News - December 2013

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	*December 2013* *- News*
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Wishing you a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

The final news of the year is that Cars Workshop will release two versions of a 12-metre Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Olympian tomorrow. 3BL138 (DJ805) is the subject model - one version is on route 5 to Star Ferry (38805) whilst the other is on route 26 to Shun Tin (38806). Each is limited to 750 pieces and will retail for HK$348. New pages will be added in due course.

31st December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

The first bus to carry Year of the Horse decals was noted today and I am grateful to Philip Chan for sending me the above photograph. Kowloon Motor Bus has once again chosen Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL AVBWU16, which has previously been decorated with Year of the Dragon and Year of the Snake liveries.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Whilst the delivery of new ADL Enviro500NGs for Kowloon Motor Bus continues at pace, the new batch of Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs are arriving much more slowly, with AVBWU296 being one of only two registered in December. Noticeable is the new orange destination display.

Further details of all the latest vehicle registrations and retirements can be found at the Across website.

30th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Bobby Liu

Two Kowloon Motor Bus single-deckers in all-over advertising liveries are pictured above - ADL Enviro200 AAS4 carries that for O'Slee, a skincare product, whilst Caetano bodied Scania K230UB ASB16 carries that for RTHK advertising a new digital channel 31.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

My thanks to Philip Chan for sending me a selection of photographs taken earlier today at the VMS (Vehicle Model Studio) bus model show, which took place in the Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Further photographs have been added to the

section of the site.

I had to include that of Cityflyer Enviro500NG 8004 in Thai livery (my favourite livery at present) in the hope that such a model is released!

28th December 2013

Operator	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	Manufacturer	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013

Big Bus	0	0	0	2	0	52 Bus	1	3	0	0	0
China Motor Bus	3	0	1	0	2	80M Bus Model Shop	8	7	14	12	25
Citybus	3	1	3	4	9	Best Choose	3	0	1	0	4
Kowloon Motor Bus	15	26	37	32	45	Bus Factory	0	0	0	0	2
Long Win	2	2	1	0	1	Buses Model	2	1	1	7	2
MTR Bus	0	2	2	1	1	BusMe/T.680	0	0	0	2	0
New World First Bus	5	1	2	3	6	Cars Workshop	6	14	21	14	13
Chinese operators	2	9	0	0	2	Creative Master/Northcord Model	5	7	1	0	5
Japanese operators	3	1	0	0	0	Drumwell	9	6	4	10	13
Singapore operators	0	0	0	0	3	Model 1	0	0	0	0	4
Others	2	1	1	3	2	Model Bus Evolution	0	0	0	0	1
						Venus Collectibles	1	5	5	0	2
	35	43	47	45	71		35	43	47	45	71

With the end of the year fast approaching, a summary of models released this year and previous years is detailed above.

Set for release on 31st December is the the Model Bus Evolution St John liveried New World First Bus Dennis Dragon DA93 (MB113). On route 590 to Central it will be limited to 1,388 pieces.

One of my Christmas presents!

Transit Graphics has announced they are releasing a 1/76th scale resin models of the Australian Bustech CDi double-deck bus in two different liveries - details of the actual buses can be found in the

section of the site.

...... and finally, a photograph of a new casting of Hong Kong Tramway's 7th generation tram has appeared on a social networking site, this featuring Fossil all over advertising. No further details are known.

26th December 2013

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Once again my thanks to Philip Chan for sending me a photograph featuring three generations of Alexander bodied buses in the Long Win fleet. On the left is 114, a Dennis Trident with ALX500 bodywork new in January 1998, 8525, in the centre, is a Euro V engined Enviro500 new in May 2012, whilst on the right is 9502, a new generation Enviro500 registered just over a week ago.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Believed to be the only Cityflyer Enviro500NG to carry all-over advertising, 8004 is decorated in this attractive Thai Airways livery.

