Rosebud Kitmaster
Encyclopedia
Rosebud Kitmaster was the brand name
of a short-lived but critically acclaimed, range of plastic assembly kits manufactured in the UK by Rosebud Dolls Ltd of Raunds, Northamptonshire
. Introduced from May 1959, the range rapidly expanded to include 34 models of railway locomotive
s and coaches in OO
, HO and TT scales and eventually, one motorcycle
in 1/16 scale. The assets of Rosebud Kitmaster were sold to Airfix Products Ltd
in late 1962. Nine locomotives and the motorcycle were later re-issued under the Airfix brand.
The range comprised mainly British railway rolling stock but there were a few kits of other subjects. The range consisted of 34 kits of individual locomotives or carriages, a model of the Ariel
Arrow motorcycle, the "Fireball XL5
" rocket, parts to motorise the railway kits (using a motorised box wagon supplied pre-built, or a motor bogie) and three railway presentation sets:
Some of the moulds for the kits produced by Rosebud Dolls Ltd under the Kitmaster name were sold on to Airfix
Products Ltd in 1962 and later on to Dapol
Model Railways. However, not all of the kits passed over and several were lost. As such, some Kitmaster kits are extremely collectable and can be very valuable to a dedicated collector. Although unsold, recently (August 2010) an unmade kit for the 00 gauge LMS Beyer-Garratt locomotive was offered for sale on an Internet auction site for over £100.
Before its demise, the company announced the introduction of a number of kits that never knowingly entered production, including the LNER Flying Scotsman.
The TT gauge models were: -
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of a short-lived but critically acclaimed, range of plastic assembly kits manufactured in the UK by Rosebud Dolls Ltd of Raunds, Northamptonshire
Raunds
Raunds is a small market town in rural Northamptonshire, England. It has a population of 8,275 , is a civil parish, and is part of the East Northamptonshire district.- Geography :Raunds is situated 21 miles north-east of Northampton...
. Introduced from May 1959, the range rapidly expanded to include 34 models of railway locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s and coaches in OO
OO gauge
OO gauge or OO scale model railways are the most popular standard-gauge model railway tracks in the U.K. This track gauge is one of several 4mm-scale standards used, but it is the only one to be served by the major manufacturers...
, HO and TT scales and eventually, one motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
in 1/16 scale. The assets of Rosebud Kitmaster were sold to Airfix Products Ltd
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
in late 1962. Nine locomotives and the motorcycle were later re-issued under the Airfix brand.
The range comprised mainly British railway rolling stock but there were a few kits of other subjects. The range consisted of 34 kits of individual locomotives or carriages, a model of the Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
Arrow motorcycle, the "Fireball XL5
Fireball XL5
Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol...
" rocket, parts to motorise the railway kits (using a motorised box wagon supplied pre-built, or a motor bogie) and three railway presentation sets:
- P1: 100 Years of British Steam - this included kits of Stephenson's RocketStephenson's RocketStephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
, the Stirling 8' Single locomotive and a Coronation classLMS Princess Coronation ClassThe London Midland and Scottish Railway Coronation Class is a class of express passenger steam locomotives designed by William Stanier. They were an enlarged version of the LMS Princess Royal Class. Several examples were originally built as streamlined, though this was later removed...
locomotive in 00 scale. - P2: Battle of Britain Set - this contained a Battle of Britain class locomotive and three BR Mark 1British Railways Mark 1British Railways Mark 1 was the family designation for the first standardised designs of railway carriages built by British Railways. Following nationalisation in 1948, BR had continued to build carriages to the designs of the "Big Four" companies , and the Mark 1 was intended to be the...
coaches in 00 scale. - P3: TT3 Royal Scot Set - this contained a Royal Scot classLMS Royal Scot ClassThe London, Midland and Scottish Railway Royal Scot Class is a class of 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive introduced in 1927. Originally having parallel boilers, all members were later rebuilt with tapered type 2A boilers, and were in effect two classes.-Background:Until the mid-1920s, the LMS...
locomotive and four BR Mark 1 coaches in TT3 (3mm = 1 foot) scale.
Some of the moulds for the kits produced by Rosebud Dolls Ltd under the Kitmaster name were sold on to Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
Products Ltd in 1962 and later on to Dapol
Dapol
Dapol Ltd is a Welsh model railway manufacturer based in Chirk, Wales. The factory where design and manufacturing take place is just over the border in England.The Dapol trading name is known for its model railway products in N and OO gauges.-History:...
Model Railways. However, not all of the kits passed over and several were lost. As such, some Kitmaster kits are extremely collectable and can be very valuable to a dedicated collector. Although unsold, recently (August 2010) an unmade kit for the 00 gauge LMS Beyer-Garratt locomotive was offered for sale on an Internet auction site for over £100.
Before its demise, the company announced the introduction of a number of kits that never knowingly entered production, including the LNER Flying Scotsman.
