Rapido SECR 5 and 7-plank open wagons

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Rapido Trains UK • 906001 Dia. 1347 five-plank open, SECR grey • 906011 Dia. 1349 five-plank open wagon, SECR grey • 907010 Dia. 1355 seven-plank open wagon ‘Hybar’, BR grey ◆ PRICE £32.95 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Rapido stockists Web www.

As Chris mentioned on the preceding pages, Rapido’s GWR gunpowder vans were the first RTR models to appear under its UK banner. Hot on the heels of those vans come an array of open wagons based on a variety of South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) designs.

Received for review is a pair of five-plank timber-bodied opens, plus a seven-plank vehicle with optional ‘hybar’ apparatus. The seven-plank open represents one of the SECR’S most numerous wagon types and the design was perpetuated by the Southern Railway following the Grouping, leading to over 2,000 examples being constructed between 1915-27. Indeed, a development introduced by the Southern was the installation of a hinged rail to allow the fitting of a peaked tarpaulin to keep the cargo dry. Wagons so fitted were referred to as ‘hybars’.

Rapido’s five-plank wagons depict those built – or rather rebuilt – to Diagrams 1347/1349, 700 of which were built on the same standard steel-framed chassis as the seven-plank vehicles. Examples of these SECR and Sr-built wagons were a common sight across southern England, with examples also venturing much further afield. Moreover, a good many of them lasted well into BR days, especially in Departmental service, with the last examples being withdrawn in the 1970s.

All three review samples share a common 9ft 6in wheelbase chassis and, like the gunpowder vans, the axles are mounted into metal pinpoint bearings. As a result, the refined split-spoke wheels run extremely smoothly, so beware if your sidings are on a slight grade! The moulded detail is very impressive, on the chassis and bodyshells. The spring and axleboxes are rendered cleanly, while the brake shoes align with the ‘OO’ wheels perfectly.

It’s a shame that the safety loops are rendered as part of the brake gear moulding, instead of as separate items. Ditto the vertical brake handle guides, which are also produced as solid,

single-piece mouldings rather than slotted parts and etched metal handles. Such things are becoming ‘standard’ on new wagon releases from other manufacturers and, given the premium level of pricing of these models, it’s not an unreasonable expectation.

The two five-plank wagon samples feature different buffers, in keeping with the nature of each prototype, with both the spindle and self-contained pattern units (as also fitted to the seven-plank model) being well rendered. Unfortunately, all but one of those fitted to the seven-plank wagon have been installed crooked. As they’re glued fast, correcting this runs the risk of damaging the chassis and the buffers.

The level of finish is universally high, with the paintwork and printed detail applied flawlessly, even down to the builder’s plates on the solebars. The sheet rail parts are provided in a separate bag within the seven-plank wagon’s box and there are no positive locating aids provided on the bodyshell which is unsurprising, given that the majority of these wagons ran without them. Therefore, careful study of the illustrated instructions is recommended before glueing the brackets in position.

Presented in attractive packaging, these wagons are a welcome arrival from Rapido and, with more new wagon types recently announced, there’s plenty to look forward to for steam and early diesel era modellers. (GD)

The spring and axleboxes are rendered cleanly, while the brake shoes align with the ‘OO’ wheels perfectly