| The model -
This
model first appeared at Showbus 2003, on sale at the Britbus/AsianBus stall
as well as a few other stalls, but was not generally available in the UK
until November. Having purchased my model today (27th November) whilst
being generally impressed by the model, it wasn't until I placed it on
the 'table' for photographing that I noticed the model had quite a disturbing
'lean', resulting in the front nearside wheel remaining off the ground.
The photographs below show the problem.
The bus
- 17 Guy Arab Mk IVs were purchased from Southdown and entered service
in Hong Kong between December 1970 and January 1972. They were the first
second-hand buses purchased by CMB. The buses were new to Southdown in
1956, and were bought to cover for the short wheelbase Guy Arab Mk V single
deckers whilst they were re-bodied as double-deckers.
In 1974, as part of CMB's push towards One
Man Operation, a decision was taken to refurbish these vehicles, which
included the fitting of a single-width doorway, with folding doors, in
the first of the nearside bays. A farebox was fitted and the bulkhead window
was altered, thus allowing the driver to see the farebox!
On 14 July 1977, MW8 was used by the Hong
Kong Government in a roll-over test at the Lion Rock Tunnel, and was subsequently
withdrawn. |
