Model Bus Zone News
September 2020
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Sunday 27 September
TiNY Kits Update
TiNY has announced a number of new kits for which pre-orders are being accepted.
Two of the CIE school bus kits announced previously have now sold out, but pre-orders are being invited which if sufficient may result in a second run of both kits. The third CIE school bus is still available, although very limited.

You can find full details of all the currently available and planned kits on the TiNY kits page along with full contact information.

TK73C
NEW – Leyland Royal Tiger/Saro B44C Reserve now

TK73F
NEW – Leyland Royal Tiger/Saro B44F Reserve now

TK75D
NEW – CIE Royal Tiger U class dual entrance Reserve now

TK75F
NEW – CIE Royal Tiger U class front entrance Reserve now

TK75R
NEW – CIE Royal Tiger U class rear entrance Reserve now

TK76S
NEW – CIE SS Bedford VAS School Bus Very Limited

TK77L
NEW – CIE SS Bedford SB School Bus Sorry, sold out
Reserve for possible re-run

TK78
NEW – UTA 1951 Leyland Royal Tiger - B42F Reserve now

TK79V
NEW – Bus Eireann SS Bedford Van Hool McArdle Sorry, sold out
Reserve for possible re-run

Sunday 27 September
Another Roden Old Bill Bus Kit

Roden have announced a further version of their Old Bill B type kit, this follows the previous WW1 troop carrier & civilian London General versions released last year.
The latest kit depicts another WW1 military version.

A small number of London omnibuses were converted to Motor Mobile Lofts and used to transport carrier pigeons in the First World War. With imperfections in the new means of communication at the time, such as the trench wireless telegraph, the birds were a fast and effective way of delivering important messages from command headquarters directly to military units in combat areas. Each Motor Mobile Loft could transport 60 to 75 birds in specially installed coops on the upper deck, which could be folded flat for travel. The lower saloon contained stores for feed and an office. Carrier pigeons were used almost until the final days of the war, and with the B Type buses played a very important role which helped save the lives of many soldiers of the Entente.

Markings for two Pigeon Lofts: (1) No.2229 ex-B2132, Western Front 1916; (2) No.2257 ex-B2125, Western Front 1918.

The 1/72nd scale kit is due to be released during October & has a UK RRP of £17.99.


Roden ROD737 WW1 Old Bill Bus "Pigeon Loft" 1/72nd scale plastic kit - Due Oct 2020

Tuesday 22 September
Confirmed Oxford Release
Ace Model Buses has confirmed the release of the following Oxford Diecast model, note this item isn't currently listed among the latest batch of releases on the Oxford Diecast website.


76SB006
Trent Motor Traction - Saro Single Deck Bus
Information kindly supplied by


Tuesday 22 September
Confirmed Corgi OOC Release
The following OOC models have now been released to retailers in the UK.
The Corgi online store has sold all of their stock of these models & Ace Model Buses who sent me details of these release has also sold all of his stock allocation on pre-orders.


OM46624A
Arriva London (Release The Kraken livery / Route 38 Hackney Central) - New Routemaster Bus


OM46624B
Arriva London (Release The Kraken livery / Route 38 Victoria) - New Routemaster Bus
Information kindly supplied by


Sunday 20 September
Go London Scania Omnidekka Models Shipping This Week
Chris Cotton has now taken delivery of his pair of commissioned Britbus Scania Omnidekka models in Go London Docklands Buses livery.
He will start posting out orders to customers from Monday 21 September & has still tock of both models available should anyone wish to place an order.

ES2-04A Go London Dockland Buses (425 Clapton Nightingale Road) - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus
ES2-04B Go London Dockland Buses (425 Stratford) - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus

For further details or to place an order, please visit Chris Cotton's online store at omnidekkamodels.com.

Wednesday 16 September
Dublin Bus Rail Link Models Released
Irish Railway Models has released a pair of commissioned Britbus Alexander RH Volvo Olympian models in Dublin Bus Rail Link livery. Each model is limited 252 pieces and they are priced €59.99 each.


IRM1200-517-90
Dublin Bus Rail Link Livery (RV517 / 99-D-517 / Route 90 Connolly Station) - Volvo Olympian Alexander RH Dual Door Double Deck Bus


IRM1201-520-91
Dublin Bus Rail Link Livery (RV520 / 99-D-520 / Route 91 Heuston Station) - Volvo Olympian Alexander RH Dual Door Double Deck Bus

For further details & model photographs please visit the Irish Railway Models online store.

