Gardengnome

My Routemaster was on display on our club table at a Melbourne model show this weekend. I wasn't in attendance and haven't had any feedback as yet but it certainly dominated the display, accompanied by my LGOC B Type London Bus and Stephenson's Rocket, both kits from Spanish company OcCre in wood and metal.

That's interesting to know in case I decide to build another model. I'd have liked to do the E Type but because it's also red I won't (shame they didn't make it BRG). For something a bit different I'd probably go for the Miura; a car I've always admired since I had the Matchbox No.33 model in the late 60's.. Michael

I maintained a spreadsheet detailing all the stages and screws received and I can see I got two packets of two 'gold' 'NM' screws (the usual one-and-a-spare), one packet for each side. I also recorded the type and dimensions of each screw so I could easily find a replacement among the spares. Sometimes when a screw wouldn't 'bite' I replaced it with another that was a mm longer for instance. There was one occasion when a screw pack was not included (Stage 36, the steering wheel parts) and when I ordered a replacement pack they were missing from that too! That was the 'MM' screw for the boss of the steering wheel. As it was I found a flanged screw held the wheel more tightly because it tended to wobble with the right screw fitted.

1:3 scale?!?! 😲 That'd be bigger than the Routemaster!

While I've finally settled for the kit labels I did think about getting others made. What I'd really like to do is get something for the back panel between the indicator lights and also either side of the rear destination display. The two corner ads at the front are none too inspiring either for that matter and something along the lines of the 'Union Jack' ones on the Revell 1:24 kit might look good. I don't use facebook but I know a place that can probably do them. I get stickers for my (full size) car made by them, but I haven't been able to find a picture of a rear advertisement that I like. I can do my own artwork. Do you have any suggestions? I'd like something familiar; 'British Airways' for instance.

That looks like a metal model of the 500 Enfield. Is it to 1:12?

I notice you didn't fit the advertising labels to your bus - I wasn't going to either originally but did in the end because I thought it looked a bit plain without. Ah, yes, my accessories are from doll-house sources as well of course. I'll have to look out for a pillar box (thanks) and try to find a suitable phone box too. I didn't recognize the Dick Tracy figure but the hat should have been a give-away!. That gives me an idea; I built and painted the Polar Lights Sgt. Pepper figures over twenty years ago; now might be the time to get them out (if I can find them!) and use the Routemaster as a backdrop for them. They're too big for scale but being cartoon figures that won't matter so much and they're from the same period as the bus. Michael

Thanks. I didn't purchase the magazine with that in mind originally; it was just a happy chance when I was looking to disguise the light. I painted the back of my light too but it still glowed a bit.

Those look like the James Bond & Odd Job figures Airfix did in the 60's; https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-m401f-james-bond-and-odd-job--182564 Now I want a telephone kiosk as well (and even a pillar box)! I have the Artesania Latina wooden kit but it's 1:10 scale I think.

Thank you. If they'd been available I'd like to have used the driver and clippie but not the others. I admire the Routemaster for its design and engineering and, while it's not perfect, the model captures that very well. I've never seen a real one; my family emigrated from Farnborough Hants in 1958 when I was six. Melbourne is better known for its trams.🙂

Thank you. I've changed the main photos above for the original images and added the magazine and umbrella. The magazine also serves to hide the back of the stair light which shone brightly over the back seat! If I were to build it again I'd probably dim the brightness of the off-side parking light and add an LED in the nearside one. I was also wondering if it'd be feasible to replace the front destination blind with parts from the rear one. The rolling blind is a neat trick but the lighting is very disappointing. Michael

Just completed my Routemaster. No major alterations but some small enhancements. I sprayed the seats with a matte varnish to diminish the sheen and treated the seat back rails and the grab poles with a 'chrome' pen. Knowing what I know now I'd have done the plated hand-rails and the opening window winders in the same. Had problems with fit due to some of the diecast frames not being true and the rear frame had to be clamped with a couple of vice-grips so I could fix it with the screws on the off-side! The nearside rear view mirror got broken off very quickly but the weak plastic rod is now replaced with a length of 1.5mm brass rod (now painted). Added a 'lost' umbrella, and a pop music magazine, to the passenger cabins, and a newspaper and Thermos flask to the driver's cab. Job done! Michael