The Canadian model railway manufacturer Rapido Trains has launched a UK-based business to develop its own range of British-outline rail and road vehicles in gauges including OO and N.
Having previously manufactured models for the British market by working in partnership with other organisations (including Revolution Trains and Locomotion Models), the company now plans to market models independently under a new Rapido Trains UK branding.
Headlining the new range will be OO gauge versions of a Hawksworth ‘1500’ 0-6-0PT and Hunslet 16" industrial 0-6-0ST, together with models of GWR/BR gunpowder vans. For N gauge there will be a model of a BR Metrovick Type 2 Co-Bo (Class 28). Also joining the range will be 1:76 models of Birmingham City Transport Guy Arab and Leyland Fleetline double-decker buses.
Working alongside the firm’s UK Operations Manager Andrew Hardy (see News, RM December 2020) is Richard Foster, who has been employed in the role of Sales & Marketing Manager.
The Rapido Trains UK team is already working on further projects – in OO, N and O gauges – to expand the range further in due course, whilst other scales are also being considered including 3mm and O-16.5, subject to there being sufficient demand. Products will be available through a range of UK stockists, and via the new website: www.rapidotrains.co.uk
