|
Post by YY13VKP on Dec 26, 2014 16:12:32 GMT
Corgi have announced Jan-June 2015's models early - no new castings, and just two buses of London interest - London United LT85 on route 10, and Go-Ahead Volvo/Wright Gemini 2 WVL501 on route 74. I wish they made an Arriva model for one of the TC based MK2 DW's. They had one planned of DW285 with 118 118 ads but then they cancelled it due to licensing issues 
|
|
|
Post by YY13VKP on Dec 26, 2014 16:17:19 GMT
Have Northcord Model Company gone bankrupt again or are they still going because i haven't seen any new releases from them in a while. They were the best company in the business IMO. They put a lot of detail into their buses
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Dec 26, 2014 18:37:39 GMT
Have Northcord Model Company gone bankrupt again or are they still going because i haven't seen any new releases from them in a while. They were the best company in the business IMO. They put a lot of detail into their buses I wouldn't be surprised if they have. I have largely stopped buying model buses because the prices are ridiculous. There has been the classic thing of something being a nice niche hobby that wasn't too costly turning into something that was viewed as a "cash cow" by the manufacturers so prices rose and far too many models were made by too many companies. There's a limit to what people can afford so demand slumped. Then the manufacturers got hit by material cost increases and the Chinese factories not being able to produce models to the right quality on time. The whole thing has gone pear shaped in recent years and while I agree that Northcord produced some excellent vehicles I think the market has effectively collapsed and there has to be a rethink about what is made, when and at what cost. Only a few models sell out quickly these days - usually a new casting like the NB4L. I would be very surprised if Northcord are able to resume regular releases as there's not enough discretionary cash around and I suspect that having failed before they are struggling to secure decent terms from factories to make further models.
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Dec 28, 2014 12:57:55 GMT
Have Northcord Model Company gone bankrupt again or are they still going because i haven't seen any new releases from them in a while. They were the best company in the business IMO. They put a lot of detail into their buses I wouldn't be surprised if they have. I have largely stopped buying model buses because the prices are ridiculous. There has been the classic thing of something being a nice niche hobby that wasn't too costly turning into something that was viewed as a "cash cow" by the manufacturers so prices rose and far too many models were made by too many companies. There's a limit to what people can afford so demand slumped. Then the manufacturers got hit by material cost increases and the Chinese factories not being able to produce models to the right quality on time. The whole thing has gone pear shaped in recent years and while I agree that Northcord produced some excellent vehicles I think the market has effectively collapsed and there has to be a rethink about what is made, when and at what cost. Only a few models sell out quickly these days - usually a new casting like the NB4L. I would be very surprised if Northcord are able to resume regular releases as there's not enough discretionary cash around and I suspect that having failed before they are struggling to secure decent terms from factories to make further models. Northcord are still (just) with us, but releases have largely ceased, and I wouldn't be that surprised to see them go under or be taken over by another manufacturer. Most of the problems in the model bus market have been mentioned by snoggle : five manufacturers (EFE, Corgi, Northcord, Oxford, Britbus/BT models), plus the resin manufacturers competing in what is a niche hobby is way too many. I see long term potential problems for them all - Britbus appear to have abandoned their range in favour of the plastic BT models, which have been welcomed with not as much enthusiasm as I suspect BT hoped, Oxford appear to have got into the market too late to have an impact, and would probably have to take over the castings of someone else to truly make an impact, Northcord appear to be in their death throes, Corgi's owners appear to have more of their heart in their core businesses of model railways and slot cars, the resin models are way too expensive for the average collector, and while EFE appear to be by some margin the healthiest of the manufacturers (the tie-up with Bachmann looks inspired, and has spawned some lovely exclusive models), they really need a couple of modern bus models in their range now to go with the SLF Dart and Wright single decks. No low floor double deck in the range looks to be quite an oversight now.
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Jan 8, 2015 23:37:10 GMT
EFE have just released a model of B20 DMS2422 in the guise of a London General driver trainer. A nice looking model 
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Jan 9, 2015 2:58:23 GMT
EFE have just released a model of B20 DMS2422 in the guise of a London General driver trainer. A nice looking model  I'm definately getting me one as I passed my test in one of those.
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Jun 1, 2015 9:04:15 GMT
EFE have just released a model of B20 DMS2422 in the guise of a London General driver trainer. A nice looking model  Discovered that they also have the same model showing the 37 to Clapham Common, EFE 31305. Probably old news to many but I only found out yesterday. Still yet to get OM46503, the B9TL Gemini 2 on the 74.
