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5th
November 1998
The first news announced on the site confirms
the release of Corgi's Capital Citybus Olympian in the UK whilst Corgi's
Dennis Trident/Duple Metsec in Citybus Cityflyer livery is also announced.
December
1998
Corgi unveil their planned releases for
early 1999, which include three NWFB Olympians, KMB's Year of the Rabbit,
a KCRC liveried Olympian and a KMB champagne Trident.
January
1999
Further details of the three New World First
Bus Olympians 43211-3 appear together with news of a 25th anniversary model
for Singapore Bus Services
February
1999
Corgi's New Lantao Dart is released together
with KMB's 'Year of the Rabbit' Olympian
March
1999
EFE release a Bristol Lodekka in early Citybus
livery. Two more Citybus Duple Metsec Tridents are announced, another in
Cityflyer livery with 'Airport-City' stickers and 2100 in it's original
yellow livery. A Leyland Atlantean AN68, again for Citybus, is also announced.
News also of a dual-door New World First Bus Dennis Dart. EFE listings
are added to the site.
April
1999
Further details and an exclusive photograph
of the Citybus Leyland Atlantean AN68 are unveiled. 'Photo gallery' section
added.
May
1999
News of a new manufacturer, Collector's
Model. Several new photographs of models added.
June
1999
The name of the site changed from 'Unofficial
Site for Corgi Oriental Buses' to 'Oriental Model Buses'. Photographs of
the first release from the new "Collector's Model' range are added.
July
1999
The 'Updates' section is added to make it
easier to keep track of the constant changes and improvements made to the
site. The site received it's 10,000th hit.
August
1999
The first model from newcomer ABC Models
is unveiled. The 'Books' section is added to the site. It is announced
that New World First Bus are to model a dual-door Dennis Dart, with 2,000
being offered in the UK to EFE Collector's Club members only. The model
of the 100th new bus for New World First Bus, a Duple Metsec bodied Dennis
Trident, is released.
September
1999
Exclusive news on ABC Model's second release
and Corgi release their Millennium catalogue, featuring no less than six
Oriental Omnibus models.
October
1999
It is rumoured that New World First Bus
are holding back a supply of their inaugural 'wave' liveried Dennis Trident,
pending the opening of their new shop in Hong Kong. EFE announce to their
subscribers who have ordered the New World First Bus Dennis Dart, that
they have rejected the production of this item owing to concerns over quality
and potential damage to the models in transit. They go on to say that a
new production run is underway and it is hoped the models will be despatched
in mid November.
November
1999
Exclusive, photographs of the forthcoming
Citybus 'Stagecoach Set' and 'Millennium' release. Exclusive photograph
of the C'sM 'Red A' Victory appear.
December
1999
Drumwell release the first model bearing
their name - a KMB Neoplan Centroliner. ABC Models announced a new casting,
a CMB Tilling Stevens K5LA7 long-wheelbase single-deck bus.
January
2000
The result of your 'Favourite Model of the
Year 1999' is as follows:-
1st
- New World First Bus Dennis Dart - Model No. 99005
2nd
- Kowloon Motor Bus Neoplan Centroliner - Model No. DW10101
3rd
- ABC Models 'jumbo' Daimler Fleetline - Model No. 000101.
Collector's Model are to launch their own
'Fan
Club' together with a Website - further details are to be
announced when known. C'sM also announce
the imminent release of CMB Dennis Condor 'DA' Class.
Citybus plan to release a model of their
sole MAN double-decker, Fleet No. 2500, with Volgren bodywork.
February
2000
Citybus are to release a DMS which is to
be based on Citybus D20, CP 2781. Exclusive news that CMB Dennis Dominator
(Fleet No. SD1) is to be the first release from a new manufacturer, Model
Express. A new domain name 'www.oriental-model-buses.co.uk' is acquired.
More exclusive photographs of new C'sM models. ABC Models produce a range
of 1/76th scale street furniture for the model bus enthusiast.
