Oh Sam, whatever you do, do not buy the second J70 Train Pack in pre 1919 livery.. Don't let the fact that the loco in said pack is No. 127.. non other than the real life Toby The Tram engine.. or the fact the GER Livery in the dark oxford blue, Red lining, and glossy Stratford brown on both the loco an coaches is a treat to the eyes.. ORR the fact that when the GER Buckjumpers come out from Accurascale in the same livery.. they will be an absolutely perfect pair.. don't be tempted Sam.. don't be tempted.... (No it's absolutely worth it, I have no regrets with my own temptation! Great Review Sam, you were very fair and objective, giving credit too when it was absolutely due. I hope I was successfully able to dissuade you.. ) Edit: I might have brought up that we don't get etched number plates or cowcatchers without the gaps for the couplings, but I understand you can get the latter from Rapido directly.. Haven't tried myself, I've just seen it brought up elsewhere
Yes this is Toby, but not his exact number, Thomas fans you can stop commenting this is him. 😅 Interestingly Rapido's other pack consists of 127, Toby's number before coming to Sodor.
Fair review Sam. We have little to add other than that we would have marked both quality and value down half a star more because there are two coaches with all of those issues you've mentioned, and yes, lights are simply expected for that very high price as well as flawless quality (!) Other than that, we can only add as well that simulating wood on plastic is virtually impossible. Only Märklin have come close with a Swedish loco model (using real wooden parts). We could argue that the outer body of this tram loco just looks a tad plasticy perhaps but good luck making plastic look like wood. Well, this set has its niggles and therefore is a bit very stiff on price but it is an intriguing model.
This train pack from Rapido is a top notch pack Sam. I absolutely love the look of the 2 tram cars which they look accurate to their real life counterparts and the J70 tram is pretty damn good but I will have to agree with you about the pick-ups being quite complicated. I would prefer the plunger pick-ups which the GWR 1600 Pannier tank engine has. Overall, it is a pretty good train pack and I would love to get this train pack for myself 1 day Sam.
I genuinely don’t have anything to do with model railwaying, or modelling of any sort. I just find your videos really interesting. Saying that though, despite having nowhere to run it (nowhere to put it really) and no interest in acquiring such things, I’m very tempted by this train pack just as a lovely representation of the J70. It truly is a piece of brilliant engineering to get so much detail into such a small space. Anyway, cheers Sam, keep up the excellent work old bean.
Easily one of the top 5 models in my hoarde. I got the LNER wartime version in October 2021, and it hasn't disappointed me yet. Truly one of the greats
I am going to get that pack, used to see the Wisbech and Upwell trains running although it was just freight by then, and used to see the trains pulling wagons of fruit when we used to go through Wisbech on the way to Hunstanton in the early '60s although it was Drewry diesel Shunter not J70s but been a fan of the J70s since I found out about them.
That's what I like with British trains : this kind of kinky and original vehicles ! I have bought the J70 at its first issue, and I had bought the matching cars recently. I've put her and the coaches on my to test list for R1 curves. Some fun ahead incoming !
This is an amazing pack, and I really love that livery! If I had a few more quid I'd be tempted 😂 Also Hattons have some new 00 bits appeared today, Accura MDOs amongst them - apparently they are awesome wagons!
Well what I can say about the other pack is it actually IS Toby. They used Toby's actual running number from the Railway Series. I'm sure this is something many many people have already told you, and I'm not sure that helps in resisting the temptation to buy the second pack or not but there's some more info for you. lol
Great review of the real life J70 tram and my favorite Thomas and friends character Toby the model and the coaches are really amazing and beautifully detailed too thanks Sam for sharing this 👍❤️🚂
Rapido UK have been on a roll it seems. My Titfield Thunderbolt pack has been nothing short of great and I can’t wait til I’m able to get some more of their products. I’d love to get a J70 soon as well.
