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

[frizzen]

Did some repairs. Opened & polished the original motors since i can't figure out what they are. Cleaned up the bright work with Molotow chrome. Picked up some new side mirrors. Got a new Rx bound to fs-gt5, snagged a wimpy esc out of something, a pile of mg-90s, 2000mah 5nimh pack, a servo-slow for doors, some 'cob' leds from a broken light i found in a parking lot.

Printed a panel mount deans holder, 3 way switch to handle Charge/Run. Printed some servo holders.

After the bus got the first 40 years of grime cleaned out, the floors got an acrylic wash since cleanliness is next to impossible. Then some molotow for edge retiainers and more detailing

We hired a driver, Buford is a prior service millitary guy that used to run troop transports. Absolute professional, knows how to keep things under control, and handle problems on board. It took some time to get him to stop wearing the old uniform



I don't have any bus stops, but we've already got some people wanting to ride the bus.

[Zabco]

Coming along, shows some real promise. Any idea as to scale?

[frizzen]

Thanks Zabco, hopefully it'l be an enjoyable ride. Or atleast maybe worth what you paid in bus fare.

First reaction, I'm leaning about 1/16 scale. Bruder sized figures look propertional and fit well. Plus it's not an exact "Mercedes Benz O305".
In usa 96" width seems to be the big standard when these were in service. 102" wide came later, and city bus tend toward 96 to help thread the needle through town. I think i've been seeing this class was usually 30, 35, 40, 45 feet long?

I guess it's now research & math time, since you asked. But i am going to put in rounding and conversion error
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_O305
Length 11m / 11.1m / 11.3m (36' 1" / 36' 5" / 37' )
Width 2.5m (8' 2" = 98")
Height 3.0m (9' 11" = 119")

Rico Suave
Length 28"
Width 6 1/4"
Height 7 1/2"
Wheelbase 13 3/4"
Tire height 2 1/2"

15.68 scale W
15.8 scale H
15.6 scale L for the 1974 & later 36' 5" (437")
So i'll call the others about 18 feet wheelbase, and around 40" tires

I don't know, mostly i thought it looked good hanging with Tamiya, Wedico, & Bruder rigs in various Modelbau & Glasshaus videos, and on some non-english message boards. I hadn't seen many run an rc 'Omnibus' at events state-side. It's weird. Plus it takes WAY less talent to buy old bus than attempt a scratchbuild.

[Blender]

Numbers are very close to 1:16 and very consistent in each dimension. Wedico trucks are noticeably smaller than the Tamiya and China models but look just fine on a course IMO. Most noticeable while they are parked right next to each other.