models:

Spring

CC89204 New Routermaster Bus - NHS Charities Together (Corgi Toys version) - Unknown, was due Spring 21, this model isn't currently listed on Corgi site.


CC82331 Paddington Bear London Bus and Paddington Bear Figure (Corgi Toys Range, Announced in 2020) - Due Spring 2021


OM46632B New Routemaster Bus - Arriva London {LT230 Route 38 Victoria} Sehba Basras Our Hillingdon allover livery (OOC version - A version already released) - Due Spring 21

Summer

CP44110A Epsom Coaches Group Quality Line (OP30 / YJ09 MHX - Route K5 Ham) - Optare Solo Single Deck Bus (Commissioned by Omnidekka Models) - Due May/June 21


CP44110B Epsom Coaches Group Quality Line (OP30 / YJ09 MHX - Route K5 Morden) - Optare Solo Single Deck Bus (Commissioned by Omnidekka Models) - Due May/June 21


OM46633A New Routemaster Bus - Stagecoach London {LT372 Route 73 Victoria} Only Fools & Horses The Musical Ad's (OOC version) - Due August 21


OM46633B New Routemaster Bus - Stagecoach London {LT372 Route 73 Stoke Newington} Only Fools & Horses The Musical Ad's (OOC version) - Due August 21


OM46638A Arriva London The Kraken Special Edition {LT 716 / Route 59 Euston} (Special Card Sleeve) - New Routemaster - Due August 21


OM46638B Arriva London The Kraken Special Edition {LT 716 / Route 59 Streatham Hill} (Special Card Sleeve) - New Routemaster - Due August 21

Autumn

CC43515 Blackpool Balloon Tram - Coca Cola / open happiness - Due September 21


OM46518A Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 - Arriva London DW512 Route 466 Caterham-on-the-Hill / Evita & The Army Ad's - Due October 21


OM46518B Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 - Arriva London DW512 Route 466 Addington Village / Evita & The Army Ad's - Due October 21


OM46629 New Routemaster Bus - London United, {LT148, Route 10 Hammersmith} Coca Cola open happiness allover livery (OOC version) - Due November 21

Winter

CC44013 Blackpool Brush Railcoach - Coca Cola / Coke Side of Life - Due December 21

Sunday 16 May
Confirmed Corgi OOC Release
The following OOC model has been released by Corgi in the UK.


OM46632A Arriva London - Sehba Basras Our Hillingdon livery (LT230 / 38 Hackney Central) - New Routemaster Double Deck Bus

Please note the proposed B version of this model with alternative 38 Victoria destinations has not been released by Corgi yet.
Information kindly supplied by

Wednesday 12 May
TTC Diecast Exclusive Rapido Models
Production has begun of the pre-production sample of the Rapido West Midlands Leyland Fleetline models in the 1977 Queen's Silver Jubilee livery. These models are being produced exclusively for TTC Diecast.


According to the latest TTC Diecast Facebook post. "Production is really progressing well, there are a few alterations to make, and we are really pleased with the new working partnership we have Rapido. Hopefully this is one of many future projects, and partnerships on new castings going forward?"

The four Silver Jubilee models are limited editions & only 135 of each version will be produced. These & the other standard issue Fleetline models can be pre-ordered via the TTC Diecast online store at www.ttcdiecast.com.

We are pleased to share these shots of the Preproduction version of our Exclusive 1977 Queens Silver Jubilee Fleetlines...

Posted by Ttcdiecast on Wednesday, 12 May 2021
Tuesday 11 May
Omnidekka Models Confirmed Releases
The following models have now arrived in the UK and Omnidekka Models are currently processing orders & dispatching to the models to their customers.

Stock of both models is still available and orders can be placed directly with Omnidekka Models via their online store, at Omnidekkamodels.com. The models are also being stocked by Ace Model Buses & Model Buses Collections MBC Facebook page.



ES-17A BlueStar (1004 / YN56 FFK - Route 4 Romney Via North Baddesley) - Scania Omnidekka Single Door Double Deck Bus
ES-17B BlueStar (1004 / YN56 FFK - Route 4 Southampton Via Lordshill & Shirley) - Scania Omnidekka Single Door Double Deck Bus
Sunday 2 May
Model Bus Federation May Journal Review
The Model Bus Federation's May 2021 issue of the Model Bus Journal has been sent to out members in the past week. This is the only publication solely dedicated to model bus news & other related articles in the UK.

Below is summary of the contents of the latest issue.
If the contents below are of interest, you may wish to consider becoming a member of the MBF, the annual subscription starts at £25.00 with special reduced rates available for younger members aged 14-18.
For further details please visit the https://www.model-bus-federation.org.uk.

The Model Bus Journal - Issue 601 May 2021 - 32 pages

  • 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)
Saturday 1 May
Omnidekka Models Quality Line Optare Solo Update
Chris Cotton has received the pre-production samples of the two Epsom Coaches Group Quality Line Optare Solo models from Corgi.
Chris will ask Corgi for the back markings to be straight on the production batch of models. He also notes that Corgi have stated that some of the text on the model is the smallest they've ever applied to a commissioned model.

There will be a total production of 1030 models (515 of each destination), 30 of the models will go to Optare who have given permission for the use of their company name on the rear of the models.
Chris is now designing the boxes and limited edition cards for these models.

The production models are expected to arrive in the UK late July/early August, and Chris will start to dispatch these too customers soon after arrival.

The photographs below show the pre-production samples of both versions of the model with either A: Ham or B: Morden destinations.

OM44110A


OM44110B



OM44110A Epsom Coaches Group Quality Line (OP30 / YJ09 MHX - Route K5 HAM) - Optare Solo Single Deck Bus
OM41110B Epsom Coaches Group Quality Line (OP30 / YJ09 MHX - Route K5 MORDEN) - Optare Solo Single Deck Bus

The models are priced £25.00 each or £48.00 for the pair plus delivery.

The first batch of the Bluestar Britbus Scania Omnidekka models (see 15 April news item) are now being dispatched to customers, Chris expects this process to take around three weeks to complete.

The models can be ordered from Omnidekkamodels.com site, Ace Model Buses or Model Buses Collections MBC Facebook page.

Saturday 1 May
Saltire Model Kits Has Re-opened
David Tait has decided to re-open his Saltire Model Kits business and has announced that he accepting pre-orders for the following pair of new resin kits which are in development.



For contact details please see the Saltire Model Kits page
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