LASER SCAN TREATMENT FOR GUY ARAB BUS MODEL

The visually appealing Birmingham City Transport ‘New Look’ Guy Arab bus has been released by Rapido Trains, the first model bus to be produced in 1:76 scale by the company. It has since been followed up by the West Midlands Fleetline bus, both of which have shown a different approach to modelling bus models. The buses, as represented by the model, were introduced between 1952 and 1954 with the New Look body built on Guy Arab Mk.IV chassis by Metro-Cammel. The body has a complex shape which has been captured in injection moulded plastic. Several main components make up the body which includes fine rivet detail, panelling and the complex roof domes – all accomplished through careful laser scanning of an example preserved at the Transport Museum at Wythall.

A fully detailed interior is illuminated with internal LED lighting and visible through close-fitting glazing, including seating, grab rails and the driver’s compartment. The rear door entry vestibule reveals the top deck stairs and other small, refined details.

Eight models are finished in Birmingham City Transport colours with different routes and numbers alongside three in West Midlands blue

and cream. They are priced at £54.95 and are supplied in a neat display case with a printed Birmingham Bullring Centre image as a backdrop.

www.rapidotrains.co.uk

Headlights ablaze, West Midlands PTE No. 3059 (MOF 59) works route 11 for the Outer Circle. LEDs shed light on the detailed interior of Rapido Trains’ ‘New Look’ Guy Arab bus originally built for Birmingham City Transport.

The Guy Arab bus’s rear entry platform is well-modelled by Rapido Trains including the use of separate plastic mouldings for the grab rails and the staircase leading to the upper deck.