ABC Models will be issuing ML2, CMB's unique three door Metrobus, along with an MCW Metrorider, and I hope to be able to bring you the first pictures of the Metrobus shortly.

Photograph courtesy of World of Diecast

Above is the first photograph of ABC's new "Long Dragon" expected to be released in February.
 

Photograph courtesy of World of Diecast

Do you have one of these? This is a pre-production sample of Corgi's 43209 of which there are believed to be only 24 in existence!!

LE 0105- CMB LF108 set with small lorry and new accessories. (700 pcs only)
LE 0106A - Gold
LE 0106B - Chrome - Both plated models of a new casting - the front engined AV class (long
version)  featuring engraved SNAKE on the roof - a Souvenir for the Year 2001. (1,000 of each finish)

Gold Volvo Ailsa
Photograph courtesy of Jotus Model Depot

Photograph courtesy of Jotus Model Depot

ABC Models are to release, on Monday 22nd January, a gold and a chrome Volvo Ailsa (1,000 pieces each) to celebrate the Year of the Snake together with a special LF box set (700 pieces). Further details will appear shortly.

The February - March edition of Model Buses is now on sale.

The "Ocean Park" Victory, based on the Collector's Model casting, is in fact a complete Code 3 model (not a kit) from a company called OEM. This model is now available in the UK.  My thanks to Garry of Rotherham Model World for news of this model's UK release.

Photograph courtesy of Denis Law

The first photographs of Citybus's Year of the Dragon livery as applied to MAN/Volgren 2500 appears above. 

Photograph courtesy of 80M Bus Model Shop

   

Photograph courtesy of
80M Bus Model Shop

New World First Bus have just announced that they will be issuing the "Snake Bus of Bliss" model on  20th January. The Alexander ALX500 bodied Trident (Model No. 20006) is limited to 3,888 pieces, and the key associated with the opening of the engine compartment can also be used to completely dismantle the model !! 

Photograph courtesy of
World of Diecast

The Hong Kong Buses Yearbook 2001 has just been published in Hong Kong. As usual the publication of this book brings together many of the main stories concerning Hong Kong Bus Operators. Of interest to UK Bus Fans are 3 articles about former Hong Kong buses in the UK. Thus, buses such as the Oxford Bus Museum AEC Regent, Scottish Bus Museum Leyland Victory and Leyland Fleetline SF31 are covered. The articles also examine the recent imports of 1990s buses which have been returned to the UK by Stagecoach, FirstBus and Ensignbus.  I have also received some photographs of the book, which I will upload to the Books section over the weekend. 

Photograph courtesy of Jotus Model Depot

The second model from Cars Workshop is due for release in Hong Kong soon. It represents AEC Regent Mk V A165 of the Kowloon Motor Bus fleet (38101). The first release, the KMB Daimler "D" (38001) was the winner of this site's "Favourite Model of 2000" competition.

Those of you enquiring about the availability, in the UK, of the Citybus MAN, due for release in Hong Kong shortly, will be pleased to know that it is expected that a quantity of around 1,000 will be made available here.

Photograph courtesy of World of Diecast

Citybus news dominates this update, with the Corgi MAN scheduled for release in February. The model is expected to come with a CD-ROM containing the history of Citybus and including a massive amount of information and photographs not previously seen before. The actual vehicle is due to appear in the Year of the Snake livery on Sunday, and is is hoped that this livery will be applied to the model for a second release, possibly in March/April.

The Cityflyer livery will appear on the Corgi Trident/Alexander model.

80M Bus Model Shops have just announced the opening of a new shop Tsim Sha Tsui East.  The shop features two "real", scale 1:1, Citybus hoods, with one facing the streets and the other inside, as shown in the photograph above.