SUN STAR 1/24 - 850 DYE QUEEN's SILVER JUBILEE

If you are interested in that great icon of London the AEC Routemaster, then this absolutely stunning will not disappoint!

The Sun Star AEC Routemaster is a limited edition model and are getting rare to find as new ones find their place in collections. Sun Star have reportedly ceased making the Routemaster of which there are about 7 different models.

The detail is outstanding, the model 'looks right', it has a metal body and is quite heavy in weight but it is something you can look at from any angle and really enjoy.

The bonnet lifts to show a representation of the famous 9.6 litre AEC six cylinder diesel engine, turn the bus ovr and you get a detailed chassis with separate gearbox, a fan that goes round by hand and radiator pipes.

The interior is superb, the moquette seat patterns are accurately reproduced, the hand rails in chrome too, the wheels are poseable (steerable) and the wheels rotate and have lovely scaled AEC badges on the hubs, the front grille is a fine gauze and you can see the radiator through the mesh.

This really is an adults only model and is a striking conversation piece. Each model comes with a certificate recording the individual serial number of the bus in that edition. --Mr.M Sander

With a registration of 850 DYE, this collector's model of the Routemaster is finished in the silver livery celebrating the Queen's Silver Jubilee London Celebrations 1977. Buy here

CORGI CLASSICS 1/50 MORRIS LUTON VAN - BISHOP"S MOVE

Bishop & Son's Depositories Ltd. was founded in 1854 by J.J.Bishop, who came down to London from Norfolk.Before long the premises were outgrown, so the company moved to Hugh St. SW1.The Company remained on this site for over 100 years.At the start of the 20th Century the Company developed the 'Lft Van' which could be transferred between Road, Rail and Sea. Currently in its fith generation the company carries out domestic, corporate, business deepsea relocations and distribution.

The BMC cab, badged as a Morris, combined with the new Luton body makes for a pleasing model, and one that sits nicely beside the Bedford Pantechnicon of a few years back. Bishop's Move has a strong following, this model marking the 150th anniversary. This model also comes with a numbered certificate limited edition. See more

MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES: AEC 'S' TYPE BUS 'DUBLIN CORPORATION'

The AEC 'S' type bus (YET05) is featured operated by Dublin Corporation. This well decorated model is prototypically covered in advertisements which naturally add a flavour of the location and period. As examples of the detail now being included by Matchbox, note the fleet numbers on the front (behind the driver) and rear (on the platform), the 'Watch Your Step' warning on the platform, and the fact that the seats are separately painted in light brown (in contrast to the dark brown floor).

CORGI: KARRIER TROLLEYBUS 'IPSWICH'

The Karrier W Trolleybus is available in the green and pale cream of Ipswich. With differing tampo-printed advertisements on the nearside and offside, and with extremely well printed coats of arms on both sides, it is a pity that the front advertisements and destination board are in the form of a label. Buy it now.

CORGI - GUY ARAB UTILITY BUS - SOUTHAMPTON CORPORATION TRANSPORT 50th ANNIVERSARY 1994

Yet another variation of Corgi's purposeful Guy Arab bus - this time looking handsome indeed, in a red over yellow colour scheme. Carrying TyPhoo advertising, perhaps it's not everybody's cup of tea but you can't knock the detailing of this batch of 2600 production runs. DTR44 was frequent sight on the dock run and was part of a 185-strong fleet commissioned between 1946 and 1955. See more

THE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO TRANSPORT TOYS

This is a magnificent album of gorgeous double page color spreads. Everything from pedal cars, die cast, tinplate, and other materials. A useful feature is the inclusion of the same figure in each spread so that one can immediately see the comparative sizes from one to another. This is especially useful in the case of the early Matchbox which were not made to any consistent scale. Instead they wer made to fit the box! Thus the overall dimensions in inches are given instead. More modern diecast is often made in 1:50 scale (metric O guage) and 1:43 scale is close enough to look well on an O guage model train layout. Not a reference but a dream book: Especially the hard-used timplate Buddy L and pedal cars which were not made as collector's items. I well remember the Doepke line of construction equipment made in the late forties. Twelve fifty then, now extremely collectable and expensive. --El Cutachero Buy it now

