Canadian based Rapido Trains Inc. announced the identity of their first UK bus model, a New Look Birmingham City Transport Guy Arab IV, during a public 3D laser scanning of the real bus at the Transport Museum, Wythall in July 2017.

Eleven different versions of the model were initially announced, these all either carried the Birmingham City Transport or the later West Midland PTE livery and featured various different routes & destinations.

Each issue of the model is produced in both standard & deluxe versions. The deluxe versions feature additional working headlights, interior lighting & illuminated destination displays.
All versions of these plastic models have highly detailed interiors which include internal hand & grab rails and seat moquette.

The lighting features are activated by connecting the two wires that pass through the base to a 12v DC external power supply (not supplied) or a 9V battery. The lighting is turned on & off using the supplied magnetic wand to activated a reed switch hidden inside the model.

The model was also be produced in undecorated kit form, & again there were versions with or without lighting.

The first releases were originally expected during the Summer/Autumn of 2018 but this was eventually delayed until November 2019 when Rapido Trains Inc launched them a the Warley Model Railway Show at the NEC.
Distribution of the models to smaller UK retailers was initailly handled by Rails of Sheffield, Rapido Trains Inc are handling the sales in Canada & North America themselves From 2021, the UK releases can also be ordered from the Rapido Trains UK online store.

An additional version in Birmingham City Transport livery (71012/715012) was announced just prior to the launch of the range, A second batch of 11 New Look models were released in October 2021 featuring a further selection of routes for the Birmingham City & West Midland PTE liveried models. These models were only produced with the working lighting features.

In late 2018 Rapido Trains announced the subject of their second UK bus model would be a West Midlands PTE style Daimler/Leyland Fleetline double deck bus, this unlike the New Look model is only available with the working lighting features.
20 models with vehicle & route details were announced in December 2020 and these were released in October 2021. Further details about this model can be found at https://rapidotrains.co.uk/fleetline/.

In February 2021 four additional Fleetline models were announced in the form of exclusive commissions for TTC Diecast. Additionally two further standard issue undecorated models will be produced by Rapido depicting both the early & later style of the Fleetline body.
The only difference between the early & late bodies is the design of the front indicators/side lights which are larger on the later vehicles.

Both versions come with a bag containing a pair of indicators which can be fitted using PVA glue if desired.
On the early versions these were fitted just above the driving mirrors (as illustrated on the bus featured on leaflet supplied with the model), on the revised later versions they can be fitted over the square tampo printed indicators found on waistband above the front wheel arches.

A second batch of 18 Fleetlines were released in August 2024 and featured further West Midlands examples, a number of hand me down operators of the type, and three further kit versions. Included among this batch were six further commissions versions for TTC Diecast & Rails of Sheffield.

Another new model was announced in the Spring of 2021, this model will tie in with a range of model rail products produced to represent vehicles featured in the 1952 film the Titfield Thunderbolt. The Bedford OB Duple Vista coach model will be available as a individual release. Eleven further UK operator liveries, including two commissioned by TTC Diecast, were announced soon after and all the models were released in August 2024.
Further details can be found on the Rapido Trains UK site.

A second new UK single deck bus model was announced in the Spring of 2022, planning had started on developing a range of laser scanned Leyland National models, both mark I & mark II versions are being proposed and Rapido produced a survey to gauge collectors' prefaces for the vehicle variations & operator liveries they'd like to see considered for the range.
In July 2023 Rapido sadly announced that they had decided to put the development of the Leyland National & two other unannounced bus model projects on indefinite hold due to the models becoming unviable in the then prevailing uncertain economic climate.