On 14 February 2024, Knackstop officially launched the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3-door) die-cast model. This is the fourth series of public bus scale models sold by Knackstop.
Knackstop, a retail arm set up by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), sells a collection of public transport-inspired keepsakes and souvenirs. Previous diecast bus models released by Knackstop were two models of MAN A95 (Euro 5 / Euro 6) and a Volvo B5LH.
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3 Door) – Background
LTA procured 50 of these Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3 Door) buses back in 2019, as part of an order of 100 3-Door Euro 6 Double Deck Diesel Buses under Contract PT342. These buses entered revenue service in October 2021.
Diecast model
The diecast models based on them are built to a 1:76 scale and bear the fictitious registration number of SG2021A, referencing the year of introduction for these buses. On the Electronic Display Signs, the bus model displays “LTA-SG Bus” on the front, “SG Bus” on the side and “SG Bus” (two lines) on the rear.
Similar to previous bus models in the Knackstop product line, each bus comes screwed to a plastic base plate, with a clear acetate display case and a colour card outer box. Each display case was also heat shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Full profile views of the bus model are attached. The grey plastic interior is largely unpainted except for some minor elements like the farecard readers and priority seats.
Additional photos of the model:
Official Sales
On 14 February 2024, the bus model was listed on Knackstop’s Shopee and Lazada online stores, retailing at $148.00.
Links to official product pages:
This was the most expensive bus diecast model sold by Knackstop to date; previous MAN A95 models (Euro 5 / Euro 6) were sold for $98, and the Volvo B5LH was sold for $114.
Knackstop’s Facebook page promoted the bus model product launch on the day itself.
The initial stock of the bus models on Shopee & Lazada was sold out on 21 February 2024, within 8 days of launch. 207 units were sold on Shopee and 274 units were sold on Lazada, according to each website.
A second batch of models were put up on sale from 5 April 2024.
Pre-release
An image of the bus model first appeared in a Facebook post by BusLanes in November 2022. [External Link]
In late 2023, Oriental Model Buses managed to obtain one of the unreleased bus models in the full Knackstop packaging, inclusive of the colour card outer box. More photos of the bus model can be viewed in the write-up by Oriental Model Buses (external link).
As Knackstop is the official public transport merchandise brand for LTA, it was assumed that the bus models commissioned for Knackstop are intended for sale via Knackstop, and not via other channels. Sales proceeds from Knackstop are directed to the LTA Cares Fund, a charity fund for the disadvantaged. The ADL 3-door bus models being circulated then could have been prototypes or pre-production run samples for ADL or Knackstop.
Knackstop previously released two models of MAN A95 (Euro 5 model / Euro 6 model) and a Volvo B5LH model for public sale.
Gallery (Actual bus):
Note:
This article was originally posted in December 2023 under the title of “Unreleased Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3 Door) Bus Model”. It was updated on 14 February 2024 to reflect the online sales of the bus model on Knackstop.
Related Content:
- MAN A95 bus models launched by Knackstop
- MAN A95 (Euro 6) bus models launched by Knackstop
- Volvo B5LH bus models launched by Knackstop
References:
- Knackstop – Alexander Dennis 12.5 metre ‘facelift’ Enviro500 – SG Bus (orientalmodelbuses.co.uk)
- 縱橫巴士綫．BusLanes – Facebook Post
- Knackstop Facebook Post
Our appreciation to Oriental Model Buses for allowing us use of photos.
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Still not too bad. So far on close observation, interior does somewhat follow the actual bus. Seats choice should used back Volvo B5LH model, with colours. Both PIDS TV display comes with the route displayed pasted, but not for the colour display. Missing handgrips. But minor details like protruding steps at stairways were paid closed attention to. Price is higher, but cheaper than the resin version, and I think part of $$ goes to LTA charity?
Probably not for people who complain “eyesore” after seeing the interior. But the actual seat colour is as close to pale grey(actual is light/pale blue). So even if it’s coloured, only difference you will see is additional black for the seat grip.
Can’t complain much since it pass the QC test. But this mould/design can be easily modified and reproduced for SG stock, from HK 80M/Model1. It’s unlike Masterpiece Collectibles producing unique local buses that isn’t found in HK/UK model series. Thus, not worth to spend too much to get the resin model(Spend smart & wisely). Moreover, serval mistakes are also found on the resin version(interior stickers facing wrong side etc.) already.
Those cheap looking, lack of details seats is fine on a toy but not on a 1/76 model like this. A big downgrade from how the interior looked on the 1/76 A95. Even the B5LH model had better looking seats.