E40101 - Daimler DMS - M&D / Network SouthEast

Bachmann Europe Plc are pleased to another model in to thier recently acquired Exclusive First Edition range.

E40101 is an Open Top Daimler DMS in the dual livery of Maidstone & District and Network SouthEast and will be officially launched at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham this weekend!

Image Source: no low floors..if only ! on Flikr

The DMS was London's first purpose built one person operated double deck bus, however, it proved unpopular due to slow boarding times compared to the open platform AEC Routemasters and also maintenance costs were high, due to the way they were designed as there was no ability to separate the body from chassis for overhaul.

Withdrawal of the DMS fleet began in early 1979 with Leyland Titans and MCW Metrobuses purchased as replacements and in some cases Routmasters were reinstated to DMS routes. Many of these now retired vehicles were sent to the dealer Ensignbus in Purfleet, which became known as the 'DMS graveyard'. As supply exceeded the secondhand demand for these buses many vehicles could not be moved or maintained and so simply rusted into disrepair. Our model depicts one retired DMS which was spared this fate.

Blind reads: Maidstone & District Motor Services LTD in Partnership with Area Civil Engineer (CLT)

GHV 90N (DM1090) first entered service with London Transport in 1975 running out of the Cricklewood garage, after many internal transfers it was sold in 1983 to Ensignbus were it stayed for a short while before being bought by House's of Watlington for use in their small fleet. By 1989 it had been bought as a joint venture between Maidstone & District and Network SouthEast for use as a bridge maintenance vehicle. It was given a new fleet number P90, repainted in the striking Network SouthEast livery and had its roof removed to make it more practical for its new use.

Our model depicts one retired DMS which was spared this fate. GHV 90N (DM1090) first entered service with London Transport in 1975 running out of the Cricklewood garage, after many internal transfers it was sold in 1983 to Ensignbus were it stayed for a short while before being bought by House's of Watlington for use in their small fleet.

By 1989 it had been bought as a joint venture between Maidstone & District and Network SouthEast for use as a bridge maintenance vehicle. It was given a new fleet number P90, repainted in the striking Network SouthEast livery and had its roof removed to make it more practical for its new use. Our model uses revised tooling of the upper deck to portray the changes which were made to the real vehicle. Model includes an individually numbered limited edition certificate.

This model is priced £39.95

Quantities are limited so an early response is recommended.

Order now from Bachmann stockists!

Bachmann Europe Plc acquires Exclusive First Editions

Bachmann Europe Plc is delighted to announce their acquisition of the Exclusive First Editions range of 1:76 scale die-cast vehicles including buses, coaches, lorries and London Underground tube trains.

Bachmann Europe Plc began distributing EFE products to the model trade in July 2013.

David Haarhaus, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe Plc said today "We are delighted to incorporate another high quality addition to our existing model and hobby portfolio. The Exclusive First Editions range of collectable vehicles has enjoyed a good reputation for developing highly detailed and well researched models".

David added "EFE has been a corner stone of Die-Cast Model collecting for many years, while other ranges may have come and gone with varying interpretations of the original vehicles. We are looking forward to further developing the existing items, and delivering new models to the many EFE collectors and discerning enthusiasts around the world. Frank Joyce's ethos was always to set out to produce the most accurate model possible. This matches the Bachmann ideals entirely, never trying to be the cheapest, but working hard to try and be the best".

25711 – Daimler DMS – London Transport Selkent Bus & Coach Council

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists.

Image Source: Stuart Johnson on Flikr

In the early eighties, a change was afoot in the bus industry. The government regulated ownership, which had reigned since the late 60's was now under threat from a new government who wanted to introduce more competition amongst operators in an effort to help waning passenger numbers.
The Bus and Coach Council (now the CTP) an organisation that campaigns for the interests of those in the bus and coach industry, were opposed to this new transport act, fearing that deregulation would damage the industry as services would be lost and traffic congestion in cities would increase due to more cars being used on the roads.

To gain support from the public the Bus and Coach Council rolled out an advertising campaign which included many bus operators nationwide repainting their buses into the 'We'd all miss the bus' livery. London Transport although not as badly affected by these new proposals, supported the Bus and Coach Council's campaign, though unlike other operators, London Transport chose to keep its red body colour rather than adopting the cream/beige used elsewhere.

