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Stephenson's Rocket


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Here is my build of Airfix old Stephenson's Rocket kit. I did this as quick recreational build in the summer of 2012. I changed a few pipes and struts to metal and added some small details, but mostly it is from the bag. The display rail is too modern, but then the whole kit is based on an incorrect replica as I understand it, so I didn't care.

When I build this once or twice as a kid I could never understand how the weird (I thought then) figures would be intended to stand on the locomotive. I suppose there comes some wisdom and experience with age, as this time it was all obvious. I had a good and relaxing time building it.

Rocket_1.jpg

Rocket_2.jpg

Rocket_3.jpg

Rocket_4.jpg

Rocket_5.jpg

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That's lovely! The figures look stunning considering the size, I certainly couldn't get them to look like that.

I remember having this kit as a kid as well and loving the pipework and weird look to the whole thing compared with more modern locos. You're right about the track but it's your model and it sounds like you really enjoyed it so that's all that matters.

Well done.

Steve

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Ahh, memories! Had one, (or two), as a boy. A nice clean build.

IIRC the figures are supposed to be waving at onlookers as seen in the original box art.

Christian the Married and exiled to africa

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That's brilliant correctly painted too. I must crack on with mine I want to adds one alan Gibson wheels to mine and motorise it or have ago at scratch building the blue coach to go behind and power that. The replica that this is based off is true in looks to the original. The original rocket still exists but in a much modified state with a be smoke box and lowered cylinders. So what you have created is actually very faithful to the original beast. Love Rocket it's gorgeous cheers rob

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Is that your new screen name, Rob?It's a fantastic Rocket build - the additional touches have transformed it from a simple kit to a real model.

Lol yes my screen name is naff. This is the first forum I ever signed up for at the time I did not know what to expect and choose a naff name I though I'm rob a dove vulcans so there you go. I could have choose the following rob-rocket,A4,spitfire,bucc, (lots of stuff).

I think sometimes I should change my name.

The rocket does look grand its the best build of this I have seen the copper pipes and the additional white pipe up the chimney really add alot to it and them figures are very nice love the guys beard I take it that is supposed to be George Stephenson.

This is a subject special to my family so very nice to see it done well

Cheers Rob

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Thanks a lot guys. It was a fun build and it responded well to some added detail.

Now that was interesting information Rob. I've read in places that the real Rocket was the one with lower cylinders etc. when it won the race, and that the Airfix kit is wrong, but I haven't followed that up with any real research of my own. Now if the Airfix kit is close to correct I think I should perhaps give it a new base with more correct rails...

The figures where great fun to paint. When I looked closer at them to start my painting I noted they had quite a lot of character to them, and they were quite different. Soon I saw the senior engineer as being the more conservative man both in hair cut and colour of clothes. I'm sure there have been many times in the work shop and drawing office when he has criticized his younger colleague for his modern hair and clothing style, and probably also the fact that he was not in office as early in the morning as senior himself... But today they have won the race they have worked so hard for, so even a red scarf will pass now...

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Thanks a lot guys. It was a fun build and it responded well to some added detail.

Now that was interesting information Rob. I've read in places that the real Rocket was the one with lower cylinders etc. when it won the race, and that the Airfix kit is wrong, but I haven't followed that up with any real research of my own. Now if the Airfix kit is close to correct I think I should perhaps give it a new base with more correct rails...

The figures where great fun to paint. When I looked closer at them to start my painting I noted they had quite a lot of character to them, and they were quite different. Soon I saw the senior engineer as being the more conservative man both in hair cut and colour of clothes. I'm sure there have been many times in the work shop and drawing office when he has criticized his younger colleague for his modern hair and clothing style, and probably also the fact that he was not in office as early in the morning as senior himself... But today they have won the race they have worked so hard for, so even a red scarf will pass now...

Well I lived in Thatto Heath (st helens) with my grandad right next to Rainhill I was brought up with Rocket (hearing about it) Its local history and my Grandad worked at Bold Power Station, My Dad at Bold Colliery, In the early 80s they had a Rocket 150 event. My Grandad was there and helped the engineers fix Rocket up as she controversially did not take part int the cavalcade the first day due to a need to replace the front axle and wheel as she was damaged on delivery. This is why on the second day she ran with a red wheel. My Grandads interest sparked my interest and I read much about it I am very interested in this early time of railways as so much of it started to take off around were I lived. Infact before the Liverpool to Manchester railway there was the St Helen's gap railway and 3 other lines prior to this with horses being used as the motive power.

There are a few Replicas of Rocket. From what I read and from what is depicted in the early art work the rockets original form is as per the kit. It was stephenson who pincered the multi-tube boiler which was standard there after delivering more efficient heating from the fire box to the water. That's what made it the winner I believe having so much more power than others like Sans Peril.

From what I remember (I could be wrong) with Stephenson's further developments in boiler and style like Planet another Stephenson loco which was successful and there was an export version(If I remember right) to Germany called

Der Adler they modified Rocket with a new boiler and chimney with reduced height, A new smoke box design and they lowered the cylinders to give a smoother run. Apparently The original rocket was a bit of a rough ride, I have ridden behind the replica at York and she is a feisty little beast. If you look at Planet and the real Rocket in the London museum you will see the new style.

Interesting subject. Perhaps you should try and make a model of the modified Rocket to display with her. It would look great and be something different.

Stephenson%27s_Rocket.jpg

Cheers Rob

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A really nice job of a bit of an old and messy moulding. I've got one that I started work on, but when I noticed the backing plates to the pistons were a lot wrong, I put it to one side and built summit else :blush:

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