In this post, I will do a review on the 1:76 scale Dennis Dragon 9.9-meter model made by Concorde Hobby Shop and released for sales in May 2010 for 400 units worldwide. Routes 2, 107, 108 and 606 are featured with a run of 100 for each variation.

The model is made from synthetic resin, which is casted from plastic in a mold. Resin models are made in very limited amounts due to the rapid wearing of the molds. Hence each resin model is not only rare in quantity, but also slightly different from each other due to the molding process!

Each molding requires labor work unlike injection molding for die-cast models, hence resin models do not come cheap.

Some pictures of the model before I continue in words.

Description behind the box.

The certificate.

A crude packing due to the nature of the model. No plastic roof-securing included.

Showing the short body.

Rear nearside with decals.

Rear offside with decals.

A close up macro.

With the other double-deckers in the cabinet.

Packaging

The packaging is done using a white thick-card wrapper box with details printed on a stick-on paper at the back. Inside, a normal plastic clear-case contains the model. The model itself is secured to the base using two screws and spacers, with a clear plastic wrapper bounding the model to the base as a substitute for the roof-securing. This makes the model over-tightened on the base and may cause damage to the wheels during packing.

Construction/Detailing

The body of the model is constructed using synthetic resin, with its interior largely plastic as well. This enhances the lightweight quality of the model and details are not left out as well. Seats are correctly modeled (including the 3+2 configuration of seats on the upper deck) and so are the handgrips on the first floor. The smallest detail; a red plate with ‘Bus Full’ is also included at the front of the bus, for use when the bus is fully loaded.

Wheels

The wheels of the model is made rather tight. The drive axle has its tires in contact with the body and are not free-wheeling. This may vary between models as the securing part for the axle is cemented manually to the bottom.

Color/Livery

The ‘Air-Conditioned’ livery of Kowloon Motor Bus is portrayed on this model, bringing it back to the days when it was just introduced into service in 1993. White bottom, red stripes and ‘Air-Conditioned’ wording at the rear quarters of the bus is shown accurately.

Water-slide transfers (decals) are included for the two large ‘KMB’ logos on the sides and the smaller logo for the engine hatch.

Pricing/Value-for-Money

This model is sold by Concorde Hobby Shop at 468 Hong Kong Dollars. It is also sold on Jotus.Com.

For a resin model with limited quantity at HKD 468 it can be considered a good purchase. However, if you are into a free-wheeling model, then this will prove a difference. The value is also enhanced with it being the only 9.9-meter three axle Dennis Dragon model available on the market.

Points for…
Packaging: 5/10
Detail: 26/30
Features: 12/20
Quality: 20/25
Price: 12/15

Total: 75/100 (B+ –> SP Standard)

In my next post  I will feature the Bus Musume (バスむすめ) Volume 2, the first set in Singapore~!

A filler episode. Having exams lately and just no time to gather more shit to fill this space, so I found some photos that I have taken in the past weeks to post here.

Yong Tau Foo with rice at Siglap Place.

Dennis Dart buses are withdrawing soon and service 42 is the last service you can see them regularly.

Going green even with bus models! MFBM Eco Hybrid at Hortpark.

Mirror repair for Hafiz owned Volvo Olympian SBS colors. The SBS Transit colors unit is the model that I modified earlier to a sweepback mirror.

March is going to be exciting with a bus model event coming up soon. Stay tuned here for updates!

A tour on the Mercedes-Benz O 405 and Dennis Dart was organized by Bus Culture group on 30th January 2010. SBS278S and SBS8009A were chartered. Some photos of the event as follows.

First day of 963R as passengers ask for directions

A clear sky as the Dart is being caught attention of

The side views

The upright inline-6 of the Dennis Dart (Cummins 6BT)…

to the horizontal inline-6 of the Mercedes-Benz O405 (OM447h, 447.908)

Letterings on the original Cummins product

On the way to cross the Yishun Dam

One generation apart; the Mercedes-Benz O 405 G Euro 1

Square butts

Under the Winter Skies

Strong wall of reporters

The unique shape of gear selector on the Dennis Dart

A service that it will probably not run in the future

Flatted factory unit at Bukit Batok St 23 catches fire

SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in a unit at Bukit Batok Street 23 on Tuesday morning.

The ground floor unit of a flatted factory at Block 2019 was in flames when civil defence officers arrived at the scene at around 10am.

The unit deals in electrical products.

No one was injured in the fire, which was brought under control in 20 minutes.

- CNA/yb

A fire occurred at Blk 2019 Bukit Batok Industrial Estate yesterday (26 Jan 2009), 0958 hrs, destroyed two warehouses and damaged another one.

Following photos are taken around 1800 hrs.

The fire gutted at least a vehicle outside the warehouse

Large amount of black smoke darkened the exterior walls and windows of units above

Note the melted office structure

Spent extinguishers in the attempt to put out the fire

Water constantly pumped into the scene of the fire

Extinguishing extends into the night as the Light Tender comes

Three Toyota forklifts and several crates of electronic goods were the only items saved from the fire. No one was injured in the incident.