25711 – Daimler DMS – London Transport Selkent Bus & Coach Council

Our model depicts one of London's many Daimler DMSs in use in the 1980's. GHV 63N, fleet numbered DM 1063 and shown running on route 70 to Victoria. This Selkent District vehicle displays the eye-catching slogans 'Ease the rush, use the bus' and 'We carry more passengers per gallon' along with the Bus and Coach Council logo with its row of passengers or as they were commonly nicknamed 'performing seals'.

This model is priced £39.95

Quantities are limited so an early response is recommended.

Order now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE In The Shops - 31514 RM Routemaster Shop Linker

Available from Bachmann Europe stockists from this week onwards.

31514 - RM Routemaster - London Transport Shop Linker

Our model depicts one such Routemaster, RM 59, registered VLT 59, as it would have appeared in the first few weeks in service as a Shop Linker. Shown running out of Stockwell garage, displaying in-house advertising for the shop linker service and running with the early blind displaying the 30p fare. RRP £37.50

EFE Bachmann Exclusive - 28825 Titan Prototype London Transport

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists.

The Leyland Titan was created during a difficult era for London Transport. In the face of labour shortages, the move to one-person-operation and the loss of the ability to design its own buses, LT gambled on a batch of Fleetlines, Swifts and Merlins to take them into the future. Unfortunately, these vehicles proved unsuitable for the task, as they were unpopular with passengers and had a construction that made them not easy to fit into LT's already well-established maintenance routine, meaning that replacement vehicles would eventually need to be found.

The Leyland Stand at the 1976 Commercial Motor Show  - Image by Brian on Flikr

With the implementation of the New Bus Grant, restrictions on building rear entrance buses and the lack of viable British manufacturers LT turned to Leyland to create a new bus for London's roads. Leyland's aim was to create a double decker bus which would capture the market the way that its single decked Leyland National had, so in 1973 'Project B15' commenced. However, the project was beset with delays due to Leyland's bankruptcy. Nationalisation of the company in 1975 and government funding got the plans back on track and by November 1975 the first B15 (B15-04) was given to London Transport to begin its well publicised trial, by 1977 the B15 had been renamed, Titan.

Leyland B15-05 - Image by George Woods on Flickr

In 1978 a new B15 prototype Titan, B15-05 had entered into service replacing B15-04. This new version had ironed out some of the problems encountered by its predecessor and so cemented plans for production of 250 new Titans to enter LT's Fleet.

 28825 - Leyland Titan Prototype - London Transport

Our model depicts B15-05 (BCK 706R) as it would have appeared in the Spring of 1978. Shown working on route 24 to Victoria Station and operating out of Chalk Farm. It carries the white top deck London Transport livery of the time and a route blind box still masked for NBC specification.

This model is priced £39.95

Quantities are limited so an early response is recommended.

Pre-order now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE In The Shops - October 2015

We are pleased to announce that 38119 our Bristol VRT in British Rail D of M & E E Training livery is now available online and from your local Bachmann Stockists!

38119 - Bristol VRT - British Rail D of M & E E Training Vehicle

This certificated model is registered BNU 679G and depicts the vehicle whist wearing its British Rail Livery. We believe this model will make a striking addition to any collection!

This model is priced £37.50 and is available to buy now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE Bachmann Exclusive - 31514 RM Shop Linker

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists.

In April 1979 London Transport announced a new 'Shop Linker' bus service designed especially for shoppers to enable quick and easy travel to many of London's greatest West End stores.

Image Source: AndrewHA's on Flikr 

A fleet of sixteen Routemasters were selected for the new service, which was to operate out of Stockwell garage, all were repainted in a distinctive yellow and red livery and fitted out with a speaker system so that they could play music and advertisements to their onboard passengers.

PRE-PRODUCTION SAMPLE 

The service started at Marble Arch and traveled on a circular route, running in both directions, via Regent Street, Piccadilly, Knightsbridge, Kensington and Oxford Street. No route number was allocated to this service, instead, the route blind displayed the flat 30p fare, which did lead to confusion amongst some would-be passengers who mistook it for the route 30 to Hackney and so it was later removed.

PRE-PRODUCTION SAMPLE 

Although the Shop Linker was very popular with shoppers, London Transport did not consider it a financial success and so by September of the same year the service was withdrawn and the fleet were returned to the standard LT livery after just six months in service.

PRE-PRODUCTION SAMPLE 

31514 - RM Routemaster - London Transport Shop Linker

Our model depicts one such Routemaster, RM 59, registered VLT 59, as it would have appeared in the first few weeks in service as a Shop Linker. Shown running out of Stockwell garage, displaying in-house advertising for the shop linker service and running with the early blind displaying the 30p fare.

