Dapol "Schools" Class Locomotive - OO Gauge Plastic Model Kit - Build & Review

Named after various schools in the UK, these small but powerful tender locomotives filled a vital gap in the Southern Railway's motive power roster.
Join me in this video as I build and review the OO Gauge (1/76 scale) plastic model kit of this locomotive from Dapol.
Find the kit here:
www.dapol.co.u...
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[@leighthetwinotterflyerjone9460]

Wow i remember as a child in the 70s building the harrow locomotive with my grandad.I think it was an airfix kit.Great memories thanks for the video

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes, it was an airfix kit before Dapol bought the tools from them. Thanks for watching!

[@juleshammond5652]

It's great to see a build video of these classic old Kitmaster/Airfix kits. You should be congratulated on your work. Actually getting the valve gear to run freely is part of the fun of these kits, even if it isn't always possible!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks 👍

[@ellis8238]

Yes! I'm so happy you actually did my request! You even did the same locomotive I mentioned you should do :D

[@ModelMinutes]

Sobek schools class is one of my favourite Locos ☺️

[@anthonybeech676]

I've never attempted a loco before, but after watching your guide and seeing the finished kit I'm now very tempted.....The Evening Star loco by Dapol looks like a place to start.

[@ModelMinutes]

anthony beech yeah, it looks cool! I doubt I’d be able to get all of its wheels to move though 😂

[@morgenergy4074]

Highly recommend the Battle of Britain class in this range. In my opinion, it's the easiest to turn into a moving model as the gear linkage is pretty simple - my first one, which I built about a decade ago, still moves, although it requires some pushing down. Other Dapol builds I've done recently move a lot more freely, with plenty of added weight and axles that have been refined and oiled (Lubrication is very important - dry plastic on plastic isn't going to move very smoothly and let me tell you, it squeaks.). In regards to the instructions, I recently purchased two Airfix City of Truro kits from the local model shop to detail and motorise, and the instructions in those are much better step-by-step offerings with a large black & white paint guide. They were also only a tenner each, which is cheaper than what many ask for the Dapol version: doesn't make sense when an older release is much cleaner with a better fit, since the tooling was much younger way back then, not to mention a vintage item. The plastic on the Airfix offerings seems better as well, a beautifully clean and smooth black type which feels tougher than the grey stuff that Dapol uses. Dapol does use recycled plastic however, which is a unique feat. You can just feel that it'd be an easy job to make an older Airfix release move, maybe an older Dapol release from the 80's and 90's is easy to work with too, unless it's a Dapol problem. I do fear how long these toolings have left as they are becoming more and more rough by the year, with some of them being a pointless effort; some kits are just too far gone and I reckon Dapol should begin retooling them. Until then, I'll be building loads of these as they are great ways to try new techniques, stuff your sidings or empty platforms at the station with modelling history. They've a wonderful charm to them and roughness aside, they are fun little things and you can't get a plastic kit of a British locomotive anywhere else. That, and when the wagons cost as little as a fiver and come with a modern coupling and metal wheels, as well as the fact that the Stanier coaches are as little as a tenner, I think the wear and tear is worth the while.

[@ModelMinutes]

I agree, the older kits are probably better, especially if you want to get them to move! These versions are pretty good for practicing skills on though :)

[@pencilpauli9442]

Have recently started to build this kit, so am really pleased to have found your video. Will pause to make some observations as otherwise I will forget. Re Instructions: I've found a PDF of the Airfix instructions. They're higgledy-piggledy with regards to cropping and random rotations of the images, but the illustration is larger with greater clarity of what goes where. Will post a link if able and it will help. Re: Decals Yellowing. For anyone who don't know, if you put the decals in a clear plastic bag, and taping the bag to a window to expose the decals to sunlight will remove the yellowing. HTH Sweet build! Thanks for the video. Fancy having a go at the Evening Star which I see you also made a video of!

[@ModelMinutes]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! I don't remember building the Evening Star though... I know I've done one of their coaches, a Pug and a 4-6-2 Prairie . . .

[@dizwilliams5334]

A very well presented and informative video. You are a natural. Thank you.

[@ModelMinutes]

I appreciate that!

[@AdrianBowerProject]

Excellent make and paint job MM!! I'd overlooked this video a couple of times as I thought it was a review for a new Hornby release!!

[@ModelMinutes]

Adrian Bower Music & Kit Modelling 😂 yeah the thumbnail does make it look a bit like that

[@scottledbetter7212]

Great job ! I love trains so I will build this classic someday. Thanks !

