Model Railways
Models
Plastic Kits
Slot Car Racing
Academy
Accurascale
AE Model
Aim Solder
AIP
Airfix
Am-Tech
Ansmann
Antex
Aoshima
Araldite
Atlas Editions
Bachmann
Bartoline
Bburago
Bill Bedford Models
Blackspur
Bond It
Britains Farm
Britbus
Bull Brand
Busch
CaDA
Cararama
Carrs
Carson
Cavalex Models
Clark Railworks
Animals And People
Backscenes
Ballast, Coal And Rocks
Baseboards
Buildings
Cleaning And Maintenance
Coaches
Controllers
DCC Controllers, Decoders And Sound Decoders
Display Cases And Stock Boxes
Electrics
Landscaping
Loco And Rolling Stock Detailing
Locomotives
Manual Point Operation
Other Products
Playtrains
Publications
Signals
Spares
Tools And Accessories
Track And Points
Train Packs
Train Set
Train Sets
Trees
Trees, Hedges And Grass
Wagon Loads
Aircraft
Buses
Caravans
Cars
Commercials
Detailing
Diggers
Emergency Services
Farm Machinery
Military Vehicles
Motorbikes
Paints And Accessories
Ships And Boats
Tanks
Toys
Traction Engines
TV, Sci-Fi And Fictional
Accessories
Artillery
Figures
Helicopters
Modelling Materials
Space
Wagons
Batteries And Chargers
Boats
Body Shells And Body Clips
Connectors
Fuel And Oil
GlowStarts And GlowPlugs
Handsets
Lighting
Motors And Speed Controllers
Servos And Receivers
Spares And Accessories
Power And Control
Sets
Track
Trackside Scenery
Batteries
Books
Cards
Engraving Art
Fireworks
Gift Vouchers
Glue
Glues
Kites
Live Steam
Matchstick Kits
Metal Kits
Model Rockets
Paint By Numbers
Plastic Brick Kits
Plasticard
Puzzles
Weathering
Wooden Kits
Radio Control
The well-known bus operator, Devon General, began operating regular open top bus tours of the Torbay area in the summer of 1955 using vehicles converted from conventional double deckers. However, in 1961 these were replaced by a fleet of nine specially built Leyland Atlanteans with Metro-Cammell bodies, each seating 75 passengers.
The nine were named after historical naval and maritime figures such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, and soon earned the nickname ‘Sea Dogs’; a term Devon General even adopted for its marketing. In their distinctive cream and red livery, they became a familiar sight on the 12A-12D routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Babbacombe and Kingswear, and carried generations of holidaymakers for the next 20 years. They were built as convertibles, with detachable roofs, meaning that they could operate as normal double deckers during the low season.
In January 1971 Devon General became part of the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the National Bus Company), and during the next two years the Sea Dogs were repainted into NBC poppy red and white, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding under NBC ownership, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset.
Withdrawal commenced in 1982, and the Sea Dogs went their separate ways, finding use in places including London, Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Glasgow.
Our model depicts registration 933GTA (formerly ‘Sir Walter Raleigh’) in its post-1982 condition after transfer to Holman Bros. Coaches of Wood Green for use on London Transport sightseeing services around the Capital. The model is finished in London Transport red livery, complete with solid white roundels, London cityscape decals and ‘Round London Sightseeing Tour’ branding. The lower position route blind and later style of replacement rear engine bustle complete the model.
