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Topic starter
05/11/2011 3:00 pm
1928 Opel-Sander RAK.3 by Spark [PIC]
Something a bit off the beaten track. This rail car stayed on the tracks with only ten rockets in its tail. When outfitted with 24 on its second run, it strayed off the beaten track and thus ended the RAK.3.
This is the Spark model set in a very nice diorama base.
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05/11/2011 6:07 pm
Interesting, but I'm confused about the numbering. This looks like the Rak. 4 of 1928.
05/11/2011 6:22 pm
I am confused too - I have two Opel RAKs...
Sorry for the bad joke, but these are M?rklin Opel Manta RAKs!!!
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The green is the original while the silver is a re-issue from '93.
Topic starter
05/11/2011 10:07 pm
If you're not being facetious.....
the RAK.4 succeeded the destroyed RAK.3 for the third run in the series. It was destroyed on ignition when one of the solid fuel rockets blew up. Railway authorities forbade further tests. It appears that it was identical in shape save for the number of rockets stuffed in the rear.
06/11/2011 1:50 am
Thanks, Richard. The Opel labeling system confused me, perhaps because
I was also reading of the flying apparatus at the same time.
Topic starter
06/11/2011 3:12 am
Between the aircraft, the road cars and rail cars....
I understand your confusion. In one article a passage read "the RAK.1 (also named the RAK.3).....". Research material as to performance, number of rockets employed, etc, differed wildly so I avoided any info that wasn't confirmed by multiple sources or file photos.
06/11/2011 4:22 am
Is that the e-brake on the front, or a pair of machine guns (a la James Bond)?
Topic starter
06/11/2011 5:15 am
You could be right.....
It could be housing for two retro rockets although it is unclear if this rail car was ever manned. It is recorded that the second run ended in a crash and the successor in an explosion, but there was no mention of casualties. If unmanned, I don't know how those rockets would be ignited.
They don't look like speed indicators like pitot tubes but there had to be some onboard instrumentation to record the speed upon burnout as the run was pure acceleration.
06/11/2011 7:38 am
Looks like the bloke in the white coat forgot to put his trousers on.
06/11/2011 10:54 am
You are right here David - trousers were for the working class ......
scientists (as a social elite) would have definitely worn breeches!
Cheers Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
06/11/2011 12:31 pm
06/11/2011 2:08 pm
My father used the term "trousers" but I've never heard of "breeches"
06/11/2011 6:13 pm
In the South, that's "britches." Sorry about that.
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