[@ModelMinutes]

scott ledbetter thanks! Glad you enjoyed

[@GerardScroogeGoes]

Nice build, good paintjob. thx for the tip on diluting the acril paint for supressing the brush marks. I'm stil strugling with acril paint on that. Dapol retooled all (most) of their old Kitmaster kits and they really improved on it. They lost most of their flash. They alreay modernized the instructions. I have two, same instuctions, one with flash one without, I bought in Singapore. Staight out of the bag yours is as good as they get but these models are still very usefull as a basis for some nice upgrading.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for the info! I hope you have some success with your painting :)

[@andrewgratrix326]

Hi. During lockdown I've been back to childhood by making models from those long-gone days. The latest one I'm doing is this in its Airfix guise. I found your video very helpful and informative, but would appreciate more detail, especially on what colours to use on what inside the cab...

[@ModelMinutes]

i pretty much just guessed with the cabwork - if you look up some images online you might be able to find a reference photo. Brass/gold, black and red are the kind of colours I would suggest purchasing

[@andrewgratrix326]

@@ModelMinutes Thanks. Will do ;-)

[@Emilystar1095]

I bought this kit and hopefully when it arrives I can build it with ease and if not then I may need to do some extra fileing and use some other stuff but hopefully it isn't as much of a frustration like the one you built here.

[@ModelMinutes]

fingers crossed!

[@Emilystar1095]

@@ModelMinutes I plan to not motorize this model and just leave it as a free moving dummy since it's going to get pushed by another locomotive, I'm also going to use spare side rods from other old locomotives so the engine can have sturdier side rods and side rods that look less bulky.

[@Emilystar1095]

@@ModelMinutes the kit arrived and it fit like a CHARM with some gaps sadly but they where microscopic so nothing big, but I did buy a schools class chassis since I changed my mind that I wanted it to move, but mostly a amazing kit

[@PanzermansBunker]

Unusual subject. Good build and paint job on the kit. Wish they added an engineer figure for the locomotive cab. Bill

[@ModelMinutes]

PanzermansBunker thanks! Yes, it’s a shame they not included, but I’m sure I might have a couple somewhere 😂

[@antonelloschiano5815]

Good work...i like this english loco... i bought it too thank you for posting..

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching

[@bussesandtrains1218]

i recommend humbrol 30 for the brunswick green as its slimier to raf grass green

[@ModelMinutes]

Do you mean 30?

[@bussesandtrains1218]

@@ModelMinutes the raf green (humbrol 30 *made a mistake) was slimier to British rail Brunswick green. the paint you used would be slimier s.r Maunsell olive green, for which a white lining was used. i dont mean to be a rivet counter but br green and blue, contrary to GWR brunswick green which br green is based on, used orange livery and not dark red. i have seen that livery too much to not notice. cheers ~David

[@bussesandtrains1218]

@@ModelMinutes also good video

[@Pullisto]

Very insightful, as I've pulled my partly made model out of storage after 18 years after recently doing the Dapol (also former Kitmaster/ Airfix 2-6-0 Mogul kit which had similar problems, as you say you need some previous modeling expertise behind, I imagine many a kit bought has ended up flying across the room and then into the bin - or stuck in a box and forgotten in storage for decades like mine. Especially so if a person attempted to make it with turning drivers, not going to happen! Indeed the instructions /diagrams are a nightmare, and having been given a copy of the Airfix kit of the same, they are very much a ridiculously downsized redo copy of those. The nameplate problem, indeed with that small cuff bit on the decal and real nameplates, I'm going to try add a small bit so mine will fit. the name for mine is 'Shrewsbury', no 921, and will be done as SR. So the 5 digit number embossed on the smokebox door needs to go. Like the last loco, I'm dreading doing the valve and motion gear. My next of the Dapol steam kits will likely be 'City of Truro', simplified given the real deal had all inside cylinders. The Airfix kit from the early 80's will be kept in box, and not made up, now of course a collectible as such.

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the info! Yes, these kits, whilst challenging and fun for those who like that sort of thing, could be frustrating for those who aren't expecting the troubles that they can present

[@Pullisto]

@@ModelMinutes Yes, indeed. I did remember them as a kit in my old Airfix catalogue. Way back, I'm sure there used to be a class 56 kit on the market, not sure who produced it, but I wouldn't mind one if they show up again. My Schools is coming along well. With having photos on hand, I'm adding a few extra bits in the cab, such as the large red wheel on the driver's side, (presumably the cut off?) and the speedo above the steam gauges top left. There seems to be many variations on the theme as regards the Southern livery. I've added a little bit of sheet plastic at the bottom of my nameplates, and using for the rest, to file to shape to match the decal shape.

