Schnellzuglokomotive S3/6 BR18/5 en Tender 2’2’T 31,7
ModelFan
First Impression
Revell
02168
Scale 1/87 H0
Injection Moulded 154 parts
Price approx.. 28,00 euro.
In 1907, Krauss-Maffei engineers Anton Hammel and Heinrich Leppla developed the S 3/6 express train locomotive with the 2 ́C1 ́h4v (Pacific) axle arrangement for the Royal Bavarian State Railways. This refers to a steam locomotive with a front-running two-axle bogie, three driven coupled axles and a movable pull axle driven by a four-cylinder compound engine. In this compound engine, the exhaust steam from the two internal high-pressure superheated steam cylinders feeds the two large external low-pressure cylinders, allowing the very smooth-running locomotive with an output of approx. 1,800 hp and a towing capacity of 300 t to run at a continuous speed of 120 km/h.
Distinctive visual features included the mighty cylinder block, a tapered smokebox door and, in the case of the Länderbahn series, the wind-cutting driver's cab. This, together with the axle arrangement, resulted in an overall very attractive and elegant appearance, so that the S 3/6 is often referred to as the most beautiful steam locomotive in Germany (if not in the world).
The S 3/6 was the only express train locomotive of the Länderbahn that was still ordered and built after the transfer to the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft (DRG). With an axle load of just under 18 tonnes, it could be used on all lines in Germany at the time, due to a lack of alternatives, and was extremely economical to use. As class 18.4 and 18.5, the 159 locomotives were also used in high-quality express train services and pulled Rheingold trains and trains for the Orient Express. However, after the modernization of some class 18.5 locomotives in the 1950s, the locomotives were successively taken out of service until 1969.
The Model
In my last review (build) of the Revell Unimog fire truck I had a model from the year 1986, this model originally dates from 1984. The designation "Bavarian express train locomotive S 3/6" was used on almost all previous boxes. This designation suggests that at least one locomotive in the Bavarian colour (green) can be built as an option. However, the Länderbahn fan was disappointed: only the construction of two locomotives (which also come from the DRG series) in black and red color is possible out of the box. Only the call for tenders, which apparently dates back to the time of the Länderbahn, justified the designation to a certain extent. The designation "Bavarian" is no longer used on this box.
As already indicated, the model dates back to 1984 and is said to be the first Revell edition. The sufficiently large slip-on box contains three black, neatly moulded injection moulded frames, which are packed in 2 separate plastic bags. The transparent parts are unprotected in one of the bags. The overall quality of the model is good, there are only a few sinking holes and some flash on parts. Pretty good for such an old model. The almost all parts have seams.
Weak points are, for example, the continuous black color of the parts, which makes painting the chassis quite difficult (red). The previous model in this series that I was allowed to build, the Schnellzuglokomotive BR 02 Tender 2'2'T30, had frames in black and red. Priming, I think, grey is a must!
The level of detail could certainly be improved, to match the current newer models made by the model railroad companies. The model does not have freestanding boiler pipes and there are also no feedwater and compressed air pipes, although the drawing on the box indicates this, but hmmm a drawing... ?
Nice:
1. Clean, clear and sharp structures and details on the part
2. Relatively thin wind deflector..
3. Low wheel flanges on the wheels
4. Separately buildable covers of the boiler domes
5. Beautifully reproduced compressed air tank
6. Replica of the fine checker plate on the circulation plates
7. Beautiful coal replica on the tender
Not nice:
1. No movement of the drive wheels with a quarter turn from the stoker side to the driver's side
2. Very wide treads of the wheels
3. Design of brake pads
4. Design and layout of components in the field of firebox and floor boiler
5. Missing boiler supports, are on the frame
6. Missing drive rod in the frame including cylinder block cover
Ergo, the model is from 1984 and that is clearly visible, so what do you want as a modeler? You can build the model right out of the box, then you have a nice model of a steam locomotive and perhaps a nice and/or special item in your collection, fine. Of course, you can also go completely "out of the box" and completely re-detail the model, for example by stripping the boiler of all the pipes printed on it and reapplying them all correctly and freely. The fire plate can also be completely revised with real levers, gauges and shutters and of course every other way of detailling.
Of course, weathering can be done in all cases. Think of the boiler for a combination of water, steam and lime through time, around the chimney (the black soot smoke). The fire plate with coal (grit) and ashes and the tender also coal and grit. If you don't want to make the latter yourself, you can buy it at any modeltrain shop in many different forms. All moving parts such as the wheels and the piston and linkage with oil, grease and damage. If you really want to know how to weather a steam locomotive, I can really recommend the YouTube channel of Seb (Sebb ́s 1zu87). It's in German, but it's clearly shown how to do it, and nowadays you can also turn on translation.
Revell has figured out that the wheels must be able to turn and therefore the linkage must be able to move. You can adopt that thought, but keep in mind that everything has to fit exactly and not a drop of glue should get into the places where it shouldn't. Given the seniority of the model and my experiences with the BR02, I assume that the fit of this model is certainly not ideal either. It's up to you, I'll go for the "fixed" version.
Decals
Fortunately, the small decal set has been reprinted, as evidenced by the date 2024. What I do wonder is whether the texts and symbols are also newly designed. The smaller texts cannot be read, not even under a magnifying lamp, which was also the case with earlier versions. The quality as a decal is fine.
Building description
This has been upgraded by Revell from four pages in black with 14 steps to the now familiar four color printing with paint proposals, of course Revell, a sprue overview, warnings and 40 steps with two color schemes. 1 of two versions can be built. The application of the decals is indicated where necessary at the different steps and on the color schemes, as well as any colors.
possible liveries are:
1. 18 548 of the DRG, black and red livery
2. 18 538 of the DB, black and red livery
Locomotive number and railway connections can be interchanged with each other. The colour schemes indicate a lot of copper pipes, on the boiler for example. It seemed very unnatural to me and the drawing on the box does not indicate it and on photos that I have been able to find, including a color photo, of this series it is not visible either. So not as far as I'm concerned.
Conclusion
Not really a good model of a particularly nice steam locomotive, but it still has its advantages. It can be improved in many areas, but it's not hard to build it right out of the box. However, with a lot of initiative, the model can become a jewel of the showcase or the model railroad. It was undoubtedly a brave step by Revell at the time to bring steam locomotive models to the market. In terms of detailing, however, they could not and cannot keep up with the current innovations from the model railway sector, which (unfortunately) reduces the acceptance of both model builders and model railway builders then and now. Nevertheless, such kits are a welcome opportunity for both parties to think outside the box, me thinking of a steam foundation that repairs and manages locomotives, a museum, or even a complete rust bucket.
Thanks to Revell and IPMS Nederland for making it available for a review.