19th December 2013

Two Kowloon Motor Bus non air-con 12-metre Leyland Olympians are set for release on 18th January. The first is on route 5 to Star Ferry and the second on route 26 to Shun Tin. Each is limited to 750 pieces and the retail price increases to HK$348.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com

Not previously reported is the release earlier this month of these two Sunwin bodied Volvo B7RLEs from Northcord Model Co. cnbus0007 (top) is on route 71 whilst cnbus3004 is on route 112. Both are limited to 300 pieces.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

My thanks to regular contributor Philip Chan for sending me the above photograph of a new hybrid electric public light bus that is operating between Quarry Bay and Cyberport. Further details of this vehicle can be found at the Green Mobility Innovations website.

18th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com

Photographed earlier today is Citybus 8360, the latest standard liveried 12-metre Enviro500NG to be registered.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com

I was disappointed to learn that New World First Bus Neoplan Centroliner 6008 has lost its 'wave' livery, which I believe it has has adorned since new. It was spotted earlier today.

This bus was modelled way back in 2001 (DW10104) and is pictured above in 2011.

JRTeam have announced details of their 2013 Hong Kong Transport Yearbook, which again will be available in both hard and softback. Further details will be published when known.

17th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong

Kowloon Motor Bus Enviro500NG ATENU187 was spotted in service today, the same day that ATENU190-196 were registered.

16th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Bobby Liu

Citybus Enviro500NG no. 8331 has received this attractive all-over advertisement for Century Gateway 2, a new development in Tuen Mun.

Further images of the MTR Bus Enviro500NGs have now been added to the

section of the site.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Dennis Kit

The full line up of Kowloon Motor Bus 80th Anniversary models

15th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Bobby Liu

Further Alexander Dennis Enviro500NGs are the subject of tonight's brief update, these being for MTR Bus. My thanks to Bobby Liu for these and further photographs will be added when time allows.

I have today received a sample of the Model 1 Cityflyer liveried Enviro500NG (63302). and a quick snap (with larger clickable image) is shown above. Further photographs will be added shortly.

13th December 2013

Following yesterdays unconfirmed report on the release of two further Citybus liveried Enviro500NGs, I can now confirm this, however, the standard liveried example will be on route 19 and not the 8X.

My thanks to regular contributors Donald MacRae and Keith Wood for providing the photographs below showing a standard liveried Citybus Enviro500NG on route 19, the basis of a future model (see above), and Long Win Enviro500 8534, the subject of a recently issued model (39422).

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Keith Wood

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Donald MacRae

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Kenneth Kai

I am pleased to be able to post this photograph of an 'Angry Bird' decorated New World First Bus Dennis Trident, the work of what I believe to be one of the youngest visitors to my site, Kenneth Kai aged just 6!

12th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Doug Stirling-Stewart

My thanks to Doug Stirling-Stewart for allowing me to use his photographs of one of the new Model 1 Citybus Enviro500NGs - one of the first to arrive in the UK. Larger images have been added to the model page (63301).

I have received an unconfirmed report that a further Cityflyer model, on route A29, is planned for next year along with a standard liveried example on route 8X.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Grant Ng Kwok Kuen

My thanks to Grant Ng Kwok Kuen and Vincent Chong for sending me a selection of images of the new Long Win Enviro500NGs which have just entered service. Further photographs have tonight been added to the

section of the site.

11th December 2013

Following yesterdays problems accessing my site, my web-hosting company will shortly be carrying out work to transfer it to
a different server. I am told the process may take up to 4 hours but have not been advised when it will take place.
As a result, access to the site may be affected over the next few days for which I apologise.

This work has now been completed - 2045hrs GMT

9th December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

Photographs have now been received of the final KMB 80th Anniversary model to be released, Cars Workshop Enviro500 ATEU5 on route 68X to Hung Shui Kiu (Hung Yuen Road) (39423). Limited to 1,288 pieces, a new page has now been added.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

Also due for release in Hong Kong tomorrow is this Cars Workshop Long Win Enviro500 (39422). Fleet no. 8534 is on route S1 with a destination of Airport (PTB). It is limited to 1,250 pieces.

Problems with my web-hosting company have meant the site has been unavailable for much of the morning - at present (1330hrs GMT) all appears to be back to normal.

