SE&CR 5 and 7 plank open wagons.

[Wickham Green too]

46 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

...... Such an arrangement reduces the chance of snagging on crates, sacks, or bales.

........ not to mention elbows and shins !

[Wickham Green too]

3 minutes ago, GreenGiraffe22 said:

....... I do wonder if all the detail underneath is entirely necessary, it's exquisitely detailed yes, but how often is it even going to be seen once it's on the layout ... ? ........

IF this is all part of a single moulded component then the 'extra' cost of producing it is RELATIVELY inconsequential compared with, say, the full length steam heat pipe beneath Bachmann's S.R. parcels vans .............. well, full length between the coupler mounts !

[The Stationmaster]

18 minutes ago, GreenGiraffe22 said:

 

The prototype may be bog standard but the model seems to be of accuracy not yet seen in plank wagons.

 

I don't think they're over priced, but interesting you mention 'over-specced' , I do wonder if all the detail underneath is entirely necessary, it's exquisitely detailed yes, but how often is it even going to be seen once it's on the layout ... ?

 

However if there are people that enjoy regularly inspecting the underneath of their models then fair enough =) 

Might depend on the quality of one's track and shunting skills (not that I am inferring anything about your track obviously please note  ).  But rough shunts on poor track and you might soon have one on its side and you'll have the best looking derailed wagon ever seen on a steam era layout 

[rapidoandy]

28 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said:

IF this is all part of a single moulded component then the 'extra' cost of producing it is RELATIVELY inconsequential compared with, say, the full length steam heat pipe beneath Bachmann's S.R. parcels vans .............. well, full length between the coupler mounts !

 

Hit the nail on the head there. The subfloor, solebars, headstocks, W irons, axleboxes, springs, V hangers and all that underframe detail is on one part.  The brakes, linkages and blocks another part, rake handles on either side are separate and made in such a way that they cannot be fitted the wrong way round :-)

 

For whoever asked the coupling hooks are a separate part that are fitted into a slot. 

Andy

[Mick Bonwick]

2 hours ago, rapidoandy said:

 

The interior vertical lines are there for both the main door and the top door. The lighting in the photos don't help and the plain plastic colour again makes it difficult to see. We have not made them huge great seams as frankly that is not prototypical. The wagons had no internal ironwork, the only details that are missing are the very flat-domed coach bolt heads that were sunk nearly flush into the woodwork. Now - it is feasibly possible to produce this sort of detail but it requires specialist collapsible moulds which get very expensive. This will only mean a greater price and I am not sure the cost  justifies the extra detail for many modellers. The underframe however has been VERY cleverly designed by our UK CAD team and required no fancy tooling to be able to produce that level of detail - so obviously we included everything we could!

 

 

 

Thank you for that clarification and I understand that there has to be a balance between detail and cost. If the door lines are there, then that's good.

 

I now see that there is a photograph showing this detail on the Dia. 1355 with sheet rail in Graham Muspratt's blog:

 

https://southern-railway.com/2021/05/28/rapido-trains-uk-announce-secr-5-and-7-plank-wagons-in-00/

 

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Mick Bonwick
Mention of appropriate photograph.

[Bernard Lamb]

45 minutes ago, Wheatley said:

I'm in the 'too expensive' camp, sorry. I understand how much things cost to produce but for me, if we're genuinely into £30 territory for a bog standard 12ton open then it's over-specced. If Oxford can turn LNER opens out for £12 then it can be done. I'm aware the brakes were back to front on some but that's a function of numptiness in either design or assembly, not in spec. They were still separately fitted and not moulded as part of the chassis.  

 

 

 

But Oxford are aimed at a very different market and their offerings will probably be produced in very much larger quantities.

A scale mode cannot be over specced as you call it. It is either right or it is wrong surely. These look pretty good to me. Just on a general point. If you read some of the financial experts this weekend you will see reports of a likely large increase in the rate of inflation. Already seen in building materials and some other basics. Try to buy roof tiles for example. The £30 wagon might seem to be a bargain in a couple of years time.

Bernard

[GreenGiraffe22]

30 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Might depend on the quality of one's track and shunting skills (not that I am inferring anything about your track obviously please note  ).  But rough shunts on poor track and you might soon have one on its side and you'll have the best looking derailed wagon ever seen on a steam era layout 

 

I mean, I've definitely seen the underside of Dapol wagons more times than I can count, they really don't like to be pushed, but that's been discussed at length in the Dapol forum section :p

[mdvle]

1 hour ago, GreenGiraffe22 said:

I don't think they're over priced, but interesting you mention 'over-specced' , I do wonder if all the detail underneath is entirely necessary, it's exquisitely detailed yes, but how often is it even going to be seen once it's on the layout ... ?

 

It to a certain extent depends on how you create your layout or display shelf.  If it is close to eye height then the underbody will be more visible - and even if you don't see every detail their absence would be more notable then a lower layout where you look down.

[Pre Grouping fan]

 

Happy to have been a small part of this as part of the Bluebell Wagon Group providing @rapidoandy some assistance. 

 

I've built a a fair few Southern Region cambrian kits over the years and I'll definitely be buying a selection to replace a couple /bolster my current rake of SECR and SR liveried wagons. 

[Wickham Green too]

Did you say 'bolster' ...... ? ....................

[PMP]

Re the price, I think it’s reasonable if it matches previous Rapido quality. If you bought the Cambrian kit and parts to complete, then paid someone the 2021 living wage of roughly £9.00 an hour, it’d take at least three hours to assemble and paint, so these would still be cheaper. The Oxford seven plank whilst pretty good, isn’t of the same quality straight out of the box.

