CORGI OOC - PLAXTON EXCALIBUR OXFORD LONDON EXPRESS COACH

The Volvo B10M Plaxton Excalibur is a striking coach, and it looks very impressive in Oxford CityLink livery.

Corgi has gone to a lot of trouble to reproduce the complex livery. There's an enormous of detail in the tampo printing. As well as the 'E' emblem and obvious Oxford London Express livery, the Oxford Bus Company logo is well done. And you can even read the details of the Five Star luxury Coach: 'double glazed windows, full air conditioning'

With the exception of a bit of a white smudge on the passenger door, this is certainly one of the most intricate and best executed liveries we've seen. Shop here

HOT WHEELS - STREET ROADDER

This was a small, simple, but very typical, model of a stripped-down and hotted-up 1932 Ford. It was nicely made and well finished, with a white body and a flame tampo in red and orange on each side. It had a metal chassis, grey plastic interior, windscreen and grille, plus a huge engine in chromed plastic.

HOT WHEELS - FORMULA P.A.C.K.

The formula racing car was the bizarrely named Formula P.A.C.K. It was finished in black, with attractive orange and light green tampos, and an unpainted base, engine and interior. The model was deleted in 1978, but revived in 1982 under the name of ‘Malibu Grand Prix’ with the lovely Real Rider wheels. It was again re-release in 1984 in yellow and called ‘Lightning Gold’, but by then, this type of racing car was looking pretty dated.

SIKU 1/55 MERCEDES BENZ ACTROS

In the big 1/55th scale series we can expect a nine-axle extending boom mobile crane, which should complement the two earlier lattic mast outfits released over the last couple of years. To complete the heavy haulage side there is a Mercedes Benz Actros tractor hauling a new five axle draw-bar low loader with O&K bucket loader for cargo. Shop here

CORGI 1/50 DAIMLER GREEN LINE UTILITY

The Daimler CW is released in Green Line livery. It's as well moulded and detailed a body as any from OOC so far. Nice details include the noticeable ribbing between panels characteristic of the Utilities, the moulded battery box at the front and some careful detailing around the driver's door. It's plastic detail that makes the model, however. The interior seat moulding capture quite nicely the slatted seats that made such an impression (on their behinds) to war-time and post-war travellers.

The handsome Daimler fluted radiator is sadly black rather than gleaming metal this is totally authentic of course, the bus being delivered in 1945 when austerity measures were in full effect. The bus modelled is a CWD6 with a Duple body and smooth Daimler engine, rather than the Gardener engine of the earliest batch. Particularly to be commended is the tampo printing. The Green Line symbols are very nice done. Shop here

DAIMLER 1929 KING GEORGE V (SANDINGHAM)

  
This magnificent detailed Royal Daimler purchased by King George V and delivered in August 1929 was for his personal use and only two were made - the second was for his wife Queen Mary. Painted in the Royal colours of black and maroon, the car also carried the appropriate heraldic decoration. The Royal 'identification' lamp was fitted on the canopy and the crowning glory has to be the mascot on the bonnet depicting Britannia sitting on the Globe and the Royal Standard features proudly above the front windscreen. Model is presented on a removable plinth with a removable hard plastic cover. Shop here

BBURAGO 1/18 NEW BEETLE

1998 Volkswagen New Beetle Coupe Yellow 1/18 Diecast Model Car by Bburago  

One of model is the Bburago, here in yellow. Bburago has produced a real winner with this model, complete with opening bonnet with detailed engine (yes,it's in the front), opening doors and hatchback (though it looks like the rear of the 'classic' Beetle, the curvy rear features a cleverly concealed hatch).

It's difficult to know where to start on the praise for this excellent model - one of Bburago's best. Interior details include the tiny moulded indicator stalks, 'glass' in the rear view mirror, grab handles. The distinctive and attractive hubs are very well captured, the wide tyres, all the lights are glazed (there's even orange glazing in the combined side lights and indicators) and the VW badge is as prominent as it on the new car.