News - April 2021

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	*April 2021* *- News*
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My thanks to Ying Hang Tin for allowing me to share his photograph of a three-door ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 bound for Singapore but paying a visit to Hong Kong en route.

30th April 2021

Released today in Hong Kong are the two New World First Bus Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8Ls from Model 1. Fleet no. 5230 (WN2615) is on route 8P to Causeway Bay (63621/20093) (top) whilst fleet no. 5232 (WN4282) is on route 682 to Wu Kai Sha (63622/20094). Each is limited to 1,168 pieces.

29th April 2021

Set for release in Hong Kong tomorrow is this Tiny 1/110 scale Leyland Victory Mk 2 in China Motor Bus livery. LV30 (CH5001) is on route 9 with a destination of Shek O / Shau Ki Wan (Box 65/ATC65117).

Continuing with Tiny 1/110 models, now available to pre-order is Kowloon Motor Bus ADL Enviro400 ATSE1 (PC4053) (KMB2021052).

Two further previously unrecorded resin models have now been added to the site. These are two versions of a Kowloon Motor Bus liveried 11 metre Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Dragon - one features S3N363 on route 16 and the other S3N343 on route 30X. Both were produced by P&T Model and issued, I believe, in November or December 2012. Just follow the link for further details (B0041). My thanks to DKWC for providing this information and photographs.

I am presently carrying out work on the resin models section of the site, which may result in some links not working as they should. The appearance of some tables may also be affected.

27th April 2021

Citybus registered twelve new buses last week, these being eleven 12 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s and one Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L, in readiness for the launch today of four new cross harbour tunnel express routes, known as the Island East Express.

8556 (XG7220) was noted in service on route 686 which operates between Sai Wan Ho and Tai Wai.
8824 (XG7892) was operating between Sai Wan Ho and Tsuen Wan West Station on route 933
8549 (XG8298) was spotted in service on route 989 which operates between Sai Wan Ho and Fo Tan
Finally, route 976 operates between Sai Wan Ho and San Tin.

In my News update for 30th January I featured the arrival of Wrights Streetdeck for Sun Bus along with the departure from Hong Kong of former Citybus lowheight 10.3 metre Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Trident 893, which was originally New World First Bus 3353. The above photograph shows the latter basking in the sunshine in New Zealand.

This Tiny 1/110 scale Long Win Bus 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 is set for release on 28th April (KMB2020101).

My thanks to West Dan for providing a full set of photographs for the recently released Tiny 1/43 Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 and these have now been added to the relevant page - just follow this link (KMB2020074).

26th April 2021

I can confirm that the Tiny 1/110 model featured in yesterday's news has been released, as pictured above (KMB2020114).

Not only have I received information that was listed as missing in the 'Help Needed' page that I recently created, but I have also received information of this Chubb liveried Peak Horse tram, thanks to Steve from Steve's World of Trams. I can now confirm the tram was issued in 2006 and was limited to 300 pieces. Further photographs have been added to the relevant page.

In yesterday's update, I made mention of the Concorde Hobby Shop resin Kowloon Motor Bus Albion Victor VT17AL that I had not previously recorded (C001). Late yesterday evening I received an e-mail from John Bennett confirming this model was in his collection, along with the 312 Model of China Motor Bus Longwell Green bodied Guy Arab Mk IV (005) that had been on my 'Help Needed' list, and today photographs of both arrived!

Today was the final day of franchised bus operation for the Dennis Trident in Hong Kong. Seen earlier today was Kowloon Motor Bus ATR392 (KZ2356), first registered on 25th April 2003, whilst on the right is former Long Win Bus Enviro500, now numbered ATEU40 in the KMB fleet.

24th April 2021

Another new Tiny 1/110 scale model is this route 98 branded Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L, featuring V6B153 (WU4676) with a destination of Lohas Express. This is a 'Limited Edition' release and the product code is presently unknown.

In my quest to find information missing from the various model lists, I have, to-date, come across two previously unrecorded models!

