Max Stafford's Kennel

There really has been a revolution (pardon the pun) in the quality of RTR wagons over the last five years or so with some new players making quite dramatic entrances on to the scene and putting the established manufacturers on notice that they are not the only guys in town.

Bachmann produced a very nice BR Standard 12t Vanwide but due to their pricing model, I think they struggle somewhat against the new guys and these are beginning to find their way into the ‘bargain’ sections of many vendors.

It’s a looker, I’ll grant you in spite of the high RRP.

Rapido have been a player for a few years now and are still announcing wagons, often of unexpected prototypes like the SECR range currently expanding and now the just-announced 25ton Lowmac but I have been very impressed by their Ferryvan as shown above.

Unexpectedly (to me) another player turn d up in this field with the Sonic Models version of the same vehicle and whilst it lacks the finesse and detail of the Rapido model, it is still a useful addition to available RTR stock.

Accurascale need no introduction having hit the ground running five years ago with the excellent HUO 24.5 ton hoppers and have gone from strength to strength.

Whilst they have been making big waves with new locomotives and more modern era freight stock, they haven’t missed out transition and blue era modellers either and I certainly like the Covered Coil wagons released a year or two back.

Although strictly passenger stock, the recently arrived Syphon from this manufacturer has been eagerly received here, given my great liking for parcels stock.

The real surprise came from Canadian -based KR Models, the ‘Shock Jocks’ of the UK RTR scene; guys who know how to ruffle the feathers of the Modelling Establishment with their style and a business model with a hint of ‘WTF?’ about it. 😉

In spite of their often unconventional approach and love of frightening the horses, my first experience of a KR Models product was a nice surprise in the form.of the Palbrick B wagons. I do like these very much and I can honestly say I can’t find anything on it that I can judge in less than positive terms; the level of detail is impressive and the finish as good as any.

So really we are living in a golden age of wagons where the BR Standard series is pretty much covered now and the more adventurous manufacturers are digging into the Big Four and even Pre-Group seems in earnest and of course, the post 1970 scene is receiving very similar attention.

Now, finally, I have to say, you’ll find nothing new or especially dramatic in my descriptions of these models and you’ll find proper, in-depth reviews in print and on-line but I felt it the need to get some kind of life into the blog again. My attentions this summer have been fully engaged in getting the garden into some kind of working condition and this is no small undertaking. One take away from that I’ve gained this year though is that if you have a big dog and a garden, you have no need of a gym membership; my strength and fitness have come on impressively in recent months and losing three stone through sorting out my eating habits has helped a lot too.

I’m currently engaged on several fronts in the garden including clearing and fettling this compound which will soon accommodate a greenhouse, log store a whatever else I can think of. Two years and I’ve still barely touched indoors yet! 🤣

Anyway, that’s all for today. More from me soon, as Alexander Mercouris of the Duran would say if he was writing my blog. He’s a bit busy for that kind of frivolity these days! 🤣