No. 181 All Change – ex GWR ‘B’ Sets from Rapido compared with Airfix, Mainline and Hornby varieties


February 2025

February 2025 and Rapido UK have released their new models of the ex GWR ‘B’ Set carriages.


Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Lined Maroon livery.  Spot the red flashes for the communication cord apparatus on the new coaches, Rapido front, Mainline rear

The new models are everything that you might expect from Rapido, well finished and very well detailed.  They are also delicate, expensive and finding space to store the empty packaging will be challenging.

I have purchased three sets, in BR plain maroon, crimson and lined maroon liveries.  The new coaches will replace earlier models.
 

Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Crimson livery, Hornby front, Rapido rear



Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets in BR Maroon livery, Airfix front, Rapido rear

Some history
 

Over the years I acquired three variants of ‘B’ Set carriages from Airfix, Mainline (Palitoy) and Hornby.
 


The old order BR Maroon (Airfix) left, BR Crimson (Hornby) right

I fitted metal wheels to these old carriages and Bachmann Mini Loop couplings at the outer ends.

image.png.fa23ef65b88402f7e01f8147a7daee2b.png

This current Post can be regarded as an extension of a much older Blog Post from 2015 where I suggested that the appearance of the carriages could improved by bringing the coaches closer together.


As close as practical

Back in 2015 it was a revelation to me to read a now long lost Blog from Tim Venton and to discover that the ‘B’ Set coaches were designed and operated as a two car unit.  The outer ends had conventional couplings whilst in between the two carriages there was a permanent bar coupling.  The centre buffers were made specifically short and there was even mention of the use of a single central buffer.
 

Tim Venton images, ex GWR B Set, Diagram 129 Left, Diagram E147, coaches No W6907W + W6908W Right


Long and short buffers at different ends.  (British Railways Western Region courtesy of DSJ Thomas and P Whitehouse 1986).  Apparently Diagram E145 with 9' bogies according to Tim Venton

Finer detail

The Airfix, Mainline and Hornby models all share the same tooling from 1975.

An original Airfix model from 1975- nearly as old as my ‘L’ registered ‘B’ (GT).

I think these old models were excellent and well captured the image of a ‘B’ Set.  Viewed from above I think there is little to choose between any of the old models and Rapido’s latest offering.


Ex GWR ‘B’ Sets – Hornby front, Rapido Rear.

Viewed up close the finer detail of the latest Rapido model becomes more evident.


Recessed door handles or not, Airfix top, Rapido bottom.

The width of the ‘B’ Set coaches was maximised to make full use of the available loading gauge and as a result all the door handles were recessed – a detail which might have been difficult to replicate in the 1970’s tooling.


Recessed door handles or not, Airfix – with no steps for the Guard


Recessed door handles or not, Rapido - complete with Guard’s steps

Underframe detail on the old Airfix model was sparse.  You might say that in those days we played with our model train and when viewed from above why would you need to see the underside of the chassis?  However as noted above steps for the guard were missing from the Airfix model, as was a dynamo and much brake gear.  The bogies also lacked the finer compensation / torsion bars* between the axle boxes. (* actually Tie Rods)
.

The bare chassis - Airfix


A dynamo and lots of brake gear in the space behind – Rapido.

The Rapido model has much much more, including lamp irons on the carriage ends, etched internal luggage racks and internal LED lighting operated with a magic wand.  There are more views of the new coaches below.


Rapido 946003 Ex GWR 'B' Set in BR Crimson, W6365W / W6366W with Bachmann Dukedog 9028.


Rapido 946005 Ex GWR 'B' Set in BR lined Maroon, W6989W / W6990W with Bachmann Ivatt 46446.


Rapido 946006 Ex GWR 'B' Set in BR Maroon, W6455W / W6456W with Bachmann Ivat 46460.

What do I think of the new models?
 

The New Order, Rapido BR Maroon left, Rapido BR Crimson right

The question is, will they still be around in 50 years like the Airfix models?  Certainly I will not know!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No.123 Chocolate and Cream and BR1s – the Replica Railways Restaurant Buffet

Image
This Post describes some modifications that I have made to a Replica Railways BR Mk1 RB. Previously i have modified the Mainline Maroon RB by fitting Finecast glazing, wire handrails and Bachmann close coupling mechanisms. I promised myself that I would do the same for the chocolate and cream Replica BR(WR) RB. Success! Replica Railways BR(WR) Restaurant Buffet on BR1 Bogies First task - find a suitable coach! Replica Railways Mk1 RB from around 1992 Models are bit like London buses. When I first started looking for a BR(WR) RB there didn’t seem to be any around and eventually my coach came from Australia. Then suddenly there were lots available here in the UK. On opening the box I was surprised to discover that Replica had painted the solebars chocolate to match the lower body panels – why? Was someone confused by the blue solebars ion the blue and grey version? They should be black and they can be over painted with new transfers added from the P...
Read more

No.98 The Peco Streamline 3 Way Point.

Image
The Peco Streamline 3 Way point is an extremely useful space saving device. This Post is prompted because I had to sort out a couple of problems with the installation of my own three way point. I was also aware that other modellers   were finding difficulties with the operation and installation of their 3 way points. The design of the point is symmetrical and has the appearance of a LH point being placed directly on top of a RH point. As a consequence the construction of the point is quite complex and the point requires careful handling especially during installation. When first marketed by Peco the point was only available with ‘Insulfrog’.  The view below shows my first ‘Insulfrog’ point but reinstalled on my second layout. Peco Code 100 3 Way Insulfrog Point – the Park View Layout 1990s The big advantage of the ‘Insulfrog’ point is that it does not require any separate electrical switching and hence is suitable for manual or simple mechanical operation. My...
Read more

No.105 City of Truro – a clever design

Image
Flushed with success after fettling Bucklebury Grange I thought I would tackle some of the other unresolved locomotive issues. Bachmann 3440 City of Truro City of Truro arrived from the National Railway Museum in January 2010. I remember being well impressed by the livery and the detail. It ran slowly and smoothly and was carefully put away – too good (expensive) for day to day use. Fast forward to January 2014 and Bachmann’s Dukedog arrives. 9017 was a superb runner, smooth and rock steady. It had me thinking because City of Truro did have a tendency to swing from side to side. I would investigate. Underside of City of Truro The driving wheels on City of Truro are geared to reduce problems with quartering. I did wonder if the driving wheels were not true on their axles. I would try some replacements. Steve at Barwell indicated that the wheels could be removed without splitting the chassis and body. Also that the outside cranks simply ‘pull off’. ...
Read more