Oxford Diecast RM021

British Airways - 1:76 Scale

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation
Era 10 (2005 to 2015) Rebuilding of the Railways

Manufacturer description

It was in 1951 the decision was taken to develop a lightweight vehicle with the ability to seat 64 passengers, an initial estimate of 2,000 vehicles being suggested. Several protoypes appeared over the next few years and testing of the buses took place with development being carried out by a range of companies. It was not until the early sixties that the buses were seen on the streets of London in any quantity and by now a decision had been made to concentrate the future development of buses on one-person operated vehicles. No further Routemasters were built after 1968 although due to maintenance, refurbishment and deregulation they are still seen not only in the capital, but also in many locations throughout the UK and overseas.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast British Airways – 1:76 scale model. The model is supplied under manufacturer part number RM021 and depicts a vehicle finished in the British Rail Blue livery that predates the TOPS coding system.

The replica measures approximately 4.6 centimetres in length and is produced in die‑cast metal with plastic components for the wheels and interior. It is marketed as a collector’s item suitable for display in a railway or aviation themed arrangement.

The vehicle represented by the model is based on the post‑war London double‑deck bus that was first envisaged in 1951. The original specification called for a lightweight design capable of carrying 64 passengers, with an early target of 2,000 units. Prototypes were built over the following years and testing involved several manufacturers. Larger numbers appeared on the streets of London in the early 1960s, and by 1968 production of the classic type ceased. Despite the end of manufacture the buses have remained in service through refurbishment and deregulation, and they continue to be seen across the United Kingdom and abroad.