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KUNG HEI FAT CHOY
 
 CMB Guy Arab Mk IV
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Model Co.

A further resin model announced by Hong Kong Model Co is an original bodied China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk IV (8031A). It carries registration no. HK4208 and is on route no. 3 to HK University.


A new page has been added for the Best Choose 1/120 scale China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk2 (05061). Further photos will be added shortly. 

28th January 2006


A new page has been added for the Best Choose 1/120 scale China Motor Bus Leyland Fleetline (05051). Further photos will be added shortly. 

Further photos have been added of the recent batch of Kowloon Motor Bus Enviro 500s, and these have been added to the appropriate Xtra page.


Reaction to the new cream background of the site has, in the main, been favourable and therefore this revised colour scheme will be applied to the remainder of the site over the next few weeks.

27th January 2006

 KMB Enviro 500 ATE233
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Law

Pictured above is one of KMB's latest batch of Enviro500s, which feature several noticeable differences to the existing vehicles. To see for yourself, follow the link to the new Xtra page just uploaded. My thanks to Dennis Law for providing the information and photos.


Being my wedding anniversary today, my time at this pc has had to be restricted, so updates will continue tomorrow! 

26th January 2006


With the sheer volume of News this month, I have forgotten to reveal the answer to the question posed in the 'News' item on 5th January, namely, was it an Octopus card reader or not? My thanks to Dave Rogers and Dennis Chan for reminding me about this outstanding question, and detailed below is the answer!
 
Click on image for larger photograph
 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Chan

The item in question is actually a digital alarm clock, released by 80M Bus Model.  On the lower part of the clock, there is a light sensor. When an item (not only Octopus cards...) is placed in front of it, blocking its light source, the green LED will light up and the buzzer will give a 'beep' sound, resembling the actions of a real Octopus reader (although I am advised that the sound does not resemble it that much!).


Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Chan

Pictured above are the pair of new Best Choose 1/120 scale releases which I believe were released in Hong Kong today. They feature a Leyland Victory Mk 2 (05061) and the Daimler Fleetline (05051). The Victory Mk 2 is LV19 (CG4861) on route 9 to Shek O, whereas the Fleetline is LF104 on route 22 to Central.

Correction -26th January 2006
The Fleetline model comes with a bus wash and the Victory is on what I believe to be a 'Tilt Test' bed. Thanks to Neo Cheung for spotting these were the wrong way around !

From the various photographs received today, I have found it difficult, owing the the superb detail, to believe that they are in fact 1/120 scale models!  They certainly put previous models/toys of a similar scale to shame! Unfortunately a lack of time has prevented me from adding further pages/photos tonight.

25th January 2006

 CMB Ailsa Volvo AL2
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
312 Model

Another resin model dominates today's news, this time coming from 312 Model. It is expected that this model be be released in March.


Citybus and New World First Bus have announced a special Chinese New Year sale of their model buses.

'To reward our customers, Citybus / NWFB will launch a "CNY Sales of Bus Models" from 25 January to 10 February 2006'. Details are as follow.

Offer 1 - Buy any two of the following Chinese New Year bus models at $300

NWFB Models Citybus Models
   
The Energetic Bus of Rooster The Rooster Bus of Luck
Joyous Bus of Sheep Year of Monkey
Festive Bus of Harvest
Snake Bus of Bliss
Dragon Bus of Prosperity
Wish Bus

Offer 2 - Buy any two of the following bus models at $280

NWFB Models Citybus Models
   
NWFB 5th Anniversary Special Leyland Olympian - 133
NWFB Online Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer
Heritage Collection IV - DM28 Citybus Training Bus
NWFB Euro III Bus 12M Dennis Dragon (Route 118)
Allegiance Cityflyer Alexander ALX500 - 2101
Heritage Collection III - LV30 DMS Fleetline
The 1st Anniversary Special
Dennis Dart SLF Single - deck Bus
The 100th Bus
We must stop meeting like this - VA60
Didn't recognise me did you? - VA57
This bus has ears - VA54
Dennis Trident Double Decker Bus - Inauguration

Sales Outlets

Citybus Customer Service Centre, Central (Exchange Square) Bus Terminus

Opening Hours 
Mondays to Saturdays 1000 - 1430, 1530 - 1815
Sundays & Public Holidays 1000 - 1815
 

NWFB Customer Service Centre, Admiralty (East) Bus Terminus, 95 Queensway, Admiralty

Opening Hours
Mondays to Fridays (Except Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays) 11:00 - 14:00, 15:00 - 19:00

 24th January 2006

 KMB Dennis Pax
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Model Co.

 
 CMB Guy Arab Mk IV
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Model Co.

Further resin models have been unveiled on the Hong Kong Model Co website. The first is a Kowloon Motor Bus Dennis Pax HK4092 on route no 18, Un Long - Sheung Shui (8111A) and the second is a China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk IV, HK4196, a rebodied example on route no 7 to Aberdeen (8038A). 


A new page has tonight been added for the Buses Model Co. 'prize' Leyland Olympian in St John Ambulance livery.



