Unfortunately this project has been indefinitely postponed.
The Leyland National is a true ‘Marmite bus’. But love it or loathe it, the National played a seminal role in British bus history and, in 2022, it celebrates its 50th birthday.
We love an underdog here at Rapido Trains UK and given that the National celebrates such a milestone this year, we’re delighted to announce that we’re adding it to our growing range of 1:76 scale buses and coaches.
The National was born when the newly formed British Leyland Motors Holdings joined forces with the equally new National Bus Company to build a standard single decker that was suitable for all areas of the country. Hence its name.
The new bus was unveiled at the 1970 Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court and visitors took in its modular construction, Michelotti styling and distinctive roof-mounted ventilation pod. In a bid to level up the country’s economy, it was to be built at a brand new factory in Workington, which was suffering with the decline in the Cumberland steel industry.
ERM35K was the first National to be handed over to an operator on March 13th 1972. Symbolically, it was Cumberland. Production got into full swing but reaction was mixed. For some operators and passengers alike, the new buses were a revelation; others were less enamoured.
Orders (including export orders) were steady but the Workington factory’s National production line never ran at full capacity. Other avenues were explored, from 1978’s low-cost Series B version, which lacked the roof pod, to using body parts on new railcars.
The National Mk 2 made a low-key debut in 1979 and the most obvious change was the bulbous nose, which covered a front-mounted radiator. More subtle were the changes to the rear panel.
Mk 2 production continued until 1985 when Halton Borough Transport received the last, C49OCM. Workington switched to making the National’s replacement, the Leyland Lynx leaving the National, like most BL products, to divide opinion, something that continues today, a half century after its introduction.
We’re delighted to give the Leyland National the Rapido treatment, with finely detailed interior.
Our first batch of models comprises Mk 1 Nationals. Selecting the liveries for this batch was difficult. But we’re pleased to reveal 11 new colour schemes, covering a wide geographical spread and different eras as follows:
- 941001: HNE647N, Greater Manchester PTE brown/cream. This will be a 1051/1R (short, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941002: ABA15T, Greater Manchester PTE brown/cream. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941003: NOE544R, Midland Red (West) red/cream. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941004: NOE551R, Midland Red (South) NBC red with white roof stripe. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941005: SKN905R, Maidstone & District NBC green with white roof. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941006: SKR556R, Maidstone & District green/cream. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941007: PCD75R, Southdown East & Mid Sussex green/cream. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941008: BCD807L, Southdown NBC green with white stripe. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941009: WFM801K, Crosville plain green (as preserved). This will be a 1151/2R (long, dual door), Phase 1 version.
- 941010: KMA406T, Crosville green/orange. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941011: GFX972N, Perth Panther. This will be a 1051/1R (short, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941012: GRM353L, Cumberland. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941013: OTO594R, Mansfield & District. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941014: XNG763S, Eastern Counties red with stripes. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941015: TVF617R, Eastern Counties NBC red. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941016: DET473V, Yorkshire Traction white/maroon. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941017: WWA121S, Yorkshire Traction NBC plain red. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941018: NTC624M, Ribble NBC plain red. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941019: PTF758L, Ribble NBC red with white stripe. This will be a 1151/2R (long, dual door), Phase 1 version.
- 941020: MOD823P, Western National BR Sealink. This will be a 1151/1R (long, single door), Phase 2 version.
- 941021: GFN552N, East Kent BR Sealink. This will be a 1051/1R (short, single door), Phase 1 version.
- 941022: AYR349T, London Transport red, Route 182 Wembley (licensed from TfL). This will be a 1051/2R (short, dual door), Phase 2 version.
- 941023: THX124S, London Transport red, Route 10 Victoria (licensed from TfL). This will be a 1051/2R (short, dual door), Phase 2 version.
- 941024: BYW402V, London Transport 50th anniversary red, Route 136 South Harrow (licensed from TfL). This will be a 1051/2R (short, dual door), Phase 2 version.
We wish to thank Transport Museum Wythall for its help with our Leyland National project.
Specification
• 100% accurate proportions based on laser scan of the real thing
• Injection-moulded plastic and metal construction
• All body weld lines, extrusions and rivets accurately rendered
• Full, multi-coloured interior with no large posts blocking aisles
• Separate etched-metal interior grab poles
• Steerable front wheels with rubber tyres
• Flush-fitting windows
• Accurate, even paint finish that does not obscure the details
Full details of liveries, fleet numbers and costs will follow in due course.