4mm Scale Model Buses

[Southwold]

For my layout I'm modifying several model buses. For one, I need a replacement radiator to convert a Bristol into a Leyland TD5. Does anyone know of a supplier of these, either white metal, resin or any other medium?

 

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

 

Ken

[Metr0Land]

Just a thought.  Ebay has comleted listings showing EFE Leylands going for peanuts plus postage, which MAY be just as cheap as a specialist resin supplier+potsage?  I BELIEVE the rads on EFE models pull out with some persuasion?

[Sandhole]

Just a thought.  Ebay has comleted listings showing EFE Leylands going for peanuts plus postage, which MAY be just as cheap as a specialist resin supplier+potsage?  I BELIEVE the rads on EFE models pull out with some persuasion?

You are correct.

Mind you, that is some persuasion needed!!

[mikeharvey22]

The EFE Leyland TS8 single deck buses have the correct front mudguards and a version of the radiator used on some TD5s. I have used them for my East Kent TD5s.

[PhilJ W]

Before you go any further. What model of Bristol are you converting to a TD5? The only Bristol double decker that fits the bill is the OOC Bristol KS/ECW. As far as I'm aware the only pre-war Leylands fitted with post war ECW bodies were a few TD3's re-bodied for Eastern National.

[grahame]

For my layout I'm modifying several model buses. For one, I need a replacement radiator to convert a Bristol into a Leyland TD5. Does anyone know of a supplier of these, either white metal, resin or any other medium?

 

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

 

Have you tried the Model Bus Federation. Their shop has a section just for radiators with a massive selection.

 

G

[mikeharvey22]

Before you go any further. What model of Bristol are you converting to a TD5? The only Bristol double decker that fits the bill is the OOC Bristol KS/ECW. As far as I'm aware the only pre-war Leylands fitted with post war ECW bodies were a few TD3's re-bodied for Eastern National.

 

There were a few more post war but before ECW became suppliers to Bristol exclusively. In a short period between May and July 1948 ECW rebodied 20 East Kent TD4s and 4 TD5s from the 1936-1938 era, along with 25 Ribble TD5s from 1938. These were all lowbridge L27/28R so match the OOC Bristol K body. Little Bus Company is producing a resin kit of the TD4/5 versions in the near future. It is TD48L in this list. There is also a standard Bristol K lowbridge kit as well - K48L.

 

http://www.little-bus.com/littlebus-news.html

 

 

A similar body was also used on 25 ECW lowbridge Albion Venturer CX19 chassis for Red & White (17) and United Welsh (8) in 1948.

Edited July 20, 2018 by mikeharvey22

[runs as required]

...and what about other Tilling companies like Crosville, Linconshire and even (the BET subsid) North Western Road Car Co. besides Eastern National who also went in for surprising body/chassis couplings?

Body swappers par excellence NWRCC were not above buying new rads for prewar chassis (eg low Bristol rads for rebodied pre-war high rad saloons).

There was an oddball looking chrome rad Leyland or two carrying postwar lowbridge ECW bodies on the 28 to Hayfield - with all the Manchester Sunday hikers up to Kinder Downfall crowded aboard (the aftermath of the famous 1930s "Kinder Trespass").

dh

[stewartingram]

Before you go any further. What model of Bristol are you converting to a TD5? The only Bristol double decker that fits the bill is the OOC Bristol KS/ECW. As far as I'm aware the only pre-war Leylands fitted with post war ECW bodies were a few TD3's re-bodied for Eastern National.

 

The Eastern Counties fleet had a number of Leylands (not TD5 though) which were rebodied with ECW bodies, in their A, AH & AP classes.

I have a fleet of model ECOC vehicles (some not completed) which includes some of these. Corgi produced the Bristol/ECW lowbridge as a Leyland version for ECOC as an AP class, usually plenty on ebay. I have done a small number of conversions of this body to highbridge, one of which (unfinished) is an AH class, & has a Leyland radiator that I sourced online. I'll see if I can find the source later.

 

Stewart

 

Try looking around this site for inspiration:

 

http://easterncountiesomnibusco.com/

Edited July 20, 2018 by stewartingram

[ian]

Have you tried the Model Bus Federation. Their shop has a section just for radiators with a massive selection.

 

G

 

Sales to members only.

 

Many of the accessories come from the ABS Models range - you could try going direct to them.

[grahame]

Have you tried the Model Bus Federation. Their shop has a section just for radiators with a massive selection.

 

Sales to members only.

Could join for a year or find someone who is a member to order for you if you're unable to track down what you want elsewhere (and the MBF have it).

 

G.

[Ragtag]

Highly unlikely to get a response from Adrian at ABS in my experience, some of his stock is available through http://www.kwtrams.co.uk/ though perhaps not what you're after

Edited July 20, 2018 by Ragtag

[SRman]

Yes, ABS is dormant, to say the least.

Occasionally white metal or resin radiators come up on eBay too. 

I bought a heap of spare radiators, mostly ABS Streetscene white metal ones, for various bus types many years ago while they were still trading, and they still prove useful for the conversions and hacks I do.

I used to be a member of the MBF myself, but the cost for overseas membership went up at the same time as the exchange rate dropped alarmingly, so I dropped out. Even so, when I was a member, it was not very practical to buy from their shop as they never accepted credit cards, and bank drafts, foreign currency money orders and other alternatives all cost ridiculous amounts here in Australia .... and still do. I believe there was some discussion about accepting PayPal, but I don't know what the result of that was, if any.

[Ragtag]

They are just starting to trial electronic payments at the moment according to this month's journal