Evolution of the big red box, in LEGO
Today (1 July) marks the day the 10258 London Bus being sold in London LEGO Stores. Mr Huw of Brickset.com just wrote this little chronicle of the beloved red vehicle.
LEGO London Buses
Typical, you wait ages for a bus and then several come along at once!
10258, announced yesterday, comes just a year after the last London bus, 40220. But that wasn't the first one by any means: in fact, one of the first LEGO vehicles of any kind, released shortly after the invention of the wheel, was a London bus...
313 London Bus
313 London Bus
313 was released in 1966, just a year after the wheel first appeared, and was one of the very first vehicle sets to be produced.
It's interesting to wonder why a Danish toy company would choose a British bus for one of its first vehicle sets: I guess it's because it's iconic and recognised the world over, which can't be said of any Danish vehicles.
I believe that red windows were in production at the time so it's a mystery to me why white ones were used instead.
Used examples can be found on the secondary market such as BrickLink but it's hard to find one without yellowed windows and perished tyres these days.
384 London Bus
384 London Bus
384 London Bus arrived in Europe eight years later in 1973 and in North America in 1975 where it was released as 760 London Bus.
The wheel arches, black tyres, stickers and red windows combine to create a much more pleasing model than the previous version.
10214 Tower Bridge
Tiny little London bus in 10214 Tower Bridge
It was not until the 21st century that the next one pulled up, in 2010. This little bus crosses 10214 Tower Bridge and includes some impressive details such as the rear platform and four wheels, despite its very small scale.
3300006 London Bus
3300006 London Bus
A slightly larger promotional model was given away with qualifying purchases when the first brand store in London, at Westfield Shepherd's Bush, opened in 2011. This one has rolling wheels and a black rear platform stanchion, not unlike 384 London Bus from 1973.
40220 London Bus
40220 London Bus - the one we're all familiar with
Last year's bus is also associated with a LEGO brand store in London as it is always available at the Leicester Square branch. However, it was first produced for display alongside 10253 Big Ben and the advertising boards on either side are decorated accordingly.
21029 Buckingham Palace
21029 Buckingham Palace - See that red sandwich on the left?
The smallest London bus ever released consists of just seven pieces and is found driving around the Victoria Memorial outside 21029 Buckingham Palace. The model may be tiny but it is instantly recognisable as a classic Routemaster, just as the black car is evidently a TX4 hackney carriage.
10258 London Bus
10258 London Bus, aka the big brother
10258 London Bus is by far the largest and most detailed version of the famous Routemaster yet released. It includes 1686 pieces, more than ten times the count of any previous London Bus set!
*Update: 40183 Bricktober Town Hall
40183 Bricktober Town Hall
Still... very tiny. (Not sure about this. It may also be a any city's red coach or touring bus, for there's a little yellow taxi in the set as well.)
Which London Bus is your favourite and do you like the new one? Let us know in the comments below.
Brickset is attending the exciting product launch for 10258 London Bus at the Leicester Square LEGO brand store shortly so make sure to keep an eye on their social media channels over the next few hours!
The following link gets you to Mr Huw's original article on Brickset.com
brickset.com/article/28972/lego-london-buses
#LEGO #LEGOTribe #LondonBus #Bus #London #Classic-cars #Middleoftheroad #Brickset
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