News - May 2021

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

	*May 2021* *- News*
Previous month's News	To find a specific month's News, click here	Next month's News

Further details of the three New World First Bus 'wave' liveried Neoplan Centroliners from NP Model are as follows:- 6008 on route 720 to Aldrich Bay (XB001), 6018 on route 694 to Tseung Kwan O (XB002), and 6008 on route 2x with a destination of Shau Kei Wan Express (XB003). Each of these unlicenced models is limited to 200 pieces and new pages for each have now been added.

30th May 2021

As many of you may have guessed, I have an affection for the Shek O Bus Terminus and these recent photographs, taken by Henry Chow, show the building particularly well, especially with the absence of any buses! The building is now around 66 years old and certainly is starting to look its age. Henry's photographs have now been added to the Xtra section of the site.

It looks like there are a few more Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus three-door Dennis Dragons to come!

29th May 2021

Spotted back in the UK at a bus dealer's yard is the Wrightbus Streetdeck that was trialled by Kowloon Motor Bus. My thanks to Liam Foale for allowing me to share his photographs, more of which have been added to the XTRA section of the site.

The classic 1989 burgundy Peak Tram will retire on June 28 for a renovation plan

Since its inception in 1888, the Peak Tram has become an iconic symbol of Hong Kong’s heritage. It's one of the most visited and photographed sights in the city, frequented by people wishing to enjoy some respite in this fast-paced environment and stellar views of Hong Kong’s skyline.

And now, the Peak Tram, which is currently running its fifth generation of classic 1989 burgundy carriages, will retire on June 28 and undergo an upgrade project to reveal a fresh new look after six months. The renovation plan, which is expected to cost around HK$700 million, according to the Peak Tramways Company, will involve plans to replace the current capacity from 120 to 210 passengers, the inclusion of new control systems and track trails, as well as improved track foundations and bridges to offer visitors a more comfortable, entertaining travel experience.

28th May 2021

Most impressed with the 1/43 scale 12.8 metre Kowloon Motor Bus ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 which arrived safe and well today, thanks to Jotus.com. The above photograph shows, from front to back, Tiny 1/110 scale, 80M Bus Model 1/76 scale and 80M Bus Model 1/43 scale.

Alexander Dennis has posted the above image on their Facebook page, with the following text:-

"Our three-door, two-staircase Enviro500 for Singapore's Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving are yet to enter service, but thanks to a Hong Kong bus enthusiast's LEGO building skills, the type has already made its debut in small scale, joining a series of amazing models: https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=160610 "

26th May 2021

NP Model is to release three versions of a New World First Bus liveried Neoplan Centroliner. They feature 6008 on route 720 to Aldrich Bay, 6018 on route 694 to Tseung Kwan O, and 6008 on route 2x with a destination of Shau Kei Wan Express. These are unlicenced models and therefore carry no fleetnames or logos - the above images are 'clickable'.

25th May 2021

Released today in Hong Kong are the champagne liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro500 featuring ATE1 (KX675) on route 280X to Fo Tan (Sui Wo Court) (KMB2020143) and the Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL with Bruce Lee 80th anniversary decals features AVBWU715 (VD5513) on route 101 to Kennedy Town (KMB2020149).

Also available today from 7-Eleven stores is this Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Duple Metsec Dennis Dragon 3N171 (DK5310) on route 44M to Kwai Hing MTR Station (KMB2021064).

As promised yesterday, photographs of KMB's latest 11.3 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 have now been added to the Xtra section of the site - just click on the link or the above image.

24th May 2021

The site was off-line overnight following a problem with my web-hosting company - all appears to be OK again this morning.

My thanks to Ernest Chang for sending me a selection of photographs of Tiny's Citigold liveried bus model. These confirm no product number is displayed on the box, Thanks also to Philip Chan for clarifying that these models were available free to those customers who completed a questionnaire in the company's branches. I understand that these have now 'sold out'.

Vehicle Model Studio has released three mini bus manufacturers key chains and phone cords, as pictured above. They feature Leyland, Transbus International and Dennis.
A set of all three key chains/phone cords retails for HK$100 or an individual key chain/phone cord retails for HK$40. Customers can order on their Facebook page.

Parked at Citybus's Ocean Park Depot are several unregistered 11.3 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s, including nos. 9151-9157.

A new page has tonight been added to the Xtra section of the site featuring the new 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s of Long Win Bus.

Kowloon Motor Bus has recently registered three new 11.3 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s and pictured above is the first of these, E6M101 (XH8907). Further photographs, including interior shots, will be added tomorrow.

23rd May 2021

Now listed on the 80M Bus Model Shop website are the above two Kowloon Motor Bus models, first mentioned below (see News 14th May).

