Rapido News 181 - Dual Modes, Boxcars and Deadlines

[jonklein611]

In this 181st issue...

See It. Say It. Sorted.

If you've been to England recently you've probably taken the train or the Tube, and you'll be familiar with this expression. Actually, you're probably too familiar with it as they play it All. The. Time. It means if you see something suspicious or someone doing something they shouldn't be doing, you should contact a member of staff as soon as possible so they can take care of it.

We'd like you to do the same with us. If you see anything wrong in our pre-production artworks or samples or 3D renders—whether it's the details, the painting or the lettering—please get in touch with us as soon as you see it so we can fix it. Sometimes we'll tell you "We designed it that way because of X, Y or Z" but often we'll say "Phew! Thanks—we didn't catch that!"

These models were completely finished. As the factory winds down for Chinese New Year we moved mountains to cut a new painting mask and spray the roofs green without delaying the shipment significantly. But had it been a more complicated rework, we may not have been able to do it. We simply can't afford to remake entire runs of models at such a late stage.

We make dozens of different models per year, and while we try to learn as much as we can about the models we are making, we can't be experts on everything, but we don't mind being corrected. If you see anything wrong in our preliminary designs, please get in touch with us. You can use our new form by clicking here, or you can email umactually (AT ) rapidotrains (DOT) com.

See it. Say it. Sorted.

Because we'd like to get your "Um, actually" email before we make the models rather than after production is finished!

Jason

• Heartland Hobby HO Scale GLa Hoppers
• February 15th, 2024 Order Deadlines
• March 15th, 2024 Order Deadlines
• RELAUNCH! HO Scale CN H-6-d/g Steam Locomotive
• New Announcements!
• HO Scale FL9 Locomotive - HEP and Steam Generator Variations
  
• HO Scale Pennsylvania G22 46' Steel Gondola
  
• 
  
• HO Scale PC&F 5241 "Berlin Mills" Boxcar
  
• 
  

• HO Scale PC&F SP B-70-69 Boxcar - At your retailer soon!
• HO Scale NSC Centerbeam - At your retailer soon!
• N Scale NSC Barrel Ore Hopper - Shipping February
• N Scale Wide Vision Caboose - Shipping February
• N Scale Turboliner - Shipping March
• N Scale Dash 8 Locomotives - Shipping March

[riogrande]

Nuttin for me in this announcement but the PC&F B-70 SP/SSW boxcars are hitting my wallet presently.

[Tom]

Jan 25, 2024 7:17:32 GMT -8 jonklein611 said:

In this 181st issue...

See It. Say It. Sorted.

If you've been to England recently you've probably taken the train or the Tube, and you'll be familiar with this expression. Actually, you're probably too familiar with it as they play it All. The. Time. It means if you see something suspicious or someone doing something they shouldn't be doing, you should contact a member of staff as soon as possible so they can take care of it.

We'd like you to do the same with us. If you see anything wrong in our pre-production artworks or samples or 3D renders—whether it's the details, the painting or the lettering—please get in touch with us as soon as you see it so we can fix it. Sometimes we'll tell you "We designed it that way because of X, Y or Z" but often we'll say "Phew! Thanks—we didn't catch that!"

These models were completely finished. As the factory winds down for Chinese New Year we moved mountains to cut a new painting mask and spray the roofs green without delaying the shipment significantly. But had it been a more complicated rework, we may not have been able to do it. We simply can't afford to remake entire runs of models at such a late stage.

We make dozens of different models per year, and while we try to learn as much as we can about the models we are making, we can't be experts on everything, but we don't mind being corrected. If you see anything wrong in our preliminary designs, please get in touch with us. You can use our new form by clicking here, or you can email umactually (AT ) rapidotrains (DOT) com.

See it. Say it. Sorted.

Because we'd like to get your "Um, actually" email before we make the models rather than after production is finished!

Unreal. 

Anyone want to share piles of past emails to "a company" or individual pointing items out, offering help, and being ignored?

[pjm20]

Between more GLas, X23s, R7s, H21s, Lot 747s, and now G22s I minds well forward a paycheck to Rapido.

[12bridge]

Jan 25, 2024 8:02:40 GMT -8 Tom said:

Jan 25, 2024 7:17:32 GMT -8 jonklein611 said:

In this 181st issue...

Unreal. 

Anyone want to share piles of past emails to "a company" or individual pointing items out, offering help, and being ignored?

*and only to be rebuked by company employees for mistakes being pointed out, or saying they will sell the product to somebody else who will like it anyway.  

[fishbelly]

I was going to post this to Rapido based on the 181st news letter suggestion to help them correct mistakes, but I cannot find it on their web site. SO I will just post it here. Most likely they would not take my suggestions anyway.


- GP38's have their brake cylinders rendered with the brakes set. Piston is out.
- GP38 brake cylinders look a bit weak too. That is because I now have brake cylinders that look like the real ones because they were designed from the actual 1:1 brake cylinder. I could send Rapido my 1:1 3D design. Or any other manufacturer for that matter.
- GP38 leaf spring hangers appear to be very vertical. There should be an angle to it.
- GP38 diamond tread plate pattern is suspect. It could be wrong. I know oil bath units had cross pattern and not diamond. Not sure about paper air filter units. GP40's also had cross pattern. Maybe not all though.
- GP38 Cab interior looks green. Should be suede gray.
- GP38 buffer plate looks about as bad as any other manufacturer. There are some hurdles manufacturers just cannot get over and this is one of them.

