TAM 260 A 180 M/P, model from
1989 |
|
Back in 1987, I modified
a couple of toy buses into articulated ones and then realized
I would've been able to produce complete models myself.
Beside cardboard bodies, it included even wheels and string
operated doors, too. I chose to model city buses from IKARUS-Zemun
production program (not to be mixed with Hungarian IKARUS).
I made eight of solo and articulated buses in 1:30 scale
that year. |
The
next year I switched to TAM-AUTOKAROSERIJA (today's NEOBUS)
line- service program. It consisted of 11 and 12 meter suburban
buses and 12 and 18 meter city buses, in the same scale.
Those were more precise and accurate paper models with lever
operated doors and "accordion" made of fabric
for articulated buses, but still without interior. I had
been working on TAM program for four years and made more
than 40 units during that time. |
|
TAM 190 A 110, model from 1989
|
TAM 260 A 116 P 0.2, model
from 1989 |
|
The
year 1992 was the turning point. I abandoned mass production
of simple models with drawn windows and began to work on
full-detailed ones. The first and the most significant was
VOLVO B10M MKIII articulated bus with NEOBUS body. It was
made of nearly 1000 (thousand !) larger and smaller parts.
It meant lever operated doors, sliding windows, lifting
roof hatches, detailed dashboard, upholstered driver's seat,
wooden-like passenger seats, hand rails, interior lights,
even "stop" signal buttons. |
Further
models were simplified for assembling and spared many of
hard-to-spot details. However, I improved their credibility
to real vehicles. Maybe the best example are model-coaches
made in 1998 and 1999 with passenger seats upholstered in
fabric, roller sun blinds to windscreen, TV sets, tinted
windows, air-conditioners and so on. |
|
TAM 260 A 116 P, model from
1988 |
TAM 260 A 116 M, model from
1989 |
|
I've
made as many as 60 model-buses so far with distinct difference
in quality in comparison to early models, but one thing
remains the same: all parts for models, from head lights
to tail lights, are completely "homemade". Not
one single part ready for installment was purchased in a
shop. Except for the raw material, of course... |
