Switcs Automodelle have released the first 1:87 scale commuter bus in Chinese prototype. Three wear the standard red/white/grey Beijing Bus livery and another in what I believe is a demonstrator livery (no route numbers). Each bus has very slight differences, chiefly stickers, number plates, destination boards, registration numbers etc. Although value for money is a personal opinion, I believe they are a little on the high side - at the time of writing they retail in China for 298 Yuan (slightly higher in Hong Kong).

Construction is a one piece plastic body with separate window sections. The side window panels (the right hand side being windows and doors) are one piece and windows are separated by paint, rather than a physical separation. There are some significant panel gaps between windows and body which is quite unfortunate. The bus floor is held in by small clips to the body and an interior floor sits inside this. Removing the floor is not an overly difficult process which can be removed to add passengers.

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Roof ribbing and air-conditioner details are superb. Windscreen wipers are very fine. Headlights and tail lights are separate pieces. Tyres are made from real rubber and are mounted on plastic wheel centres. Interiors look great with some seats separately painted.

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Paint work is generally beautifully applied, although I'm a little underwhelmed with the glossy black window and door surrounds. Some touches such as number plates, disabled stickers and destination boards really bring these to life. The only fault I could find in a couple of places was some overspray from the wheel centres onto the tyres.