This model is priced £37.50

Quantities are limited so an early response is recommended.

Pre-order now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE Out & About - Buses Festival

This weekend the Bachmann Roadshow team will be attending the the 2nd annual Buses Festival at the Heritage Motor Centre near Gaydon, Warwickshire.

The Bachmann stand will be focusing on our range of 1:76 scale die-cast buses, including the Bachmann Special models we have created and also their own N Scale bus range. 

Organised by Key Publishing's Buses magazine team, the one-day show features an impressive display of vintage, restored and modern buses and coaches from all across the UK. Up to 100 vehicles are expected to be in attendance, along with trade stands selling models, collectibles, photographs and other bus-related material. 

Visitors will also be able to partake in bus rides on some of the many vehicles in attendance, taking in local scenic routes as well as the Heritage Motor Centre's internal network. 

Included in the ticket price is entry to The Heritage Motor Centre, which is home to the world's largest collection of British Cars. 

Sunday 23 August - 10:00am to 5:00pm 

For information please visit: www.busesfestival.com

EFE Bachman Exclusive - 38119 Bristol VRT British Rail

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model, which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists.

This Bristol VRT, registered BNU 679G, first entered into service in 1969, operating in Midland General's fleet. In the 1980s, after a short spell working for Trent Motor Traction Company, it was sold to British Rail to be used as a mobile staff training vehicle by their Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, based at the Railway Technical Centre, London Road, Derby.

Image Source: John Law on Flikr

Once in non-passenger service BNU 679G was given a makeover and repainted in the unique eye-catching livery of British Rail. Many of its windows were removed and filled in and the bus seat interior was stripped out to make it more suited to a new role as an office space for staff training.

BNU 679G has had a varied life; after leaving British Rail in the late 1990s it operated as a mobile Evangelical centre named 'SINE METU' (latin for 'without fear') up until 2003 when it was then purchased for preservation. It was last known to be residing at The Midland Railway Centre, Derbyshire, where it was being painstakingly restored back to a passenger service vehicle.

38119 - Bristol VRT - British Rail D of M & E E Training Vehicle

This certificated model is registered BNU 679G and depicts the vehicle whilst wearing its British Rail Livery. We believe this model will make a striking addition to any collection!

This model is priced £37.50
Quantities are limited so an early response is recommended
Pre-order now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE In The Shops - February 2015

We are pleased to announce that 35308 36' BET 6 Bay Leyland Leopard in Southdown livery is now available online and from your local Bachmann Stockists!

35308 - 36' BET 6 Bay Leyland Leopard - Southdown

Our model depicts the preserved 36’ Marshal bodied Leyland Leopard BUF 122C, which first entered service with Southdown in 1965. Decorated in the classic livery, numbered 122 and shown working on route 18 to Brighton. Each model will be issued a numbered certificate in a unique Southdown ticket design.

This model is priced £32.95 and is available to buy now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE Bachmann Special - 35308 36' Leyland Leopard Southdown

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model, which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists. 

Southdown Motor Service celebrates its centenary this year, to mark this we have produced a certificated model of a preserved Leyland Leopard in the classic cream and green Southdown livery. We think this model will be a must have for all fans of historic buses, The Southdown Company, and model bus collecting.

Image Source: Solenteer on Flikr

Southdown Motor Service LTD was created in 1915 amidst the turbulence of WWI, it was formed by the joining of three major operators: Worthing Motor Services, London & South Coast Haulage Co and the country services of the Brighton, Hove & Preston United Omnibus Co.

Over the following years, Southdown acquired many other smaller companies, which brought a diverse collection of vehicles into their fleet, though from the start they showed a preference for buses of Leyland manufacture, which would last until their acquisition in 1969 by the state-owned National Bus Company.Today Southdown lives on as part of the Stagecoach group, which still runs the Portsmouth to Brighton 700 ‘Coastline’ route and still uses some of Southdown’s original depots.

Southdown is remembered for many things, leading the field in British and Continental coach tours, their network of express services from London to the coastal towns of Hampshire and Sussex, but mostly for their fleet of pristine ‘cars’ decorated in a distinctive apple green and cream livery, which left a lasting impression on locals and holidaymakers alike.

35308 - 36' BET 6 Bay Leyland Leopard - Southdown

Our model depicts the preserved 36’ Marshal bodied Leyland Leopard BUF 122C, which first entered service with Southdown in 1965. Decorated in the classic livery, numbered 122 and shown working on route 18 to Brighton. Each model will be issued a numbered certificate in a unique Southdown Ticket design.