March
2000
Collector's Model release a gold-plated
and a silver-plated Dennis Dragon, which are available only to members
of the Collector's Model Fan Club. The 'Forthcoming Releases' page is added,
giving details of new and recently released models. The 'Collector's Model
Catalogue January - June 2000' is published. The photo-gallery page
of the site is removed.
April
2000
Collector's Model issue 'kits' of KMB Victory's
Mk2/Jubilants. Citybus announce they will be issuing a DMS/Lodekka set.
The first photographs of Corgi's new Leyland Victory Mk2, in KMB, livery
appear.
May
2000
ABC Model's first Leyland Fleetline SF is
released. EFE announce that due to the financial difficulties created
by Beatties within our parent company, ERA Group Plc., there will be serious
disruption to our planned release programme and there will be a period
of several months before we can resume our normal programme of model releases.
It is announced that Leyland Fleetline, SF31, is returning 'home' to Falkirk,
Scotland, having left Hong Kong on 12th May.
June
2000
NWFB announce that SF8 and SF31 and are
to be modelled. Exclusive photographs of Citybus's forthcoming DMS/Lodekka
set.
July
2000
The use of bulk e-mails to notify subscribers
when the site has been updated ceases. SF31 arrives in back in the UK.
The New World First Bus Cyber Shop opens, selling models 'on-line', with
the inaugural 'wave' liveried Trident now being available, as predicted
back in October 1999. Citybus are to issue a new casting of a 10.4m Dennis
Dragon, the model being produced by Collector's Model.
August
2000
Exclusive photos of the Model Express Dennis
Dominator. Exclusive photographs of the first model from Model Bus Evolution.
NWFB announce they will release a model of Leyland Victory LV30, which
has specially decorated in a 'Farewell Victory' to mark the end of the
Leyland Victory . The site received it's 100,00th hit.
September
2000
Review of Showbus 2000
October
2000
Currency converter added to the site. It
recently struck me that despite joining the Cs'M 'Fan Club' and forking
out about £20 plus currency draft fees, I don't appear to have received
much in return. Mike Davis's book 'New World First Bus - The First Two
Years' is published. Two new kits, from C'sM, this time featuring Dennis
Dragons/Condors are released.
November
2000
Cars Workshop release their first model,
a KMB Daimler D model, Fleet No. D331. Buses Model Co release their first
models, two similar Guy Arab IV single deck buses. Creative Master Northcord
release their first model, a NWFB Volvo Super Olympian. It was also rumoured
that there will be a NWFB Centroliner in the not too distant future.
December
2000
Computer breakdown resulting in a new computer
being purchased!
January
2001
The results of Best New Casting 2000 competition
are announced:-
1st - Cars Workshop Daimler "D" in KMB livery - 38001
2nd - Corgi's Leyland Victory Mk 2 in NWFB livery - 44805
3rd - Collector's Model Fleetline SF31 in NWFB (purple "Peak")
livery - 20003
New World First Bus announce they will be
issuing the 'Snake Bus of Bliss' model. The Alexander ALX500 bodied Trident
would come with a key which opens of the engine compartment and can also
be used to completely dismantle the model !!
February
2001
Corgi's Original Omnibus Catalogue for May
- August 2001 includes four Oriental Omnibus models, all Citybus vehicles,
namely the Ocean Park set, the "Greener Buses" Duple Metsec bodied
Trident and the new casting of the MAN/Volgren.
March
2001
Exclusive news and photos of a pre-production
sample of ABC's ML2, a three door CMB MCW Metrobus. Another exclusive,
from Collector's Model is a KMB Victory in an all-over crime prevention
livery as well as exclusive photos of their new 1/50th scale Metrobus.
The site's guestbook is removed.
April
2001
'Diecast Buses Interactive' launched. The
second volume of 'Hong Kong Bus Models' is published. The site received
a record 10,203 hits for the month.