CORGI - FODEN LIVESTOCK - IAN S. ROGER -NEWTON OF FORGIE, KEITH

In 1973 Ian Roger and his wife Rachel started in livestock haulage operating 2 lorries and employing 1 driver with a 1968 7 tonne Commer with a 21 ft cedarwood float painted in British Leyland Rover Sand. The business slowly grew through the 70s and 80s expanding into bulk and general haulage. In the early 90s their two sons Colin and Graeme Roger joined the family business and started moving bulk vegetables in a larger scale. Today the Company runs a mixed fleet of Scania, Volvo, Foden, DAF and MAN artics and drawbar combinations concentrating on livestock, bulk and general haulage, still painted in the same colour of Rover Sand. See more

EFE 1/76 PARAMOUNT 3500 - GREENLINE INVICTA

Perhaps the most interesting of the Paramount release so far is this Green Line-liveried model in Maidstone & District's Invicta branding for the Maidstone to London Express service.

The colourful London Greenline coach services livery sets off the rather formal lines of the Paramount well, and in fact the liverly could have been designed specially for the Paramount, so cleverly does it pick up on that characteristic plunging side window.

The front grille is to a slightly different pattern than the previous versions.

One of the neatest touches is the appearance of the small Plaxton badges front and rear, while the Invicta prancing white horse logo in its red triangle is a gem. A characterful latter day Greenline coach from EFE. See more

EFE 1/76 AEC 2RT2 - LONDON TRANSPORT

The first release of the newly-revised RT casting from EFE comes as one of the pre-war versions of the bus, in wartime livery, with single headlight and visibility markings. It captures the look of the vehicle very well. See more

KOVAP TIN PLATE: VOLKSWAGEN PICKUP

WELLY 1/24th SCALE AUSTIN FX4 TAXICAB

Introduced onto the roads of London in 1959, the all-new Austin FX4 taxicab was set to replace the FX3, which had first appeared some ten years earlier. Built to the exacting specifications of the Public Carriage Office, the new cab at last gave full all-weather protection for the cab driver in a purpose-built volume production taxicab. Powered by the trusty 2.2 litre diesel BMC engine or similar capacity petrol engines, the FX4 could still turn on a 25 foot ‘sixpence’ and carry four or five people in comfort with their luggage. The original cabs are easily recognizable by the ‘teddy bear’ turn indicators mounted on the roof sides, small rear lamps and a smoked glass rear screen for privacy. Initially only available in black, the FX4 can now be had in any colour you like. It has been updated and modernized frequently over the last 30-odd years, with the lastest derivative still the only real volume production taxicab on the streets of London. Like the AEC Routemaster, and built at almost exactly the same time, these two vehicles epitomize London and are known world-wide. See more.

CORGI JUNIOR: ROADLINE VAN

Roadline was the name used by the BRS parcels service back in the late 1970s, and is now long gone. The clever ‘r’ symbol for ‘junction ahead’, and it was carried on a Corgi Junior Leyland Terrier box van in the deep green colour used on the fleet. The Corgi Junior range was used for promotional purpose but this particular version was a general issue and is now quite rare in perfect condition.

MOTORMINT 1/18 FIAT MULTIPLA

Imagine a Fiat 600 with the bonnet cut off and an extra passenger section mounted amidships and you have, in essence, the Fiat Multipla. Introduced in 1955 it was produced until 1964. With a total length of 139ins (354cm) it had three rows of seats to accommodate six people. Powerd by the Fiat 600 saloon engine of 633cc, the little bus would happily do 50 mph and give 45 mpg. The rear-mounted engine meant luggage space was limited but the seats did fold down. Used as taxis in their native Italy, the fully independently sprung minibus was the original people carrier back in the mid 1950s, an idea that has been taken up by the Japanese car manufactures of today.

Our 1:18 scale Fiat 600 Multipla Taxi is chocked full of great features. The driver's side front door opens showing taxi meter and luggage area. The rear passenger door also opens revealing soft-to-touch upholstery on the folding and bench seats. The engine is wired and plumb. There's even a luggage rack on top and a toolbox with tools. Model Feature Opening Trunk Soft-to-Touch Upholstery Opening Front Drivers Door Complete Toolbox is Included Opening Rear Passenger Door 4-Cylinder 32hp. Engine is Wired and Plumb Half the Front Seat was the Inside Luggage Compartment Precision Die-Cast Replica 7.5 Inches Long 1:18 scale. See more.

