Lion: Review

[@SamsTrains]

I just love your narration - great work thanks for sharing!

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Thank you kindly! I'm flattered.

[@kupferbergbahn7952]

Very professional review, Anthony! It was good to see someone review a model of Lion while mentioning it's history and 1930's appearance.

[@survivingworldsteam]

I have the Bachmann model of the Norris built Lafayette on display (since it quit running) along with it's tender and the three coaches it came with (which I understand are not correct for the locomotive.) On a track behind it, I have the Revell model of a Union Pacific Big Boy. The Lafayette, tender, and three coaches are the same length as the Big Boy and it's tender by itself. It is an impressive illustration of how much steam technology advanced in the roughly 100 years between them.

[@DangerAngelous]

I very much appreciate going into the fine details, especially the points of difference between front and rear drive axles!

[@jeffdayman8183]

Good review Anthony! Thank you for it. Cheers!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Really enjoyed the review of Lion, some very lovely detailing that Rapido Trains have done.

[@profcraneporter]

Lovely model from Rapido. I hope that they ask for your help again on future 'era 1' locos. Indeed a model of a Samson, Patentee or Planet would be marvelous (I'd like Fury specifically lol) however a model of Sans Pareil, Novelty, Locomotion or other oddities would be welcome as well given the unlikely-ness that *the other* company would consider making such models

[@survivingworldsteam]

I don't know which company you are referring to, but both Hornby and Bachmann made models of the the Rocket. Bachmann made a model of Lafayette, and another early locomotive I cannot recall, it may have been Lion. I believe Hornby also made a model of Lion; one of the two is correct for the period it was constructed; if my memory is correct.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

@@survivingworldsteam The Hornby Rocket model is based on the 1930s replicas and is NOT correct. The firebox is the wrong shape (not that you can really tell in 4mm) but the boiler fittings are all wrong - it's got a steam dome for example which Rocket never had in "Rainhill" condition. The Hornby "lion", called Tiger, is wholely inaccurate: Tiger never carried the same boiler which Lion does now in preservation. Hornby wanted to do a Titfield Thunderbolt set but were ordered to cease and desist by Rapido Trains and Canal Plus lawyers as Hornby didn't have the rights to the film. Their "Tiger" model is a piece of fiction and their "Thunderbolt" model is not as detailed as the Rapido "Lion". Similarly, the 1830s wagons and coaches made by Hornby are terrible. The coaches are based on the 1930 replicas built by the LMS to run with the restored "Lion", and despite there being drawings for flat wagons, coal wagons etc, Hornby have not done any research and just re-used carriage underframes for flat wagons and Rocket tenders for coal wagons whilst claiming they're accurate models. Best ignored to be honest.

[@survivingworldsteam]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory I remember now Sam's Trains mentioning all this when he reviewed them. Thank you for reminding me.

[@atlantaman]

Interesting review, Anthony. I note from the internal booklet provided, Rapido acknowledge you as a consultant for the model. Well done.

[@AdiPullen]

Hi Anthony I hope you are well Look a stunning model. I've gone for the 1980s condition one as it different to big h version. I did notice the big h version has better underframe details by the looks of it. Thank you for sharing your models with us Some more era 1 locos would be great Keep safe ARP

[@JonatanGronoset]

Ooooh, this is a new and unexpected venture from you, Anthony. I enjoyed it and hope to see more!

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@radioisotopics]

I know this model costs upwards of 300 pounds, but it is nevertheless very impressive how accurate the model is. I, myself, have purchased models far more expensive, where rather major things are wrongly portrayed for "ease of manufacture" between different road numbers, so to me, the fact that Rapido even included wheels with different numbers of spokes, and frame sections that had different bolt numbers is simply incredible. What an amazing model

[@jenniferhoughton6837]

DCC ready models are significantly cheaper £152.

[@shnorth888]

Another great model from Rapido. I have several Canadian models of locomotives, freight and passenger cars plus the GM New Look transi buses and vehicles from Rapido. They're really into detailed rolling stock.

[@Lennon6412]

Some weird choices seem to have been made in the restoration I was not aware of. I wonder what it was supposed to look like

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Very weird choices: then again they didn't know it was Lion. In fact, It may not actually *be* Lion. They had a locomotive which consisted of an 1860s boiler married to a set of wheels, frames, cylinders and valve gear from the 1840s. So they did the best they could in presenting it as an 1840s locomotive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/paKymqxoiJ6Uqck

[@richardswiderski4985]

Great video she does look good I am eagerly awaiting my Titfield Thunderbolt and 1980's Lion.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Good choice!

[@richardswiderski4985]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory Hopefully they will be good.

[@robertpassmore7231]

That was an excellent review, just wish some of the other model reviewers see this and they may improve their reviews. Have a 1930's on order hopefully to be delivered by next week.

[@stefanattrill8565]

I'd love to see someone do a comparison review between the Hornby release and this one from Rapido.

[@henriknilsson7851]

Sam’s Trains has said they will do such a review next week, so keep tuned! I have the Hornby release, so a comparison will be very interesting!

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

The Rapido one is much more detailed; and a far better runner.

