Model
Review
by William Ng
Drumwell’s latest KMB Volvo Super Olympian
is in my opinion its best model to date. In fact, Drumwell’s version of
the Super Olympian, to me, even surpasses Creative Master Northcord’s already
very good casting. And, the Drumwell model is just as, if not more, superb
as its most recent NWFB “Wave” liveried Neoplan Centroliner.
The casting of the ALX500 body is ultra sharp,
with every outer rivet, grille, ridge, and panel faithfully reproduced.
Even the ridged slats above the entrance and exit doors are impressively
sharp. The overall shape and “look” of the model is incredibly proper and
realistic, while the champagne/gold colour is highly finished, bright and
robust. Drumwell has not missed the slight difference in the shape of the
upper front profile of the Super Olympian and the ALX500 Dennis Trident.
On the front face, the glass effect of the electronic destination board
is reproduced, though the destination information is a bit on the dark
side. However, the windscreen wipers are moulded, as expected nowadays,
the rear-view mirrors appear to be on scale, and the headlamps and front
marker lights are clear-lensed rather than painted on. From the sides,
the lower and upper saloon bonded-glazed windows are smooth and accurate.
The side destination box is inside the bus. The emergency door, emergency
stop button, and fuel door is properly done. On the back, the glass effect
is once again reproduced on the route number indicator. The a/c grille
is sharply done. While the rear lights and repeater lights are painted,
they are sharp and prominent.
On the inside, most significant perhaps is
that the ugly metal poles are gone! Personally, those poles really downgrade
the realism of these great 1:76 models. Both the lower and upper saloons
have full ceilings with the a/c grilles picked out in black, similar to
those on the CM Northcord Super Olympian. The driver’s compartment is of
dark-grey, moulded fibreglass and the instrument panel has printed instruments.
Fare box and Octopus card reader and equipment are picked out in accurate
colours. The front grab rail on the upper saloon is moulded – no surprise
here – but in a new twist, the rails behind the entrance and exit
doors are also full mouldings and not printings on the glazing (!), though
both are on the darker side of the proper yellow colour. As far as the
seating goes, while the light pink colour still leaves a little to be desired,
their shape and height are accurate and their thickness is of the correct
scale.
As for the livery and graphics, they are
truly superb. In comparisons with photos of the actual Alexander 3000th,
Drumwell has picked them out dead-on. While the livery isn’t as complex
as past others, effort is needed to make sure the various “3000” emblems
are in their correct positions. Especially nice are the “Alexander Mayflower
and Coach” tampo prints on the windows on both bus sides and the green
and yellow “3000”s below the front windscreen and front bumper that
are accurately “trimmed off.” My only minor gripe – and very minor, at
that – is that the famous “KMB” logos are a bit large compared to the 1:1,
hence there is a lack off “gold” space between with the bottom edge of
the upper saloon window.
Now, if Drumwell can attempt the standing
yellow grab rails in their future models, which Collector’s Model does
quite well…
However, I believe wholeheartedly that this
Drumwell is a new trendsetting model that’s certainly a must-have. Personally,
this model brings the added joy of the memory of seeing the actual 3000th
bus this past April in Wan Chai, HK, during my holiday.
11th
October 2001
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