News - October 2021

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	*October 2021* *- News*
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31st October 2021

The first of Singapore Buses three-door ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s entered service on 26th October. My thanks to Benjamin Ong for allowing me to share the above photographs. SG6349T (top left) is seen operating on route 190 and was captured along Bukit Panjang Road heading towards Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange. The same bus (top right) was noted along Teck Whye Ave heading towards Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal. Finally, SG6347Z (bottom) was captured along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, heading towards Joo Koon Bus Interchange operating on route 974. All the images are 'clickable'.

30th October 2021

Set for release tomorrow are the 'other half' of the six Kowloon Motor Bus models details of which were first reported back on 8th October. The first three were released on 23rd October.

They are, from left to right, AVG2 (VT3923) on route 961 to Wan Chai Convention Centre (KMB2020033), limited to 800 pieces, V6B176 (XE732) on route 66X to Olympic Station (KMB2021106), limited to 380 pieces and E6X129 (WW1750) on route 269D to Tin Fu (KMB2021025), limited to 700 pieces.

A full set of photographs has been received for each, thanks to 80M Bus Model Shop and these will be added shortly.

29th October 2021

Captured at the Tuen Mun Bus interchange earlier today was this 12.8 metre Gemilang bodied MAN A95, believed to be that seen earlier this month in Singapore. My thanks to Alan Wong for allowing me to post his photograph.

Released today is this Tiny 1/110 scale Wrights Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL in New World First Bus livery. It features 5205 (UJ1998) on route 111 to Kwun Tong (Box L06 / ATC65141).

Tiny has announced two versions of a Long Win Bus Alexander ALX500 bodied Dennis Trident. One features 505 (HT8644) on route A31 with a destination blind of Long Win Bus but with a destination board in the windscreen showing Tsuen Wan West Railway Station (pictured in top photograph). The second features 511 (HT9312), also on route A31, but with a destination of Fanling Luen Wo Hui. It appears that a new sequence of 'Box' numbers may be used for this release, as this model is described as KMB06 (KMB2021078).

And finally, Tiny has announced this new 1/43 scale Toyota Coaster public light bus. This features an unidentified vehicle on route 45 (ATC43175). This is expected to be released next year.

28th October 2021

To promote the extended service hours of Citybus route 20A the company has applied banner advertising to several buses, these being of the 'Pac-man' style. Seen yesterday on the first day of this new timetable outside Austin MTR Station is Citybus 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 6437 (VE1034).

26th October 2021

My thanks to Tan Hao Rui for sending me a selection of comparison photographs of the recent Model 1 release of New World First Bus Neoplan Centroliner 6008 (JU1220) alongside Drumwell's 2001 casting of the same vehicle. As Tan Hao Rui has mentioned in his message, being produced 20 years apart it's not a fair comparison, but the Model 1 casting is detailed as usual. The most noticeable difference is omission of the two centre poles that hold the model together on the Model 1 casting. The overall shape of the Model 1 casting is also more accurate.

24th October 2021

Three of the six Kowloon Motor Bus models announced earlier this month have been released in Hong Kong today.

They are, from left to right, AVG1 (VS9188) on route 59X to Tuen Mun Pier Head (KMB2021116), limited to 800 pieces, V6B166 (XE651) on route 270B to Olympic Station (KMB2021105), limited to 380 pieces and E6X120 (WV3933) on route 33 to Tsuen Wan West Station (KMB2021024), limited to 700 pieces.

I am, as always, grateful to 80M Bus Model Shop for sending me full sets of photographs of their new models - received early this morning UK time were photographs of the above three models, which have now been added to each of the pages.

I am sure you will agree that these photographs, which 80M have been sending me for over 20 years, contribute significantly to making this site what it is today!

23rd October 2021

This photograph of a new Kowloon Motor Bus Gemilang bodied 12.8 metre MAN A95 was captured earlier today in Singapore. My thanks to "SBS2689J" and Admiralty Bus Lanes for allowing me to post this image.

Thanks also to Matthew And Naz Photography (MANBSP) for allowing me to share this shot, taken at the same location but at a different angle.

21st October 2021

Pictureview - 2002

KCRC MCW Metrobus 113 Yuen Long	KCRC Volvo Olympian 22 Yuen Long

KMB Neoplan Centroliners AP14 & AP19 Yuen Long	KMB Dennis 'baby' Dragon ADS29 Yuen Long

NWFB Volvo Super Olympian 5100 Wan Chai	NWFB Volvo Olympians VA38 & VA53 Shau Kei Wan

Citybus Leyland Olympian 339 Wong Chuk Hang Depot	Citybus Volvo Olympian 668 Yuen Long

Long Win Bus Dennis Trident 177 Yuen Long	Long Win Bus Dennis Trident 163 Yuen Long

As an experiment, I thought I would post a selection of photographs taken during my first visit to Hong Kong back in November 2002. Depending on the feedback received, this 'Pictureview' gallery may become a regular feature.