The champagne liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro500 features ATE1 (KX675) on route 280X to Fo Tan (Sui Wo Court) (KMB2020143). The Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL with Bruce Lee 80th anniversary decals features AVBWU715 (VD5513) on route 101 Kennedy Town (KMB2020149).

New pages and further photographs have now been added.

Believed to have been released today is this unlicensed 1/110 scale Citybus liveried Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L (Box L28 / ATC65193). It features fleet no. 8821 (WV5040) with a destination that reads 'Route Training'.

Continuing with Tiny 1/110 models, this Citigold liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro500 is being offered free to Citigold customers. The registration number reads 'CITIGOLD' as does the destination.

20th May 2021

Available at Tiny's online store from today is this 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL AVBWU680 (VC4277) on route 272A with a destination of Pak Shek Kok (Box 120 / KMB2020107).

Also available is this 12 metre Kowloon Motor Bus ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 featuring ATENU1468 (VM6184) on route 601 to Admiralty (East) (Box 99 / KMB2020110).

19th May 2021

Thanks to those of you who have either emailed me or posted a response on the site's Facebook page giving details of the Tiny 1/110 scale Long Win Bus featured in yesterday's news (KMB2020127).

This model was first released on 1st January 2021 as part of KMB's 'Lunar New Year Lucky Bag'. Subsequently in early April, coinciding with the 18th HK Mega Showcase in Wan Chai, it was available only online, but this time bundled with different models. It carries no fleet number or registration and the destination reads 'Cabin clean, anti-flu'.

18th May 2021

HELP NEEDED!

Can anyone provide information on this Long Win Bus 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500, believed to have been an 'online only' release and issued back in February?

17th May 2021

Featured for the second time in just four days is Kowloon Motor Bus Enviro500 ATEE6 (PV7003), formerly Long Win Bus 8501, which has now had the KMB logo between decks removed!

Kowloon Motor Bus Wrights Gemini bodied Volvo Super Olympian AVW41 (LM1840) is one of a number of this type to be retired by the company.

16th May 2021

Included in Tiny's 2021 catalogue and now available is this 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Mercedes-Benz O.305 with 'The Samaritans' all-over advertising. Whilst the actual bus featured ME19 (DF9520), I am reliably informed this model carries an incorrect fleet/registration number of ME5 (DF6548). It is on route 76K to Wah Ming Estate (KMB2020106).

My thanks to Wai Chi Yip for allowing me to share his photograph of Kowloon Motor Bus ATEU37 in its new red livery and as detailed in yesterday's news.

15th May 2021

The KMB Shop website lists three new models which are available for pre-order. First is this Alexander Dennis champagne liveried Enviro500 featuring ATE1 (KX675) on route 280X (KMB2020143).

Second is the Bruce Lee 80th Anniversary liveried Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL AVBWU715 (VD5513) on route 101 Kennedy Town.

And finally, the final Bruce Lee 80th Anniversary liveried model, being 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 E6X132 (WW4016) on route 27 (this already shows as being out of stock!).

Surprisingly, Kowloon Motor Bus has repainted a former Long Win Bus Alexander Dennis Enviro500 into all-over red livery. ATEU37 (NV966) was originally Long Win Bus 8401.

14th May 2021

Cars Workshop have today released two versions of a single-door China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V - LX6 (AC4703) on route 85 to A Kung Ngam (97005) and LX159 (AD4552) on route 1 to Happy Valley (97006). Each is limited to 400 pieces.

13th May 2021

Exactly 10 years after being first registered (11th May 2011), Long Win Bus ADL Enviro500 8501 (PV7003) become Kowloon Motor Bus ATEE6. It was noted today serving around University Station on routes 87K, 87S and 272K. As seen in the above photograph, as well as a KMB logo being applied to the front lower panel, logos have also been applied on the sides, half over the orange and half over the white! The destination display is a little confusing and a temporary route number/destination is displayed on a board in the front windscreen.

My thanks to regular contributor Bobby Liu for allowing me to share the above photographs showing two of Long Win Bus's new 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s, UE6X4 (XH3105) and UE6X5 (XH3062).

12th May 2021

According to social media, Kowloon Motor Bus AVD1 (MF5119), the last Volgren bodied bus in the fleet, has been retired. This was the prototype Volvo B9TL and arrived in July 2003, originally being registered LJ7006. Pictured above is the first release of the model, in December 2006 (39502), which was followed by a bare metal and white releases in 2007, and finally the attractive Captain KMB all over livery in August 2011 (shown below), which I have regretted not buying ever since!

More Tiny news - now available for pre-order is this 1/110 scale model of Kowloon Motor Bus Dennis Trident ATR1 (HJ2127) on route 1A (Box 127 / KMB2021063).

