The Most Disappointing Deltic? - Dapol Kitmaster model kit review

Today Zoë is taking a look at the Dapol Kitmaster Deltic model kit, which has proven to be something of a disappointment.

Join this channel to get access to perks:

[ArcadiaJunctionHobbies]

Considering its age there is noting wrong with the kit. It is just tricky to build but they can come out fantastic if you put some time and work into them. They are not for beginners that is for sure.

[juleshammond]

I couldn't agree more with all you have said. But frankly it's a minor miracle this kit exists at all and the chances of seeing another Deltic kit are slim.

[rorywhard]

Not wishing to sound rude but I totally disagree with this lady. In light of the fact that the kit and original molds are over 60 years old which means they are older than me in the early 80s when Dapol were still at Wells Street in Winsford I purchased the kit and assembled it within 90 minutes. I found it easy to assemble it travelled well around the layout when propelled or hauled by a powered loco and lasted me for 20+ years. I was happy with it, so much so that I'm thinking of aquirering another one now

[glengreen]

I built this kit last year, taking a very methodical procedure in the construction, painting before I glued parts together, and trial fitting before gluing. I have to admit that I would have loved to see the kit more like an Athearn kit, in which the body was moulded in one part, rather than the multiple sections. I was also fortunate to have located somebody in the UK selling some vacu-formed window glazing for the Deltic on eBay. I have resisted trying to work with this kind of kit parts before, so this was my first foray. Fortunately, I was supplied with two sheets, allowing for errors. They fitted well, giving a great end result. I also chose to try replacing the wheels provided with metal or plastic from Triang or Hornby, as I have found from other Kitmaster Dapol kits that the axle joint is a weak spot with a tendency to break.

I wasn't happy with the bogie frames, nor the antiquated coupling concept provided, which I chose to leave off. I also chose to paint it in Brunswick Green, as a fanciful hypothetical British Railways modification in the 1950s. All in all, to me it looks okay, but it's no show stopper. The finished construction is too flimsy, the parts have no well defined tabs and like all of the Dapol Kitmaster kits, the supplied wheels' flanges are too squared, occupying half of the tyres of the wheels, and more to the point, for me, it would be almost impossible to try and fit this with a working model locomotive chassis, as the provided chassis of the kit is quintessential to keeping the body together. But, apart from that, the challenge of putting together was all the fun. I have a prairie tank and two ventilated van kits set aside to build sometime, as I am a sucker for punishment.

[sVRsignalman]

Dear Zoe, as other commentators have advised, this kit is quite old, and originated with Kitmaster, was acquired by Airfix, but not re-introduced, and when Dapol acquired the moulds from Airfix, the window moulding, which uses a different clear plastic, was either not available, or not useable. 

When I built Airfix kits in the 1960s, the standard advice was to always wash the plastic mouldings in water with dishwashing detergent, then wash off with plain, clean water. This process removed the plastic moulding release agent, and the clean water removed the detergent film. I still do this with any plastic kit. The advice to use warm ( not hot ) water to straighten out warped plastic is sound, but as others have indicated, this has probably occurred due to the quality of the feedstock.

If you want to glaze your model, try Ferro Rocher, or similar, clear plastic boxes as source material ( the curved corners are useful ! ). This is all a learning process, some kits work out better than others, and in this particular instance, the cost is relatively modest.
( Some aircraft and ship plastic kits cost in excess of GBP100-. ) Do NOT be discouraged, this is how we have all learned, and after all, it is a hobby done for pleasure. ( My late Mum was a knitter, and some patterns proved to be diabolical. ) 

Good on you for being willing enough to make this video, it is a worthwhile and helpful contribution,

best wishes and regards from Australia.

[melchestermodelrailway]

I built the Dapol water tower which is a similar vintage. I remember the instructions saying to soak in warm water first to even out any warped sections. The model turned out fine and is situated on my layout, even though I was sceptical at first.

[chrish.]

I am currently part way through building my own kit. Thanks for all your help. Thanks for sharing.

[srduke]

South Eastern Finecast do a flush glazing kit for this model.
Edit. I've built one of these kits and adapted it to accept a Lima chassis. I've got another to build and will use a set of Fox Transfers detailing kits that provide better lining and etched brass plates for the various plates fitted to the full size. I agree, the kit isn't easy to assemble and does require substantial "fettling" in order to get the shut lines looking tidy. Very satisfying when it all comes together though.

