The refurb & repaint of 4176 is now complete and I will hopefully gate a photo very soon. It is not like 4177 but I believe there might be a very slight change from standard livery
Quote from: Tony on April 06, 2012, 09:10:28 PM
The refurb & repaint of 4176 is now complete and I will hopefully gate a photo very soon. It is not like 4177 but I believe there might be a very slight change from standard livery
Do you know if 4176 has Route Branding aswell :)
No it doesn't. Photo should be appearing on the main site anytime now
Have asked before but no one seems to have a clear view. Exactly what is the purpose of these repaints? Is there a rethink on the current livery especially to get rid of the white? Already one or two of the new deliveries are looking a little `off` white!
Seen the photo of 4176, I can't tell any difference between this and the standard red/white!
It only confirms in my mind how awful the livery is withall that huge expanse of white. Please adopt the livery on 4177 as standard NX!
4176 looks like any other repainted Trident I've seen recently.
It's easy to criticise white liveries but it's all down to the paint. Whenever I see a freshly liveried vehicle in NXWM livery I always think it looks smart, although in my opinion it is the red that wrecks the livery as it clashes heavily with so much of the on bus advertising that is applied, plus red paint will always lose it's shine and fade quicker than other colours such as the Coventry blue.
And therein lies the problem. NXWM have chosen the 2 colours that lose their freshness and look scuffed and tired if you use cheap paint, put them together, and then used cheap paint! Has anyone seen 1401 recently? I see it regularly, it was the first paint into the new colours years ago, yet still looks pristine. The white is virtually unblemished and still vibrant, and the red, although a different shade, still gleams. They obviously used superior paint for that job.
White liveries are fine if they are applied with quality, unfortunately I'm not sure this one is.
Also it helps when buses are washed frequently too. ;-)
I did read somewhere before that NXWM were also investing in new bus-washing facilities at their garages.
Quote from: andy on April 08, 2012, 12:07:41 PM
Has anyone seen 1401 recently? I see it regularly, it was the first paint into the new colours years ago, yet still looks pristine. The white is virtually unblemished and still vibrant, and the red, although a different shade, still gleams. They obviously used superior paint for that job.
I'd certainly agree with that, 1401's external condition is outstanding!
The livery looks sharp, clean & crisp on brand new vehicles / when first repainted, but just doesn't last when you take into account road dirt / accident damage etc. NX coaches are allover white and worked hard, they don't seem to have as many issues with keeping the white looking clean.
The other big, big problem with red is that it gradually turns pinker over time due to the pigment in it reacting with sunlight, I believe even car manufactures have yet to find a solution to prevent this from happening.
Doesn't the paintshop also now apply to coat of clear lacquer or varnish to help the livery wear better?
Quote from: andy on April 08, 2012, 12:07:41 PM
It's easy to criticise white liveries but it's all down to the paint. Whenever I see a freshly liveried vehicle in NXWM livery I always think it looks smart, although in my opinion it is the red that wrecks the livery as it clashes heavily with so much of the on bus advertising that is applied, plus red paint will always lose it's shine and fade quicker than other colours such as the Coventry blue.
And therein lies the problem. NXWM have chosen the 2 colours that lose their freshness and look scuffed and tired if you use cheap paint, put them together, and then used cheap paint! Has anyone seen 1401 recently? I see it regularly, it was the first paint into the new colours years ago, yet still looks pristine. The white is virtually unblemished and still vibrant, and the red, although a different shade, still gleams. They obviously used superior paint for that job.
White liveries are fine if they are applied with quality, unfortunately I'm not sure this one is.
Tony having seen the photo of 4176 is there a difference to the standard livery? If there is it`s not obvious and I`ll ask yet again are NX contemplating a livery change?
Before I saw it myself, I was told the red was the red used on 4177. I am still not sure which red it is
Looks like 'red' to me! lol 8)
Not sure how this will turn up, but messing around with the livery, I don't know if I've improved it or made it worse lmao.
Change the black to Coventry Blue :P
I think the darker TWM blue may be a better option
1401 Seems to have a much richer red, if that makes sense...
I really cant understand when NXWM refurb these vehicles they don't fit the tree bars on the front anyone know why this is?
3 possible reasons that I can think of about the tree bars:
1) As double deck operation is such a common feature of the area, the trees are generally kept well trimmed and away from the roads.
2) NXWM don't do private hire any more so vehicles are unlikely to meet a tree in a location where they don't usually go.
3) I have heard it said that the bars do more harm than good as branches can get caught in them, pulling them away from the bodywork with resulting damage to the front of the bus.
Quote from: D10 on April 24, 2012, 09:29:15 PM
3 possible reasons that I can think of about the tree bars:
1) As double deck operation is such a common feature of the area, the trees are generally kept well trimmed and away from the roads.
2) NXWM don't do private hire any more so vehicles are unlikely to meet a tree in a location where they don't usually go.
3) I have heard it said that the bars do more harm than good as branches can get caught in them, pulling them away from the bodywork with resulting damage to the front of the bus.
Or collecting branches and having them wedged in!
What about the tree deflectors on enviro 400s? Do these encounter the same problems
Quote from: D10 on April 24, 2012, 09:29:15 PM
3 possible reasons that I can think of about the tree bars:
1) As double deck operation is such a common feature of the area, the trees are generally kept well trimmed and away from the roads.
2) NXWM don't do private hire any more so vehicles are unlikely to meet a tree in a location where they don't usually go.
3) I have heard it said that the bars do more harm than good as branches can get caught in them, pulling them away from the bodywork with resulting damage to the front of the bus.
Not that i know of
One of Wolverhampton's new Volvos drove past me (very slowly) the other day and I could already see a flatness developing in the tone of the red section of the livery. Was 4177's livery only to be experimental for Birmingham area-based vehicles? I certainly never saw it anywhere near me, and yes, I know it's not from a garage local to me, but I'd have thought if they were opening up to public opinion on a new livery they'd have sent it (or painted another vehicle) around the depots. I'm perpetually disappointed in the quality of NXWM's livery and the inconsistencies of its application.
There was talk of 4801 been painted into it but never happened
Quote from: Stu on April 08, 2012, 12:16:47 PM
Also it helps when buses are washed frequently too. ;-)
I did read somewhere before that NXWM were also investing in new bus-washing facilities at their garages.
All buses go thru the washer when they are fueled. Problem is over time the brushed flat the paint surface and then no amount of washing will get the grime out. I believe in the PTE era a varnish was applied over the paint which seemed to work. You rarely saw PTE bus with a mat finish
i bet they use a tfr based wash additive to remove the grime, and lets face it, they probably never see a good polish to keep em shining
Quote from: matt904102 on June 20, 2012, 11:36:18 AM
Quote from: Stu on April 08, 2012, 12:16:47 PM
Also it helps when buses are washed frequently too. ;-)
I did read somewhere before that NXWM were also investing in new bus-washing facilities at their garages.
All buses go thru the washer when they are fueled. Problem is over time the brushed flat the paint surface and then no amount of washing will get the grime out. I believe in the PTE era a varnish was applied over the paint which seemed to work. You rarely saw PTE bus with a mat finish
Take note on the enviros painted in the new shiny paint and the brush on the offside leaves what looks like scratches however its diesel on the brushes