May
2001
The first pictures of ABC's MCW Metrorider
CM1 published. The NWFB Centroliner is released, as forecast in November
2000. Both C'sM and Drumwell/Cars Workshop release a CMB Condor, in the
same 'air-con' livery.
June
2001
The 'Collectors Model Yahoo Club' is launched,
The site receives it's 200,000th hit. UK elections are held - Labour are
again elected.
July
2001
The 'Video' section added to the site. The
80M Bus Model Shop website is infected by a virus. C'sM announce three
'Siemens' models based on the 10.4m Citybus Dragon. 11,000 hits were
received in the month - a new record.
August
2001
The 'World of Diecast' shop in Hong Kong
closes. Below is an extract of a letter recently received from ABC models:-
'ABC Models wish to advise that as
from the 1st of August 2001 the former Authorised agent for the
United Kingdom and Europe, Mr Bram
Osborne, has advised that he is no longer in a position to carry
out his contractual obligations.
ABC Models deeply regret the situation
with regards to information and supply over the recent months
and hope that any inconvenience caused
in the past will be rapidly remedied and both information and
supplies will once again return to
normal. All ABC Models will once again be readily obtainable
throughout the region from selected
retail stockists pending the eventual appointment of a new
representative for the region.
ABC wishes to thank all those many
persons that have supported ABC Models during this difficult
period.'
September
2001
The 'Oriental Model Buses Yahoo Group' is
launched. Showbus 2001 is reviewed. Exclusive photograph of ABC's Ailsa-Volvo
AV8. Buses Model release their superb air-conditioned CMB Leyland Olympians.
October
2001
Another exclusive - news of another release
from Model Bus Evolution, a 12-metre Dennis Dragon of Citybus, this time
representing fleet no. 803, with United Airlines (daily non-stop Delhi)
allover advert. Hong Kong Model Co. announce their first diecast
models, Guy Arab UF single deck buses in CMB livery.
November
2001
KMB release a model of their pearlescent
green Neoplan Centroliner. To commemorate and coincide with the launch
of Singapore Bus Services's new name (SBS Transit) and livery, Creative
Master Northcord release a set featuring two 12 metre, Alexander-bodied
Volvo Olympians. The site received its 250,000th hit on 30th November.
Exclusive news to the site is that KMB are to release a model of their
Berkhof bodied MAN,. The site is the first to publish photos of Citybus's
new Scania with Volgren bodywork in the new 'Stagecoach style' corporate
livery.
December
2001
Exclusive announcement marks the launch
of the British Model Buses website. It is announced that New World First
Bus are to issue a model of their Volvo Super Olympian carrying the 'Euro
III Buses Lead the Pace' special livery.
January
2002
The results of Best New Casting 2001 competition
are announced:-
1st place - Buses Model Co.- Leyland Olympian
2nd place - Corgi - MAN/Volgren
3rd place - Drumwell - Volvo Super Olympian
The results of the Best Advertising/Promotional
livery 2001 are also announced:-
1st place - 3,000th Alexander - Volvo S/Olympian
2nd place - Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa - Dennis Dragon
3rd place - KMB Green Bus - Neoplan Centroliner
Citybus apply the 'Stagecoach style' corporate
livery to MAN Volgren No 2500.
February
2002
Out of the ashes of ABC Models comes two
new names, Best Choose and Ox Models, who both release their first model
- the CMB Guy Arab water bowser!
March
2002
Two new sections are added to the site,
one devoted to Resin Models whilst the other features Toys.
April
2002
'Oriental Buses plus' website launched,
which is aimed to provide details and information on the real buses in
Hong Kong. Best Choose announce they will be releasing a CMB Dennis Condor,
DL1. Exclusive photograph posted of the C'sM Dennis Dragon with Gateway
all-over advertising.
