Model Bus Journal No.425, September 2006

In This Month's Model Bus Journal.....

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Cover Photo - 'In The Picture': The latest casting released by OOC is the 27' Roe double-decker in both motorbus and trolleybus form. A Lincoln Leyland PD2 was one of the first releases and has been chosen by Charles Gibbs for one of his excellent Cover Photo - Buskits Alexander N type: In this issue, Arfon Owen reviews the BUSKITs Alexander N-type kit which he has built and photographed, in Arriva livery. Underfloor-engined coaches of the 1950s: The Burlingham Seagull, introduced in 1950, was of such a pleasing and revolutionary design that it was an immediate success and remained a best-seller throughout the decade. The Seagull is, in fact, my favourite of all the 1950s coach designs and formed a major part of our Braithwaites' of Sedbergh fleet, during this period. One of the smartest Burlingham Seagulls in preservation is the former Aston Villa team coach, in Flights livery, appropriately on display at present in Aston Manor Museum. Text by Gordon Braithwaite, Photo by David Cole Underfloor-engined coaches of the 1950s: In Duple's search for a winning design was the Elizabethan, introduced in late-1953, followed, in late-1955, by the rather similar Britannia, both produced for the lightweight AEC Reliance and Leyland Tiger Cub chassis. The Britannia design, in particular, had considerable success and remained in production, with some modifications, into the early-60s. My model of a Britannia is painted in the livery of the fictitious Swift Coaches of Arnside, Lancashire, and was scratchbuilt from an official Duple drawing. Text and Photo by Gordon Braithwaite
Underfloor-engined coaches of the 1950s: Plaxton introduced their Venturer coach design in the early-50s for the long-awaited underfloor-engined chassis, but apart from the radiator-less front-end, the body style was very similar to that of the late-1940s half-cab designs. At the same time came the Crusader with its enclosed rear wheels. Of the two designs the Venturer was the more successful, and variations in the front-end styling and side mouldings came thick and fast during the following two years, in an attempt to improve it. An example of one such variation of this early Venturer coach, bought by Bluebird of Hull in 1952, has been preserved and is regularly seen on the rally circuit. My scratchbuilt model of this vehicle was produced from a much-modified plan (No.10) by Brian Minter. Text and Photo by Gordon Braithwaite Underfloor-engined coaches of the 1950s: Harrington was considered by some, especially those in the South, to be the Rolls-Royce of coachbuilders. The Wayfarer, with its characteristic Harrington dorsal fin, introduced in the early-50s for the new underfloor-engined chassis, certainly projected a quality image - heavy looking but handsome. My model depicts a 1952 Wayfarer belonging to the fictitious 'Blue Velvet' fleet, of Morecambe, and was scratchbuilt from a plan of J Wilson. Text and Photo by Gordon Braithwaite Bristol City's Park Royal Utilities: Fleet number C3354 (JAE126) has been rebuilt with lowered bonnet, post-war PV2 radiator and destination indicators, and wears the livery used for repaints in 1950 and 1951. It is operating an extension to Ashton Drive of cross-city, tramway-replacement, service 9, from Hanham to Ashton Gate. This tram conversion was scheduled for late-1939 but the new K5Gs were stored, and the trams retained, to save imported fuel. In 1941, the stored K5Gs entered service on tram-replacement services 8 (Kingswood - City - Bedminster Down) and 9 after the blitz had wrecked the remainder of the tram system. C3354 was the first of the five to gain a post-war body, in 1954, and was the last to be withdrawn, in 1964. Text by John and Christopher Batten, Photo by David Cole Bristol City's Park Royal Utilities: Fleet number C3357 (JAE129) wears the original livery introduced in 1945. It is operating tram-replacement service 7 to the Centre from the Downs, via Redland, introduced in 1939. Three buses provided a 12-minute frequency in the morning peak and during the afternoon, but only two were used for an 18-minute frequency, during mid-morning and evening. Later, C3357 was repainted into the 1946 livery, and even later was rebuilt with lowered bonnet, post-war PV2 radiator and destination indicators, with the livery used for repaints in 1950 and 1951. Unlike the other rebuilds, rainstrips were removed from above the fixed windows, and the hinged ventilators were removed from the upper saloon front windows. It carried a post-war body from 1956 until withdrawal, in 1963. Text by John and Christopher Batten, Photo by David Cole
Plan of the Month - Alexander Dennis Enviro 400: The largest single order, so far, for the Enviro 400, is for Stagecoach's provincial operations, the first of which entered service with Stagecoach Manchester, in July. The London General Euro 4 examples are now appearing in central London on new route 87, having first entered service on the 196, which ventures no further north than the Elephant and Castle, where this photo was taken. Watch out for more Enviro 400 orders soon and, of course, the forthcoming CMN model. Text and Photo by David Cole In Detail - Wright Street Car: Is it a bird, is it a plane, or, er, a hovercraft, or a maybe a train? Well, whatever it is, obviously Wright and Volvo think it is the future ('ftr' being texting shorthand for the word 'future'). With a 'Wow' factor of, well, 'quite-a-lot', the styling of this vehicle is, surely, more advanced than the motor car(!)(?). The 'ftr' system is an example of the new public transport concept of Bus Rapid Transit, in this case using articulated buses developed by the Wright Group and Volvo for First Group plc in conjunction with infrastructure upgrades, provided by the local authority. Photo by David Cole In Detail - Wright Street Car: The vehicle is branded as 'the future of travel', and each one costs around £300,000! It consists of an adapted Volvo B7LA articulated chassis, with a Wright 'Streetcar' body, featuring a separate driver ('pilot') compartment at the front, resembling to some extent similar designs in continental Europe. Photo by David Cole In Detail - Wright Street Car: Operator, First, introduced the 'ftr' concept to York, in May 2006, and the eye-catching Wright Street Car-bodied Volvo B7LAs are now settling into service on the fairly tortuous city service 4. Many more photos of these vehicles, with exterior and interior views appear in this Journal. Text and Photo by David Cole
MBF Mid-Anglia Willington 2006: Ex-Mid-Anglia member, Les Bird, now living in exile in the frozen North, popped down to the show with his London Transport RLH. Photo by Andrew Goodwin MBF Mid-Anglia Willington 2006: Phill Yeend's London tramway layout, a fascinating 'period-piece' with all kinds of vehicles as well as buses and trams on display, is set in wartime London. Photo by Andrew Goodwin Model Review - PSG Models Optare Solo M780SL: The finished model captures the look of the prototype quite well, but a little more work than is normally necessary is required to achieve this. The photo shows a comparison of the PSG model (Left) with an OOC 'standard' Solo. Text and Photo by Dick Lindsay Model Review - Paragon Duple Vega 'Fishmouth' and early Venturer bodies for Bedford SB: Paragon Road Services has recently introduced these two resin bodyshells, available, separately, with no other parts included in the kit. Unlike normal kits, all you get is the one-piece resin bodyshell, and the rest is then up to you! Paragon does, however, thoughtfully, include A5 double-sided instruction sheets offering advice and suggestions on how to complete the model. I, personally, found it a pleasant challenge to have to make up and fit my own chassis' and interiors and glazing. I'm sure that this will apply to many others. Text and Photo by Dick Lindsay
A 425 for issue 425!: The Duple Integral 425, introduced in the mid-1980s has proved to be a durable vehicle with many still on the road today. The model designation, matching the number of this month's Model Bus Journal, is derived from its low (0.425) drag co-efficient. The prototype picture is of an early Duple demonstrator seen in Birmingham, in October 1987. Photo by David Cole A 425 for issue 425!: The model, scratchbuilt by David Eadie, and carrying a typical dealer-white livery, was on display at Crewe 2006. Photo by David Cole MBF Cheshire and Potteries Area, Model Competition: At this year's area model competition, the winner of the Alf Taylor Memorial Shield, for a local model, was Eric Wain for his Berresfords ex-Silver Star lowbridge Atlantean, built from the Little Bus Company kit. Text and Photo by David Eadie MBF Cheshire and Potteries Area, Model Competition: The Area Shield went to Area Secretary, David Eadie, for his scratchbuilt AEC Regal III in City of Oxford coach livery. Text and Photo by David Eadie
 
