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Posts posted by birch1
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Apologies for going slightly off topic - my main modelling interest is for a fictional model bus fleet, called Crossways, for which I produce vehicles such as the below.
The latest addition is this Van Hool Altano, finished off in the fleet's premium 'Countryliner' livery. The model is a modified resin kit.- 20
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It has been pretty wet lately, but the bonus is being able to get some modelling done!
The latest model completed for the Crossways fleet is GL23 AEL, a high specification Van Hool Altano - the first vehicle to be outshopped with Countryliner branding.
Since taking on Countryliner from Patrick Munford in early spring, the former London and Country (Alan Graves) subsidary has been reinvented as Crossways' premium brand, with a small fleet of high-end vehicles in a dedicated livery to match.
The model is produced from a Paul Ellender kit, with additional detailing added for the luggage lockers.
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It has been a while since I last posted on here, so here is a recent update from Crossways:
For a number of years, Crossways has operated a link service on behalf of Eurowide using a specially branded Hino S'Elega coach, connecting Gloucester with Eurowide's international coach services at a location on the outskirts of London.This partnership has recently been extended, and will see the company operate a London to Paris Eurowide service in cooperation with Southwestbus. After a light refresh, the aforementioned Hino is seen being prepared for a photoshoot before the servcice commenced just in time for the bank holiday weekend.
More information about the service is available on the Flexicoach page, for those interested: https://www.facebook.com/FlexicoachUK
The model is, in reality, a repainted Trane diecast.
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The title above might be slightly controversial, but please bear with me on this one.
I have enjoyed model making (and transport in general) for a number of years, with my main modelling interests currently centreing around modelling road vehicles such as buses, with one example below of a recently completed model:
(More examples are available at https://www.facebook.com/Crosswaysbus, for anyone who may be interested).
It is, of course widely accepted that the age profile of the model making community is largely fairly senior. As someone who is in their early 20's, it has always been somewhat of a struggle to find a group of like-minded individuals who share an interest in model making, but are somewhere approaching a similar age to myself. Whilst I do enjoy learning from the skills of all ages, and am a member of a couple of modelling groups, being in a group where the next youngest member is often at least 20 years your senior never quite seems right, in the politest possible way.
This therefore poses the question, would anyone happen to be aware of a model making group (of any type, be this railways, vehicles, etc.) that has a fairly large contingent of younger members? It would be fantastic to see what exists out there that I may have missed so far.- 1
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Fresh out of the paintshop is Volvo B7R/ Plaxton Profile WV56 REL. She is the second of a quartet of coaches acquired from Reliance Motor Services (David Etheridge) in mid 2020, having been delivered new to them some 14 years earlier, and has until now operated in its previous owner's livery.
Despite her advancing years, it is hoped the refresh will allow her to serve Crossways' College and Private hire work for some years to come. The first of the quartet, Van Hool T9 WN59 DTK, is pictured alongside, which was repainted last summer.
The model is produced from the PSG Models kit.
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Just seen this thread, but wanted to say that these are lovely bits of work, would be great to see them all lined up together once complete
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My latest model finished from my Crossways model bus fleet picks up passengers at a local bus stop. There's more detail on the model itself on the fleet thread (link below), so I won't go into too much detail here, but hope it is of interest.
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My latest model finished from my Crossways model bus fleet picks up passengers at a local bus stop. There's more detail on the model itself on the fleet thread (link below), so I won't go into too much detail here, but hope it is of interest.
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Hot off the heels of the last one...
Crossways operates specialist services on behalf of a local SEN college, supplementing their own 'in house' vehicles with a fleet of minibuses and small buses for student transport. Added to this fleet today is a secondhand ADL Enviro 200 dart, registered YX18 KOD. Having previously been used on airport work, the bus is low mileage and perfect for specialist conversion.
The idea for this model came during a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon in 2019, where 4 specialist Optare Solos were parked at the local park and ride. Further inspection revealed significant alterations to their interiors for specialist transport of those with disabilities, as can be seen in the images below.
2 years later, and having picked up a small CMNL E200 from Paul Ellender at an MBF meeting, work commenced on the model using Mark Hughes components and Plasticard to modify the interior to act as a representation of the solos. Further modifications to model the styling of the later e200 included using lightly modified 3D printed components from Model Bus Doctor, in addition to replacement glazing.
Whilst far from perfect, i'm happy with how it turned out!
Front View - the staff member and passenger both seem very sociable.
Rear View
The modified interior.
The prototype solos parked up in the car park.
The interiors of the solos. Note the tracking, specialised seating, space for storing wheelchairs and, of course, kitchen roll holder!
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2022 has been fairly quiet so far, despite it being Crossways' 10th anniversary year.
