Post by jonklein611 on Jan 13, 2023 13:41:57 GMT -8
Product Updates from Jason
January Order Deadlines - January 16th, 2023
The latest run, showing the discolouration across the roof.
This is one of my own Manor Sleepers from The Canadian set in 2012. As you can see, the slight discolouration has been there all along, just not nearly as bad as on some of the cars we're seeing now. There is no way for us to remove it completely.
- HO Scale Budd Manor and Baggage Dorm Cars
- HO Scale Union Pacific E8 Locomotive
- HO Scale Dash 8 Update
January Order Deadlines - January 16th, 2023
- HO Scale BART Trains - Early-Bird Discount!
- HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcar
- HO Scale Canadian 26' Can-Car and 45' Trailmobile Trailers
The latest run, showing the discolouration across the roof.
This is one of my own Manor Sleepers from The Canadian set in 2012. As you can see, the slight discolouration has been there all along, just not nearly as bad as on some of the cars we're seeing now. There is no way for us to remove it completely.
Dear Rapido Customer,
Jason here. I’ve asked Bobby if I could have the first part of this special newsletter so I can provide an update on a few projects. [...] Since the release of the HO Scale Manor Sleeper late in 2022, a number of our customers have justifiably raised concerns about discolouration on the roofs of some cars. While this issue is not prevalent on all cars, there are a large enough number that exhibit this issue to varying degrees. This discolouration occurs where the molten plastic flowing from either end of the car shell intersects.
When the original models were produced for our Canadian sets back in 2012, the base models were injected using opaque black plastic. When the models were then painted with our stainless steel finish, this discolouration was barely noticeable. All runs of stainless steel cars since then have been produced in black plastic with a similarly negligible discolouration.
Fast forward to 2022 and these newer models were not made using the same black plastic as the originals. The factory making these cars informed us that the black plastic they are receiving now from their suppliers has a high recycled content and cannot flow properly, especially in the fine roof fluting, so they used grey plastic instead.
The lighter plastic is allowing the discolouration to show through the stainless steel paint much more than before. It's still the exact same tooling, but it's amazing how such little details can be highlighted with a different base colour.
We've already begun discussions with the factory on how to correct this issue and they have performed a few comparison tests using different base colours. The factory is closed now for Chinese New Year but we’ll continue working with them when they reopen next month.
If your model has a significant roof discolouration and you would like a replacement shell, please contact us by March 31st and we will add you to the list for new shells, which the factory has offered to produce for us. Unfortunately they can't just stop all current production so the new shells will take a few months to arrive.
To be added to the list, you can simply reply to this email but change the subject to "Replacement Manor Shells." Please include a photo of the affected cars as well as your full contact info. Please note that we will need the old shells back when the new ones arrive and we will send you a prepaid mailing label.
If the discolouration on your model is very faint, it is likely that our replacement shells will be no better. If you look at all our stainless steel cars delivered from 2012 to 2021, you will see a similar slight discolouration as it is part of the manufacturing process. Unfortunately there is no way for us to remove it entirely. Our replacement shells will match the quality of our previous runs of stainless steel cars, like the photo above of one of my 2012-era Manor sleepers.
This project seems to be a bit cursed. In addition to the discolouration on the roofs, and the fact that production took a year longer than it should have, the CP Action Red “Manor” names were shifted on our artwork. This means that the arrangement of the car names did not match the order which was advertised. Our warehouse was so jammed with shipments in the fall that we did not do a thorough enough check of the models before they left. Had we done so, we could have just printed new labels and solved the issue in one day. We’re expanding our warehouse space soon and we've already changed some of our practices at Rapido HQ to prevent this sort of mistake happening in the future.
If you did not receive the CP Action Red Manor sleeper you requested and you specifically wanted that particular car, please reply to this email and change the subject to "CP Action Red Manor Mix-Up." We'll do our best to get you the correctly named car.
I am very sorry for both of these issues. I doubt we could have found the first issue as we spot checked several dozen models and none of them had it. The second issue was just carelessness on our part and we’ll work hard to ensure that mistakes like that don’t happen again.