Editorial

In another issue brought to you from my temporary office, the Model Bus Journal takes a closer look at some of the latest products on the market, and comes right up-to-date with a plan of the month featuring the Euro 4-engined Enviro 400s, which recently entered service in London.

Achievement of the reduced emissions demanded by the Euro 4 standard has caused engine developers to take two different routes. Mercedes and Cummins, for example, have chosen SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), where exhaust products are treated as they leave the engine, using an urea-based additive 'Ad-Blue' (urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen). This requires additional tankage at depots, and changes to filling procedures, but improves engine efficiency and fuel economy. Scania, amongst others, have chosen EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), potentially a more complex process but avoiding the need for additives.

Not much of the change may be visible on a model, but depot dioramas may need some new additions!

David Cole, Editor, Model Bus Journal


So, in another feature- packed 28-page issue, this month's highlights are….

  • Underfloor-engined coaches of the 1950s
    by Gordon Braithwaite

  • Bristol City's Park Royal Utilities
    by John and Christopher Batten

  • The Blackpool Road - Part II
    by John Gibson, illustrated by John's superb sketches of the scene

  • Plan of the month - Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
    by Derek Fisk

  • Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s at work in London and Manchester
    a photo-feature

  • York's colourful 'ftr'
    a photo-feature

  • In Detail - Wright Street Car
    a photo-feature

  • Book Reviews by David Cole
    Routemaster Requiem by Matthew Wharmby and Geoff Rixon
    (Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-3145-2)
    Lancashire United - A Centenary Celebration by Eric Ogden
    (Venture Publications, ISBN 1905 304 129)
    Yorkshire Traction 2 by John Banks
    (Venture Publications, ISBN 1905- 304-110)

  • Mid-Anglia Willington Showcase 2006
    Report by David Waterton with photos by Andrew Goodwin

  • Model Reviews
    Buskits Alexander N-type 12m Leyland Tiger bus
    reviewed by Arfon Owen
    Paragon Road Services Duple Vega 'Fishmouth' body and Plaxton (early) Venturer body
    (both for Bedford SB)
    reviewed by Dick Lindsay
    PSG Models Optare Solo M780SL
    reviewed by Dick Lindsay

  • A 425 for issue 425!
    a photo-feature

  • Cheshire and Potteries Area Model Competition Winners
    a photo-feature

  • 'In The Picture'
    by Charles Gibbs

  • John Booth reviews
    Product News (UK)

  • David Cole reviews
    Product News (Europe)

Plus Your News and Views, and Member Services



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Unless otherwise stated, Text and Captions by David Cole, Editor, Model Bus Journal