Dapol OO Gauge Stephenson's Rocket

[Dave Ward]

First time of posting in this section - I bought this on a whim, and decided to put it together on a corner of the bench!

Plastic with stapled header - really old school. Originally it was by Kitmaster in 1961, then by Airfix, now by Dapol
The sprues

Instructions - very small on one side of an A4 sheet - with printed stage by stage word instructions * a rather vague diagram. There are no colour xall ots at all - but I guess that if you're intersted enough to buy it, a little research won't be a problem

This is the Rocket in the original piston configuration - The Science Museum Rocket is in the later form.
A few detail shots

Obviously de rigeur to wear stovepipe hats when driving a locomotive!
The parts look pretty good, considering the age of the original moulds - there is a little flash, and some of parts are a bit bent - the plastic is rather soft.
No rail included to dsplay the model, so I printed out a rail section

It's a real tiddler, so I'll have to take care & clean my loupe & tweezers
Dave

 

[Si Benson]

Nice to see something away from the norm.
Have built several of the dapol kits with my son and provided you happy cleaning a bit of flash they are not bad for the price at all.

Your printed rail section looks good

 

[Jim R]

Probably the most famous locomotive in the world. I saw it at the York museum a few years ago.
As you say the kit looks quite good for its age. Nice to see your 3D printer earning it's keep.

 

[davecov]

I will be watching with interest as the Airfix Rocket is my favourite train kit. I have a Seventies blister-pack version in my stash which was moulded in bright yellow plastic. I also made this Dapol version about six years ago.

Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

The Rocket at the Rainhill Trials is depicted as being a lemon yellow. Problem is, I can't find a dated contemporary print. Makes you wonder if the colour comes from one source ( and is that correct? ) and has been carroed on from then...............

The cigarette card (top ) dates from 1930. The second just looks wrong the figure isn't in scale & it looks a bit simple. The third looks a bit 'chocolate boxy'. The bottom picture looks almost too good! - like a coloured CAD drawing? The inset shows the later Rocket configuration.
They all show the Rocket as yellow, so I'll go with the flow, & look out a nedium yellow.
There are loads of photos of Rocket models - including one with teak boiler slats, and brass banding , which looks great, but is a show item.
Dave

 

[Waspie]

Ooooo, I'll be watching on. George Stevensons cottage was just a short distance from one of my great uncles in Wylam, Northumberland. Often walked the banks of the Tyne to visit, (my uncle not George Stevenson!!!)

 

[adt70hk]

Very different Dave!

 

[Tim Marlow]

Colour on this one would be very subjective Dave. I’d personally just copy one of the many replicas and be content, there are lots of them around. Definitely yellow though, it copied the express mail coaches of the time. The first replicas were made in the 1880s….. here in photographic grey, built by the LNWR.


Interesting picture for you comparing Rocket with Flying Scotsman class engine Bayardo. Small beastie isn’t it.

 

[Dave Ward]

Colour on this one would be very subjective Dave. I’d personally just copy one of the many replicas and be content, there are lots of them around. Definitely yellow though, it copied the express mail coaches of the time. The first replicas were made in the 1880s….. here in photographic grey, built by the LNWR.
View attachment 494085

Interesting picture for you comparing Rocket with Flying Scotsman class engine Bayardo. Small beastie isn’t it.
View attachment 494086

mighty oaks from little acorns grow...................
No-one makes a OO Flying Scotsman kit ( or a Mallard, or Coronation Scot ) - be nice to reproduce this photo
Dave

 

[Valeron]

This will be a nice little build Dave of a very famous engine.

I had the pleasure of going to York Railway museum last summer and saw it there. I took this picture, although it does look slightly different to the pictures above and also your model.

Mike

 

[Dave Ward]

This will be a nice little build Dave of a very famous engine.

I had the pleasure of going to York Railway museum last summer and saw it there. I took this picture, although it does look slightly different to the pictures above and also your model.

Mike

View attachment 494090

This is the later configuration of the Rocket - as it was a prototype, it must have gone through several changes in it's lifetime - lowering the steam cylinders must have improved its' stability
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Yep, your configuration is how she was for the Rainhill trials Dave. The York original had been used as a experimental test bed, then much later as a colliery workhorse so is far from original condition. The LNWR example above was made from original drawings (LNWR took over the Liverpool and Manchester railway) so is probably much closer to the original.
Kits of the LNER A3s do exist, in both white metal and etch brass, but they are certainly not cheap……if you wanted to recreate that picture you’d be better off finding a non working Hornby OO version and repainting it.

 

[Dave Ward]

There's a far bit of flash that needs cleaning up, but the fit is good so far

That rail section could do with being 10mm longer. I'm going to paint the main body now, as adding the cylinders & pipes would get in the way. Strictly paint brush for this. The tender is only lacking the filler on the top of the barrel.........
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

All primed up,waiting for a basecoat - I have a trainer yellow, but that looks too orangey, I'll have to go to the deepest recesses of the paint locker to see if I can find someting more suitable

I was niggled about the track base being too small, so I printred another, only 10mm longer, but just enough so that the train & tender don't appear squeezed on the rails.

The smaller base should be suitable for the Pug shunter................
Dave.
ps got my eye another Dapol chuff chuff on ebay, but depends on whether anyone else wants it!

 

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Dave!

 

[Dave Ward]

After a bit of a search, I found a suitable colour AK3 Trainer Yellow

Have to think about painting the crew..................
Dave