11th May 2021

Set for release shortly is this Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus 12 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500. This model is being issued in conjunction with 7-Eleven. It features ATENU1642 (VT3221) on route 60X with a destination of 'via Tuen Mun Road Interchange' (KMB2020087). It carries advertising for KMB's Monthly Pass.

Announced back on 15th December last year and set for release shortly is this Kowloon Motor Bus 12.8 metre 'glass staircase' ADL 'facelift' Enviro500, which features E6X18 (WH4416) on route 258P with a destination of Lam Tin Station (Box 98 / KMB2020128).

10th May 2021

This weekend saw Kowloon Motor Bus operate at least two MAN A95s, AMNE1 and AMNF3, on southeast New Territories routes - this type normally operating on northwest New Territories routes. This change has attracted huge interest from local bus enthusiasts, with social media reflecting that interest!

9th May 2021

Released ten years ago today was this Kowloon Motor Bus 'baby' Dragon - how time flies! (92502)

Kowloon Motor Bus has invited tenders for the supply of up to 43 units of Completely Built Up (CBU) Electric Air-conditioned Double Deck Bus with carrying capacity of not less than 115 passengers for franchised operations in Hong Kong.

Long Win Bus UE6X3 (XH4232) parked at Tuen Mun South Depot.

7th May 2021

My thanks to Tsz Hin Ho and Steve Walsh for advising that the above Tiny 1/110 scale Citybus Enviro500, first announced back in September last year, has been released in Hong Kong today (Box L15/ ATC64821). It features 8205 (RL3936) on route E23 with a destination of Tsz Wan Shan South (Box L15 - ATC64821).

Steve has also provided an update on several releases that I missed, along with filling in a few gaps in the Tiny Index page.

Continuing with Tiny news, now available for pre-order is this Kowloon Motor Bus 11.3 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500, featuring E6M13 (WU4445) on route 45 with a destination of Lai Yui (Box 141/KMB2021053).

6th May 2021

Long Win Bus has finally registered the first five of its 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500, these being numbered in the series UE6X. Captured this evening operating route A31 is UE6X1 (XH3226).

Meanwhile, UE6X4 (XH3105) was noted operating on route A33X.

5th May 2021

I am grateful to DKWC for providing photographs of the certificates for two of Buses Model Co. releases that were each limited to just thirty pieces.
That on the left is the St John's Ambulance liveried Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Olympian S3BL428, which was offered as a prize in the company's competition back in 2005, whilst on the right is the certificate for China Motor Bus Leyland Olympian LM5 which, it is believed, was to be the prize for the same competition, but which was subsequently released in August 2009.

Dream Bus Model

Dream Bus Model (DBM) has today announced, on social media, that it has closed. DBM specialised in 'one-off' models, generally at the request of its customers. Notable models are those shown below, which appeared on my site back in 2012.

Another, and perhaps my favourite, is the Citybus Dennis Dragon trolleybus, commissioned by Doug Stirling-Stewart back in 2013. It is shown on the right in the photograph below, alongside the release by 80M Bus Model Shop. Full details of this model can be found in the Xtra section of the site, just follow the link.

4th May 2021

Following the receipt of further information on resin models, I have today added details of a model not previously listed. This relates to a P&T Model Kowloon Motor Bus liveried Duple Metsec Dennis Dragon, believed to have been commissioned by Concorde Hobby Shop, and released in either December 2011 or January 2012. No product code is known and I have therefore used the fleet number, which is 3N115.

I have also updated the page for P&T Model B0033, which features three different KMB liveried Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Dragons.

Tiny has announced the imminent release of this 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus BACo bodied Leyland Fleetline which features D1061 (BW3490) on route 3 with a destination of Diamond Hill MTR Station (KMB2020132).

On 26th April I reported on the four new cross-harbour tunnel routes launched by Citybus and New World First Bus. That same day, Kowloon Motor Bus launched route 900, described as Cross Harbour Shuttle, which operates between Science Park and Wan Chai. Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L V6B185 (XG591) was noted operating the route earlier today. The route branding is similar to that for route 100, which commenced on 1st December 1995. My thanks to Gakei.com for allowing me to share his photograph.

With some free time this afternoon (I'm sure the wind would have blown me over if I had ventured out!), I removed a few 'latest red' KMB models from the cabinet for a photo shoot!

3rd May 2021

Presumably a of shortage of buses saw New World First Bus route 9 to Shek O being operated by Citybus ADL Enviro400 7014 earlier today.

Meanwhile, a fully laden Citybus 9149 returning to Central from Stanley today.

Two further shots of the Singapore three-door ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 spotted in Hong Kong yesterday.

1st May 2021

	*May 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 Sunday, 30th May 2021