 

N.B. Having built a Cambrian version of this seven plank, it’s not one of their finest and would easily take a few hours to put together to a high standard.

Edited May 29, 2021 by PMP
Repetition

[NHY 581]

I have to say I like the look of these and given the spec, the price is about right and not too far away from some of Bachmanns offerings. So not a drama. 

 

I feel for manufacturers. Lots of us have been clamouring for suitable pre-grouping wagons to run behind an increasing number of pre-grouping locos or provide a bit of variety to a 1950s layout as in my case. 

 

However, when they do make an announcement its either too detailed , not as good as or not as cheap as.......

 

Really ? 

 

It's not that bad surely. 

 

Roll on the Rapido pre-grouping brake vans....

 

Rob.  

[JohnR]

Ok. had to limit my order to 4 wagons, but hopefully there will be some left over, as I need to spread the cost!

[Neal Ball]

Thanks for clearing up the internal door details @rapidoandy

 

I look forward to having a couple at Henley on Thames.

[Craigw]

I have placed an order for one of the 5 plank and two of the 7 plank wagons with Rails. They fit in very nicely with my chosen early 1920s era. Very pleased to see that the brakes are close to their correct position and they should convert nicely to P4. It is nice to see Rapido (and Oxford and Rails) producing accurate pre-grouping rolling stock. I will happily support any company that joins in with this. Freelance stuff? Count me out.

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

[Oldddudders]

These look smashing. But the "price of everything and value of nothing" brigade simply fail to see beyond the cost to them. If you like making kits, and have the time and skills to finish and paint them to factory standards, keep going. If you prefer to spend your time running trains, these will enhance your consist sooner. 

[tomparryharry]

What's this? A non-generic open wagon?  and, in Southern livery, no less? 

 

"Whaddya mean, there's no LMS, North Eastern or Western liveries?"  and all with the same numbers?

 

No, it'll never, ever catch on.  Seeing as a plastic wagon kit is in the £15+ range, and some manufacturers pursue the  Star Trek element*  of model railways, the prospect of realistically priced specific wagons stacks up really well against the costs of a generic North Eastern wagon, with LMS branding, and GWR brown livery.... No, it'll never catch on.....

 

Nice one. Perhaps the general response will encourage  Rapido to release other models like these. 

 

* Star Trek:-  " Taking model railway prices to places where the human wallet has never set foot...."

[tomparryharry]

17 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

I have to say I like the look of these and given the spec, the price is about right and not too far away from some of Bachmanns offerings. So not a drama. 

 

I feel for manufacturers. Lots of us have been clamouring for suitable pre-grouping wagons to run behind an increasing number of pre-grouping locos or provide a bit of variety to a 1950s layout as in my case. 

 

However, when they do make an announcement its either too detailed , not as good as or not as cheap as.......

 

Really ? 

 

It's not that bad surely. 

 

Roll on the Rapido pre-grouping brake vans....

 

Rob.  

 Ah! So you're the chap who wants Rhymney & Barry brake vans!

[Butler Henderson]

The lettering on the departmental 7 plank is unusual as SR wagons used for cable purposes were usually 8 planks. Having been through all relevant Dave Larkin and the Cheona books have not found a source photo.

[NHY 581]

1 hour ago, tomparryharry said:

 Ah! So you're the chap who wants Rhymney & Barry brake vans!

 

 

Thank fully, no. 

 

That would involve some interest in pre-grouping Welsh railways and, God forbid, the GWR..............and I am glad to say, that eludes me. 

 

No. With the LSWR catered for,  ( for now) let's stick to a nice SECR or LBSCR brake van........or at a push, a  Great Eastern example. 

 

 

Rob. 

[PaulRhB]

It’s ok if you don’t want to pay the Rapido price commission a run of Dapol open wagons with SECR on the side

 

A couple will be joining my collection to make the C and P happy  

[Michael Hodgson]

31 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

 

 

Thank fully, no. 

 

That would involve some interest in pre-grouping Welsh railways and, God forbid, the GWR..............and I am glad to say, that eludes me. 

 

Don't forget the Taff Vale Railway, and I'd like another Pontnewynydd GWR brake to go with my Jidenco kit-built one please.

[MartinTrucks]

On 28/05/2021 at 13:50, bill_schmidt1 said:

Not all of them had split-spoked wheels so you might want to check that..

One of the 7-plank SECR design wagons we have on Bluebell (it is numbered 5542 and is in SECR grey livery despite being a SR-built wagon) has 3-hole disc wheels, but these are not standard and have tyres!

Regards,

Martin

[MartinTrucks]

Even building kits these days is not cheap.  I run my kitbuilt fleet in with my RTR stuff, a cataract and occasional arthritis in the fingers having influenced a move away from the 3-links of my youth!  The cost of a (rather nice) Cambrian kit is £8.10, a pair of wheelsets £3, pair of NEM baseplates 64p (pack of 10 £3.16) , pair of Bachmann 36-027 couplers £2.20 (£10.95 a pack), finish coat paint £3.85 and sheet of transfers £10 (cheaper if you are building more than one SR kit), brass bearings, paintbrushes, Microsol/Microset for the transfers, undercoat, varnish, post & packing for the various items and one is getting perilously close to the discounted Rapido price!

 

If you want ONE, you are probably better off buying a Rapido RTR version.  If you want half a dozen, providing you have the physical capability, the time and the talent, you are far better off with the kits!  

 

Martin

 

[PaulRhB]

 

 

1 hour ago, MartinTrucks said:

the time

That one often being the biggest hurdle these days