[@idonotlikeboats9328]

You should try the dewery shunter because it has the most potential of moving wheels mine would have worked but I made a mistake and glued a bolt (to attach the coupling rods) and let it set I then made the mistake of trying to pull it out again (it would have still ran if I had not) and it snapped off but it still lucks nice sat in a yard

[@ModelMinutes]

I do not like Boats awesome! Thanks for the info, I’ll see about getting one when I can ☺️

[@Simon-sv6qe]

Really nice to see you using spray cans and Tamiya extra thin ! Have you ever thought about giving the revel 1/87 big boy kit a shot it’s a brilliant train kit also if you ever want to build a large locomotive try trumpeters 1/35 br86 it’s huge and a lovely kit a tad expensive but you get what you pay for. :)

[@ModelMinutes]

Pc Plod I’ve seen them, I’d love to give them a go but lack of funds at the moment unfortunately prevent it 😂

[@Simon-sv6qe]

Model Minutes I know the feeling too well can barely even afford modelling essentials this time of year 😂

[@bussesandtrains1218]

damn that one is, well, complicated

[@F15rocker]

Thankyou for sharing your frustrations and in your honesty re' the difficulties encountered. I recently completed the Dapol 'Scammel Scarab' as a present and as I'm not experienced with plastic kits I found it extremely fiddly and difficult. By request I have now started Dapol's 'Evening Star' locomotive and with completely inadequate instructions and no prior knowledge the valve gear/conrods are a nightmare. I have been full of angst at the idea of having movement and encouraged by your video I will continue with relief and without the feeling that I am inadequate as a modeller. Off topic - I have two issues with he Dapol 'Scammel Scarab'. Provision should be made to fit the trailer mudguards BEFORE the axle assembly and the kit has no component to split the windscreen of the cab like the real vehicle. I had to make the divider using a bit of a paperclip.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for sharing! I think i've also got the scammel in the stash (albeit an older offering and seems to not have transfers) so I will keep an eye out for the issues you highlighted

[@knottyal2428]

I was gifted the original Kitmaster version of this as a lad. If you think assembly is tricky nowadays, you've never had to battle with tubes of polystyrene cement! Not surprisingly, my wheels wouldn't rotate either! Still it was a present, so try your best, Al.........

[@ModelMinutes]

Tubes of cement are still included in Airfix starter sets, I guess because they are cheap

[@532bluepeter1]

The Schools class were designed specifically with the Hastings line in mind with its restricted loading gauge.

[@ModelMinutes]

interesting!

[@heaptoncollierymodelrailwa6011]

Hi Love the video (and the model) I agree with you, just a little revamp would aid this kit so much Cheers Oliver

[@ModelMinutes]

Oliver Rowley yeah, it’s an old kit now, could do with a little bit of updating

[@heaptoncollierymodelrailwa6011]

@@ModelMinutes Agreed

[@timsully8958]

My goodness, this takes me back! We couldn’t afford too many working models, so we had the older Airfix version kits of a Schools, Mogul and pair of 9Fs in our old engine shed, complete with fitters maintenance crew in situ. While they just sat there looking pretty, my Jinty, Class 31 and Black 5 actually did the work 😜 And yes, we couldn’t get the wheels to rotate freely either 🤣😂😅 I know they are a bit aged now, but they are great for pure nostalgia. I have a Dapol Mogul which I intend to build myself one day when I have a spare day or so 😎 Cheers mate! Nice trip down memory Lane 👍🍻🍀

[@ModelMinutes]

Sounds like some fun memories :D

[@Samstrainsofficially]

Yup, similar memories, back when models were unaffordable as ever and it would have been insane to just have a shed full of rtr locos new or second hand as a kid.(this was the 1990s lol when everyone now seems to think the streets were paved with cheap model gold) That said my dad was a bit good at making chassis so he did eventually put together a chassis for a dapol schools and bullied for me. Not the best models but they moved at least.

[@yunopurple.]

Your an amazing modeller:)

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! :P

[@atnorange5491]

AL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN TO 2.5K SUBS. CHOO CHOO

[@ModelMinutes]

ATN orange chugga chugga! 😂

[@baarp01]

Great video! 👍🏻 I wish I’d seen it before I bought this kit. I’ve the use of only one hand because of a stroke I’ve suffered so t seems I’m up for a bit of a challenge. 😄

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching! It does sound like it will be a challenge - have you got one of those helping hands tools with all the clips and things? That could help :)

[@baarp01]

I’ve got three of those 😄.

