坐巴士上北京 – 拓意北方BFC6120豪華旅遊車
今天是大年初一，先祝各位新年快樂。蛇年第一部介紹的是拓意1/64 北方BFC6120豪華旅遊車遙控巴士，雖然這款車充滿亮點，但原來城巴曾經開拓北京巴士團的故事，同樣引人入勝。
北方客車成立於1986年，由北京北方車輛集團與德國NEOPLAN技術合作的成果。公司投資2.6億元人民幣，年產能規劃為500輛，在1990年9月的第11屆五金會中更榮獲金牌殊榮。北方客車於1997年被國家指定為首批四家「豪華旅遊客車定點生產廠」之一。經過多年發展，公司累計生產超過1000輛客車，其產品行駛里程普遍超過100萬公里，充分體現了北方客車的可靠性能。
BFC6120系列以其優異的抗衝擊能力、防滑性能和快速維修特性在市場上佔有重要地位。其中最具代表性的是曾經服務於香港至北京陸路遊的「China Adventures」版本，採用獨特的橙黃色條紋設計，成為中港跨境旅遊的標誌性車型之一。不過根據《中華巴士紀念館》的資料，城巴與凱達旅運轄下的中國華峯發展公司合辦香港至北京的巴士旅行團購入的為Neoplan BN316左軚巴士，編號801及802，當然完成裝嵌後直接由北京駛往香港。由香港至北京來回旅程，為期約3個星期，對象是美國年青遊客，每人收費約為三千美元仍然爆滿。首團由90年5月出發，計劃每月對開一團，後來生意欠佳，92年連同右軚的803賣予另一間公司，95年改行中港城到深圳西麗湖渡假村的508線，隨著城巴停辦過境線而退役。
拓意早前亦曾推出BFC612旅遊巴，但出遙控車卻是第一次。今次與Sniclo Racing合作出車，巨型包裝盒內是槍控以及1/64 北方BFC6120豪華旅遊車，其中槍控用三粒2A電，巴士則用USB-C充電，簡單配對後即可操作。除了可以控制高低燈、指揮燈外，倒車燈及煞車燈亦如實呈現，倒車時更有專用警示聲。雖然車身不輕，但轉向仍然靈敏，油門力度都可以再作微調，惟獨是倒車反應有點遲緩，不過真車亦較難即停即倒車。至於車身則與其他合金車看齊，因車身較高所以足以容納遙控裝置及摩打，車身髹上China Adventures及Camptours: Hong Kong – Bejing Overland Tour字樣，用上”Camptours”這個字，表示旅程有機會住戶外營地。其他貼紙、圖案亦跟足當年「801」，另有側鏡可供安裝。
未來究竟拓意會否再開拓更多遙控車款呢？
From Hong Kong to Beijing – Review of Xcartoys’ North BFC6120 Luxury Coach
Xcartoys introduces its first-ever RC model featuring the North BFC6120 luxury coach, collaborating with Sniclo Racing to present a significant piece of cross-border tourism history between Hong Kong and Beijing.
The North Coach Company, established in 1986 through a technical partnership between Beijing North Vehicle Group and Germany’s NEOPLAN, represents a ¥260 million investment with an annual production capacity of 500 units. The company earned recognition by winning a gold medal at the 11th Hardware Fair in September 1990 and was later designated as one of China’s four authorized luxury coach manufacturers in 1997. Their achievements include producing over 1,000 coaches, with many units surpassing 1 million kilometers in service.
Historical records from the Chinese Bus Memorial indicate that Citybus and Kai Da Transport’s China Huafeng Development Company operated Neoplan BN316 left-hand drive buses (fleet numbers 801 and 802) for their Hong Kong-Beijing tours. These 21-day tours, targeting American youth travelers at $3,000 per person, began in May 1990. Despite initial success with monthly departures, declining business led to the sale of these buses (including right-hand drive unit 803) in 1992. The vehicles were later reassigned to Route 508 between China Hong Kong City and Shenzhen Xili Lake Resort until their retirement when Citybus ceased cross-border operations.
The Xcartoys Y30-03 1:64 RC model comes in a deluxe package containing both the controller (requiring 3 AA batteries) and the USB-C rechargeable bus. The model features working headlights, turning signals, reverse lights, and brake lights, complete with realistic backup warning sounds. While maintaining precise steering control despite its weight, the model accurately replicates the original “China Adventures” and “Camptours: Hong Kong – Beijing Overland Tour” livery, including removable side mirrors and authentic decal details from the original “801” coach.
