East Lancashire Coachbuilders of Blackburn set its market during the 60’s and 70’s as a "bespoke’ manufacturer for the municipal sector. Whilst it would be unkind to say that every vehicle was different, certainly every batch was unique to the operator who received it. This makes it difficult to make a model of a "standard" East Lancs bus.

Nevertheless, the general proportions, window spacing and the characteristic lipped fibre glass roof domes of the 5-bay body were common to most 9.5 metre bodies built during the 1970s and early ‘80s on Atlantean, Fleetline, Bristol VRT and Dennis Dominator chassis.

Dennis developed its Dominator in conjunction with East Lancs as an alternative to the Atlantean and Fleetline and a prototype -  SHE 722 S was demonstrated from 1977, later passing to South Yorkshire PTE.

The major user of the early Dominator with East Lancs 5-bay body was Leicester Corporation. However these buses, with their long rearward rising staircase, had a style unique to Leicester and the model selected for this kit, the "home team" Blackburn version, is more typical of the early Dominators purchased in small numbers in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s by municipal operators. The model chosen for the kit is based on the first two buses delivered to Blackburn Borough Transport as Nos 131-132 (LFR 131-132T) in 1979. Virtually identical buses were also supplied to East Staffordshire District Council.

An alternative more rounded front dash panel (without bumper) is supplied for the later model Dominators delivered from 1981, including Brighton and Eastbourne Corporations.

Modifications introduced during the course of production of the Dominator with the 5-bay body included:

• The South Yorkshire prototype and some other very early 1977 Dominators had a more pronounced curve (in plan view) on the rear corners of the upper deck. This means that the last side windows and the triangular louvres between decks need to be slightly shorter
• Later models had the rear lower deck window inset at the back of the passenger saloon. The opening on the rear panel is square cut and slightly narrower (about 19mm) than the rubber mounted window represented in the kit.
• Flat front or rear dome (or both) for some operators.
• More rounded lower dash corners on late models, with a narrower radiator grille

Other differences included

• Tayside’s one short wheelbase Dominator had an Alexander windscreen and a deep front dash.
• Cardiff’s one Dominator had a two-pane upper deck front window and a lower mounted cab side window
• There was varied allegiance to 2 or 4-leaf doors.
• Forward or rearward rising staircase. Hyndburn continued with a short rearward ascending staircase while Leicester used a long rearward ascending staircase with a frosted offside window alongside, later panelled over.
• Back to back seating over the rear wheel arch, as represented in the kit, was standard, but Tayside continued to specify longitudinal seats.