1:24 scale Routemaster bus

[Old Tom]

Just finishing this off before having a go at my Regner Max and thought I'd show you it in case anyone fancies building one as a trackside ornament. It's the Revell 'London Bus' and retails at £39.99:

It's an excellent kit (but with one or two niggling errors) and, although it will look a tiny bit out of place on the Crawley Down Light Railway, it's a model with some presence!

 

[trammayo]

Nice model - looks like the lengthened version? When I heard about it I fancied buying one (couldn't afford the diecast D/D's).

 

[Hobo]

That looks great!
I also find the diecast buses a bit too expensive, so will definitely be getting one of these!

 

[pghewett]

Definitely an RML with the small extra window in the centre of the saloons. Tottenham (AR) shed had a number of these for the 76. As to Crawley (Downs), Crawley shed (CY) had only RCLs - same general layout but green, of course, and with platform doors.

GH

 

[Miamigo259]

The diecast ones have dropped in price of late - or rather, some of the liveries have - as I've seen one at a show for under £50, which isn't a lot more than the kit, though you don't have the "pleasure" of making it (and it's an RM rather than an RML).

 

[yb281]

It's an excellent kit (but with one or two niggling errors) and, although it will look a tiny bit out of place on the Crawley Down Light Railway, it's a model with some presence!

I saw this reviewed in a magazine a month or so ago. Must admit I was a bit disappointed when I saw that they'd decided to choose the Routemaster again rather than something that saw more widespread service. I suppose they think it's a safer bet?

 

[pghewett]

Sorry, it really is an RML. The RMLs have 4 1/2 windows per lower deck saloon (as in the picture) plus a similar half bay upstairs, whereas the RMs have only 4. This enabled them to accommodate an extra 8 passengers. Robbs' book on LT central area RM allocations gives a very long list of possible Tottenham RML numbers that could be used for the model and shows a picture of RML 2479 on the 76 in the plain livery with just the roundel.

BTW £50 may sound a bit steep - and is - but the equivalent 1:24 RT a few years ago came in at around £100. Tempting but... no.

GH

GH

 

[Old Tom]

Sorry, it really is an RML. The RMLs have 4 1/2 windows per lower deck saloon (as in the picture) plus a similar half bay upstairs, whereas the RMs have only 4. This enabled them to accommodate an extra 8 passengers. Robbs' book on LT central area RM allocations gives a very long list of possible Tottenham RML numbers that could be used for the model and shows a picture of RML 2479 on the 76 in the plain livery with just the roundel.

BTW £50 may sound a bit steep - and is - but the equivalent 1:24 RT a few years ago came in at around £100. Tempting but... no.

GH

GH

Yes, it is the stretched RML (going by the number of posts on bus/model forums - but I'm no expert) but the main complaint seems to be that the model is based on a restored prototype and consequently has lots of 'elf and safety' transfers that are totally spurious for a bus that's in service and that the adverts are wrong!
I'll give you an example of the transfer sheet being rubbish. This is what the capacity sign says:
Passenger Capacity 77
Upper Slaoon 40
Lowers Sallon 40
Standing lower saloon 5
Scuse me?!
As I said, an excellent kit but beware if you want to build a proper replica.

 

[Miamigo259]

Sorry, it really is an RML. The RMLs have 4 1/2 windows per lower deck saloon (as in the picture) plus a similar half bay upstairs, whereas the RMs have only 4. This enabled them to accommodate an extra 8 passengers. Robbs' book on LT central area RM allocations gives a very long list of possible Tottenham RML numbers that could be used for the model and shows a picture of RML 2479 on the 76 in the plain livery with just the roundel.

GH

The diecast one is an RM, the plastic one is an RML.
I think after 32 years in the 12" to the foot bus industry I know the difference!!
and I can't be bothered to buy one either..........

The 1:24 DMS model was the more useful one for representing other operators (after LT sold them all off), but the price of that one started at £150 and never seemed to drop much lower.

Of course the 1:24 Bedford OB is the most universal type they have produced in that scale so far, but still haven't been tempted by one of those either. Might do if they do a Mulleys of Ixworth one, though.

 

[garrymartin]

Shame its yet another Routemaster model, a wasted oppotunity in my book.

 

[Old Tom]

Of course the 1:24 Bedford OB is the most universal type they have produced in that scale so far, but still haven't been tempted by one of those either. Might do if they do a Mulleys of Ixworth one, though.

I've got a 1:24 OB, it's the Original Classics version in Southdown colours (with lights!):

Got it for £30 off evilbay and always fancied trying to convert it to another livery. It comes apart very easily and it would be an easy re-spray job.....but the transfers might be a bit of a problem

 

[pghewett]

Raises the interesting question of what would be a good universally useful model for UK modellers. For accompanying light rail in the immediate post war period, the OB certainly or perhaps some form of Bristol halfcab single decker but later, into the RM era, definitely not a London vehicle- a Leyland Leopard, perhaps or a Bristol MW?

 

[Old Tom]

Finished!

OK, rule 8 applies: the side adverts shouldn't be there.... but they dooo look rather nice!

 

[garrymartin]

A Guy Arab Utility, Leyland PD2, Leyland Tiger TS8, saw service across the UK, & Tigers went to Austrailia!
More recent buses could be either a Atlantean, National, or Bristol VR ?
P.S. Nice job Tom

 

[pghewett]

Looks very good! Interior burgundy trim/moquette/Sung yellow ceiling etc especially nice. 2273 was at AR in the back end of '65/'66, so entirely right.

GH

 

[mike]

its a beautifull model to be proud off

 

[Rhinochugger]

Oh, and I have swung on those poles

 

[trammayo]

Now you have posted more photos, I'm really taken by it. Niggles aside, its a great model for the money!

 

[nicebutdim]

Very nice model indeed. I'd like to see an RF come out in 1:24.
I drove an RM at Tolworth when they were being stored after having been taken out of service. After a few years of driving omo buses it was quite an experience.
Here's a little fact, my mum was the first woman to drive a bus in London, as it was seen as a only a man's job at the time. She applied dozens of times before they gave in and agreed to train her just to shut her up with the vision that there was no way she could pass the test or control such a vehicle. She passed first time and continued to drive them until her death in '96.

 

[mole]

R M L best bus I have had the pleasure of driving far more driver friendly then some other tupes of bus that have come about in the last 40 years or so