mikeharvey22 Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 It has been reported on the Model Bus Federation website that BT Models (aka Base Toys) have ceased trading. This has been confirmed by the UK importers, John Ayrey. The BT range was originally conceived as a modular product with a range of mix and match cabs, chassis and bodies for trucks, but also includes bespoke vehicles like crewbuses and vans on the BMC FG chassis, articulated and drawbar trailers, buses and coaches in N and 00. The availability of stocks at the importers is unknown at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamperman36 Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Looks like I'll have to start stocking up on the Leyland T45 cabbed trucks then. Plenty of uses for some. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeharvey22 Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Apparently being re-branded as BTM (Bus & Truck Models) with John Ayrey sourcing direct from the factory in China. Will be interesting to see what happens next. Ayreys always had a big hand in the livery choices after the original owner of Base Toys died. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 All the best and good luck to John Audrey with continuing the brand and range (especially in N gauge where it is more needed and possibly likely to be most beneficial). However I guess the limited range (1950/60s period vehicles and commercials - trucks and buses- only) would have restricted appeal. Perhaps they will look to broaden the range, which would be welcome. G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted October 26, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 26, 2017 I've been waiting for the United Bristol MW they had announced last year (2 years?) . it never arrived, so this probably explains why. Hopefully BTM will bring it out Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Good news the range is carrying on, although I'm sure that the range would have been of interest to someone long term had John Ayrey not decided to step in. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
divibandit Posted October 28, 2017 Share Posted October 28, 2017 That's great that BTM will continue the range. However, I (mis)understood that Bachmann had taken over Base Toys/B-T Models. I'll have to stock up on T45 cabs just like Tamperman, especially as I've just received SCAMMELL transfers from Kingfisher.... Steve 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 The news broke a couple fo weeks back and although John Ayrey are planning to take over the range, its reported that all existing tooling and stock in China is now in the hands of the Chinese Govt equivalent of the administrator, which will take some unravelling. Frank Waller was delighted at the news, not widely known is that BT plagiarised a number of his cabs to produce the original range, they could have made a better job of it mind. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium it's-er Posted October 29, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 29, 2017 I am really sorry to hear this news. B- T Models AEC Mammoth/Monarch/Mandator, Guy Otter/Warrior, Albion CX and Dodge Kew cabs are particular favourites of mine, and are not available anywhere else. They are real gems, John Storey 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fodenway Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 I am really sorry to hear this news. B- T Models AEC Mammoth/Monarch/Mandator, Guy Otter/Warrior, Albion CX and Dodge Kew cabs are particular favourites of mine, and are not available anywhere else. They are real gems, John Storey Most, if not all, of these are available from Road Transport Images! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeharvey22 Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 Frank Waller was delighted at the news, not widely known is that BT plagiarised a number of his cabs to produce the original range, they could have made a better job of it mind. I am always a bit surprised by this sort of comment. Don Craggs showed me a lot of the original masters in raw plasticard used for guidance in pattern making in China and they were definitely not bodged RTI cabs. Generally Bob Fridd's originals for the RTI range were altogether more accurate than the Base Toys articles. Designing for injection moulding and home resin casting are quite different processes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 (edited) I am always a bit surprised by this sort of comment. Don Craggs showed me a lot of the original masters in raw plasticard used for guidance in pattern making in China and they were definitely not bodged RTI cabs. Generally Bob Fridd's originals for the RTI range were altogether more accurate than the Base Toys articles. Designing for injection moulding and home resin casting are quite different processes.No doubt that the RTI ones were far better representations but the admission of the origin of the masters was to Frank himself by the originator of the initial range. Also, I dont believe Don had a great deal of input into the Base truck range, he kicked the thing off but had sadly passed on by the time it progressed to the tooling stage and I'm not so sure that it was those original masters which were used. There's no doubt that the Bristol LD was based on the resin Little Bus kit, of that I am certain and I believe Little Bus gave their blessing, albeit perhaps reluctantly as they'd no plans to repeat the kit in the future. Presumably the MW had similar origins, although with horrendous results on the initial runs. I did have some input into the Dominant although sadly too late to prevent it ending up with Dominant IV style flat glass side windows instead of the curved profile of the Dominant II, an error which really ruined an otherwise sound model. At