Jason here. I’ve asked Bobby if I could have the first part of this special newsletter so I can provide an update on a few projects. [...] Since the release of the HO Scale Manor Sleeper late in 2022, a number of our customers have justifiably raised concerns about discolouration on the roofs of some cars. While this issue is not prevalent on all cars, there are a large enough number that exhibit this issue to varying degrees. This discolouration occurs where the molten plastic flowing from either end of the car shell intersects.
When the original models were produced for our Canadian sets back in 2012, the base models were injected using opaque black plastic. When the models were then painted with our stainless steel finish, this discolouration was barely noticeable. All runs of stainless steel cars since then have been produced in black plastic with a similarly negligible discolouration.
Fast forward to 2022 and these newer models were not made using the same black plastic as the originals. The factory making these cars informed us that the black plastic they are receiving now from their suppliers has a high recycled content and cannot flow properly, especially in the fine roof fluting, so they used grey plastic instead.
The lighter plastic is allowing the discolouration to show through the stainless steel paint much more than before. It's still the exact same tooling, but it's amazing how such little details can be highlighted with a different base colour.
We've already begun discussions with the factory on how to correct this issue and they have performed a few comparison tests using different base colours. The factory is closed now for Chinese New Year but we’ll continue working with them when they reopen next month.
If your model has a significant roof discolouration and you would like a replacement shell, please contact us by March 31st and we will add you to the list for new shells, which the factory has offered to produce for us. Unfortunately they can't just stop all current production so the new shells will take a few months to arrive.
To be added to the list, you can simply reply to this email but change the subject to "Replacement Manor Shells." Please include a photo of the affected cars as well as your full contact info. Please note that we will need the old shells back when the new ones arrive and we will send you a prepaid mailing label.
If the discolouration on your model is very faint, it is likely that our replacement shells will be no better. If you look at all our stainless steel cars delivered from 2012 to 2021, you will see a similar slight discolouration as it is part of the manufacturing process. Unfortunately there is no way for us to remove it entirely. Our replacement shells will match the quality of our previous runs of stainless steel cars, like the photo above of one of my 2012-era Manor sleepers.
This project seems to be a bit cursed. In addition to the discolouration on the roofs, and the fact that production took a year longer than it should have, the CP Action Red “Manor” names were shifted on our artwork. This means that the arrangement of the car names did not match the order which was advertised. Our warehouse was so jammed with shipments in the fall that we did not do a thorough enough check of the models before they left. Had we done so, we could have just printed new labels and solved the issue in one day. We’re expanding our warehouse space soon and we've already changed some of our practices at Rapido HQ to prevent this sort of mistake happening in the future.
If you did not receive the CP Action Red Manor sleeper you requested and you specifically wanted that particular car, please reply to this email and change the subject to "CP Action Red Manor Mix-Up." We'll do our best to get you the correctly named car.
I am very sorry for both of these issues. I doubt we could have found the first issue as we spot checked several dozen models and none of them had it. The second issue was just carelessness on our part and we’ll work hard to ensure that mistakes like that don’t happen again.
Delivering so many different prototypes lately, we were bound to screw up a detail or two. It was recently brought to our attention that our HO Scale UP E-units should have a single steam generator, rather than the double steam generator visible in the rear hatch of the photo above. Due to an artwork error which was not caught, our units were fitted with a dual steam generator hatch.
We have made replacement hatches which are available to anybody who owns a Rapido UP E8A. Installation is simple! They just clip in, and full instructions will be included with the hatches.
If you would like replacement hatch(es) simply reply to this email but change the subject to "UP Hatch." Please provide your mailing address, daytime phone and proof of purchase (copy of receipt or photo of model).
Please be assured that we are working hard to improve our processes from design to delivery. Now that we are once again allowed to visit our factories in China, we will be able to keep a closer eye on production.
We have made replacement hatches which are available to anybody who owns a Rapido UP E8A. Installation is simple! They just clip in, and full instructions will be included with the hatches.
If you would like replacement hatch(es) simply reply to this email but change the subject to "UP Hatch." Please provide your mailing address, daytime phone and proof of purchase (copy of receipt or photo of model).
Please be assured that we are working hard to improve our processes from design to delivery. Now that we are once again allowed to visit our factories in China, we will be able to keep a closer eye on production.
