Crossways - a model bus fleet

[birch1]

Another new addition for the Crossways fleet comes in the form of ex Ashleys (Kieren Ashley) YJ56 LLJ, an ADL Dart/ Plaxton Pointer which seats 38. She will used for Stroud local bus services allowing another of the hired e200’s to be returned to their lessors. Delivered in plain white, she has had a full internal refurb before having livery applied.

 

 

… I bet you weren’t expecting that livery!

 

It has been decided to retire the old fleet livery and replace it with an updated version, for the following reasons:

1. The time taken to paint the old livery was over a week (working almost full days on it), something that has slowed down development and will not be sustainable in the future due to other commitments.
2. The paint shop have had increasing paint bleed issues with masking tape over recent months.
3. The old livery provided very little opportunity for additional advertising on the side of vehicles, such as our website address and the social media logos for our Flickr, Facebook and Rm Web pages seen on the new one.

As you can see, the new livery isn’t a complete rebrand, since the logo remains the same and similar colours are used. This livery is actually a simplified version of the new livery for coaches (due to less space on the sides of a bus) which will be revealed when a coach next enters the fleet. It is not yet known what livery minibuses will wear. Due to the similarities, there are at present no plans to repaint vehicles wearing the old livery. Two photos below show the rear of the new livery and provide a direct comparison between new and old.

 

In reality, this is a repainted EFE diecast, completed with a Paragon Kits ticket machine.

 

 

[Orion]

Looks very nice. A small query is that the large X looks just a tiny bit odd to my eye with the red arrow to the left. It's your fleet though, so you can of course do whatever you like!

[birch1]

Looks very nice. A small query is that the large X looks just a tiny bit odd to my eye with the red arrow to the left. It's your fleet though, so you can of course do whatever you like!

I was waiting for someone to notice that!

 

I might have put it on the wrong way round accidentally...

[birch1]

Sometimes  vehicles can have more interesting histories than their initial appearance would otherwise suggest. This Iveco Eurorider/ Plaxton Paragon, registered YN58 JFX, is no exception.

 

 

My attraction to the vehicle on purchase almost two years ago was its cream colour, which was recognised as the colours of the former Barline travel, a fleet I had followed closely during its active years and played a large part in inspiring me to start Crossways. I had intended to put it on a 2010 plate to give it as long a life as possible in the fleet, it at the time being on a private plate. However, the discovery of a registration plate with the aforementioned registration stuck on the underside changed my mind in the belief that it was the original registration.

 

Given this history, I thought it fitting for this vehicle to become the first to wear the new livery for coaches within the Crossways fleet. This livery is based on the same principle as the new bus livery, but has more elements to it to take advantage of the greater space available on the sides of a coach. The interior has also been given a full refurbishment. She will be used for general coaching work right from schools/ private hire to standing in for newer vehicles on trips further afield as and when required.

 

In reality, this is a stripped and repainted Corgi Diecast. My thanks go to Paul Savage for providing a replacement front end to replace the damaged original.

 

[birch1]

 

Crossways is set to be featured in the next issue of the magazine 'Model Diorama'!

 

Shared from the group Model Layouts and Dioramas on Facebook, here is the press release from the magazine (Text and image Copyright Nathan Bennett):

A huge thank you to those who purchased Issue 1 of Model Diorama Magazine. The feedback has been great! I really appreciate your support and help getting this off the ground (or on the road if you love puns like me). I am so passionate about this hobby that it gives me so much pleasure to publish this magazine for you all.

Some of you have been asking about Issue 2 and I am pleased to announce Pre-Orders are now open at:
www.modeldiorama.com

 

Issue 2 will be shipped week commencing 8th October 2018 and delivered right to your door. As usual, there is some great layouts showcased including Crossways by Ryan Birch, a lovely 'Gap Fillers' article by Matt Hill and a wonderful piece worth reading from Philip Smithies about how to photograph your Diorama.

www.modeldiorama.com

Edited September 26, 2018 by birch1

[birch1]

Our Iveco Eurorider/ Plaxton Paragon, registered YN58 JFX, seen parked up in a local pay and display car park awaiting its next duty. Taking pride of place on the rear corner is a fresh battle scar!

 

[TerrySVR]

I'm impressed with the concrete effect flooring and the weathering.

[birch1]

 

Having returned from loan at JM Coaches this week, Crossways Dennis Javelin/ Plaxton Profile WA61 KFP has had full branding applied for Cruiseconnect, a new arm of Flexicoach - the partnership between Southwestbus and Crossways providing coach services 'on demand'.