This model is priced £32.95 and is available to pre-order now from Bachmann stockists!

EFE Bachmann Exclusive - 18615 Bristol VR Ensign Guide Friday

We are pleased to announce a new model exclusively for Bachmann Europe. Our new model is of an Open Top Bristol VRIII in Guide Friday livery, and will feature in 30-525 ‘The Shakespeare Express’ 'OO'  Collectors Edition Train Pack.

This special collector’s edition gift pack is based upon the popular heritage steam rail tour that runs between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon via the scenic North Warwickshire line. Passengers enjoy a true mainline steam express experience as the train travels along a section of the GWR London to Birmingham mainline. The set consists of: -

Hall Class No.4965 'Rood Ashton Hall' Great Western Green Livery

Two Umber & Cream Pullman Cars No.335 and No.349

BR MK1 BSK Coach Chocolate & Cream W35470

Bristol VR MKIII Open Top Tour Bus in Ensign Guide Friday Livery

‘The Shakespeare Express’ collector’s edition train pack represents great value at an RRP of £199.95 and is expected to be available from Bachmann stockists from April/May onwards.

Guide Friday was founded 1974 by Roger Thompson, on moving from London to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1975 he developed ‘The Stratford Go Round' tour, where he pioneered open top buses and the innovation of allowing customers to get on and off at points on the route. The five Shakespearean properties were linked this way which emphasised the social history of the area and helped to bring the attraction to life.

Expansion of the company began in 1988, with tours available in Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Bath, and York. At the beginning of 2001, Guide Friday was the largest city sightseeing tour company in the world running over 120 buses, in 35 destinations and carrying more than 1.5 million visitors a year! (Information Source)

18615 - Bristol VR MK III Open Top - Ensign Guide Friday

Our model depicts a typical vehicle in Guide Friday's fleet, VDV 143S. Shown operating on 'The Stratford Tour' which visited all the big attractions in the Stratford-upon-Avon area, and we think it will make a fitting companion piece to the other models in the set!

This set is RRP £199.95 and is available to pre-order now from your local Bachmann Stockist!

EFE Bachmann Exclusive: 28823 London Transport Golden Jubilee Bus

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce a new exclusive model, which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists. 

Image Source:  kwk33f  on Flikr 

In 1983 London Transport celebrated its Golden Jubilee, in March of that year they took delivery of a brand new Titan, T747 (OHV 747Y). At first glance T747 appeared to be more of a celebration of Leyland rather than London Transport, decorated as it was with Leyland oriented branding adorning its gold livery with white and yellow trim.

For the 50th anniversary it received a commemorative fleet number T1983, an optimistic fleet number as orders for Titans did not continue further than 1125. As London Transport's Jubilee programme of open days got under way, T747 was allocated to a variety of routes in and around the south-east of London.

28823 - Leyland Titan -  London Transport Golden Jubilee Bus

 Our model depicts T747 in its Jubilee livery whilst carrying its temporary T1983 fleet number, operating out of the Camberwell garage and working route 188 to Greenwich Maritime museum.

Bachmann Exclusive: 31306 - Daimler B20 - London Driver Training Bus

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce another exclusive model, which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists. 

Driver training vehicles have long been a feature of daily operations for bus companies all over the UK. The need to recruit and instruct new drivers is constant. Suitable vehicles were not always available, as to take a bus from revenue earning service to utilise as a trainer is not ideal. Instead, it has become common practice to use vehicles that have ended their service with the passenger carrying fleets and yet are still in good enough running order to fulfil a vital duty.

31306 - Daimler Fleetline B20 - London General Driver Training Bus

Our model depicts a very typical London Driver Training bus in the form of DMS 2422, registered OJD 422R decorated with prototypical markings and company advertising. Most bus garages will have at least one such dedicated vehicle, making this fine EFE model an ideal addition to any collection. 

This model is priced £32.75 and is available to pre-order now!

Bachmann Exclusive: 38118 - Bristol VRT - Eastern National

We have been asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce another exclusive model, which will be available solely from Bachmann Stockists. 

There was a mixed reception to the rear-engined Bristol VRT when it was first introduced. Midland Scottish had purchased a number of the early vehicles but found them troublesome. They returned these buses to Bristol for improvements but they were still not happy with them, so in 1971 they arranged to swap 15 of these 'troublesome' VRT's, with Eastern National for a similar amount of Lodekka’s.

