Click here or on the above image to view the launch video for the 'Jones Goods'. And yes, Andy's head hurt afterwards!

New tooling announcement: ‘Jones Goods’

Our Scottish announcement is this: we’re making a ‘OO’ gauge model of the Highland Railway’s famous ‘Jones Goods’ 4-6-0!

We’re absolutely delighted to include a locomotive that can justifiably called ‘iconic’ to our range.

Although they’re often called ‘Jones Goods’ after Locomotive Superintendent David Jones, it was his Chief Draughtsman, David Anderson Hendrie, who proposed that the railway could benefit from the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement that was becoming common in other countries. The Highland Railway called them 'Big Goods'.

They were the first 4-6-0s to run in Britain. Sharp Stewart of Glasgow delivered all 15, Nos. 103-117, during 1894. They passed into LMS hands but were withdrawn between 1929 and 1940. Happily, the LMS saw fit to preserve the pioneer and restored No. 103 to pseudo-Highland condition. Click here to read more about these fascinating locomotives.

No. 103 was tucked away inside St Rollox Works, along with Caledonian Railway 4-2-2 No. 123, until 1958 when BR Scottish Region General Manager James Ness ordered it to be returned to service. Alongside other classic Scottish locomotives, No. 103 ran numerous railtours around the Scottish Region as well as making it as far south as Bedfordshire for the filming of Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.

No 103 was retired in 1965 and, restored to as close to original condition as possible, it is now one of Glasgow Riverside Museum’s star exhibits.

Our ‘Jones Goods' has the usual high specification you’d expect from a Rapido model:

We wish to thank Alisdair Campbell and Ian Ford from the Highland Railway Society for all the help that they've given us with this project.

We’re producing seven versions (you can see more here):

We're delighted to announce that the order book is now open! RRP for DC/Silent models is £219.95 and DCC Sound is £319.95. You can order direct here or from your local Rapido stockist.

The 3D print came with minimal parts fitted and so Andy added a few more just to make it look pretty. It's going to be a very nice looking model. Click here to find out more.

Click here or on the above image to view our VIX ferry van launch video. No one got injured in this one!

We’re also delighted to announce that we’re making a ‘OO’ gauge model of BR’s Diagram 1/227 ferry van, better known by its 'VIX' TOPS code.

This project is already at the Engineering Prototype stage and we’re really pleased with it. It’ll be the first Rapido UK project that shows off the level of underframe detail that Rapido is famous for. We’d like to thank Paul Bartlett and Peter Harvey of PH Designs for their help in making this model look as good as it does.

We’re producing 12 versions (you can see them all here):

RRP is £45.95 and the order book is now open. The order deadline is May 1st 2022 and you can order direct here or from your local Rapido stockist.

A close up of the axle box and spring detail. We're very pleased with how well this model has turned out. You need to get your orders in by May 1st 2022.

Another photograph from Paul Bartlett's collection that we couldn't resist sharing with you... surely the perfect conversation piece for any layout?

The orderbook for the non-Titfield versions of our Diagram AA20 ‘Toad’ brakevans has also opened. The models are in tooling and we’re pleased to announce ten versions for you to choose from:

RRP is £39.95. The order deadline is May 1st. You can order direct here or from your local Rapido stockist.

Here's a first for a ready-to-run 'OO' gauge 'Toad': a removable roof and full interior detail! You can order yours now!

You need to order a Hunslet before March 1st. If you don’t, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get the model you want. Or you might miss out altogether.

We have just days to go before we close the order book for the ‘OO’ gauge Hunslet 16in 0-6-0ST. if you want one of these cracking little models, don’t delay and order today.

Remember that you can order direct from here or from your nearest Rapido stockist.

Andy perches precariously on Hunslet Holly Bank No. 3 to secure the sound recorder in place.

Here's proof of the lengths that we go to in order to ensure that our models are the best they can be. We had an enjoyable - if very chilly - day out at the Chasewater Railway where Mark Sealey kindly steamed Hunslet 16in 0-6-0ST Holly Bank No. 3 for us to record the sounds for our sound-fitted models. We were joined by BRM's Andy York and Phil Parker as well as the railway's resident videographer Brian.

We'd like to place on record our thanks to Mark and everyone at the railway who made us very welcome. Don't forget that the order deadline for all Hunslets, including the sound-fitted ones, is March 1st.

Wrapped in foam (to prevent wind noise) and cable-tied to the handrail, the sound recorder is ready for action. Proof that the noises that will emanate from your 'OO' gauge model will be as authentic as can be. Don't forget the March 1st order deadline!

Don’t forget too that April 1st is also the order deadline for our two new SECR wagons. If the SECR five- and seven-plank opens are anything to go by, the Dia. 1426 van and Dia. 1744 ballast wagons are sure to be popular. Again, don’t delay. You can order direct from us or your nearest stockist.