 

Following yesterday's news that Best Choose are to release a 1/120 scale Leyland Victory Mk 2, a second release has today been announced, this featuring a CMB Daimler Fleetline (05051) It is again limited to 2,000 pieces and this model appears to come with a bus wash.


Further photographs of Driver Training buses have been added to the Xtra page - my thanks once again to Donald MacRae for allowing me to use photographs from his superb collection - more of which can be found at his Fotopic site - just follow the link.

23rd January 2006

Two regular visitors to my site, who were winners in the Buses Model Co. 'Lucky Draw', have confirmed that they have now received their prize - Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Olympian S3BL428 in an all-over St John Ambulance livery. Pictured above is one of them!
A new page featuring further photographs will be added shortly.



 

Best Choose are shortly to issue a 1/120 scale Leyland Victory Mk 2 in China Motor Bus livery (05061). Limited to 2,000 pieces it will retail for HK$69.90.



 
Photographs courtesy and copyright of Toys Gallery

Pictured above (next to the SunStar 1/24 scale Routemaster) are two interesting items currently available in Hong Kong. They are double decker shaped calendar and photo frame. They are made of clear rigid plastic with 6 calendar sheets (double side printing) inside for this year. A favourite photo can be placed at the top deck. They retail at HK$ 65 each. 

22nd January 2006

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Chan

Pictured above is another new release from P&T Model (another name of 312 Model). It is modelled on a Mitsubishi Rosa belonging to the Airport District of Hong Kong Police, with registration number AM8396. The actual vehicle is the only 16-seat Rosa in the police force to have yellow roof. The yellow roof and beacon enable it to work inside restricted areas of the airport.

The model is due to be released around 20th January. This is the second government Rosa from 312 Model.


Photographs from Sunday's Hong Kong Transport Society Bus Rally have now been added to the Xtra section of the site.


The recently added page featuring the new Driver Training liveries of NWS Transport in the Xtra has been extended to include other Driver Training vehicle liveries. 


Following yesterday's updated Homepage, the background colour of several other pages (including this one!) has been changed as a trial. Please e-mail me any comments or suggestions you may have regarding these changes.

18th January 2006


The resin Albion Viking from Concorde (CHS0503) is now available in Hong Kong. 

A lack of time has prevented me uploading photos of the Hong Kong Transport Society Bus Rally, but these should be available tomorrow.

The 'Home' page has received a makeover - comments, both good and bad, are welcome!!

17th January 2006

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Chan

I am grateful to Dennis Chan for this superb photograph of the imminent resin Albion Viking EVK41XL from 312 Model / Concorde Hobby Shop (CHS0503), which, I am reliably informed, is due to be issued in the next few days. As previously mentioned, it features L228 (AR7709) on route 15A to Tsz Wan Shan (as illustrated on page 51 of Mike Davis's excellent book 'The Buses of Kowloon Motor Bus'). Like the Titan TC1 released late last year, this model is produced by 312 Model but is branded as Concorde Hobby product. The production run is 300 and the unit price is HK$338. 


 
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Grant Ng

Pictured at yesterday's Hong Kong Transport Society's Bus Rally 2006 is Citybus Olympian No 301 with a destination of 'UK' !
A new page will be added to the Xtra section shortly featuring a selection of photographs taken at the Rally. 

16th January 2006

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Several new photographs of the 'Year of the Dog' buses  have been added to the Xtra section of the site and the Resin section has also been updated with some recent models. Further photos will be added to the resin section shortly.

15th January 2006

Swindon & District - Dave Rogers
'City Lynx' - Cathal O'Brien
KMB - Andrew Shirley

The above photographs were the only three entrants received showing the Creative Master Northcord Volvo Super Olympian kit 'as built'. I am grateful to Dave Rogers, Cathal O'Brien and Andrew Shirley for submitting their photos. Creative Master Northcord had originally agreed to provide a model as a prize for the winning entry, but in view of the number of entries received, they have agreed to provide all three entrants with their recent Hong Kong release, the New World First Bus Volvo Super Olympian. My thanks to Danny Chan of Creative Master Northcord for his co-operation in agreeing to sponsor this competition.



 
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Olympian Buspage

My thanks to the Hong Kong Olympian Buspage for allowing me to use the above photograph of KMB's Year of the Dog Olympian.
If you are an Olympian fan, I suggest you take at a look at this site, and just to whet you appetite, I have added a couple of photos, chosen at random, from the many that can be found there -  take a look! 

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Olympian Buspage
14th January 2006


A new page has been added to the Xtra section of the site featuring the real 'Year of the Dog' liveried vehicles.
13th January 2006


As you will see from the photographs below, New World First Bus and Citybus have adopted the same livery for their 'Year of the Dog' buses.
New World First Bus - 'Year of the Dog'
Dennis Dragon No. DA93
Citybus - 'Year of the Dog'
Dennis Dragon No. 838
Photographs courtesy and copyright of
Kenneth K.T.Ma 

I hope to create a new page on the Xtra section of the site shortly and would welcome any other photos of these actual and together with the KMB 'Year of the Dog'. 

