Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 This is a 1/24 scale model of a 1910 Type B bus built and operated by the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC). It had a capacity of 34 passengers (16 inside and 18 on the upper deck) and is considered to be the world's first mass-produced bus. It was built on a wooden(!) frame, had steel wheels, solid rubber tires (I mean "tyres"... ), and had a top speed of about 15-16 mph, which was actually faster than the speed limit at the time in London (12 mph). The kit is made by Occre (a Spanish company) and is a true multi-media kit. It's curbside, and like the real bus, the frame is wood, as is the main body (made up of many laser-cut pieces). The hood (I mean "bonnet"), fenders ("wings"), wheels, axles, springs, and various small detail parts like the handbrake lever, the steering wheel, the spring shackles, headlights, etc. are cast white metal. The kit also supplies brass rod to for the handrails, a photoetched sheet of aluminum parts (the skirts on the rear staircase, the staircase signboards, and various small hinges and detail parts). Also included is a sheet of thin Lexan that you cut out the windows from. All of the graphics are printed on an 8 1/2x11 sheet of paper and have no adhesive. It's up to the builder to figure out how to attach them. I find that painting the surface that they're going to be applied to with Future and then placing the cut out marking onto the wet Future is the perfect way to apply the markings. I built the kit mostly OOB but added several small scratchbuilt details per my reference photos. The biggest change I made was to scratchbuild a new front axle, spindles, tie rod, pittman arm, etc. in order to have poseable steering. All paint is acrylic craft paint with Future clearcoating (except the fenders, the various control levers, the pedals, steering wheel and headlamps, which are Model Master semigloss black). Bare wood like the seats and floor boards are stained with Minwax stain. Slight weathering via black wash was applied overall. Here is a photo of one of the real ones (restored). And here is my model: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 The driver's station was open to the elements... that had to be fun on cold winter days! Access to the upper deck was via the rear stairway: The people in the lower part sat on long wooden benches... While the riders "upstairs" had individual two-passenger benches: I added a scratchbuilt sun visor for the driver. The headlight "lenses" are clear 5-minute epoxy... Comments, questions and critiques are welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Wow Harry, that's really a beauty. I love seeing highly detailed, unusual and finely crafted models like this. You are an artist indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle potts Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Nicely done, Harry. I love these old buses. I've always wanted to build a 1/25 scale model of one, but they're hard to find, and expensive. Someday....maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Nicely done, Harry. I love these old buses. I've always wanted to build a 1/25 scale model of one, but they're hard to find, and expensive. Someday....maybe. This is an expensive kit... $400 MSRP. But I got it for a lot less, it was on sale for $220. Still not exactly cheap... but better than $400! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 That's truly amazing! Great model and in our favorite scale too. Best I've seen is the old AIrfix 1/32 scale kit. I had it as a kid and never got it together. I have an unbuilt one today that someday I'll take a shot at! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharoah Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Wow,what a great build! You do nice work! It looks like it was pretty crude transportation to us,but that was probably a nice way to get around back then. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 YOU BUILD?? Seriously .... great looking bus!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Like this. I too have the Old Airfix kit. I built it new back in the early 70's. Need to restore it. Wish that 1/24 scale kit was a Lot cheaper!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagoneer Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Wow Harry, great build. That's a very comprehensive sounding kit and worth every cent you paid I think. Was it a difficult build? All those little details make a great model. I used to work at the last stop of that bus, it would have been brilliant to see one coming over the bridge, especially as the local brewery was still using a horse and dray to deliver beer to the pubs in that area! We've come a long way in 100 years with bus design, here's it's 2012 equivalent: I walked around one of these at a bus show a few months ago, truly amazing design. Wag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Great model, Harry. Something else for my wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Absolutely stunning model, that's one build to be proud of .. I wish there were more bus models out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Fantastic looking bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Wow Harry, great build. That's a very comprehensive sounding kit and worth every cent you paid I think. Was it a difficult build? Yes, sort of. The basic construction of the body is straightforward enough, but it gets a little tricky when you have to start adding the details. For example, the builder has to form the rear stairway skirts (and signboards) out of flat aluminum parts, and you have to get the curves exactly right to fit tightly against the sides of the steps with go gaps. Also, the builder has to bend all the brass rod to form the handrails, and it's a little tricky to get that rear stairway handrail curved exactly right, because it has to be bent in the correct curvature in two dimensions... the curve as the rail goes up the stairs, and also the curve that follows the curve of the stairway as it curls to the top. It took me a little while to finally get it right. The rear stairs was definitely the hardest part of the whole job, the rest wasn't too bad. Another challenge is getting the curve of the roof. The roof is obviously a flat piece of wood (it's actually very thin plywood!). I had to soak the wood overnight and then clamp it into the correct curvature while the wood dried, so it would hold it's curved shape. Again, getting that curve exactly right was a little tricky. All the rest of the laser-cut wooden parts fit very well and precisely, there's not much trimming or sanding needed before a part fits into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brizio Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terror Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Do you have any engine pictures??Nice looking model,looks real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Do you have any engine pictures??Nice looking model,looks real. It's a curbside, there is no engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Man that is nice ! I always love to see something different and that is different. Very nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin T Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Very cool,I can almost guarentee that you will not see another one of these at a contest or show.Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Is that light blue overspray on the windows and tires? BTW,this is the Pickups, Vans, SUVs & Light Commercial section of the forum, not the bus section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Is that light blue overspray on the windows and tires? No, it's dust! Should've cleaned it up first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Nice job Harry, I want to build some bus kits this year, but its hard to make my self want to pay the asking price for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Teresi Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Harry........VERY VERY nice!!!!!!.........must have taken a long time to build........turned out great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Really nice! Apparently those open driver compartments weren't too bad in the winter. I've heard that you became so desensitized from the engine noise and vibration you didn't even notice the cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Beautiful model Harry. Congratulations on a great build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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