[@peekishteen1226]

Hey, I recently ordered the Dapol Battle of Britain Class ‘Fighter Pilot’ and was wondering if you could do a video on that? Great work btw, this looks so good!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for the suggestion - I would have to look into it, but can't promise anything in the near future

[@johnthewlis8524]

It is possible to source pdfs of the ORIGINAL Airfix instructions on the internet. These instructions were written in a much more technical language but were well understood by young and old alike in the 1960s. The steps of construction are in a slightly different order from the Dapol method, but, in my opinion, make more sense. Words are used in preference to just "pictures". For many kits in the range the words used in the original Airfix instructions explain more accurately which parts are to be glued and which not.

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the info

[@vinceruggero6930]

Love the vid bro keep it up :)

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! :)

[@mandyfelgner1677]

I like how it looks, cud you for your next loco scratch build a sparkshot custom creations a0(Gordon) with a custom chassis build by you

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the suggestion! I'm not sure I have the skills to build a custom chassis, but I will bear it in mind :)

[@melissaharvey147]

Very nice modl

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks

[@danieledmondson6103]

Great school's class you have made I think it's fabulous.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thank you so much!

[@trainsandtugs]

Will you review the dapol GWR 4-4-0 city of turo

[@ModelMinutes]

trainsandtugs I’d like to but unfortunately haven’t yet bought one due to insufficient funds and time 🙁

[@trainsandtugs]

@@ModelMinutes oof

[@jerribee1]

I was surprised at how good a paint job you can get using a brush.

[@ModelMinutes]

It takes a little practice but you can get quite good results

[@trainsinmotion3782]

Have the bulleid pacific, painted it in saved from scrap style rust, looked fantastic until the dog somehow managed to eat the tender :(

[@ModelMinutes]

That's a shame, im sure it looked awesome! Perhaps the dog thought he was helping . . ..

[@trainsinmotion3782]

It did haha! I might make a diorama one day of it being unloaded off a low loader :)

[@ModelMinutes]

@@trainsinmotion3782 That's a good idea!

[@jontymarsh0463]

have you got a Avro Lancaster

[@ModelMinutes]

I've got a revell one in my stash - but not had the chance to start it yet

[@corbastens6211]

waar zijn dapol platiek modellen te koop

[@ModelMinutes]

They are available online Ze zijn online beschikbaar

[@SoymeScaleModels]

You are right, the instructions in the dapol kits are horrible to follow. I've just bought this kit in its original airfix state and the instructions are really clear. I got it for £6.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching! I understand that the older airfix kits are actually better because the plastic is harder

[@thedyerchannel8391]

Can we get a model minutes discord server? Also awesome video!

[@ModelMinutes]

Joyce Kirkpatrick thanks! I’m not entirely sure I know what discord is....

[@532bluepeter1]

The rod from the return crank should be outside the crank not inside

[@ModelMinutes]

it's possible I made a mistake and misread the instructions, but if not, it wouldn't be the first time the Dapol instructions have been wrong

[@532bluepeter1]

@@ModelMinutesIt is always a good idea to consult photographs of the prototype.

[@jeffreybickerton4422]

can these models be fitted with motors?

[@ModelMinutes]

I'm sure it's possible with considerable modification, but as it stands they are not designed to be powered. Additionally, having plastic wheels would mean that they wouldn't be able to collect power from normal model railway tracks - replacements would be needed. The plastic parts would also suffer from wear (connecting rods, chassis etc) and would be better to replace with metal parts - but by this point it's more financially practical to just buy a RTR model from Hornby/Bachmann etc

[@bomby78loly92]

Make the dapol evening star

[@ModelMinutes]

I'll see about adding it to my list :)

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Great kit ."Thumbs up for you" .Hope you like mine diesel dave's

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

Oh...

[@ModelMinutes]

ARandomKZbinr oh?

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

@@ModelMinutes Now I know the answer to the question from the other day.

[@ModelMinutes]

Haha! Yep :D

[@thomasfrancis5747]

Shame they don't mould them in green or black plastic. Alternatively pay £200 for a RTR model? These kits are useful for static display including showing locos partly dismantled for repair, general kitbashing/mods, etc. I guess sales volumes are low so hard to justify bespoke printed boxes and exploded diagrams. At least, AFAIK, they are made in the UK.

[@ModelMinutes]

I think that the instruction redesign would be a fairly low cost improvement to the model to be honest

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

btw i sent u an email of my cromwell pictures i would like u to use for the next subscriber showcase...

[@ModelMinutes]

ARandomKZbinr yeah, they look great! Keep an eye out for them ☺️

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

@@ModelMinutes cool, okay.

[@adriancabrera3014]

😲😮

[@ModelMinutes]

ADrian Cabrera you like? ☺️

[@adriancabrera3014]

Model Minutes It’s my first train I’ve seen looks quite dificult but yes looks fantastic!!!!