Once in service at their new Essex home, they became reliable and popular vehicles. Many of them were to retain the blue and cream colours of Midland Alexander (including the Scottish quirk of having cream panels where adverts would ordinarily be) which made them a distinctive and attractive addition to the Eastern National fleet.

E38118 - Bristol VRT - Eastern National

Our model depicts SMS 31H, which operated out of the Wood Green (WG) garage and ran on fleet number 3005. This vehicle is shown operating on the popular limited stop route 400, which ran between the Essex seaside town of Southend and London Victoria.

This model is priced £32.75 and is available to pre-order now!

Bachmann Exclusive: 16137 - Leyland PD2 - C.I.E.

We were recently asked by Bachmann Europe Plc to produce another exclusive model which will be available solely from Bachmann retailers and in very limited numbers.

16137 - Leyland PD2 Highbridge - C.I.E. (Córas Iompair Éireann)

This striking Leyland PD2 Highbridge bus is decorated in the later cream and blue livery of Ireland’s C.I.E. (Córas Iompair Éireann) Bus Company and carries the broken wheel logo. Based in the Dublin area, this PD2 is shown working on local route A78 to Aston’s Quay. Registered ZJ 1388 and running on fleet number R428, it carries colourful side adverts for Amicardo Irish Sherry and Fruitfield Jam. 

RRP £32.95

In The Shops - 31511 - RM - London Transport 1977 Silver Jubilee

Bachmann Europe's much-anticipated 25th Anniversary Routemaster is in the Shops Now!!

31511 - RM Routemaster - London Transport Silver Jubilee

Our model depicts SRM 25 (RM 1850) registered 850 DYE, which was sponsored by Woolworth. Shown on its south London route, 1 to Marylebone, which it ran from Mon-Sat, between 11th April and 25th June 1977 and was operated out of the New Cross Garage. RRP £32.75   

Silver Routemaster SRM 25 is available through all Bachmann Stockists. We anticipate that this famous Routemaster livery will be very popular and so would advise our collectors to order as possible!

Bachmann Exclusive: 31511 - RM - London Transport Silver Jubilee

This year marks Bachmann Europe's 25th year in the Model and Hobby industry. To commemorate this anniversary they have commissioned a model of one of London's iconic Routemasters, 850 DYE (RM 1850) decorated as it would have appeared during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1977.

Between April and November 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, London Transport operated a special fleet of 25 silver Routemasters. This newly painted fleet was temporarily renumbered SRM1 to SRM25 and ran on various routes in and out of central London. 

Image Source: Mike Rhodes on Flikr

Each vehicle was given a sponsor who paid for exclusive advertising on their vehicle. The interiors were fitted with specially designed woollen carpets. Commemorative individualised yellow tickets were issued to the boarding passengers on all Silver Buses, with the exception of one SRM18.

31511 - RM Routemaster - London Transport Silver Jubilee

Our model depicts SRM 25 (RM 1850) registered 850 DYE, which was sponsored by Woolworth. Shown on its south London route, 1 to Marylebone, which it ran from Mon-Sat, between 11th April and 25th June 1977 and was operated out of the New Cross Garage. 

RRP £32.75
Scheduled for a July Release

Silver Routemaster SRM 25 will be available through all Bachmann Stockists from July 2014. We anticipate that this famous Routemaster livery will be very popular and so would advise our collectors to pre-order it as soon as possible!

Bachmann Exclusive: 16136 - Leyland PD2 - C.I.E

We were recently asked by Bachmann Europe to produce an exclusive model which will be available solely from Bachmann retailers and in very limited numbers.

16136 - Leyland PD2 - C.I.E. Ireland

Registration No. ZJ 1397 and Fleet No. R437. Carrying advertisements for 'Amicardo Irish Sherry' on the Nearside and 'Cork Dry Gin' on the offside. The vehicle is shown en route to 'Bóṫar na Trá - Salthill'.

This model is priced £32.75 and is available to pre-order now!

We have been contacted by a few collectors querying the spelling of the destination on the blind of this model. We can confirm that though the anglicised version of the destination is Bóthar, spelt with a 'h' following the 't', on the route that we have chosen the blind has been written in the original Gaelic which means the spelling is slightly different. The ' h ' in Bothar is lost and a small dot is placed above the ' ṫ ' which creates the ' th ' sound.

Bóṫar na Trá  SALTHILL