May
2002
Creative Master Northcord announce the release
of a new casting, the Volvo B7R with bodywork by the Shanghai Sunwin Bus
Corporation. Collector's Model send subscribers a CD and a copy of the
planned releases for 2002.
June
2002
Creative Master Northcord unveil another
new casting, featuring a Japanese prototype, the Hino S'elega R FD, one
of the most popular coaches in Japan. Buses Model Co. present Bus Fan World
with two Leyland Olympians to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
July
2002
NWFB announce they are to release a
model of their last non air-con 11-metre Dennis Condor, DM28. A model of
KMB Metrobus, 3M1, a 12-metre 3-axle example appears at the the 'Exhibition
on the History of Hong Kong Buses 2002'. 12,189 hits received for the month
- a new record.
August
2002
New caricature models unveiled by Jotus.com.
Bus Fan World announce, through their members' newsletter, that their AL1
model will be a members only release.
September
2002
Review of Showbus 2002. Exclusive photographs
of the 'Double Happiness' liveried Dragon from C'sM.
October
2002
Creative Master Northcord Limited appoint
John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited as their UK distributor for their non-British
bus models. KMB announce the forthcoming release of a model of their ME
Class (Mercedes-Benz 0305 /Alexander).
November
2002
I make my first visit to Hong Kong - what
an experience!
December
2002
A new company, AsianBus, release their version
of the China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V "S" class.
January
2003
The results of Best New Casting 2002 competition
are announced:-
1st place - Drumwell - Mercedes-Benz 0.305
2nd place - Corgi - MAN/Berkhof
3rd place - Creative Master Northcord - Volvo Olympian
The results of the Best Advertising/Promotional
livery 2002 are also announced:-
1st place - Euro III buses lead the pace - Volvo Super Olympian
2nd place - Bye bye my Hot Dog - Dennis Condor
3rd place - Festive Bus of Harvest - Dennis Trident
February
2003
Independent Transport Videos announce the
release of three new videos. The new owners of ex-NWFB DM17, currently
on it's way back to the UK for preservation, launch a new website which
provides detailed information about the bus as well as photographs in both
New World First Bus and China Motor Bus colours.
March
2003
Ex-NWFB DM17 arrives in the UK. The Xtra
section, which features news on real buses, is added to the site. SARS
outbreak in Hong Kong infects over 1,200 people.
April
2003
The Big Bus Company in London begin operating
ex-NWFB/CMB 12-metre Dennis Condors, having been converted into open toppers
for London sightseeing work. The Cars Workshop KMB Daimler Fleetline with
MetSec bodywork was released in Hong Kong.
May
2003
The first in a series of books from BSI
Hobbies entitled 'The Fleet Directory of Hong Kong Buses - Kowloon Motor
Bus' is published.
June
2003
A Dictionary of 1:76 scale Hong Kong Bus
Models for the period 1994-2002 is published. KMB release a 10.6m Volvo
Super Olympian, produced by Cars Workshop. Stagecoach agrees to sell its
Hong Kong Citybus operation. The World Health Organisation removes Hong
Kong from its list of areas with recent
local transmission of SARS.
July
2003
21 die in Hong Kong Bus accident. Allsorts
of Croxley Green close down. John Ayrey Diecasts announce they are to import
Ox Models. A record 519 hits were received in one day and a record 13,781
were received for the month.
August
2003
NWFB celebrate their 5th Anniversary with
a specially decorated 'Give Me Five' Centroliner. The first 'crystal' bus
is unveiled.
September
2003
John Ayrey Diecasts announce they are no
longer importing Collector's Model. Showbus 2003 review. Four resin Citybus
service vehicles are released
October
2003
A very quiet month, only the KMB Cars Workshop
Leyland Fleetline was released. News and photos of another bus crash in
Hong Kong. Another computer breakdown!
November
2003
You are invited to vote for your favourite
casting and favourite livery in a special 5th Anniversary competition.
5th5th5th5th5th5th5th5th5th5th5th5th
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