The model
- a
surprise release on 10th May 2012, with no
previous announcements, is this Big Bus Ankai. Issued at the same time
as a Hong Kong version, (80871),
this model, labelled as the UK version, is limited to 1,500 pieces.
This model is less accurate than the Hong Kong version, and appears
to be a more generic model. Differences between the model and the real
thing have been identified by John Bennett, and are as follows:-
| Model |
Prototype |
| Open-Top
Sightseeing Tours |
Sightseeing
Tour of London |
| cream
front lower panel between headlights* |
no cream
front lower panel between headlights* |
| cream
upper deck grab rails* |
black
upper deck grab rails* |
| black
wing mirrors* |
maroon
wing mirrors* |
fleet
number 9 in lower windscreen
(same as Hong Kong version) |
fleet
number on nearside of destination screen |
| 'www.bigtours.com'
across upper deck windscreen |
no
lettering on upper deck windscreen |
| the cream
band sweeps up towards the rear of the vehicle |
a simpler
livery is applied |
| displays
Hong Kong 'Passenger Service Licence' at rear |
|
| 11 metre
length |
12 metre
length |
| |
|
| * a photograph taken during a
press release shows the first vehicle detailed as per the model (see
below) |
The bus
- Big Bus took delivery of twenty such vehicles in April 2012 for use
in London, having previously taken delivery of similar buses in Hong
Kong and Dubai. My thanks to John Bennett for providing the photographs
below of the actual vehicles.
|
