The model
- this model was announced in a Press Release from Creative Master
Northcord
on 10th April 2006 with an anticipated release date of July
2006.
CREATIVE MASTER
NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
Date: 15th September
2006.
Creative Master
Northcord Limited is proud
to release the South West Trains livery on its well-known 11-metre,
tri-axle
Leyland Olympian /Alexander R-type coach model. The model represents
Stagecoach
South 13640 (G283 YRJ) in South West Trains livery. The bus itself has
a long service history in different fleets and liveries. Delivered new
to Hong Kong as Citybus 113, this Alexander-bodied 11-metre Leyland
Olympian
coach was numbered 13640 by Stagecoach when she returned to the UK in
2003
to operate services for Megabus.com. Retired from Megabus.com service
in
December 2005, 13640 is one of six converted with luggage and cycle
racks
for the Rail Support Unit operated by Stagecoach South on behalf of
sister
company South West Trains, whilst still retaining the WC and Air
Conditioning.
Additionally, the buses are specially painted in South West Trains
livery
in accordance with the agreement. 13640 can often be seen operating
across
the SWT rail network during engineering works at weekends or late at
night.
This early
version of the 11-metre Alexander
coach differs somewhat from its sister vehicles, most evidently by
having
gasket-glazed windows fitted instead of the more modern-looking bonded
type seen on most of the Olympians returned to the UK by Stagecoach.
As on the previous
successful hkbus 2000
series models produced by CMNL, hkbus 2008 has many innovative designs
on the tooling, some of which are seen for the first time on a CMNL
double-deck
model – including the specially designed luggage and cycle racks. This
replica features further excellent detailing, inside and out, including
all handrails on board and detailed, individual air-vents above the
seats.
Of note is the improved upper-deck ceiling detail that features the
correct
colours of the prototype coach. The most remarkable accuracy is seen on
the front dome that represents this feature of the Alexander R type
bodywork.
Once again, this is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate
the
windows and livery application. The model has no ugly metal poles to
hold
it together. The hkbus 2008 model is limited to 1700 pieces worldwide.
They will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Concorde
Hobby Shop (HK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Transit Graphics
(Australia).
------The
World’s Miniature Bus Co.
The bus
- Citybus ordered 12 Alexander bodied 11-metre Leyland Olympian
air-conditioned
coaches in 1988. These were delivered in 1989 and featured coach seats,
soft trim and curtains. These coaches were used on the cross-border
service
to Shenzhen as well as residential commuter routes. Windows were of the
gasket type, with radiused corners. Further orders were placed, and
these
later batches are easily identified by their bonded windows.
In 2003, several
of these vehicles returned
to the UK where they entered service with Stagecoach on Megabus and
Magic
Bus services.
13640 is one of
several vehicles operated
by Stagecoach Hampshire Bus and carries South West Trains (also part of
the Stagecoach Group ) livery for use on rail replacement services.
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