[rogersaunders]

You have to bear in mind that, back in the day, these kits were a considerable advance on anything else available. Your remarks about " like scratchbuilding" are valid. It was much easier to have these mouldings and use your own skills to turn them into something quite nice, rather than try to build one from "scratch"
The moulds were sold to Airfix in 1962 and acquired by Dapol in 1982. So it's not surprising that they aren't as crisp as they were. Many injection moulds haven't lasted nearly so long. It's testament to the quality and solid build of them that they still work quite well today!
Look upon them as an experience, putting yourself in the shoes of us who built these 60 years ago. There wasn't anything else!

[charlesemerson]

I remember this kit from about 1965 and I think it was Kitmaster/Rosebud kit back then, Airfix acquired it about 1967. Looks like Dapol are still using the original tooling. You can try straightening parts out in hot water. Slow process but it does work. I have an Airfix kit of a Battle of Britain pacific from 1968 still in its box with original instructions. it cost 2schillings and 8pence. Some of Dapol's best ex Airfix kits are the 16T mineral wagons, Brake van, cattle wagon, B type tank car and the cement hopper. At least they come with metal wheels and brass bearings now.

[atilllathehun]

I have seen some beautifully made models of the Deltic. An experienced modeller, with a bit of work should be able to make a decent job of it.

[wilwahabri]

Sorry, but the kit is likely to have been moulded on the original moulds, and as a kit that was designed and produced over 40 years ago that should not have come as a surprise. All the Dapol kits are like this - it is well known that to build any of their ex Kitmaster kits some model making expertise is required. This is not a model that you can just throw together. I have other Dapol kits that I have assembled, for example the Turntable which to fit in my model and to make DCC controlled required considerable modification.

As far as glazing is concerned, they [the kits] probably were unglazed when introduced, however a little research will find that Finecast supply or at least supplied a specific Flushglaze window kit (SE95) for the Dapol Deltic prototype. This is still available.

In combination with a Lima Deltic chassis, these make a very reasonably priced alternative to the Bachman offering, admittedly some compromises have to be made, if the Lima bogies are retained then they will not be prototypical, however converting the bogies with the Dapol parts is possible but not for the faint hearted.

Redesigning for "today" would be very expensive and probably result in the total loss of all the existing moulds, the result would be a drastic increase in price probably in the order of the newly released Airfix Spitfire kit at £80. for a little more than that you can pick up a second hand Bachman Deltic prototype

[johndenbury]

I have another Deltic with no cab detail inside, is it worth buying the kit to replicate the cab interior ? Thankyou.

[whitehorsebricks]

I have built a few of the kitmaster models and I would say your comments apply across the range. There have been several times that parts just don't go together well enough. Or you fit them together and then find later on in the build that they don't join correctly to another assembly. This is worse as the adhesive is set hard at that point.

[DaveHilling-cp]

It’s a 60 year old kit, Dapol squired the original moulds from Airfix. They were thought to be lost, the original window moulds were destroyed. Unfortunately Dapol use a softer waxy plastic in their kits with very old moulds. If you try building an original Kitmaster version you’ll find it’s a great kit and contains all the glazing, the plastic is much better too with no warping. Dapol have never tried to advertise it as a modern kit, they’ve just saved all the old moulds from being destroyed like 50% of the others which were.

[johnbristow]

Dont knock the Model that is the Grandad of the industrie which indirectly gave u your Job. Respect it for what it is. A antique gem. Airfix Kits have to be stuck and bound together with string. Leave a couple of days binded together untill glue set.

[hamshackleton]

I assembled the Dapol footbridge - and found that the parts didn't fit, the decking was twisted, and the side rails were very slightly different lengths, only 1mm or so, but it leaves gaps where there shouldn't BE gaps!

[ecidaho]

Hi Zoe, what glue did you use? I have had great luck with using Tamiya Extra thin to help models that do not fit well as you can put a little glue on hold that are and it sets in just a few minutes, short enough you can hold the parts while it sets. It also melts the plastic together so when set it is just plastic all the way thru the bond and not glue at all. Just a thought. Nothing is more frustrating than having a model you really want to turn out and it fights you all the way! Thanks for the review and sorry that it was so frustrating. I’m sure it would be frustrating for any modeler! All the best and take care!

[PeckhamHall]

Flash are plastic parts doesn't always mean the tooling is bad. If tooling get bad it can be repaired. It doesn't need replaced.

[JTucci]

I put together an Airfix Prairie tank around 1980 and a Drewry shunter and a Pug a few years later. Fun enough, no massive parts to warp and plastic was hard and dependable when gluing. Revell kits of large German locos were also a good experience.