Category Archives: Dennis

N’Tastic UK N Scale Models

By Maz Woolley

It has been sometime since we covered the N’Tastic range of 3D printed model made to 1:148 scale in the UK by Coppermine MIniatures. They produce 3D printed vehicle kits with basic interiors and no glazing and a whole range of figure sets to go with them though at this scale the figures are not highly detailed.

The range of of available UK N Scale (1:148) models is fairly limited with Oxford Diecast being the most common with their plastic bodies. Unfortunately Oxford has released fewer 1:148 models of late perhaps distracted by creating the TT Range for Hornby.

Please note that the photographs of the models have all been supplied by Coppermine Miniatures and they are of assembled unpainted kits.

During 2023 they have released the following 3D printed kits in 1:148 scale: 

Horse Drawn – 4W Bin Cart 

1952 – Shelvoke & Drewry – Freightlifter Forklift 

1946 – Shelvoke & Drewry – W Type Bin Lorry 

1984 – Dennis RS Water Tender 

1965 – Hillman Super Imp car + Police version 

1965 – Hillman Imp Californian car Kit 

1965 – Hillman (Commer) Imp Van + AA van 

They have also completed their first commission for a vehicle kit, a 1987 – Leyland Freighter – Pump Ladder FE. They have other commissions in design, and capacity for others in the new year. 


November’s releases

1945 – Fordson E27N Major Tractor 

1950s Farm trailers x4 

WW2 British ¼ Ton service trailer with or with out load of flimsy fuel cans. 

Coppermine Miniatures say that they have new models in development for early in 2024 including new subjects to expand the range.

Some of the models duplicate models already released by Oxford Diecast like the Imp Saloon and Freightlifter I wonder how much having alternative made up and well finished models easily available will depress sales of these items? Still having a kit will appeal to some as it means that you can finish the model as you like and not as the manufacturer dictates. The lack of glazing might put off inexperienced modellers as creating and fixing windows in this small scale can be a fiddly process.


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Northcord January 2023

By Maz Woolley

Creative Master Northcord Limited was formed after Creative Master took over the failed Northcord concern. The CMNL models are diecast to 1:76 scale in China and finished with a high level of small detail items and quality printed finishes. As Hong Kong based companies it has proven difficult to track down further details of their trading with their quoted web site not responding and their Facebook page having minimal posts . In recent years the Dennis Enviro400 MMC bus has formed the backbone of their releases and this is the case for the bus to be released in early 2023 which is a replica of a 10.9 metre long, single entrance bus operated by Go South Coast on the X3 route between holiday locations between Salisbury and Bournemouth.

The detailed livery reproduces a specific vehicle, fleet number 1650 registered as HF66 CGE. This entered service in 2017. The model reproduces small details of the livery of this service like the ‘free wifi’ and ‘USB Power’ markings. It also reproduces the decorations applied to the sides of the real bus. The ‘digital’ destination boards are modelled very well indeed.

Inside the bus the fittings are replicated in some detail including the handrails and seating as well as the Driver’s compartment and all the window markings.

The photographs below are of pre-production samples but show just how good the production version will be.

UK6518 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Go South Coast (1560 – HF66 CGE)

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Everybody goes Table Top

By Maz Woolley

There were simultaneous press announcements from Hornby and Oxford Diecast announcing new ranges called TT:120. 1:120 is a curious scale to introduce to the British market where the rarely modelled true British TT railway scale is 1:101.6. Hornby has some ranges in the Group with experience of making Continental 1:120 scale models like Arnold though none seem to be listed currently.

Hornby have made sure that a range of engines and rolling stock as well as track buildings and accessories are all available at launch. Though they seem not to be selling these sets through the retail trade but only as web exclusives at present. Collectors embarking on modelling to this scale can at least rely on a considerable amount of figures and accessories from Continental producers like Noch. There are also many German card building sets made to this scale and Herpa as well as resin and 3D print specialists.

Hornby are pushing the space advantage of TT:120 over 1:76 scale railways with layouts fitting in a smaller space and being easier to store. And the models being easier to handle and detailed compared with N scale.

Oxford Diecast, which is of course part of the Hornby group, has announced a small series of vehicles to TT:120 scale to go with Hornby’s new range. They have all been seen before in other scales and seem to me have singularly little appeal to model collectors who will already have them in their chosen scale if of interest.

Oxford are launching six models and say that the range will be further developed. They claim that the scale is a perfect table top size, but for model cars even a 1:12 scale model fits on a table top, so unlike railways which need layouts taking up space this seems less of a benefit for model collectors where 1:76 and 1:87 scale models already exist and are not great consumers of space. The pricing of these models seems generally identical to the 1:76 scale models which makes them even less appealing to model collectors. Apart from collectors who have to have every model made of their favourite vehicle, Land Rovers for example, I really struggle to see that these will appeal to model collectors. I hope that there are enough adopters of the Hornby products in this scale to make the investment they have made worth Oxford Diecast’s efforts.

