Mercedes O-305 - city bus

[frizzen]

Rico toys of Spain produced a "Rico Bus" based on a Mercedes Omnibus O-305 City Transit bus. The full size bus was produced between 1969-1988. I can't find when toy bus production started, but Rico toys shut down in 1984. This has Line-controlled remote, steering is with a cable, motor, lights, sounds. Body was available in Silver, Blue, Yellow, Red, White. There were atleast 3 interior color combos.

I found a Silver one out of the UK in mostly decent shape, (missing a skylight, 1 door window, 1 turnsignal lens, both mirrors. Plus 1 horn trumpet broken) However on the way here, it crossed the wrong bloke and it got curb-stomped. Great.



A herd of German boxen?



Bus vs Microbus.



Features: Driver seat + 27 passenger seats + standing room + 4 poles. Mid-ship curb doors operate, but Front doors are solid. Tires tall enough it might not get stuck everywhere? Even though busses run mostly empty, I think it should help get some action figures to work.

They're kind of strange inside.
https://reparar-cochesrc.blogspot.co...cobus.html?m=0

Unibody construction, even the interior and cabinet handles are structural.
Long throw steering setup with the kingpins only mounted in single shear
Has 2 motors in gearbox, but they're seperate. One runs bus fwd/rev. The other controls engine vibrate or bell ringer.
This featured a mechanical light kit, with switches on steering for turnsignals, and cam & switch on drive axle for light flashing.

I'm thinking this should have a bunch of functionality probably to be added in stages: Drive, interior lights, door operation, exterior lights, sound/vibrate esc, even more sounds electronically, fpv?

First goal, drive "Bus #43" at Lafayette, IN 'Farm Toy Show' meet in Feb 2025