CORGI: AEC REGAL HALF CAB 'MANCHESTER CITY TEAM' COACH

The football connection is continued with the AEC Regal half-cab coach in the livery (orange and brown) of Finglands, carrying a victorious Manchester City team. The livery on the coach is pleasing in its own right, but the figures that Corgi has included to appear through the sun-roof are very appealing, and have been carefully painted.

MATCHBOX: THE 5A BUS

It was not until the London bus, 5a, was added to the range in mid-1954, the sales of the newly-launched Matchbox Toys expanded rapidly. The 5a bus initially advertised ‘Matchbox series’ but later models featured ‘Player Please’ for a comparatively short time and for a long time ‘BP Viscostatic’. The BP company was one of a number which paid for the privilege of having its name advertised on Matchbox vehicles. The bus had paper labels advertising the ‘Matchbox series’. It was by far the smallest Lesney bus, as it measured only 52mm. The bus had paper labels advertising the ‘Matchbox series’. It comes with or without a number plate recess at the rear. The undetailed grille was decorated with gold trim.

MATCHBOX: FREEWAY GAS TANKER

During the early 1970s Matchbox decided to include the '1-75' range futurishtic models to help capture the toy market away from competitors. Many traditional vehicles were quickly replaced and in 1973 the Freeway Gas Tanker was introduced. There were many different labels used on the tank which was subject to many minor casing variations, not least the allowance for a hole which enabled a towing hook to be fitted so that a trailer could be towed. Most cabs had purple windows though a few had red or amber. Strengthening braces were fitted around the base of the cab in later versions.

The Freeway Gas Tanker remained in the range for nine years until it was replaced in 1982 by a Layland Tanker. The general release was a red cab and a white tank on a red chassis with Burmah in either label form or tampo print.

In 1984 a model which had previously been included only in the US range as a milk tanker appeared around the world as a petrol tanker. This was a Peterbilt six-wheeler. There are other combinations of cab and tank which have not been authenticated. The English-made blue and white Milk Tankers have not been included.

MATCHBOX: LEYLAND PETROL TANKER

Before the bedford was discontinued an 8-wheeled petrol tanker had been included in the line. The cab was in green but the tank remained white. The decal soon gave way to a label because whilst decals had to be applied by hand all labels were soon applied by machine with a saving in production costs. In 1970, the Layland tanker was adapted to Superfast wheels. The BP labels were to be found at either the front side of the tank or in the center. Another short run saw the fiting of a grey grille and base.

MATCHBOX: BEDFORD PETROL TANKERS

Matchbox have always had a policy of retaining certain vehicles in the ‘1-75’ range. The London bus, a Rolls-Royce, a Jaguar and certain construction vehicles spring to mind. In addition there have always been petrol tankers. In May 1964 a Bedford Petrol Tanker was includes in the range. For the first time on a Matchbox model it featured a tipping cab and tipping front seats as on the real vehicle. The initial release was fitted with grey wheels but this was soon changed to black wheels.

CORGI 50th ANNIVERSARY - ERF ECT OLYMPIC CURTAINSIDE - J.R. ADAMS

In a Corgi ballot, this vehicle type drew the most votes. To represent England, readers chose this Newcastle based haulier's ERF. The packaging includes two reproduction catalogues, plinth, certificate and a keyring bearing the initials of J.R. Adams. See more.

EFE - 1/76 AEC MK.V ELLIPTICAL TANKER

Exclusive First Editions (EFE) are the leading brand of 1:76 scale die-cast vehicles for model collectors and railway enthusiasts. Each item is produced with the closest attention to detail and authenticity, being only produced once at an accurate 1:76 scale (OO Gauge). All subjects are researched meticulously and made to the highest standards of detail and period effect to recreate the character and spirit of the original vehicle. Being the same scale the models complement each other and create a fascinating historic collection. EFE take great pride in setting new standards of excellence, which, combined with expertly detailed hand finishing, gives each model its unique individuality and collectability. See here.