18 November 2019
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Northcord Model Company has announced the release of its ADL Enviro400 MMC casting wearing First in Glasgow livery.
Northcord Model Company has announced the release of its ADL Enviro400 MMC casting wearing First in Glasgow livery.
UK6514, the long-awaited, third release of the 10.5 metre single door casting of this distinctive, modern, double-decker in the United Kingdom, represents fleet number 33201HB (SK68 LWN) that has 10.5 metre, single door bodywork and was the first of 75 new buses for First Glasgow in 2018. 33201HB carries a full and colourfully branded livery for route 75. The new buses formed part of a £31m investment from First Glasgow covering 150 new buses over two years in anticipation of meeting the annually increasing percentage of Euro6 buses to meet the city’s Low Emission Zone requirement. By Hogmanay 2019 this target requires 40% of the fleet entering or operating within the city LEZ to be Euro6 compliant until reaching 100% by 2022.
Fleet number 33201HB was the star of the high-profile new bus launch on an unusually dreich and sodden George Square on 9th October 2018. The bus was placed inside a 20 foot-high structure designed to replicate a model bus box.
Apart from the presentation of the 1:1 scale big model box at George Square, the mirrorless double-decker bus made a great impression at the launch. First Glasgow worked with Alexander Dennis and 21st Century Technology on the trial of a camera system that replaced conventional external rear-view mirrors with four cameras and two interior displays. 33201HB was the first double-decker bus with this system in the UK.
The first of the batch of 75 vehicles entered service on 10th October on route 75 between Castlemilk and Milton via Glasgow City Centre, although 33201HB did not enter service until later to allow time for driver familiarisation with the camera mirrors, and, even then, it was allocated to a set diagram every day so that the number of drivers was limited at first. The driver rear-view camera and special, comprehensive livery and branding of 33201HB are fully reproduced on the model in 1/76 scale.
The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC UK6514 is a one-piece casting with clean lines accentuating the square, gasket-mounted windows. Another feature is its single tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper and lower decks.
Northcord is creating new interior design standards. These represent the outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on the upper and lower decks. To find a suitable stockist, visit the John Ayrey Die-casts website: www.ayrey.co.uk.