The Model Bus Blog

The Weakest Link

2010-06-12T00:46:00.000+01:00

The rumour-mill is working overtime for Britbus. Suggestions of de-listings by retailers, on-line sellers ceasing to promote their model bus range, quality control issues interrupting supply, and so it goes on. They are not alone, as other manufacturers have also had quality control issues recently, notably CMNL with the introduction of their ukbus 90xx Scania OmniCity (a difficulty which was acknowledged, along with a welcome apology to collectors from the company).

One thing that cannot be denied is the wholehearted support that Britbus have received since Don Craggs passed away in March 2008, especially from their UK importer, John Ayrey Die-casts. The encouragement and details offered by numerous other individuals in support of new liveries, together with suggestions of new castings has been enormous. Britbus has clearly engendered the support of many loyal collectors in the model bus community, and quite rightly so.

That said, there is clearly concern for the company – there has been little development of the range, and no indication of new castings to encourage collectors for well over three years. Like the manufacturers of the real things Britbus built a reputation on developing their output to encompass the various vehicles’ evolution from the original. It was an aspect of the company’s models that received critical acclaim.

The company’s Base-Toys range does continue to flourish, and it is possible that Britbus currently see model commercials as the way forward in the face of a competitive and potentially declining model bus market.

CMNL (in particular), Corgi/Hornby and EFE have long-standing relationships with the mainstream and on-line media devoted to the hobby. Perhaps the weakest link for Britbus has been their inability to build up similar relationships to promote their models. Many would say that some manufacturers announce future releases too early, but there can be no doubt that an early indication of future releases builds sales and encourages pre-orders. Building sales means building profitability: building profitability brings greater resources to invest in the future – and to overcome difficulties.

A marriage made in heaven?

2010-06-05T21:25:00.004+01:00

When Hornby wedded Corgi back in the summer of 2007, a number of commentators breathed a sigh of release in the hope that the Corgi OOC range would potentially see an injection of new life after a long period of increasing uncertainly. It seemed at the time like a marriage made in heaven.

The subsequent speedy (much to the concern of some OOC enthusiasts) transference of allegiances by Adrienne Fuller (Road Transport, Trackside and Original Omnibus Product Manager) and Martin Hickmore (Design Manager) from Corgi to Oxford Die-cast, after 16 years and nine years very successful service to Corgi, then brought about a change of dynamics in the industry. The hugely successful progress made by Oxford, particularly in their 1:76 and 1:148 ranges, since then has been notably dramatic.

How long can it be before Oxford are tempted re-visit their immediate post Hornby/Corgi decision not to develop a 1:76 die-cast bus range, perceiving this to be an already fully developed market? There are weaknesses showing in some other manufacturers’ portfolios that might well afford an opportunity to Oxford to re-examine that decision, and to contemplate capitalising further on their increasing weight in the model world. Given their prowess across the existing elements of their range, it is likely that a warm welcome would be given to such a move.

Are we looking at golden eggs?

2010-06-02T17:53:00.002+01:00

It is currently more than obvious that the world economic situation is having an unsettling effect on model bus releases. There is a growing irregularity in the anticipated release schedules and delays with the published release programmes; the number of releases is declining, and there are indications that the number of each of the releases is generally less than what might have been considered the norm not so long ago.

Whilst it might be a brave man who says so, it is possible that, in years to come, this might be looked back on as a golden era for the model bus collector - fewer releases, and fewer examples of each model for the future collector to seek out.

An Outing

2010-06-01T00:01:00.003+01:00

As the late, and great, Don Craggs (the founder of Britbus) once said to me after I had declined, though with some temptation, a Kool menthol cigarette, "The Model Bus world is very much like MI5 - deeply secretive, and full of suspicion". He went further to comment on a number of other quite fascinating Model Bus-related matters which I may come back to in a later Blog entry.

This Blog offers the model bus collector and enthusiast (there is a difference!) an opportunity to post comment, to pass personal judgement, to praise, question or just throw in an occasional thought-provoker.

There is only one House Rule.

This Blog is an Outing: an open opportunity to comment on model bus matters in the very public world of the World Wide Web.