12th January 2006

It's been announced that the Citybus and New World First bus "Year of the Dog" bus models will be priced at $288 each, with the quantity issued being set at 688 for each.

Unconfirmed reports have claimed that Citybus's 838 and NWFB's DA93 are highly likely to be chosen as the CNY buses this year.


In the same publication it appears that the two companies are now part of NWS Transport, the logo for which is shown on the driver training bus featured in the News on the 5th January.

10th January 2006


Following yesterdays news on the Volvo B10M/Xian Silver Bus, a new page has just been added featuring further information and photographs of this model.
8th January 2006

Click on image for larger photograph
 Photograph copyright of Oriental Model Buses

I have just received the above model, which as will will no doubt see, represents a Volvo B10M, with Xian Silver Bus bodywork. The model is believed to be a promotional model and not for general release. It is thought to be produced by Checkmate models. My example comes without a box, but it is believed that the model was originally on a wooden plinth with plastic cover, similar to the packaging of Corgi and CMNL. If anyone can provide any further details, these would be appreciated. Further photos will be added to a new page shortly.

7th January 2006


Further photographs of the recently released radio controlled Public Light Buses from Carven have now been added to the Toys section of the site. My thanks to Jacky Ho for providing these. (This page has now been removed - 10th February 2010).
6th January 2006

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Law

Citybus and New World First Bus appear to adopted a common livery for their Driver Training fleet. Further photos have been added to the Xtra section of the site.



 

I have just received the above photograph, which at first glance appears to be a standard octopus card reader, or is it?

5th January 2006

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dave Rogers

Pictured above is the next three-axle Olympian to be modelled by Creative Master Northcord (hkbus2007). This is former Citybus Olympian No 160, now with Stagecoach Warwickshire, and in the colours of 'The Green Bus'. It carries registered no. H627 LNA and fleet no. 13650. The model is due for release in April.
 

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dave Rogers

Whilst on the subject of former Citybus Olympians in the UK, the above photograph, taken on 1st January 2006 at the Friends of King Alfred Winchester rally, shows Stagecoach fleet no. 13634 (former Citybus no. 155), one of five ex Megabus Olympians to be repainted in South West Trains livery, for rail replacement services.



 
 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Universal Transport Fans Association

Citybus open-top Dennis Condor No 20 (formerly NWFB DM18) has appeared in a new livery, as shown in the above photograph which has a passing resemblance to Metroline's livery in the UK.

4th January 2006

The results of the voting are as follows:-

FAVOURITE NEW CASTING OF 2005

1st place - Best Choose - Daimler Fleetline 1/24th scale

2nd place - Cars Workshop - Alexander/Dennis Enviro 500

3rd place - Cars Workshop - Leyland Fleetline/BACo

Forty-two people's votes matched that of the overall result and these names were put into the hat, with Fong Kin Tai being drawn as the winner. He will receive the Citybus 'Year of the Dog' model from Jotus .com, when released and the Sentosa MAN from the Sentosa Leisure Group.
 
 

FAVOURITE LIVERY OF 2005

1st place - 60th Anniversary - Leyland Olympian/Alexander - CMB

2nd place - Pocari Sweat - Volvo Super Olympian/Alexander ALX500 - KMB

3rd place - Year of the Rooster - Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX500 - NWFB

Fourteen people's votes matched that of the overall result and these names were put into the hat, with Carmelo Yeung being drawn as the winner. He will receive the New World First Bus 'Year of the Dog' model from Jotus .com, when released and the Sentosa MAN from the Sentosa Leisure Group.

Special mention must be made of Calvin Cheng, Carmelo Yeung, Matthew Walker and Tong Min Man whose votes in both categories matched those of the overall results  -  well done!

The full results are now available by following this link.

I would like to thank everyone who took part in the vote, and especially Jotus .com and the Sentosa Leisure Group
for agreeing to provide the prizes.


Click on image for larger photograph
 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

 
Click on image for larger photograph
 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

As mentioned in the News at the end of last year, the above photographs show the Q-type buses representing the 'Year of 'liveries.



 
 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Model Co.

Recently announced as 'Coming Soon' on the Hong Kong Model Co. website are two resin models of the unique China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk IV, HK4202. This bus was extensively rebuilt in 1970 as part of a trial by CMB. The front entrance door provided access only to the engine, and was not for passenger use. Pictured above shows the model (8039A) with Route No 1 to Happy Valley, whilst the photograph below shows the model (8040A) on Route No. 2 to Shau Kie Wan.
 

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Hong Kong Model Co.
 3rd January 2006


Voting for your Favourite New Casting of 2005 and Favourite Livery of 2005 has now closed, and I am currently preparing the results. 

Maintenance work is currently being carried out on the News pages from 2004, which may render these pages inaccessible for a short time

 1st January 2006
Go to December 2005 News
 January 2006 - News
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Previous month's News
To find a specific month's News, click here
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This page last updated Saturday, 28th January 2006
 
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