[@ModelMinutes]

ADrian Cabrera thanks!

[@melissaharvey-z5g]

build the dapol city of trruo

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the suggestion

[@angustrains2305]

stephen rocket

[@ModelMinutes]

I've got one in my stash that I got for Christmas, perhaps i'll get around to it soon :)

[@georgethomas7814]

Odd, an engine that doesn't move and can't pull a train. Why???

[@ModelMinutes]

you could say the same thing about other plastic model kits. A model plane that doesn't fly? A model ship that doesn't sail? A model tank that doesn't drive . . . . Sometimes plastic kits exist purely to be built and have no other function. That being said, this kit dates from a time where ready to run models weren't as mass produced as they are today, and it was the intention of the original kit manufacturer that the wheels rotate freely enough for this to be pushed along on a railway and look as if it really is pulling a train. They designed a powered wagon that would allow this to happen, but whilst a good idea in theory, the plastic wheels on this model, along with those difficult to build connecting rods usually resulted in a less than functional model - having it roll along freely was somewhat optimistic by the company

[@georgethomas7814]

@@ModelMinutes Yes I guess I never really thought about it that way..... The Art of Model Making is beyond me sadly.

[@julianmhall]

I've watched two of these videos back to back now, and a common theme seems to be Dapol's poor instructions. I wonder if they're just saving money. With the carriage I mentioned just now I wonder if the bagged presentation was also another cheap way to shift old products. Basically sacrificing quality for profit.

[@ModelMinutes]

I wonder if their instructions are developed from older airfix ones, and things have got lost on the way

[@Samstrainsofficially]

The instructions were always like that... because the kits are super duper simple. Like these are probably some of the simplest railway kits ever made so simple that this complaint is largely unjustified. Its a labour but at some point this hobby is supposed to be a learning experience and this is a good place to start, learning to assemble something with minimal hand holding. How would you like to look at the instructions for the wagon kit I have on the go now? Its 8 double sides pages of A4 in a small font for one O gauge wagon and still leaves some choices up to the builder. If it wasn't for experience built up from this kind of kit I wouldn't be able to do what I do now, and if you aren't prepared to learn something or take a chance on your ideas being right when the instructions leave you scratching your head you never will. The wheels can turn freely if you put the effort in. A brand new tooled airfix kit, well its a kit of a plane, if you want a kit of a train its useless to you isnt it? So we really need to abandon that false equivalence.

[@ModelMinutes]

@@Samstrainsofficially the more this kind of attitude defends the poor quality products that manufacturers produce, the more they will do it. I’m sure it feels amazing to be able to have that satisfaction when you’re so good at building bad kits and the achievements you feel. Let’s call a spade a spade. If a kit is objectively poor quality and in no way indicated that it’s vintage and still retailing for similar prices of new kits, I’m going to call the companies out for it

[@Samstrainsofficially]

@@ModelMinutes yeah, thing is though this isn't selling its self as a high quality kit its a kit from more than 50 years ago that hasn't changed one bit really. If it was a new kit, sure there may be a complaint. But its not. Its the same old thing its always been. No one has tried to pump it up as the latest whizbang kit with quality in mind. Thats why it sells for a few quid and comes in a plastic bag as it has for the last probably 30 years. Personally I'd love to see some updated things in this vein and there are more model ones from japanese and european manufacturers however this is what dapol wanna do, doesn't mean they're greedy, if they were they'd probably cut it off the range as I suspect they sell at a thin profit margin to begin with given the need to keep legacy equipment going or update parts of the molding to be operable with newer injection molding machines. Lets call a learning experience a lear inf experience. If life or this hobby were always peach perfect with zero thought needed our lives would be utterly dull and we'd be largely unthinking, uninspired people with no skills under our belts. Its whole purpose now is to be that kit so cheap it doesn't matter financially if you mess about and learn something from it, have some fun and not take it to seriously, yknow, that way kids learn things by experimenting and finding things out not always by being told what to do.

[@ModelMinutes]

@@Samstrainsofficially how is this a learning experience? All I see is a difference of opinion. Ultimately I create reviews and try to apply the same standards across all my videos with an objective look at products. Seems to me that you care more about the building experience and that’s fine, nothing wrong with that, but when people come to my channel to try and decide which products to buy next, I’d be doing them a disservice if I just ignored the issues these models have and just said “it’s a you problem if you can’t build it, probably a skill issue” That would be a bit of a gatekeeper move

[@scalemodellingmaniac7625]

First

[@ModelMinutes]

ScaleModellingManiac congrats!