Monday 14 September
Commissioned OOC Model For 2021
Chris Cotton has now placed an order with Corgi to produce a pair of commissioned Optare Solo models in Epsom Coaches Quality Line line livery on route K5. There will be two different destination available either Ham or Morden and 500 of each version with be produced with the models due in May or June 2021.

Chris is still awaiting confirmation of the Corgi stock codes for the models and the final price which he expects to be around £25 for one model, or £48 for both destination versions.

Below is the final design cell for the models (click to enlarge).


Monday 14 September
MBF Announce New Kit For Members
I've recieved the following press announcement from the Model Bus Federation and also added a new page for the Model Bus Federation which includes membership information and a list the other member exclusive model kits.

NEW Model Bus Federation resin kit

The Model Bus Federation has announced their latest MBF2K resin kit.

MBF2K-09 will be a resin model of the Alexander Enviro E300, with gasket glazing. The MBF is delighted to have acquired the master for this prototype, which had/has wide operator appeal, as well as being a great service bus for fictional model fleet operators. It is hoped that several chassis/engine combinations can be offered using the same master, giving modellers a number of model choices. Printed glazing, white metal wheels, plus etched brass mirrors and wipers complete this highly detailed and authentic kit. Casting will be in Q4 2020, so the kit should be available in early 2021.

Pictures show various angles of the master, including detailed interior.

The kit will be available exclusively to MBF members only. For details on how to become a member of the MBF, please visit their website at www.model-bus-federation.org.uk. You can download a FREE sample copy of the MBF Journal on the website, or request a FREE sample copy by post from the MBF Publicity Officer, 21 Plough Close, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 9AD

  
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Thursday 10 September
Some Unusual Models
Here's something a little different!
KK Scale are producing a 1/18th scale Ford Transit MK I minibus, the model according to wholesaler John Ayrey Diecast it is due to be released later this month and will be available in three different colours, grey, green or red.
Unfortunately all three depict left-hand drive versions of this iconic vehicle.

The UK RRP for the models is £88.99. KK Scale is more usually assoicated with models of sports cars, although they have previouly produced a several VW & Mercedes minibuses in the same large scale.

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KK Scale DC180461 Ford Transit Mk I Minibus (LHD - Light Grey)

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KK Scale DC180462 Ford Transit Mk I Minibus (LHD - Green)

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KK Scale DC180463 Ford Transit Mk I Minibus (LHD - Red)

Post Bus collectors might be interested in this 1/64th scale model from the Truescale Mini GT range which is due for release in Q4/2020 and has a more affordable UK RRP of £14.99.

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Truescale MGT00152-R Land Rover Defender 110 UK Royal Mail Post Bus (RHD)

Tuesday 8 September
Confirmed UK Northcord Model Release
The following Northcord model has now been released to UK retailers.

Click to enlarge

UKBUS1502 Stagecoach North West (The White Lady) - Open Top Alexander ALX400 Dennis Trident

Information kindly supplied by


Thursday 3 September
Go London Scania Omnidekka Update
Chris Cotton has provided photographs showing a pair of the final production models which he has commissioned Britbus to produce.

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Click thumbnails to view full size photographs

The model are currently being shipped by DHL with Chris expecting delivery on the 18 September. There are now 74 of each version left.

ES2-04A Go London Dockland Buses (425 Clapton Nightingale Road) - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus
ES2-04B Go London Dockland Buses (425 Stratford) - Scania Omnidekka Double Deck Bus

For further details or to pre-order, please visit Chris Cotton's online store at omnidekkamodels.com.

Wednesday 2 September
Oxford September to January 2021 Catalogue
Oxford Diecast has published its latest catalogue which covers the period September 2020 to January 2021. Due to the lockdown there was no May to September catalogue this year.

There are still several bus & coach models outstanding from previous catalogues which hopefully explains why latest catalogue only contains the single new bus related item shown below.
In general the number of new models seems lower across all the ranges compared with previous recent catalogues. There are just two new OO toolings, a Aveling & Porter Steam Road Roller & a Ford Transit Custom van.

OO Scale Bus Models

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76SB007 East Midlands Motor Services R325 (ORR 325) Route tbc - Saunders Roe Bus - Due Q1/2021

There's also no mention of the Airlinks Scania Irizar i6 coach (76IR6006) which was teased at trade events earlier this year as a model for the next catalogue.

N Scale
There are no new bus of coach models listed & only 5 new liveries for the existing N scale range.

A full list of all the new models planned across the various different scales has been posted on the Oxford Diecast site.

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