Hey Sam. Great review of this beautiful train pack. I have the Titfield Buffet Car and it's my favourite coach. It looks very cool in the light blue color. I have also checked mine for any imperfections you showed and on mine, the railing on the roof as well as on the side sit perfectly without any sign of poor fitting. So I'd say you were a bit unlucky. Nevertheless, my coach looks just at home behind a custom painted Airfix 14xx to 1401, the Buffet Car, a GWR cattle van and a toad brake. I never knew the J70 was split chassis. The perfect example that locos with this design can run well (unlike the EFE Rail products). A wonderful review of these coaches and the locomotive. For me, Midland Railway Crimson is still my favourite, but this one gets very close. One last thing. Rapido mentioned you can open the roof of these coaches to see the detail by using a plastic spudger tool and try and lever the roof off in the middle. I haven't done it on mine because it's so fragile. I wish they used magnets like on their toad brake van. It would make it a lot easier. Price wise, almost 70£ for a coach of this size without lights is a bit questionable, but then again, you only need two at the most to make the full train. Still, for the price, some lights would have sweetened the deal.
Ahh excellent - I bet that's just amazing... such a cool livery too! Glad to hear the wires sit well on yours - that's very good news! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I can already see people converting these J70 packs into a Railway Series model of Toby and Henrietta as well as Hannah for the second tramway coach if they particularly like the CGI Era of the original Thomas television series.
Nice review Sam. I've got a bar and a barrel of beer in my Titfield Bar Car. If you're brave and careful the roof comes off for passengers. Also had same problem with roof gas pipe and the brake rigging interfered with one bogie causing derailments but both easily sorted.
A very unusual looking loco with those skirts covering up the wheels. It reminds me of two things. The schürzen that the Germans used to put on their panzers to protect the wheels and the tracks. Or something my Dad would make out of plywood in the garage. Cheers :-)
Sam, I have this set too as well as the Titfield Thunderbolt set. There is a extra separate buffet tramcar for the Titfield that you can buy. It is expensive and of a different livery, yet I think it looks well with the W&U set. It has basically the same exterior, but the inner details of the dining area and seating and I think it's marvellous and on par with the W&U #7 & #8 tramcars. I do recommend it as a worthy addition to investigate and adding to this rolling stock.
Just been to a model train show here in Geelong Australia, saw this pack on sale for $695aud. Extremely expensive, the dcc equipped was close to $800aud. But you are right it's a very good livery on it.
AMAZING!!! This is the first time I've seen you review and not once complain or gripe a single thing on the locomotive, however I will say, that the locomotive is an incredible work of art. The coaches are also beautiful. The coaches may not be perfect but overall as a train pack, this is probably one of the best out there. :) Also 8.89 is bad because that will be a VERY TOUGH score to beat much like how well your N7 did many years ago, which you also ran in this video. LOL!!!!
One of your best reviews I think, you could tell how hard you were trying to be impartial despite loving the product! As for getting another one….. You mustn’t. If would be unrealistic as there were only ever two cars… Even if you don’t have to run both sets at once…. It’s a lot of money… Ok not that much money for what you get. And the quality is great. Erm Why arnt’ you getting another one again?!
Rapido and Accurascale are really the kings of detail when it comes to the models. In fact, both of them do well with the mechanisms too, tbh I wouldn’t mind paying these prices if I know they’re as good as these. If somethings done right in the model world, we will probably buy it even if it is expensive 😂
Well, I did order the pack in early GER livery, and received it TODAY! Thanks to Rails of Sheffield (first-class service, if ever there was), and the models are Expensive, but Exquisite. Rapido are rapidly becoming the Rolls Royce of 00 scale...I'm looking forward to their little Y7 040T.
American DC modeler here, I am just starting out and only have a triang jinty, and a hornby smokey Joe, and I don't mind ordering off ebay or over seas when it comes to controllers, but I am looking for a good controller to run this beautiful loco. If anyone could point me to a good controller for this that won't blow the poor little thing up, I would really appreciate some good recommendations! Thank you for your time and all the energy put into your content and from this community in general, best wishes and keep up the incredible reviews!
