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Contents Listing - Articles & Features in this issue
2003 In Retrospect
RM50 - This year is the Routemaster's fiftieth anniversary.
As Seen On TV - A quick quiz.
Risky Business - Behind the scenes at a bus company.
Scrapyard Challenge (Part One) - Mike Hill models something a little different.
A Motorised Layout - An impressive display built by Robert Bouse.
Before You Begin - A bit of research can pay dividends.
The Model Bus Federation - You are not alone!
Duple Dominant Bus - Drawing by Terry Blois.
News, reviews and regular features:
Historical Atmosphere - 'Now that would make a nice model...'
Die-cast Focus - Product News
Other Road Vehicles - Cars - Mike Hill looks at some new releases.
Not On Service
Duty Roster
Gallery
Article Snippets
Looking backwards, looking forwards - January is that time when we all look back at the year that has passed and forward to the one that is to come. We have abandoned our Model Of The Year poll this year in favour of a simple retrospective feature looking back at the new models of 2003. Looking at the die-cast models it is evident that whilst the double-decker is still overwhelmingly popular there has been a significant shift towards modern prototypes. I suspect that this is an exercise in grabbing future market share rather than a profound change in people's tastes.
With the forthcoming WrightBus Gemini from OOC virtually all the double deck buses currently produced will be available in diecast form so I would expect to see some older prototypes chosen for release over the next couple of years. The kit manufacturers continue to produce new goodies to tempt us, predominantly in polyurethane resin. The economics of resin kit production mean that they must be run in batches of forty to fifty at a time. Whilst selling the first batch is normally relatively easy, subsequent batches can be harder to justify so, as ever, if you want a particular resin kit buy it whilst it is still available.
Finally, this year is the fiftieth anniversary of what is probably the world's favourite bus, the Routemaster so we are marking the occasion with a quick look at the bus and the models that have been made of it.
If this is your first issue of Model Buses, welcome aboard. If not, thank you for your continued support. Enjoy this issue and make more of your hobby with Model Buses.
With the forthcoming WrightBus Gemini from OOC virtually all the double deck buses currently produced will be available in diecast form so I would expect to see some older prototypes chosen for release over the next couple of years. The kit manufacturers continue to produce new goodies to tempt us, predominantly in polyurethane resin. The economics of resin kit production mean that they must be run in batches of forty to fifty at a time. Whilst selling the first batch is normally relatively easy, subsequent batches can be harder to justify so, as ever, if you want a particular resin kit buy it whilst it is still available.
Finally, this year is the fiftieth anniversary of what is probably the world's favourite bus, the Routemaster so we are marking the occasion with a quick look at the bus and the models that have been made of it.
If this is your first issue of Model Buses, welcome aboard. If not, thank you for your continued support. Enjoy this issue and make more of your hobby with Model Buses.