[@majorbloodnok6659]

Thank you for a very useful review.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

My pleasure!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

A good review, and excellent pointing out in which period the model can be used. As depicting Lion in preserved condition the model is suited to most layouts, as they depict the Big Four or BR. The model in itself looks really nice with these fine details. I would consider buying it to depict a railway event of some sort on my (future) layout. A Patentee would be more than welcome, and also suited to make variants for the continent. There will be a size discrepancy of 17mm in the length of loco + tender between 00 and H0, but I think many modellers in H0 can live with this because of the small size of the model it will not look oversized between larger German or French steam models.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

A 4mm scale Patentee would be superb and would, as you say, have appeal not just in the UK. Whether anyone will produce one I have no idea. I have an HO Der Adler and its tiny, but sadly isn't generic enough (especially the coaches) for the UK or even France.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory Also the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy used Patentee type locomotives either built by Robert Stephenson or under his license (Le Belge built by Cockerill)

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

@@Tom-Lahaye I know. I've done videos on all of them :)

[@Poliss95]

It may be a very accurate model, but does it go? I had serious problems with a previous Rapido model and their customer support was terrible. I'd love to see one in 1:160 scale.

[@stickman18]

Sadly disappointed with the Hunslet running I only hope that this one works.

[@thebritishengineer8027]

Great video and very informative the fact it was a 1930's rework was startling. Ironic that my own decision to make authentic foot plate crew for this model.... was instigated by the lads at Crewe Heritage Centre running one around their layout.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

You can find out more about Lion here:kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6XHiHt8Zp6HoJI and here kzbin.info/www/bejne/paKymqxoiJ6Uqck And its sister locomotive, Tiger, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b32aaZVtlppmeac Suffice to say, Lion has only looked the way it does now since 1930 and never looked like it does now when it was at work on the L&MR or LNWR! Similarly, the replica coaches built to run with it in 1930 are 1930s best guesses: they're not historically accurate - especially the blue ones, which should have seats and roofs!

[@thebritishengineer8027]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory ...and would anyone be willing to purchase the corrent coaches..?

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

|@@thebritishengineer8027 I've no idea. The 1930 coaches made by Hornby are OK for Lion in preservation. On the L&MR and LNWR it was a goods engine - never worked a passenger train.

[@thebritishengineer8027]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory So are you more a railway modeller or historian, I have an interesting calaboration that may need both..

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

@@thebritishengineer8027 I am a professional historian and academic specialising in the railways 1800-1860. I'm also an experimental archaeologist, and yes I do railway modelling. Hope that helps!

[@GianUbertoLauri]

Nice, nice, nice. Mine will likely be the Thunderbolt of the Titfield & Mallingford Ligth Railway. I must admit that the name Rapido makes me giggle. I know it comes from the brand name of a Canadian Railway train, and the word "Rapido" might either be French (quick) or Italian (the name of the Italian FS limited express trains has been "Rapido" up to the end of the seventies in the 20th century, so in 1965 it should have been well known in the large Italian speaking population in Toronto). And when I hear it stressed the English way I can't help but think to Laurel & Hardy: the two comedians dubbed by themselves the first Italian edition of their movies - we still dub all the movies - and their way of accenting and pronouncing Italian sentences was liked so much by the attendance that subsequent Italian dubbers had to learn to speak Italian like the anglo-american duo.

[@Poliss95]

Or more likely from the German model railway company Arnold Rapido.

[@GianUbertoLauri]

@@Poliss95 the Canadian model company _explicitly_ refers to the “Rapido” train service. And I doubt a train service was named after a train model company.

[@Poliss95]

@@GianUbertoLauri But we know Jason has always been a model railroad fan.

[@GianUbertoLauri]

@@Poliss95 Jason who?

[@knuckles1206]

Great video as always! Given how often you talk about or mention Lion, I assume its one of your favorite locomotives?

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

It's not really - that's Planet. But I've done a heck of a lot of research on Lion and its sisters and written an archaeological report on it, so I guess I'm the "Lion Expert". For good or for bad.

[@Cthulhu1970]

I've been hoping for a long time that there would be an upsurge in interest for commercially available Era 1 locomotives and rolling stock. There have models of Rocket available for a very long time, but "Lion" I think will be a good "way in" for early locomotives into mailstream modelling, as it draws on so many areas of interest other than just early locomotives.

[@AnthonyDawsonHistory]

Well quite. it's just a shame that the Hornby modle of Rocket *isn't* Era1 as its a model of the 1930s replica which has many errors. I suppose if you don't know what you're looking at it's fine, but it's not Rocket in "Rainhill Trials" condition when it was painted yellow. When it was at work in the Liverpool & Manchester it was painted green and had lowered cylinders, like it still does today! The model of Lion as well, *isn't* Era 1 as Lion never looked like this in its working life, and due to its unique boiler and firebox, can't be used for any other loco. There still needs to be an *accurate* Era 1 model locomotive and rolling stock. The Hornby rolling stock is hilariously wrong.

[@Cthulhu1970]

@@AnthonyDawsonHistory Oh yes, I know. What I was getting at is that this will hopefully introduce people to the delights of early locomotives. And yes, the rolling stock issue is lamentable at best.

[@MJC19]

Now kitbash it to its original design! Steller review friend!

[@Arkay315]

Baby steamer.

[@oakley1471]

💋 Promo SM