 

Given the popularity of cruising in recent times, Cruise transfers have been seen as a significant opportunity for growth for Flexicoach. Two new routes will commence from 1st March:
1. South Wales to Southamption - operated by JM Coaches
2. Gloucester to London Tilbury - operated by Crossways

Both routes have various intermediate stops, and are yet to be alocated route numbers.

 

The Profile's Cruise Connect branding has been applied onto the livery of its former owner, Town and Country group, this coincidentally fitting in perfectly with the brand. However, without a toilet, it is unlikely that it will ever see use on cruise transfers. Our Cruiseconnect service will be interworked with the Gloucester to London 'Eurowide Link' service, hence sharing use of Eurowide branded Hino S'Elega GL67 RSZ.

 

In reality, this is a model scratchbuilt as a Plaxton Premiere 320 by Roger Hey and converted to a Profile by Stephen Read. I have only added transfers and detailing onto the model.

[birch1]

 

Investment in the coach side of the business continues with the first brand new coach for the Crossways fleet in nearly three years, all recent deliveries being sourced second hand.

 

Given the popularity of the Mercedes Tourismo at the moment, the company decided to follow suit with their own vehicle. Registered GL19 RFA, she is an example of the stretched 'm/2' version. Despite this, the vehicle has just 49 seats, with tables and extra legroom accounting for the extra length. A second door for wheelchair access just behind the front angle will enable with the PSVAR/ DDA regulations set to come into force at the end of this year for coaches.

The addition of another executive vehicle will reduce pressure on existing fleet members on contracted work, in turn enabling more private hire work to be undertaken.

 

In reality, the model is scratchbuilt by me, using parts from Mark Hughes Models and a driver from RTC models

 

[Ragtag]

Looks great Ryan - would love to see some in-progress shots if there are any?

[RANGERS]

19 hours ago, birch1 said:

....A second door for wheelchair access just behind the front angle will enable with the PSVAR/ DDA regulations set to come into force at the end of this year for coaches......

 

Those regulations are already mandatory for coaches of this age which are used on services that fall within scope of PSVAR. The changes which take effect on Jan 1st 2020 only impact on coaches registered prior to Jan 1st 2005.

 

Lovely model, captures the clean and square lines of theTourismo beautifully.

[birch1]

On 22/06/2019 at 15:14, Ragtag said:

Looks great Ryan - would love to see some in-progress shots if there are any?

I have finally managed to find some work in progress shots of the Tourismo model.

Unfortunately most of these were taken quickly and are therefore of poor quality, but I hope that they still get the message accross. I also dont have pictures of every stage but if you would like to ask about something not pictured, please feel free to comment.

 

 

The first stage. Sides have been cut out from sheet plasticard using a scalpel and scribed to give the panel lines.

 

 

Initial body construction.

 

 

 

Roof and window pillars – I wouldn’t recommend adding the roof the way I did it!

 

 

Chassis and floor construction.

 

 

Test fitting the chassis to the body

 

 

Some small extra details have been added here such as a destination screen etc.

 

The completed interior with body sprayed white

 

 

Both halves gluing together. The elastic band helped keep things in the correct place.

 

 

A big jump here, windows and transfers have been applied. Windscreen, mirrors and other small details remain.

 

 

Rear detail.

 

 

The completed model.

[PhilJ W]

On 26/09/2018 at 17:08, birch1 said:

 

Crossways is set to be featured in the next issue of the magazine 'Model Diorama'!

 

Shared from the group Model Layouts and Dioramas on Facebook, here is the press release from the magazine (Text and image Copyright Nathan Bennett):

A huge thank you to those who purchased Issue 1 of Model Diorama Magazine. The feedback has been great! I really appreciate your support and help getting this off the ground (or on the road if you love puns like me). I am so passionate about this hobby that it gives me so much pleasure to publish this magazine for you all.

Some of you have been asking about Issue 2 and I am pleased to announce Pre-Orders are now open at:
www.modeldiorama.com

 

Issue 2 will be shipped week commencing 8th October 2018 and delivered right to your door. As usual, there is some great layouts showcased including Crossways by Ryan Birch, a lovely 'Gap Fillers' article by Matt Hill and a wonderful piece worth reading from Philip Smithies about how to photograph your Diorama.

www.modeldiorama.com

I have the first and second editions of this mag but then it disappeared. 

[grahame]

8 hours ago, birch1 said:

I have finally managed to find some work in progress shots of the Tourismo model.

Unfortunately most of these were taken quickly and are therefore of poor quality, but I hope that they still get the message accross. I also dont have pictures of every stage but if you would like to ask about something not pictured, please feel free to comment.

 

 

The first stage. Sides have been cut out from sheet plasticard using a scalpel and scribed to give the panel lines.