The odd loco out is Y1 Sentinel at 36:02, being introduced in 1925. These packs were so tempting ever since Rapido announced them! I didn't get one because of how expensive they are. I am surprised that Rapido who is known for having magnetic lighting in their passenger cars didn't include them in these tram coaches.
FROM THE LATEST RAPIDO NEWSLETTER! It has come to our attention that we forgot to check the detailing pack. And typically, something was missing. Within the instruction manual, we included details of an alternative Cowcatcher that can be fitted to either end of the C53 tram locomotive. This is to enable people who wish to use scale screw or 3-link couplings, display their model as designed, or run their locos in a single direction with one end as designed not to have a hole where the tension lock coupling had been removed. This C53 has had all its detailing bits added - including a cowcatcher without a hole in the front. We are sorry we missed these out of your detailing bags, however, we do have the parts. So, if you have ordered a Wisbech and Upwell Train Pack and would like these Cowcatchers, don’t hesitate to contact us. Please complete our Warranty form and we will get a pair of Cowcatchers sent out to you.
I did get one of the two BR brown tramcars, the pipe on the roof wasn't an issue and I didn't think to check until you mentioned it with yours. There's nothing else wrong with my one and it's perfect for my J70 Tracey! In price I feel similarly to the dynamometer car it's a little pricey, but given at any period there were only at most two and it's far from basic
I just remembered in the Japanese animated film castle in the sky There actually is a tram engine that looks very similar to a J70 Minus the cow catches and sideplates
Honestly wish other manufacturers would make a small train pack like this. Bachmann US would have perfect opportunity with their American 4-4-0 and matching passenger cars
I do believe there is plans to build a new j70 possibly as well as rebuild the coach that was accidentally scrapped. Also yes that is a spark catcher where they would run through towns and farms the last thing you would want is to catch someone house on fire
I got the pre-1919 dcc pack and had similar issues unfortunately. Removing the chassis was near impossible because the fit was so tight. It crawls incredibly slow but also suffers from intermittent connectivity so I'm installing a stay-alive. This pack didn't come with the etched metal plates or full cow catchers if you wanted to remove the couplings like the original run did. I hear if you email rapido though they are sending out the cow catchers at least. Your roof wire was way better than mine! Both of mine are curved outward to almost the edge it's that bad. But it is still a beautiful pack I'm happy to have
Yeah that's right - quite unfortunate about that, needs looking into probably! Ahh I didn't notice that - but very good point, it didn't come with them. Yeah the roof wires are an issue - I'd return them to Rapido for replacements or repairs if they're bad! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Wonderful loco and train pack, definitely want a couple tram cars in br to match my J70, gonna say the odd loco out on the sidings is the sentinel as it's a verticle boiler loco and chain drive
I'd love to buy one of these, but the price is putting me off. The J70 looks gorgeous in both brown+dark blue and dark red+white. It's a bit frustrating you can't buy the tram and coaches individually, but I guess it makes sense to have them together.
I would give the pack a 9.5 rating, but not having one up close and personal, I would agree with you. A whole hearted seal of approval. Fantastic model. Price is good, but could be a little more cheaper. Around the £190 mark would be better. Great video and great review. 😊
You should do a review on the Fleischmann BR 70 Sam. I just bought my online and I absolutely love it, it's such a great runner. Cheers Jasper & Willow
So glad i ordered thus pack months ago, amazed with it when it arrived. Yes coaches expensive but i think much better than the bachmann birdcage i have and if i count the loco at £120, thet work out cheaper than the £55 birdcage. Bit unfair to compare to the genesis coaches as hattons can sell those cheaper as manufacturer and retailer. Fantastic train pack.
I noticed that the livery has GER wartime grey skirting boards. I’m guessing you chose that so a certain upcoming Accurascale model can be your first official GER blue model. Will you be getting the National Collection in miniature as they’re selling the preserved No.87?
10:04 And in real life there were actually another variety of these coaches which unfortunately did not survive into preservation and those were a four wheeled variant
@SamsTrains 43:47 My word of encouragement: sell off trains you don't value as much until the profits reach double the value of the set you want to buy, then buy it with a clean conscience if they're still in stock. :)