The first is this resin model from Concorde Hobby Shop dating from, I believe, December 2000. It features a Kowloon Motor Bus liveried Albion Victor VT17AL with BACo bodywork. I believe it came with a choice of registration numbers and route/destination details (C001). The quantity is presently unconfirmed, but I believe it to be 300 pieces.

The second is a little more recent, being a diecast release from November 2019. This is one of two unlicensed releases of Kowloon Motor Bus Gemilang bodied MAN A95 AMNE1 (TP1095) from BMCU. That already recorded is on route 52X (BMCU52X) whilst this version is on route 61X (BMCU61X). I believe this version may have a choice of destinations - the above image shows 'Kowloon City Ferry', but I have also been advised 'Tuen Mun Central' also appears on some examples.

23rd April 2021

Released today is this Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus 'Heartbeat of the City' Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL. It features AVBWU614 (UY6077) on route 16 with a destination of via Kwun Tong (Box 119/KMB2020108).

Continuing with Tiny news, the above two models are now available to pre-order. The top photograph shows Crystal Bus Gemilang bodied MAN A95 GE8888 (Box 49/ATC65245) whilst the bottom photograph shows Coca Cola liveried Daimler Fleetline on route 86 (COKE032).

21st April 2021

The above three Kowloon Motor Bus models from 80M Bus Model have been released today in Hong Kong.

From left to right, they are :-

ADL 12.8 metre 'facelift' Enviro500 E6X132 (WW4016) in white Bruce Lee 80th anniversary livery on route 27 to Mong Kok - 500 pcs (KMB2020146).

Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L V6B152 (WU4132) in standard red livery with route 98 branding on route 98 with a destination of Lohas Express - 700 pcs (KMB2020147).

Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L V6B158 (WZ8885) in standard red livery on route 680X to Wu Kai Sha Station - 700 pcs (KMB2020148).

Released on Friday was the 1/43 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 from Tiny featuring G135 (CE4429) on route 32 to Shek Wai Kok (KMB2020074).

I am pleased to report that the number of outstanding model queries has been reduced to just 12 - thanks to all those that have provided information.

19th April 2021

Not only am I receiving various details that are missing from my model lists, but today I have received details of a missing model🤣.

I first reported the existence of a second Principal Insurance liveried Duple Metsec Dennis Dragon from Collector's Model back in June 2006. Thanks to DKWC, I can provide full details with photographs, and these have now been added to a new page using an assumed model number of DA109B.

First registered on Friday (16th) were these two Kowloon Motor Bus 12.8 metre MCV bodied Volvo B8Ls - the top photograph shows V6X82 (XG4552) and the bottom photograph V6X83 (XG5729).

18th April 2021

Confirmation of yesterday's news and now available for pre-order on the Network Shuttle website is the New Lantao Bus 'Year of the Ox' ADL 'facelift' Enviro400 (63378). A new page will be added shortly.

Thanks to Peter Harrison and Dennis KW Chau for providing information that has again reduced the number of models that information is missing.

16th April 2021

Model 1 are to release a model of the New Lantao Bus 'Year of the Ox' liveried ADL Enviro400 AD07 (VR2286) on route 3M (63378).

I have now updated the above page of the site which lists those models which are missing various pieces of information. This list currently stands at just 20 models. I would welcome any assistance in trying to reduce this number, so perhaps you could take a look and e-mail me if you can help, alternatively, please contact me via the site's Facebook page. Just click on the image for a direct link.

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

A minor alteration to the 'links' bar on this page (and a few others), sees the removal of 'home' and a slight increase in font size. Hopefully, this will not cause any adverse appearance to desktop users but will slightly improve the appearance for mobile/tablet users. If you experience any problems or wish to comment, please e-mail me.

15th April 2021

Three new 1/76 scale Kowloon Motor Bus models have been announced today, these being:-

ADL 12.8 metre 'facelift' Enviro500 E6X132 (WW4016) in white Bruce Lee 80th anniversary livery on route 27 to Mong Kok - 500 pcs (KMB2020146).

Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L V6B152 (WU4132) in standard red livery with route 98 branding on route 98 with a destination of Lohas Express - 700 pcs (KMB2020147).

Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L V6B158 (WZ8885) in standard red livery on route 680X to Wu Kai Sha Station - 700 pcs (KMB2020148).