 

 

Initial body construction.

 

 

 

Roof and window pillars – I wouldn’t recommend adding the roof the way I did it!

 

 

Chassis and floor construction.

 

 

Test fitting the chassis to the body

 

 

Some small extra details have been added here such as a destination screen etc.

 

The completed interior with body sprayed white

 

 

Both halves gluing together. The elastic band helped keep things in the correct place.

 

 

A big jump here, windows and transfers have been applied. Windscreen, mirrors and other small details remain.

 

 

Rear detail.

 

 

The completed model.

 

Impressive modelling.

G

[birch1]

On 29/06/2019 at 20:22, PhilJ W said:

I have the first and second editions of this mag but then it disappeared. 

 

Yes, unfortunately it seemed to disappear after the second issue, not really sure what happened to be honest.

[birch1]

After a period where things in real life have taken over modelling of late, I have now found some time to give the fleet a bit of attention.

 

 

Back in the summer, Crossways management scoffed at the suggestion of the fleet purchasing a brand new double decker, for the company's work rarely requires such investment.

However, 6 months later and circumstances are different. Passenger numbers on the 507 Gloucester Park and Ride service have been impressive since the service was introduced in the Summer. With the service also connecting an ever growing large scale housing development, additional capacity was required.

 

Therefore, the first brand new vehicle of 2020 is GL20 HDE, an Alexander Dennis Limited Enviro 400mmc. This purchase is intended as a trial, which if successful may see the route converted to double deck operation in the future. It replaces an ADL Pointer Dart which becomes a spare.

 

The vehicle will not hit the road until March when the service is relaunched, allowing for an aggressive marketing campaign to take place in the meantime. This also enables the bus to see use on Cheltenham Gold Cup shuttle services just before the launch.

 

In reality, this a Northcord kit (purchased from Ttcdiecast), with a driver from RTC Models.

 

[birch1]

It has been a while since I last updated this thread, but here is a recent image of the Enviro 400 mentioned in the previous post:

 

Edited February 11, 2021 by birch1

[Pillar]

Excellent work. What do you use to make your decals? The quality is very good.

Edited February 11, 2021 by Pillar

[birch1]

4 minutes ago, Pillar said:

Excellent work. What do you use to make your decals? The quality is very good.

Many thanks! The decals are created using paper from Mr Decal Paper, on Amazon. There are inkjet and laser versions depending on the printer you have. Hope that helps?

[Pillar]

Thanks. I've been experimenting with the inkjet version myself but have found it gives very inconsitent results - specially with small text. The ink tends to bead on the surface rather than adhere properly to the paper. I've heard that the laser printer option is much better in this regard.

[birch1]

1 minute ago, Pillar said:

Thanks. I've been experimenting with the inkjet version myself but have found it gives very inconsitent results - specially with small text. The ink tends to bead on the surface rather than adhere properly to the paper. I've heard that the laser printer option is much better in this regard.

Yes, you are right there. The model above was done with the inkjet stuff, and if you look close enough you can probably see where the ink had been starting to run in places. My printer has since packed up and I have invested in a laser -  the results are definitely a lot better.

Are you using the same make of paper? I have noticed that different varnishes give mixed results with it. Halfords varnish has been much more reliable compared to the Humbrol version for myself.

[PhilJ W]

A laser printer is far better for decals as you don't have to seal the decal with acrylic varnish, you can use them straight off the printer.

[birch1]

Despite being based in the city of Gloucester, Crossways primarily serves a number of rural communities, providing essential services. 

Following on from the image above, the diorama below aimed to show a typical rural bus scene in Gloucestershire.

[Pillar]

12 minutes ago, birch1 said:

Despite being based in the city of Gloucester, Crossways primarily serves a number of rural communities, providing essential services. 

Following on from the image above, the diorama below aimed to show a typical rural bus scene in Gloucestershire.

 

Excellent modelling. An unglamorous scene, but it evokes the nostalgic feeling of coming to the end of a long walk in the woods and waiting for the bus home - from a shelter that feels like it sees about four passengers a year!

 

Regarding your decals, which laser printer did you buy? I'm looking for recommendations.

 

Cheers,

 

Liam

[PhilJ W]

I've had my laser printer about ten years and have recently had it refurbished so its good for another ten years. Its a Lexmark X543, I'm not sure if they are still made but a second hand refurbished one identical to mine was offered on E-bay recently for £400, mine cost about £300 to refurbish. Some will tell you that Lexmark ink cartridges are expensive, yes they are but they are also a lot larger than those fitted to cheap printers, they are about the same size as the old video tapes and they last for ages, two of the cartridges in my printer are the ones supplied when it was new and they still are half full.