MOC: UK Low-floor bus

[Gnac]

I made this to cheer up my Brother, because he enjoys massive vehicles with wheels. He is melancholy because he has a mad wife who doesn't understand him. I hope that you enjoy this model, or empathise with my brother's plight, or perhaps even both.

LXF: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Gnac/Vehicles/threeatonce.lxf

▲ The linked LXF looks like this, which is the livery of the "Arriva" fleet. They rule the roads around here with an aluminium fist.

▲ Their arch enemies are the "First" fleet, whose buses have a questionable paintjob. I'm told that these are called "Barbie buses". There are actually things like this!

I recoloured the original model to see if I could, but you could probably localise it.

Things I wanted to do but couldn't, because LDD 4.2.5 made a fool of me:

• There's a little machine next to the driver's seat, where he or she presses some buttons and the blessed thing pukes out a ticket. I don't know how to make that.
  
• I hacked something together to give the impression of tax discs on the windscreen, but there were collision issues.
  
• Even though I made a hinged engine flap on the rear of this behemoth, there's only a 1w space to fit an engine. So I didn't make one.
  
• The wheels look TINY. The next size up look too big. What am ah gonna do?
  

Things I actually did, and was really pleased with:

• The windows are those 1x4x6 things which are intended for buildings, placed sideways and secured by the seats. I actually started constructing the model with those.
  
• Harpoons for the windscreen wipers! When I rotated them in their holders, they became almost flush with the tapering windscreen!
  
• Actually making this thing. It seems I taught my Brother to bend the rules a bit with LDD.
  

EDIT: Oh cack, I may have posted this in the wrong place.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Rufus
Indexed

[TenorPenny]

Immediately recognisable!

[Trent]

Yeah, top job - that's exactly what both buses look like!

It's funny, the First bus does look a bit odd when you point out the paint job, but I've never even thought about it before. (Although I've usually been too preoccupied with trying to catch one!)

[AndyC]

Brilliant. Quite tempted to try building one of those First ones in real bricks. Seem to spend enough of my life missing them that it'd be handy to have my own.

[WideWiiLover]

I tottaly recognize both.

THe top one is now changing hands to McGills up here in Scotland, as they were bought out by them. They have a blue and white scheme.....

First is Evil!!!

Good MOC Though...

[Professor Flitwick]

I've had to ride the top bus for nigh-on every weekday for the past two years, and your recreation is instantly recognisable! Well done.

[Alasdair Ryan]

Those are super cool buses.

[Bricksan]

These look cool and I seem them everyday, will you be building these?

[Shasat Spacerider]

Wheels are too small, huh? Try 10wide!

Amazing bus! Love the 'Barbie' edition!