Finally, for today, further details of the Tiny 1/43 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2. This features G135 (CE4429) on route 32 to Shek Wai Kok (KMB2020074).

This Tiny 1/110 scale China Motor Bus Daimler Fleetline is now on sale. It features XF174 (DA1753) on route 61 to Repulse Bay (Box 173 / ATC64828).

Further details of Tiny's 'Shop theft is a crime' liveried China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 are now known - it features LV68 (CK5989) on route 4 to Wah Fu (Box 142/ATC65256).

All the images in today's update are 'clickable'.

13th April 2021

My thanks to regular contributor Grant Ng Kwok Kuen for sending me photographs of KMB's 88th anniversary liveried ADL Enviro500, which is confirmed as being ATENU997 (UB7843). Appropriately, it was noted earlier today operating on route 88. A new page, with further photographs, has been added to the Xtra section of the site.

10th April 2021

9th April 2021

This 1/76 scale BYD eBus is available only to BYD staff - my thanks to Jacky Ho for sending me photographs, more of which have been added to the following page (BYD1). There is no indication as to the manufacturer of the model.

Kowloon Motor Bus has today unveiled its 88th anniversary livery. No doubt a model will follow in due course, however, I doubt it will have an illuminated KMB logo!

8th April 2021

Released 20 years ago today, and one of my favourite castings, is this China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V 'Long Dragon' from ABC Models. See more here.

6th April 2021

NP Model has released a further champagne liveried Neoplan Centroliner model, this featuring AP142 (KR4350) on route 2A to Lok Wah (NP1024). A new page will be added shortly.

Citybus arranged for 'retro' liveried 11.3 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s 9149 and 9150 to operate New Territories Cross Harbour Tunnel Routes over the Easter holiday period (2nd - 6th April). The above photographs were taken yesterday. Of course, these two buses are to be modelled by Model 1.

The above table forms part of the Tiny index page and details, as far as I am aware, the company's 1/43 scale diecast releases. However, I believe that some of the public light buses included in this list may have actually been resin models. Any help in confirming whether this is the case, or not, would be welcome - please e-mail me or post a response on the site's Facebook page.

4th April 2021

Citybus Enviro500 8207 has been transferred to the non-franchise fleet and has also received a new registration, changing from RL2513 to AC4764. This new registration was originally carried by a China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V, later re-numbered S25, which was subsequently converted to a recovery truck. It was then transferred to New World First Bus Volvo 'Super' Olympian 5085, which became Citybus 254 when the bus was transferred to Citybus - phew!!

I am presently carrying out work on the 'Tiny' page, consequently, this page may be offline for short periods.

3rd April 2021

Once again it is Tiny models that dominate today's update.

First is news of a further 1/43 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk2. This features G135 (CE4429) in a cream over red livery and is on route 32 to Shek Wai Kok (KMB2020074).

I mentioned this model on 31st March and can now provide further details. Kowloon Motor Bus Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Dragon 3N111 (DJ8066) carries all-over advertising for 'Television Magazine' and is on route 1A with a destination of Star Ferry (KMB2020105).

Some new 1/110 scale buses are under development by Tiny. My thanks to Tony Leung for sending me the above photographs.

My thanks to Network Shuttle for providing photographs of the specially commissioned Weisen U ADL Enviro500NG, issued back in 2017 (63314).

2nd April 2021

Photographs of the three Kowloon Motor Bus models released yesterday have now been added, thanks to 80M Bus Model Shop, just click on any of the above images..

My thanks to HKTransportNews for enlightening me on the reasoning behind the route numbers chosen by Tiny for their four 1/110 scale Bruce Lee 80th anniversary models. The explanation is as follows (order corrected from 1st April):-

the first release, in a yellow livery, is on route 80 - the number of years since his birth
the second release, in a black livery, is on route 11 - the month of his birth
the third release, in a red livery, is on route 40 - the year of his birth
the latest release, in a white livery, is on route 27 - the day of his birth

1st April 2021

	*April 2021* *- 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]

Page updated Friday, 30th April 2021