A brand new Volvo B11R/ Caetano Levante 3 has, however, recently joined the fleet. Preregistered as GL72 OCG, it will enter service in September, primarily on the company's contracted work for Flexicoach and Pullman Holidays where its high capacity will be in demand. This frees other coaches in the fleet to cover the schools and private hire work that makes up a large portion of its business.
The model is produced from the Paul Ellender resin kit, which was a joy to build.
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On 12/08/2021 at 19:28, Binky said:
This might sound like a strange request but does anyone have a OO scale modern style minbus they could measure for me please? Something like the EFE Mercedes minibus or similar shape.
Many thanks in advance.
Would a Corgi beaver 2 minibus be close enough? I have one here I can measure if that helps.
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Joining the Crossways fleet today is BF15 KGG, a late model Volvo/ Sunsundegui Sideral. She is the fleet's most youthful addition for some time, a sign of the company's ongoing recovery after the initial scare caused by the Coronavirus pandemic last year. Once destination equipment has been fitted, the coach will see use on a wide range of coach work including private hires, schools, tours, etc.
The model is produced from the MBF resin kit.
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On 27/04/2021 at 08:40, HillsideDepot said:
Hopefully the fleet will have picked up some of the additional capacity contracts funded by DfE to ease over crowding on public buses which carry mainly school children.
Weekend rail replacement work from Chippenham the last few weekends would probably have once been a given for Crossways Cirencester depot, but seems to be all covered by First double deckers now.
Hmm, the boundaries between reality and fiction have become blurred; I better get back to the day job writing a report on Post-16 education transport for a local authority not too far from Crossways.
Sorry for the delayed response, that report sounds interesting though!
In fairness a few local operators have been working on rail recently alongside first, which bodes well for Crossways
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On 24/04/2021 at 22:13, ColinK said:
Very realistic. Is the fleet all SORNed at the moment?
Thanks! Perhaps surprisingly no, very busy with schools etc during weekdays, though weekends are quieter at the moment generally
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22 hours ago, ColinK said:
Nicely done.
We had one of those at our depot - the boss usually drove it. The first time I was allocated it the boss had parked it with the front about an inch from a large concrete block - it had a manual gearbox and the markings had worn off giving no clue as to where reverse was. Rather than risk finding the wrong gear and hitting the block, I got the boss to move it first. The manual gearbox was dreadful and finding the right gear was a lottery, especially third when it was common to find first or fifth instead. As for reverse, bang the clutch down hard, two hands on the gearstick, push hard left and if you hear a crunch you are probably in reverse, but maybe first. I hated it, as well as the gears the cab ergonomics were awful, I tried to swap it for something else whenever I was allocated it.
Many thanks, an interesting story too. Can't say I know much about the real things myself to be honest.
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Joining the Crossways fleet is Bova Futura YJ06 HNL, a budget purchase primarily for the schools and contract work that has kept the company ticking over in recent times.
Already featuring a wheelchair lift, very little work was required to achieve PSVAR compliance, aside from the addition of destination gear. She will be based at our Kemble depot, arriving just in time to provide services for children of key workers after the February half term holidays.
In reality, this is a repainted OOC diecast.
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19 hours ago, Pillar said:
A few pictures of the Metropolitan's diminutive cousin: the MCW Metrorider.
This is the short version nearing completion from the Sunrise Models kit. Eventually it will be painted into the Wear Buses livery of the 1990s: like this one emerging from the murk of the old Sunderland Central Bus Station.
It's a static model only, so I get a welcome break from the complexities of steering mechanisms and indicators.
Wow, those lights are very impressive
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8 hours ago, Philou said:
@birch1 Wasn't there a S Wales bus company called Crossways? Probably no longer exist - or am I confusing myself with Crossville?
Nice looking diorama by the way.
Cheers,
Philip
Not as far as I am aware, but may be wrong. Thanks for the kind comment too!
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Something a little different, but I hope still of interest. Between my uni studies I run a fictional model bus fleet called Crossways. I posted these pics of a diorama recently completed for fleet photography purposes on the 'How realistic are your models' thread yesterday, and thought it worth posting here also.
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Having just browsed through your thread after seeing your post on the realistic models thread, have to say am impressed! Especially like the experiments with 3D printing.
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Like the platform surfaces, very convincing
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How realistic are your models? Photo challenge.
in Modelling musings & miscellany
Posted
Apologies for going slightly off topic - my main modelling interest is for a fictional model bus fleet, called Crossways, for which I produce vehicles such as the below.
The latest addition is this Van Hool Altano, finished off in the fleet's premium 'Countryliner' livery. The model is a modified resin kit.