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Jun 2, 2015 8:13:53 GMT
EFE have just released a model of B20 DMS2422 in the guise of a London General driver trainer. A nice looking model  Discovered that they also have the same model showing the 37 to Clapham Common, EFE 31305. Probably old news to many but I only found out yesterday. Still yet to get OM46503, the B9TL Gemini 2 on the 74. I have EFE 31305 : was released a couple of years back. A nice model. Not mentioned here yet is a model released back in January : EFE 28823, Titan T747/1983 in its gold/white LT 50th anniversary livery. A lovely model, still available in various places. Corgi have announced two new models, both due in September : LT269 in its poppy livery, on route 8, and Tower Transit Volvo/Wright Gemini VN36108 on route 25.
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Dec 12, 2015 9:01:34 GMT
Haven't posted in this thread for a while, so... - both the Tower Transit VN and poppy liveried LT269 from Corgi are out now. - a Bachmann/EFE Shoplinker Routemaster (RM59) will be released in early 2016. The pre production samples look excellent. - Corgi's January-June 2016 models will be announced this coming Tuesday (15th Dec) 
|
|
|
Post by YY13VKP on Dec 21, 2015 12:25:48 GMT
Haven't posted in this thread for a while, so... - both the Tower Transit VN and poppy liveried LT269 from Corgi are out now. - a Bachmann/EFE Shoplinker Routemaster (RM59) will be released in early 2016. The pre production samples look excellent. - Corgi's January-June 2016 models will be announced this coming Tuesday (15th Dec) 3 New Routemasters (One of route 9's batch (LT71), a Coca cola liveried LT341, and LT189 in silver livery) and 2 non-London Gemini 2's are new in 2016. Shame they haven't released an Arriva London Gemini 2. Hopefully they do one of TC's if they do.
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Dec 21, 2015 14:03:18 GMT
Haven't posted in this thread for a while, so... - both the Tower Transit VN and poppy liveried LT269 from Corgi are out now. - a Bachmann/EFE Shoplinker Routemaster (RM59) will be released in early 2016. The pre production samples look excellent. - Corgi's January-June 2016 models will be announced this coming Tuesday (15th Dec) 3 New Routemasters (One of route 9's batch (LT71), a Coca cola liveried LT341, and LT189 in silver livery) and 2 non-London Gemini 2's are new in 2016. Shame they haven't released an Arriva London Gemini 2. Hopefully they do one of TC's if they do. There was a Gemini 2 model of a 59 but for some reaason it never came out for sale. Had bought me a London General version, WVL501.
|
|
|
Post by YY13VKP on Dec 21, 2015 14:28:01 GMT
3 New Routemasters (One of route 9's batch (LT71), a Coca cola liveried LT341, and LT189 in silver livery) and 2 non-London Gemini 2's are new in 2016. Shame they haven't released an Arriva London Gemini 2. Hopefully they do one of TC's if they do. There was a Gemini 2 model of a 59 but for some reaason it never came out for sale. Had bought me a London General version, WVL501. It got cancelled. I have WVL501 too.
|
|
|
Post by astock5000 on Dec 21, 2015 17:11:43 GMT
3 New Routemasters (One of route 9's batch (LT71), a Coca cola liveried LT341, and LT189 in silver livery) and 2 non-London Gemini 2's are new in 2016. Shame they haven't released an Arriva London Gemini 2. Hopefully they do one of TC's if they do. Corgi would not be able to accurately produce an Arriva London Gemini 2. Their casting is based on the B9TL version, which has its centre doors further back than the buses with B5LH or DB300 chassis. When they announced the model of DW285, which was later cancelled, the computer images showed window bays squashed or stretched to fit the casting. While I would like to have a model of a DW, that ruined the appearance of the model for me, so even if it hadn't been cancelled I wouldn't have bought that one. Corgi have released a model based on a non-London B5LH / Gemini 2 (OM46505), this was possible due to the bus being single door however a grille had to be printed over a panel line, while other lines on the lower side panels do not line up with the window bays.
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Dec 21, 2015 18:02:16 GMT
Are there any plans for a model MMC E40H?
|
|
|
Post by twobellstogo on Dec 30, 2015 17:14:31 GMT
Are there any plans for a model MMC E40H? None that I am aware of. Northcord have no plans for new castings for the time being, there are no Corgi new bus castings due first half of next year, and EFE's next new bus casting will be a range of Alexander bodied Atlanteans and Fleetlines, but you are unlikely to see those for at least a year or so.
|
|