Sun Star 1:24 1947 Bedford OB Coach

Bedford, a division of Vauxhall Motors, which itself is a subsidiary of General Motors, was established in the 1930s as a manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd, established in 1919, were coachbuilders and made their reputation with bus bodies produced to fit existing chassis. The word "Duple" is meant to convey a dual purpose for a single vehicle. I guess that's a fancy way of saying they provided conversions from trucks to passenger vehicles. In 1939, Bedford introduced the bullnosed "O" truck series and the "OB" passenger version. Outfitted with the Duple "Vista" body, this bus was in production until 1951. The coach became a ubiquitous sight in Britain from the post-war years into the 70s.

This is Sun Star's latest British bus release, and it's done to the same high level of fit quality, finish and content as its predecessors. Looking small and quaint in pictures, this bus and it's 1/24 replica is actually quite large. I've included a few pictures posed with a London Taxi for a better sense of scale.

This first release is done as Yelloway Motor Services FDK 571 as a limited edition of 3250. It has all the opening panel amenities including sliding roof and entrance door, opening hood revealing a detailed 215 CID 6 cylinder engine, opening emergency door and posable front wheels.

The orange and light mustard color combo, intricately separated by silver trim, is near flawlessly produced. The interior scheme is so charming that you really want to dive in and look around. The side panels are a Tudoresque wood frame with ecru panels. The upholstery is a flowered print and the roof liner is a swirling print done in earthtones. From the detailed dash with accessories like a First Aid kit and fire extinguisher, to the clock, mirrors and seatback ashtrays for the passengers, it'll take you quite a while just to see all the little features modeled inside.

Outside, the hardware and trim are just a delight to see. All the lenses are detailed plastic with nothing painted. The livery is crisp bright and on register. The grill, engine ventilator protective spears, and badging are delicately scaled and look very realistic. Even the directionals (trafficators) are operable. The only real downer is a major design flaw that prevents the sliding entry door from opening all the way rearward. Note on the picture the leading edge of the support piece for the wind/rain deflectors stops the door from opening more than 3/8". Look for that to be corrected in future releases.

The chassis is reasonably modeled with many components molded in. The offset articulated driveshaft that allows for a central passenger walkway is accurately reproduced. Actually, this model is so heavy and ungainly, I seriously doubt you'll be viewing the underside very often. Quirky, whimsical and verrrry British, this is really a fun addition to any eclectic collection. Mine is parked right next to that big red double decker.

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