Rapido Trains UK Hunslet 16in 0‑6‑0ST

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Rapido Trains UK Hunslet 16in 0‑6‑0ST, Jacks Green, Nassington Ironstone Quarry lined green ◆ PRICE £129.96 ◆ AVAILABILITY Rapido Trains stockists Web www.rapidotrains.co.uk

Although Rapido Trains has produced a couple of Britishoutline ‘OO’ steam locomotives in the past – both being exclusive commissions for Model Rail – the Hunslet 16in is the first to appear under the manufacturer’s new UK arm. Representing an important prototype designed for industrial railways, the Hunslet 0‑6‑0ST has been developed from original works drawings and thorough surveys of several preserved examples.

Rapido is offering seven different versions, with a range of livery options and a few detail differences to suit specific prototypes. Our sample depicts a locomotive built for the Nassington Ironstone quarries of Northamptonshire in the late 1930s (where it worked until 1970), finished in a stylish lined green livery.

It’s certainly an impressive model, with the purposeful yet refined character of the real thing captured to a tee. There’s a good level of finesse about the cab and bunker, while the full relief of the boiler – with daylight visible below – meets modern expectations.

Like the real things, there’s a sparseness of complex, fancy equipment, yet the model does sport a welcome array of fine detail fittings and subtle touches. The handrails and mounting knobs are extremely fine and those along the saddle tank are especially prone to being misshapen by clumsy handling, so do take care. The smokebox door handle, sanding lever, reversing rod and mechanical lubricator are all separately fitted parts, as are the lamp brackets fitted to the smokebox top and cab rear plate.

The twin safety valves, whistle and water filler hatch are all rendered well, the latter featuring a convincing representation of the hinge and handle detail.

There’s a welcome array of ‘plumbing’ too, emerging from the lubricator housing and running towards the axle bearings and inside motion. A pipe also runs from the dome, down the side of the tank to the running plate, which must also be treated gently to avoid it being dislodged.

The chimney profile looks

great, and the cab interior is fully appointed with pipes, dials and gauges. The cab glazing is worth special praise, as the circular spectacles sit flush within the apertures, presenting a tidy appearance whether viewed from the inside or exterior. Indeed, it looks just as good as if it had been fitted with aftermarket laser-cut glazing. Bravo!

Although the cab roof is fixed firmly in position, fitting a footplate crew will be simple thanks to the open doorways on each side. As the bunker hatch is in the open position, adding a small pile of coal on the footplate would be worth the effort. The moulded coal in the bunker looks pretty good, especially as there’s a realistic depression in the middle of the pile, suggesting correctly that the fuel is working its way down the hatch into the cab.

The running plate features a row of fasteners at the front end, where the inside cylinders are accessed, while there are also a couple of flush-fitting sandbox filling caps just discernible. Below the boiler sits an excellent representation of the inside motion, with the chunky reverser balance weight most prominent.

The stubby buffers are sprung and there’s plenty of rivet head relief on each bufferbeam. Below the frames, the wheels are finely reproduced, linked with a set of low-profile fluted coupling rods. The brake gear, guard irons, sandboxes and pipes are all present and correct, while a single set of footsteps is installed below the cab. An extra pair is provided for the front end, should your prototype warrant them (they were not fitted to all 16in Hunslets). No other extra details are provided for customer fitment, although a set of cosmetic three-link couplings would have been nice.

The mechanism is very smooth and

quiet, with an impressive haulage

capability that’s more than enough for

a small industrial prototype