Models
The 00/HO gauge models consisted of: -- Kit No 1 - Stephenson's RocketStephenson's RocketStephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
- Kit No 2 - BR Class 08British Rail Class 08The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
diesel shunter locomotive - Kit No 3 - USA 4-4-04-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
Locomotive The GeneralThe General (locomotive)The General is a type 4-4-0 steam locomotive that was the subject of the Great Locomotive Chase of the American Civil War. The locomotive is preserved at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-... - Kit No 4 - LMS Coronation Class locomotive Duchess of Gloucester
- Kit No 5 - SR 4-4-0 Schools Class locomotive Harrow
- Kit No 6 - Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-4-0 saddle tankL&YR Class 21The L&YR Class 21 is a class of small 0-4-0ST steam locomotive built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway for shunting duties. They were nicknamed Pugs.- Operational history :...
locomotive - Kit No 7 - GWR Prairie TankGWR 6100 ClassThe GWR 6100 Class is a class of prairie tank locomotives, designed by Charles Collett, and of the 2-6-2T arrangement.They were introduced in 1931 and were a straightforward development of the earlier 5101 class with little more than an increased boiler pressure of to distinguish them from their...
locomotive - Kit No 8 - Italian 0-6-0 tank locomotive
- Kit No 9 - Stirling 8 ft SingleGNR Stirling 4-2-2The Great Northern Railway No. 1 class Stirling Single is a class of steam locomotive designed for express passenger work. Designed by Patrick Stirling, they are characterised by a single pair of large driving wheels which led to the nickname "eight-footer"...
locomotive - Kit No 10 - Deltic Prototype diesel locomotive
- Kit No 11 - SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain Class locomotive Biggin Hill
- Kit No 12 - Swiss Crocodile electric locomotive
- Kit No 13 - BR Standard Mk1British Railways Mark 1British Railways Mark 1 was the family designation for the first standardised designs of railway carriages built by British Railways. Following nationalisation in 1948, BR had continued to build carriages to the designs of the "Big Four" companies , and the Mark 1 was intended to be the...
Corridor Composite Coach (in Maroon or Green) - Kit No 14 - BR Standard Mk1 Corridor 2nd Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 15 - BR Standard Mk1 Corridor Brake 2nd Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 19 - German 2-6-2 locomotive class 23DB Class 23The steam locomotives of Class 23 were German passenger train locomotives developed in the 1950s for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. They had a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement and were equipped with Class 2'2' T 31 tenders...
- Kit No 22 - BR Standard 2-10-0 9FBR standard class 9FThe British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...
locomotive Evening StarBR standard class 9F 92220 Evening StarBritish Railways Standard Class 9F number 92220 Evening Star, is a preserved British steam locomotive completed in 1960. It was the last steam locomotive to be built by British Railways. It holds the distinction of being the only British main line steam locomotive ear-marked for preservation from... - Kit No 23 - SNCF Class 241P 'Mountain' locomotive
- Kit No 24 - GWR 4-4-0GWR 3700 ClassThe Great Western Railway 3700 Class, or City Class, locomotives were a series of twenty 4-4-0 steam locomotives, designed for hauling express passenger trains.-Construction:...
locomotive City of TruroGWR 3700 Class 3440 City of TruroNumber 3440 City Of Truro is a Great Western Railway 3700 Class 4-4-0 locomotive, designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at the GWR Swindon Works in 1903. . It is one of the contenders for the first steam locomotive to travel in excess of... - Kit No 25 - LMS 2-6-0+0-6-2 Beyer-GarrattLMS GarrattThe London Midland and Scottish Railway Garratt was a class of Garratt 2-6-0+0-6-2 steam locomotive designed for heavy freight. A total of 33 were built from 1927, making them the most numerous class of Garratt in Britain.-Overview:...
Locomotive - Kit No 26 - 0-6-0ST "Austerity"Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0STThe Hunslet Engine Company Austerity 0-6-0ST is a steam locomotive designed for shunting. The class became the standard British shunting locomotive during the Second World War, and production continued until 1964 at various locomotive manufacturers....
class J94LNER Class J94The London and North Eastern Railway J94 Class is a class of steam locomotive that was formed when 75 former "Austerity" 0-6-0STs were purchased by the LNER in 1946 from the War Department.- Overview :... - Kit No 27 - German DB Koln Munchen Coach
- Kit No 28 - BR Standard Mk1 Restaurant 1st Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 29 - French SNCF INOX aluminium coach
- Kit No 30 - BR 2-6-0 Standard Class 4BR standard class 4 2-6-0The BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for British Railways . 115 locomotives were built.- Design and construction :...
'Mogul' - Kit No 31 - Midland Blue Pullman power car
- Kit No 32 - Midland Blue Pullman kitchen car
- Kit No 33 - Midland Blue Pullman parlour car
- Kit No 34 - New York 'HudsonNYC HudsonHudson was the name given to the 4-6-4 steam locomotive wheel arrangement by the New York Central Railroad which was the first to use locomotives of this type in North America.-History:...
' 4-6-44-6-4Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification:...
steam locomotive
The TT gauge models were: -
- Kit No 16 - LMS 4-6-0LMS Royal Scot ClassThe London, Midland and Scottish Railway Royal Scot Class is a class of 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive introduced in 1927. Originally having parallel boilers, all members were later rebuilt with tapered type 2A boilers, and were in effect two classes.-Background:Until the mid-1920s, the LMS...
locomotive Royal ScotLMS Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal ScotLondon Midland and Scottish Railway Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal Scot is a preserved British steam locomotive.- History :... - Kit No 17 - BR Standard Mk1 Corridor Brake 2nd Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 18 - BR Standard Mk1 Corridor Composite Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 20 - BR Standard Mk1 Corridor 2nd Coach (in Maroon or Green)
- Kit No 21 - BR Standard Mk1 Restaurant 1st Coach (in Maroon or Green)