What do readers think, is there room for TT:120 models in your collection or is it irrelevant when we already have the vehicles modelled in 1:144 and 1:76 scales?

These ‘new’ models are shown below in publicity images from Oxford Diecast.

120AT001 Austin Low Loader Taxi Black


120OB001 Bedford OB Coach British Rail



120DEN001 Dennis F12 Pump Escape London Fire Brigade


120MH003 Scammell Mechanical Horse Flat Trailer GWR


120MM059 Oxford Diecast Morris 1000 British Rail


120LAN2001 Oxford Diecast Land Rover Series 2 LWB Hard Top British Rail


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News from the Continent October 2019 – Schuco

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

This article covers the August and September releases from Schuco. Schuco are based in the heart of the historic toymaking area of Germany but their models are all made in China today. They are mostly diecast to a variety of scales although the Pro-R ranges are moulded in resin.

August Releases

Edition 1:43

450269300 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” -beige

450368800 Volkswagen Transporter T1b Microbus “Fire Brigade”

Edition Pro-R32

450907600 Deutz 60 hp tracked tractor – green

Edition 1:18

450036300 Porsche 911 S Coupe 1973 – black

Edition Pro.R18

450016200 Volkswagen Transporter T1a – Building Society Advertising Vehicle Schwäbisch Hall”

Edition 1:87

452639800 Jaguar E-Type Coupe – grey

September Releases

Edition 1:43

450260200 Porsche 356 A Coupe – stonegrey

450367200 Barkas B1000 Pick up “Schwalbe (Swallow ) Motorcycle Service”

450273700 Eicher ED 16 tractor with mowing bar

Edition 1:18

450016100 Fendt Dieselross F20G – green – with mowing bar

Edition Pro.R18

450905900 Volkswagen Transporter T1b with articulated trailer as race car transporter “Continental Motors” red

Edition 1:87

452640800 Volkswagen TransporterT1 in a set of 8 different pieces

452644500 Volkswagen Transporter T3b Camper “Joker”

452641600 Fendt Favorit 622 LS tractor – green

452641900 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U406 – light green
452643300 Military Vehicle set “Tank Company”

Aviation 1:250

403551697 Concorde “Air France” test livery

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Some Modern Northcord Buses

By Maz Woolley

All text copyright of the Author, Photographs supplied by the Manufacturer. 

1:76 scale model buses and coaches have always been at the heart of the public transport collectors scene. The scale is large enough to show considerable detail, but small enough to display a wide range of models in a limited space. Recent years have been a time of turmoil for model bus makers. Established names have released far fewer models. EFE, now under Bachmann‘s ownership, has only recently started to announce new upgraded models under the new management. At Hornby the Corgi Original Omnibus range continues to release models but many fewer than in previous years.  This is in part due to the rapid rise of Oxford Diecast output in this market sector which has put a pressure on  the prices and quality offered by the established players.

Some smaller players like  Forward Models continue to release their early post-war buses at a steady rate, and even add extra transfers to allow customisation of destination boards. The recent announcement of a Birmingham Guy Arab by Canadian firm Rapido Models will add stiff competition to that part of the marketplace.

We have seen the loss of some other players in the market as Brit Bus and B-T Models went into liquidation in 2017 and although B-T Models seem to be being rescued I have not heard that Brit Bus will be.

Northcord Model Company was formed by Danny Chan after the closure of CMNL in 2011. It has always aimed to produce detailed models  to a high standard. It makes careful use of moulds to produce buses from Australia, Ireland, North America, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK have all been featured in the range.

They are building on the success of their casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model which is already available in the livery of Go-Ahead London, National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach London & Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, First Bristol and Reading Buses liveries,

They will be now be releasing eighth and ninth versions – ukbus 6507A and ukbus 6507B in the livery of Bluestar. Bluestar is a trade name for Solent Blue Star which was founded in 1987 and is part of the Go-Ahead Group.  The area that they service area is Hampshire which includes the cities of Southampton and Winchester as well as parts of the New Forest and coastal tourist areas.

The model is based upon fleet number 1641 (HF66 CFM) which has 10.9 metre, single door bodywork and was new to Bluestar in 2017. It is liveried for route 1.

The standard of tampo printing appears to be very high and the livery of the original bus has been reproduced in fine detail. As seems to be the current fashion the only difference between the two models is the direction of working. This allows the same bus to be sold in two slightly different versions.

The model is a one-piece casting with gasket-mounted windows as well as twin tree protectors at the front. The front dome and curved screens are captured too. Inside there are handrails on upper deck and lower deck, and other fine details.


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