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. 

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

 KMB Enviro 500 ATE233
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Law

Pictured above is one of KMB's latest batch of Enviro 500s, 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! 

 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.

 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.

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

 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 renbodied 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.

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. 

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.

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!!

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 (CHS004), 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. 

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.

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

Photographs courtesy and copyright of
Kenneth K.T.Ma 

New World First Bus - 'Year of the Dog' Dennis Dragon No. DA93

Citybus - 'Year of the Dog' Dennis Dragon No. 838

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'. 

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.

 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.

 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?

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dave Rogers

Pictured above is the next three-axle Olympian to be modeled 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.

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.
 
 

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.

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

 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.

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