Britbus
AN3-03 "London Country - Stevenage" model
John and myself are extremely pleased that
what should have been the first Atlantean model issued (based on the many
internal and external photographs taken at Cobham in 2006), AN121 will
finally be available in miniature form from around 31st January 2009
(original estimate was 31st October 2008!)
and thank Britbus for what looks to be a splendid model.
The finished article displays "370
Tilbury Asda Store" and has running plates for GY18. The model
has black wheels instead of the dark green and an offside London Country
North East fleetname, which AN85, AN132 and AN257 amongst earlier painted
examples had, but AN121, one of the later batch to be painted didn't
have this because of some longer advertisements obscuring this. The
nearside engine cowling has also gained a grille, which the AN68 chassis ANs
didn't have with London Country, though when sold to other bus companies,
they could be seen in all manner of guises, when worn out cowlings etc were
replaced with those made available when earlier ANs started to be scrapped!
It's also interesting that downstairs has grey window rubbers, with black
used upstairs except for the front window, however the real thing may have
to sport black window rubbers once these are replaced due to availability.
It would have been nice to see "370 GRAYS" used and BLUE seats, but it has
to be said the detail is superb and we're delighted with the model and full
credit to whoever at Britbus spotted our message about "300 STEVENAGE" being
incorrect!
Please note, that despite offers of
assistance and contact via this web site, nobody from Britbus checked with
us to confirm small details such as moquette colour, livery colour, the
direction the staircase should run or indeed the best destination blind to
be used (which in the LCNE livery should be 370 GRAYS - the only service
which the bus operated prior to being demoted to training duties in
September 1988).
You will notice from the images on the
"Home Page" that the Mayflower Green looks faded on the model (like the full
sized one!), though this is a pre-production model, it is doubtful this will
change on the main run. Celestra moquette has no traces of orange in
it and would have looked better blue, as depicted on the first LCBS model
AN2-01 (AN65 - JPL165K).
We've already received 3 e-mails from
people "complaining" of our recommendations and ruining the
authenticity of the model, hence this message being posted!
If we can purchase a supply of these
models at a discounted price, the intention is to make some available
depicting "370 GRAYS" and blue seats. We'll advise developments
regarding this, though the earliest they'd be available would be at Cobham
in 2009. If you would like to add your name to a waiting list and help
us judge demand (if any!), please send us an e-mail using the link in the "Contact
Us page.
Britbus should be applauded with regard to
how much detail has been captured and applied to the model and remember that
whilst AN121 was a trainer at Stevenage, she could have been used on
any service, including a short 300, but her destination glass was panelled
over, so an A4 sheet of paper would have appeared in the windscreen.
When stored at SV after the initial purchase in March 1989, she was plated
up for service TWICE amongst SOVEREIGN's 12 other single door ANs, but
drivers couldn't work out how to get in - because she was secured!!!
Of course, in LCBS days, it wasn't uncommon for ANs minus engines to be
plated up when the Engineering Department was responsible for the morning
run out!!!
.Message posted
15/08/2008 - updated 26/01/2009