Tiny has announced it is to release two version of this 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus ADL Enviro500NG. One will feature E6T1 (VG7382) on route 93K (ATC65413-W) and the other features E6T2 (VG8443) on route 63R (ATC65413-T).

19th October 2021

I have received confirmation that the three New World First Bus Neoplan Centroliners from Model 1 have been released today. A full set of photographs has tonight been added for each model.

18th October 2021

The three New World First Bus Neoplan Centroliners from Model 1, announced back on the 10th March, are set for release in Hong Kong tomorrow.

Their details are as follows:-

fleet no. 6008 (JU1220) on route 2X - Wan Chai Express - 1,200 pieces (64401/20099).
fleet no. 6025 (JX9422) on route 720 to Aldrich Bay - 650 pieces (64402/20100).
fleet no. 6027 (JX9980) on route 18X to Belcher Bay - 750 pieces (64403/20101).

Following the Matthew Chung's photographs of the Shek O diorama posted on 11th October, here is another showing China Motor Bus Carlyle bodied Dennis Dart DC11 arriving from Central on route 309. I recommend taking a look at Matthew's Facebook page HongKong BUStuff for some further shots and dioramas.

New pages with photographs have now been added for the six Kowloon Motor Bus models featured in yesterday's news.

17th October 2021

The six new models announced by Kowloon Motor Bus back on the 8th October are now available to pre-order at 80M Bus Model Shop. Details and images will be added shortly.

The first two feature a new casting, namely a Gemilang bodied Volvo B9TL. AVG2 (VT3923) is on route 961 to Wan Chai Convention Centre (KMB2020033).

Meanwhile AVG1 (VS9188) is on route 59X to Tuen Mun Pier Head (KMB2021116). Each of these models is limited to 800 pieces.

Next come the two 'Proud of You' liveried Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8Ls, each of which is limited to 380 pieces.

V6B166 (XE651) is on route 270B to Olympic Station (KMB2021105).

V6B176 (XE732) is on route 66X to Olympic Station (KMB2021106).

And finally, there are these two 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s, each of which is limited to 700 pieces.

E6X120 (WV3933) is on route 33 to Tsuen Wan West Station (KMB2021024).

E6X129 (WW1750) is on route 269D to Tin Fu (KMB2021025).

New pages for these these models have now been added.

Released today is this Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Metsec bodied Leyland Fleetline in driver training livery (BH3531) (KMB2020131).

Citybus 12 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 8543 (VW3059) carries this colourful livery promoting the fact that all New World First Bus and Citybus buses now accept electronic payment.

16th October 2021

On the 19th March 2007 I featured a photograph of former China Light & Power Leyland Olympian no. 314 (FC7328) soon after it's arrival in the UK, where it became J590 CEV. At that time it was believed to have been acquired by Florida Coaches.. Seeing the photographs below of former Citybus Leyland Olympian 144 at the South East Buses Festival prompted Terry Torch to send me a couple of photographs of 314, which had also been part of Flagfinders fleet. This photograph was taken in April last year when Terry was delivering J590 CEV to its new owner for conversion into a mobile home.

14th October 2021

Released in Hong Kong 20 years ago today - ABC Model's China Motor Bus Ailsa-Volvo AV8 on route 112 to North Point (00601).

My thanks to BusLanes for allowing me to share this high resolution image of the new electric double-deck bus for Bravo.

13th October 2021

The following is a report from Hong Kong's The Standard.

"The city's first ever electric double decker bus has arrived in Hong Kong, Bravo Transport Services announced today.

The manufacture of the bus is a joint project by Bravo – the parent company of Citybus and New World First Bus – and Wisdom (Fuijian) Motor Company. They worked closely from the concept, to design, to production, with a focus on enabling the bus to handle the city's topography and operating environment.

The bus body was painted yellow, in line with the existing Citybus fleet, with blue accents as a symbol for being electricity-powered and zero carbon emission.

A finalised livery of the bus will be unveiled in due course at the public launch, Bravo said.

The company added that the bus will undergo a series of rigorous internal tests before completing the Transport Department's official vehicle inspection.

The launch date and route operations will be announced in due course. The bus is expected to operate all over the city to gain valuable in-service operational data.

Adam Leishman, Bravo's CEO, believed public transport bus companies can help in achieving the carbon neutrality goal, and electrification is one of the many options.

A spokesperson for Wisdom said that they are proud to have collaborated with Bravo in the project, and have high hopes that the bus equipped with next generation technologies will be suitable for the city's operating environment."

Having announced a new 1/110 scale casting of a Kowloon Motor Bus Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Jubilant a little while ago, Tiny has today announced it will release two versions of a similar bodied China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2. One, as pictured above, will feature LV164 (CU3263) on route 72 with a destination of Causeway Bay (ATC65437-T). The second will feature LV156 (CT6046) on route 111 with a destination of Cleverly Street.