least it was recognised and corrected on the 2mm version. Edited October 30, 2017 by RANGERS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 No doubt that the RTI ones were far better representations but the admission of the origin of the masters was to Frank himself by the originator of the initial range. Also, I dont believe Don had a great deal of input into the Base truck range, he kicked the thing off but had sadly passed on by the time it progressed to the tooling stage and I'm not so sure that it was those original masters which were used. There's no doubt that the Bristol LD was based on the resin Little Bus kit, of that I am certain and I believe Little Bus gave their blessing, albeit perhaps reluctantly as they'd no plans to repeat the kit in the future. Presumably the MW had similar origins, although with horrendous results on the initial runs. I did have some input into the Dominant although sadly too late to prevent it ending up with Dominant IV style flat glass side windows instead of the curved profile of the Dominant II, an error which really ruined an otherwise sound model. At least it was recognised and corrected on the 2mm version. Yes, Tony Asquith (who was Little Bus Company at the time) actively assisted BT in doing the Lodekka. He actually showed me a couple of pre-production models (for which there is now no need for secrecy). I can't remember whether he also assisted with the MW model, although it wouldn't surprise me if he did. I know Tony has also generously assisted other small manufacturers, particularly with models that weren't already in the LBC range or weren't planned for that range. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Good bloke is Tony. If you see him, Jeff, give him my regards! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Will do, Bernard. He is a top bloke! We will probably see him for a few days in December when he comes to stay in Melbourne. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeharvey22 Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share Posted October 31, 2017 No doubt that the RTI ones were far better representations but the admission of the origin of the masters was to Frank himself by the originator of the initial range. Also, I dont believe Don had a great deal of input into the Base truck range, he kicked the thing off but had sadly passed on by the time it progressed to the tooling stage and I'm not so sure that it was those original masters which were used.. Don died in 2008 and the first cars and commercials were released in early 2007 covering all of the cabs I had seen at North Weald in 2006. But I am happy to bow to your superior first hand knowledge if it came from the master builder. Who was that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 (edited) Don died in 2008 and the first cars and commercials were released in early 2007 covering all of the cabs I had seen at North Weald in 2006. But I am happy to bow to your superior first hand knowledge if it came from the master builder. Who was that? You'd need to ask Frank who that was, as I mentioned, it was him that related the tale of how the range came into being, it was repeated in his latest newsletter to customers. It is something of a mystery how such fine original masters turned, in some of the range at least, into little more than passing representations of the prototypes they represent. My fleeting involvement with Base didn't come until about 2009 when a 1970s coach was first mooted and despite our best efforts to persuade Norman that a Dominant I or a Plaxton Supreme would offer greater livery options, Dominant II it was. Unbeknown to us, the tooling was already well advanced and by the time we saw the pre-production models, which was when the liveries were being finalised and I was asked for some assistance with the NBC ones, was it apparent there was such a glaring error with the side glass. Edited October 31, 2017 by RANGERS 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul 27 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 (edited) Having never purchased any of these how do they compare to the Oxford and EFE range are they a true 1/76 scale or the same as the Hornby Trackside. Edited November 10, 2017 by paul 27 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crompton 33 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 They are 1/76 scale not like Trackside most of them are 1/72 scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class37418stag Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Hello everyone Who or company take over base toys or crease trading ? I was disappointed over base toys been made leyland t45 lorry by red tanker , white bed flat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeharvey22 Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Hello everyone Who or company take over base toys or crease trading ? I was disappointed over base toys been made leyland t45 lorry by red tanker , white bed flat The business is still going under the control of John Ayrey Diecasts, I believe. Their web page lists the full Base Toys, BT, Britbus ranges. http://www.ayrey.co.uk/startframe.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2018 The business is still going under the control of John Ayrey Diecasts, I believe. Their web page lists the full Base Toys, BT, Britbus ranges. http://www.ayrey.co.uk/startframe.html Isn’t that just old stock though? I’ve been waiting for the announced United bus , but it’s never turned up and it’s not on that list Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Isn’t that just old stock though? I’ve been waiting for the announced United bus , but it’s never turned up and it’s not on that list Hattons seem to carry quite a stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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