| The model
- in April 2004, almost three years after the release of the previous model
of this casting, news arrived that two further models were to be released,
the first in the Stagecoach style corporate livery (OM45404),
and the second carrying the original and attractive livery applied
to this unique vehicle when it entered service in 1997, as shown above.
This model was released in Hong Kong on 16th August 2004 and will be available
in the UK through John Ayrey Diecasts.
The bus
- Citybus ordered one 12-metre air-conditioned double-decker from MAN in
1997. In December of that year, the bus entered service as fleet number
2500 and with a registration of HN 1013. The model of the bus is 24.350
NL-DD, and is fitted with an Australian Volgren CR221LD body. It was the
first time that that Volgren had designed and built a double-deck body.
The frontal design is similar to the Alexander 'R' one, as requested by
Citybus. The bus is powered by an 11,967cc, 350hp MAN D2866LOH engine with
ZF 5HP600 transmission. The air-conditioning was supplied by Nippondenso. Although Citybus placed an order for a further
batch of MAN 24.310s, with Berkhof and Volgren bodies, this order was subsequently
cancelled owing to Hong Kong's Transport Department imposition of a fleet
quota on all franchised bus operators in Hong Kong. These buses were eventually
purchased by KMB and became their AMN class - AMN7 being the subject of
Corgi model OM45201. Further photographs of the
actual bus in this livery can be found here. |