12th October 2021

Making an appearance at the South East Buses Festival at Detling yesterday was former Citybus Leyland Olympian 144 (ES7623). Further details of this bus can be found on the Citybus 144 Preservation Facebook page.

Photograph by Tony Hall and © David Chalk

Continuing the Citybus theme, the above photograph was recently posted on the Bournemouth Transport Heritage Archive Facebook page. The picture shows former Bournemouth Corporation Transport no. 191 with Citybus in May 1981, now reregistered CA 8427 with fleet No. D4. It was later converted to open top, but all six were withdrawn by 1986. My special thanks to David Chalk for allowing me to share this his photograph.

D4 was of course the subject of an EFE model that was released back in 1998 (23504).

These images of a Shek O diorama caught my eye, and my thanks to Matthew Chung for allowing me to share them. New World First Bus Leyland Victory Mk LV4 poses in the first whilst the second shows low-height Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Trident 3330. I will add further images to the Shek O page of the site shortly.

A new page has just been added for the Tiny 1/43 scale China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 (ATC43191) - clicking the image will take you to the page.

This Tiny 1/110 scale 11.3 metre Kowloon Motor Bus ADL 'facelift' appears in Tiny's 2021 catalogue and is due for release shortly. It features E6M13 (WU4445) on route 45 to Lai Yiu (Box 141 / KMB2021053).

This Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 is a limited edition release exclusively for HKTV Mall. It features G206 (CG9690) on route 102 to Lai Chi Kok (KMB2020133).

80M Bus Model Shop has announced these three MTR Bus liveried 1/120 scale Alexander Dennis Enviro500 models.

The New World First Bus and Citybus website has posted the above image with the caption 'Coming soon'.

11th October 2021

Released today in Hong Kong is this Tiny 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L with decals for route 900. It features V6B185 (XG591), appropriately on route 900, with a destination of Wan Chai (KMB2021076).

I have just received a superb selection of photographs of Tiny's recent 1/43 scale China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 LV127 (CP5123), and the above is just a taster! More will be added tomorrow along with comparison shots with Tiny's previous release of LV30.

10th October 2021

63224 - VH7175 to Hong Kong


63225 - VJ3282 to Zhuhai	63226 - VJ3933 to Macau

Photographs of the three recently released HZM Bus Gemilang bodied MAN95 have been received and are currently in the process of being added to their respective pages - just click on the above images.

9th October 2021

Kowloon Motor Bus has included six new 1/76 scale models in the above flyer issued to their staff today - the above image is 'clickable'.

The first two feature a new casting of the company's Gemilang bodied Volvo B9TL - one is on route 59X, as depicted above, whilst the second is on route 961.

Next, and as expected, are two versions of the 'Proud of You' liveried Wrights Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8Ls. One is on route 270B and the other route 66X.

Finally, there will be two 12.8 metre ADL 'facelift' Enviro500s with 'Heartbeat of the City' decals, one on route 33 and the other on route 269D.

8th October 2021

The three HZM Bus liveried Gemilang 'facelift' bodied MAN A95 from Model 1 have been released today (63224/63225/63226).

After many years of searching, I today received China Motor Bus Condor DA41 in white air-con livery, this featuring seated passengers (PHM22102F). My records indicate I am missing two models, namely a second version of DA41 but with no passengers, just a driver (PHM22102) and a blue/cream version (PHM22101). I don't often make personal appeals, but if anyone knows where I can source either of these two 'Wanted' models, then do please let me know.

7th October 2021

The above photographs were taken on Saturday 2nd October when former China Motor Bus MCW Metrobus MC6 was undergoing testing. My thanks to Island Vintage Bus for sharing these photos.

Tiny Singapore has announced two new 1/110 scale Singapore models, as detailed above.

Tiny has also announced it will release this 1/110 scale Kowloon Motor Bus Enviro500NG in its former Long Win Bus livery. ATENU1665 (SM2635) was formerly Long Win Bus 9513 and it will be on route 671 with a destination of Ap Lei Chau (Lee Lok Street) (KMB2021121).

5th October 2021

This Tiny 1/110 scale Long Win Bus Volvo Olympian appeared in the Tiny 2021 catalogue and it is is due for release shortly. It features HH1452 on route E31 with a destination of Tsuen Wan Ferry (Box 150 / KMB2020129).

4th October 2021

My thanks to Dav Hung for advising me of the product code (ATC43191) and quantity (600) for the recently released Tiny 1/43 scale China Motor Bus liveried Leyland Victory Mk 2. A new page will be added shortly.

3rd October 2021

Recently repainted is KMB's first 12-metre 'new generation' ADL Enviro500 which was first registered on 23rd April 2013. ATENU1 (RZ5946) was noted earlier today at the Tuen Mun Highway Bus Interchange.

1st October 2021

	*October 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 last updated Saturday, 30th October 2021