8th December 2013

In addition to the final KMB 80th Anniversary model being released on Monday is this Long Win liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro500.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Bobby Liu

Whilst on the subject of Long Win, the Across website confirms that their first Enviro500NG (fleet no. 9501) was registered yesterday. It was spotted today operating as a staff bus.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Megabus13601

My thanks to Chris Martin for sending me a couple of photographs of two former 10.4 metre Citybus Olympians, nos. 207 and 227, now operating for Wheelers of Southampton. More images can be found on Chris's Flickr site, Megabus13601.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of WH Bac

Thanks also to WH Bac for sending me a couple of photographs of some the latest 11.3 metre Enviro500NG to enter service with Citybus, namely 9142 (top) and 9143.

7th December 2013

I am reliably informed that all eight Kowloon Motor Bus 80th anniversary models are to be re-issued in early 2014, each being limited to 888 pieces and all on route 2 with a destination of Star Ferry.

VMS (Vehicle Model Studio) have announced that they will be a Bus Model Exhibition and Bus Model creative competition at the end of December . The above poster gives details and a larger image is available by clicking on the image. Details are as follows:-

Date: Saturday 28th December 2013
Time: 1200hrs - 1830hrs
Venue: Sheung Wan Civic Centre 6/F
Admission: Free

6th December 2013

Nelson Mandela

18th July 1918 - 5th December 2013

The final Kowloon Motor Bus 80th Anniversary model is set to be released on Monday 9th December and features Alexander Dennis Enviro500 ATEU5 in the livery originally applied to the unique air-conditioned MCW Metrobus S3M145 (DP1932).

4th December 2013

EXCLUSIVE

I am pleased to provide exclusive details of a new model planned for release later this month from MBE. It features New World First Bus Dennis Dragon DA93 in an all-over St John livery, being authorised by both New World First Bus and St John. On route 590 to Central it will be limited to 1,388 pieces and has the product code of MB113 (NWFB 20044).

It is reported that around 400 people visited the Network Shuttle shop yesterday to purchase the new Cityflyer models and and only a few models were actually sold. Selling was subsequently suspended. It is believed that Network Shuttle loyalty members with over 100 points (believed to be a spend of over HK$1,000) are being invited at set times to purchase their models. Whilst the models now appear on their website, when attempting to add the model to the cart, the message 'no stock' appears, although I understand that at some point today, purchases were possible.

3rd December 2013

New pages have now been added for the two Cityflyer 'new generation' Enviro500s from Model 1, planned for release in Hong Kong today, although I am unable to confirm if their release took place. Fleet no 8001 is on route A11 to Airport (63301) with a quantity of 1,100 and 8002 is on route A21 to Hung Hom MTR Station (63302), this having a quantity of 1,200. Orders for both models are believed to be oversubscribed.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of David Howlett

My thanks to David Howlett for not only sending me the above photograph of the Bus Terminus at Shek O, but also pointing out that in September the building received a higher listed status. Full details and further photographs have been added to the

section of the site.

2nd December 2013

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Gary Chow

Detour was conceived in 2004 as a collateral series of events running in parallel with the Business of Design Week and since then it has become an annual flagship programme showcasing Hong Kong as a regional creative hub and featuring inspiring designs from Hong Kong’s young and emerging creative talents. Detour consists of a series of events and programmes incorporating the most original, bold and stimulating ideas from both Hong Kong and across the globe. It created a knowledge network of young talents, emerging designers/artists, local as well as international, to exchange ideas and experiences. This is designed to engage the larger population and let the entire city come together to celebrate the creative ventures around town.

Four years ago a beach was created, a surprising and improvised public space praised by the community and media. Subsequently held in an old prison and a police station, the annual design extravaganza continued the formula of historic building adaptation. In 2013, Detour will find its new identity as a city-wide campaign further proliferating design is part of our daily life. Escaping from a single contained site of interest, Detour 2013 will deploy creativity upon our public transport system and infrastructure, including the transformation of a fleet of trams that would connect very different locations and microtopias of our city.

As a result, four trams are participating in the project and a new page has today been added to the

section of the site. My thanks to Philip Chan and Gary Chow for providing the information and news..

1st December 2013

	*December 2013 - News*
Previous month's News	To find a specific month's News, click here	Next month's News

[diecast models] - [information] - [links] - [news] - [plastic models] - [resin models] - [trams] - [xtra]

This page last updated Monday, 30th December 2013