BT Models have just released some new versions of their Leyland FG cab but now fitted to coachbuilt BR crew buses and delivery vans. There are 3 different body shapes. The delivery van with sliding cab door, delivery van with hinged cab door, and crew bus with hinged cab door. The crewbus has hinged back doors, and the delivery vans have roller shutters.


1960s era






1968/9 onwards





They have interiors with seats, vinyl wheels which are on a metal axle, and absurd cab mirrors mounted way above the cab.

Apart from the latter feature they are good models with smooth paint finish and legible logos and lettering.

Thanks, at last a picture of the crew bus in green.  Must buy one now...  Well one of each.

Jerry

Nice models Mike - is the green one really from the 1960s?

Paddy

Paddy

The green livery for engineering vehicles was launched in 1963. The green one has double arrow symbols and British Rail lettering which also originated in the mid 1960s. It has an JCN617E registration issued in 1967. AFAIK the engineering vehicles started receiving yellow liveries in the early 1970s but obviously some green ones would have survived longer, but probably not beyond 1975. The delivery van fleet began to receive yellow liveries sooner and there were yellow ones officially from 1963 onwards. However the combination of lettering, logos and registration numbers dates the yellow ones to no sooner  than 1963 for the Railfreight one (486PRO issued in 1963) and 1969 for the Rail Express Parcels one (DYF78C but 1969 livery style). The yellow crewbus has an HTO983N registration number dating it to 1974/75 I think. Just for the record the red/cream van is registered YUV653 issued in 1960.

Useful site for checking older registration issue dates is:-

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-letters.htm which is fairly comprehensive.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Mike - good to know.

Paddy

Paddy

I have added some more detail to my earlier post. Mistakenly pressed the post button too soon!