The photographs of the new KMB Scania has certainly attracted plenty of attention with over 1,800 hits being recorded on this News page yesterday!

I have received some further details of the two KMB Duple Dominant resin models from 312 Model, announced here on 14th September. Each version will be limited to 200 pieces and will retail for HK$348. They are expected to be released shortly.
 

CMB tow truck (AS1008)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of BritBus

Now released in Hong Kong is the AsianBus Guy Arab tow truck, pictured above. 

Photograph copyright of Oriental Model Buses

Pictured at it's first public appearance, Showbus 2006, is this Salvador Caetano bodied Scania K95UD6x2 for Kowloon Motor Bus. Further details and photographs will appear shortly. 

EFE had on display a mock-up of a 1/24 scale MCW Metrobus, which may well be another Best Choose model. 

A translation of the text from KMB Today reads:-

Since KMB introduced three 'super jumbos' in 1981, the 12-metre Super Metrobus with the capacity of 160 was found too lengthy and therefore between 1986-1990, an order for 254 11-metre Super Metrobus were placed and these modified 11-metre Super Metrobus since then serving between Kowloon and the New Territories.

The last forty of the 11-metre Super Metrobus are fitted with Cummins LTA Engine with the horsepower of 280bhp for routes 93A, 93K, 95 and 98A, as these duties require powerful engines for Po Lam Road's hilly terrain.

It is the first KMB Super Metrobus 11m 3 axles model and the model is showing no.95 to Tsui Lam.

This is a limited model with quantity of 2,000 pieces produced world-wide.

My thanks to Donald MacRae for providing further details on the KMB Scania which is due to appear at Showbus on Sunday. It is the first double deck bus to be built at the Caetanobus plant in Waterlooville, Hampshire. 

Whilst I will be at Showbus, I will not be 'visible' on any stall, so for those of you who are going, have a great (and dry?) day!!

The September Edition of KMB Today is now on-line, and in it are details of the MCW Metrobus announced on this site earlier this month. It appears to be limited to 2,000 pieces and will retail for HK$288. If anyone can provide further details from the Chinese text, please e-mail me.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of CarFansClub

I have received information on 5 different versions of the Checkmate 1/76 scale Gwang Zhou GZK6100 Bus models. These are believed to be code 3 models produced for CarFansClub  . Each is limited to 120 pieces and details are as follows (left to right in the above photo) :-

Guang Zhou Yiqi Bus Co. - Route No. 7
Guang Zhou Yiqi Bus Co. - Route No. 40
Guang Zhou No. 3 Bus Co. - Route No. 270
Guang Zhou Jumbo Bus Co Ltd - Route No. 506
Guang Zhou Adshel Co Ltd - Route No. 135

The radio controlled KMB Dennis Dragon, featured in Monday's News, is produced by Cars Workshop and retails for HK$188. It's product code is 96004.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 312 Model

312 Model are to issue two versions of KMB's Duple Dominant bodied Albion EVK55CL coach. While one of them features BL1825 on route 208 to Tsim Sha Tsui, the other one presents BH7637 on route 206 to Lai Chi Kok. No further information is available at the moment.

Two items not related to model buses, but related to transport in/to Hong Kong are as follows:-

Ngong Ping's Cable Car service - Ngong Ping 360 - will start its service on Monday 18th September 2006. This project commenced in February 2004, and was then known as the Tung Chung Cable Car Project.  For further details, visit the NP360 website . 

Oasis Hong Kong, a new Hong Kong based airline, commences flights between Hong Kong and London on 25th September, with single fares starting from £75!!

I am reliably informed that the KMB Reunification liveried Olympian, with a blue lower, as opposed to pale green and featured below, is not a pre-production model. The model was apparently a gift for customers of KMB to celebrate the 'Handover'. Perhaps others can confirm?

To clear the last remaining 152 models, you can buy from my stall at Showbus one model for £25.00, or two for £45.00. This offer is available at Showbus only, mail-order prices remain the same. There are not many left, so this could be your last chance to have this exclusive commissioned model in your collection! My stall will be located alongside either 105, or Titan 106, which will be parked in the main stall area, between the hangers.

A pre-production model of Corgi's KMB Reunification liveried Olympian 
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Neo Cheung

My thanks to Neo Cheung for sending me photographs of a pre-production model, which was not released as the final product. The model is based on KMB Dennis Dragon (AD247). The production model (43207) was issued with a green lower as opposed to the blue on this example. It is believed that Corgi had produced this sample for KMB, but at the same time CMB had already applied this livery to their actual vehicles. Consequently, KMB sought a change of colour, and as the green livery was also being applied to their vehicles, they decided to change the livery on the model to green. It is thought that only 2 or 3 samples were produced. Further photographs will be added shortly .

Guy Arab LS31 (AS 1006)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of BritBus

LS56 (AS1007)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of BritBus

CMB tow truck (AS1008)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of BritBus

Now released in Hong Kong are the two resin KMB Albion Vikings from Concorde Hobby Shop. Each is limited to 200 pieces and retail for US$45.2

Fleet No. L265 (Reg. No. AR7746) is on route No 62 to Castle Peak Hospital (Product Code CHS053-A)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com

Fleet No L268 (Reg. No. AR7749) is on route No 73K to Man Kam To (Product Code CHS053-B)
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com