A last look at the WMPTE Fleetline. We've now sold out so you'll need to shop around if you want one.

We're being completely honest with you when we say that you need to order your Rapido models in advance or you might miss out. We have now completely sold out of all the forthcoming Gunpowder Vans and that’s before they’ve even arrived in the warehouse. They may still be available from Rapido stockists who have ordered extras.

So, if you’re still debating whether to order a Hunslet, please make up your mind to order one soon. When we say you might miss the train, we mean it!

ANDY: That’s a subtle sales pitch!

RICHARD: Subtle it might not be but it’s true!

And the Gunpowder Vans are not the only things to have sold out. We’ve also cleared the warehouse of the WMPTE Fleetlines. Which is good because the APT-Es, SECR open wagons and GPVs are expected to land sometime in March.

ANDY: It’s going to be a bit of a squeeze getting everything in.

RICHARD: Is there anything that our loyal customers can do to help?

ANDY: Why, yes there is. You could really do us a huge favour by buying a BCT ‘New Look’ Guy.

RICHARD: Subtle is our middle name…

For every square centimetre that you can help us save by buying a BCT 'New Look' Guy, we’ll be eternally grateful. 

It's very exciting, knowing that we have three shipments due to arrive imminently.

But you will probably be thinking: what happens to my order? When do I have to pay the balance?

Well, when we're ready to process your order, our system automatically generates an e-mail that will tell you exactly when and how to pay. Then we'll get your order out as quickly as possible.

Could we politely ask that you don't phone the office to chase up your order? Everybody will be down in the warehouse processing APT-Es, GPVs and SECR opens and for every call we answer, we're not sending out a model.

If, after several weeks after the delivery has arrived, you haven't received an e-mail and you've checked your spam and junk inboxes, then please drop us a line and we'll look into it for you.

It might not look like much but here's the wheel mould for Lion. We expect to have samples to show off by the end of March. Exciting stuff!

UK905 'N' gauge Class 28: The factory had planned to ship working samples to us on February 25th. We should be able to show these off to you next time, where we'll announce the order deadline for this and the 'N' gauge 'Conflat Ps'.

UK904 'OO' gauge '15XX': Now that the factory has finished the Class 28 samples, the engineers will now start to assemble the '15XX' Engineer Prototypes.

UK913 'OO' gauge Lion: The factory is currently testing the moulds and we should have samples, keeping everything crossed, to show you sometime in March.

UK917 'OO' gauge Loriot Y: Tooling started just before Chinese New Year. We expect to be able to show you samples later in the spring.

UK920 1:76 scale Bedford OB: We're just casting our eye over the final CAD and we'll open the order when the design is finalised and we have an accurate cost of manufacturing this item. Hopefully, we'll be able to announce this next time.

922003 The Titfield Thunderbolt Pack 3: Our CAD designer is working flat-out to complete the design of the ex-Wisbech & Upwell tramcar that forms the centrepiece of this pack. Again, we'll open the order when the design is finalised.

Photograph: Chris Nevard/Model Rail

Model Rail magazine announced the winners of the prestigious ‘Model of the Year’ awards in its March issue and we’re delighted to announce that the Revolution Trains Class 92 won ‘Locomotive of the Year’ in the ‘N’ gauge category.

This model was developed and manufactured by Rapido Trains Inc for Revolution Trains so it’s gratifying to see the efforts of our friends and colleagues across ‘the pond’ recognised in this way as well as being delighted for Ben and Mike and the Revolution team.

ANDY: Hopefully, Rapido Trains UK will be clearing up at the 2022 awards!

RICHARD: We’ll do our best!

Click here or on the above image to see what our colleagues in North America have been up to.

Not ours… but our Canadian colleagues now have an all-singing all dancing new website. If you know your ‘D10’ from your ‘H-6-G’ or your ‘RS-11’ from your ‘RS-18’ then head over to www.rapidotrains.com to take a look.  

When we say 'trust us', here's why: the simply sublime finish on the Dynamometer Car is clear to see. Photograph: Jacques Portal/Model Rail

Back in a previous life (i.e., as editor of Model Rail), you’d get fairly used to the standard gestation period for a new model: initial announcement, first look at the CAD, first look at the Engineering Prototype, first Decorated Sample and then, depending on the manufacturer, a review model would turn up. 

More proof, if proof should be needed, of the quality paint finish that our factories can achieve: this is the delightful Stirling 'Single'. Photograph: Railway Modeller

Of course, we’re only human and mistakes do happen. But, in all the years that Rapido Trains Inc has been in business, there have literally only been a couple of times where serious errors have got through and, in those cases, replacement parts were made and provided to the customers to rectify the issue.

Well, that's it for another month. We hope you enjoy Model Rail Scotland if you're going and we'll see you again in March.

Best wishes,