The lack of a mold parting line around the top edge of the nose makes the nose look great. It is both funny and sad how the manufacturers go to great lengths to take close up photos of their models which puts emphasis on the less than stellar assembly and paint. They want us to buy these models. Maybe find someone who can assemble them properly to make them look good.

I would say the trucks are not so great and the paint on the PC unit appears to be a little thick and have a bit of a ripple to it. Other than that not a bad looking model. Since I already have Atlas models though. I will stay building them. My wallet is safe!

Also, look here and scroll down to where Rapido is showing all their B&O GP38 hoods. Read below. myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-179---Above-and-Below-Ground-Announcements-Plus-Major-Order-Deadlines.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=TWysLX7sOvE
It is great to have fine radiator fan grills that allow you to see into the fans. But it also allows you to see the glaring mistake. Radiator fans have a few to many blades. Rapido is using DB fans for radiator fans as well. Same thing Kato did. I think there are supposed to be 8 blades for the rad fans. Not 10. DB fans have 10 blades.

Brian

[locochris]

Jan 25, 2024 9:46:51 GMT -8 fishbelly said:

I was going to post this to Rapido based on the 181st news letter suggestion to help them correct mistakes, but I cannot find it on their web site. SO I will just post it here. Most likely they would not take my suggestions anyway.


- GP38's have their brake cylinders rendered with the brakes set. Piston is out.
- GP38 brake cylinders look a bit weak too. That is because I now have brake cylinders that look like the real ones because they were designed from the actual 1:1 brake cylinder. I could send Rapido my 1:1 3D design. Or any other manufacturer for that matter.
- GP38 leaf spring hangers appear to be very vertical. There should be an angle to it.
- GP38 diamond tread plate pattern is suspect. It could be wrong. I know oil bath units had cross pattern and not diamond. Not sure about paper air filter units. GP40's also had cross pattern. Maybe not all though.
- GP38 Cab interior looks green. Should be suede gray.
- GP38 buffer plate looks about as bad as any other manufacturer. There are some hurdles manufacturers just cannot get over and this is one of them.

The lack of a mold parting line around the top edge of the nose makes the nose look great. It is both funny and sad how the manufacturers go to great lengths to take close up photos of their models which puts emphasis on the less than stellar assembly and paint. They want us to buy these models. Maybe find someone who can assemble them properly to make them look good.

I would say the trucks are not so great and the paint on the PC unit appears to be a little thick and have a bit of a ripple to it. Other than that not a bad looking model. Since I already have Atlas models though. I will stay building them. My wallet is safe!

Also, look here and scroll down to where Rapido is showing all their B&O GP38 hoods. Read below. myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-179---Above-and-Below-Ground-Announcements-Plus-Major-Order-Deadlines.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=TWysLX7sOvE
It is great to have fine radiator fan grills that allow you to see into the fans. But it also allows you to see the glaring mistake. Radiator fans have a few to many blades. Rapido is using DB fans for radiator fans as well. Same thing Kato did. I think there are supposed to be 8 blades for the rad fans. Not 10. DB fans have 10 blades.

Brian

GP38 is already in production, so they might not care.  But I would send the email to [e-mail] anyway.

[riogrande]

Jan 25, 2024 10:39:55 GMT -8 locochris said:

I would send the email to [e-mail] anyway.

[markfj]

Well, my unbuilt Funaro & Camerlengo PRR G22 gondola kit is getting scavenged for usable parts and the rest thrown in the trash. I was always reluctant to start the kit because the resin one-piece body needed so much work. Just as an example, the flat plates that frame the opening of the top of the gondola are practically nonexistent. I’m sure the Rapido model will be much better compared to what I’ll end up with building the kit even after I spend the extra time fixing the problems.

[gevohogger]

Jan 25, 2024 9:46:51 GMT -8 fishbelly said:

- GP38's have their brake cylinders rendered with the brakes set. Piston is out.

That's for the Jim Sixes of the world who put a dab of silver paint there on the piston.  Then highball around the layout all day with the brakes fully applied.... 

[12bridge]

Jan 25, 2024 11:58:03 GMT -8 gevohogger said:

Jan 25, 2024 9:46:51 GMT -8 fishbelly said:

- GP38's have their brake cylinders rendered with the brakes set. Piston is out.

That's for the Jim Sixes of the world who put a dab of silver paint there on the piston.  Then highball around the layout all day with the brakes fully applied.... 

In similar, I was recently told by an EMD employee the original Atlas Blomberg truck is wrong because they tooled it with the spring packs unloaded (not under a locomotive), thus they are higher up.  

[crblue]

The problem is I don't need $50 gondolas, but I want them.

Maybe I'll pick up two of the container ones.

[cemr5396]

Jan 25, 2024 9:04:45 GMT -8 12bridge said:

Jan 25, 2024 8:02:40 GMT -8 Tom said:

Unreal. 

Anyone want to share piles of past emails to "a company" or individual pointing items out, offering help, and being ignored?

*and only to be rebuked by company employees for mistakes being pointed out, or saying they will sell the product to somebody else who will like it anyway.  

seeing that paragraph in the newsletter was mildly amusing, seeing it posted here directly above a picture of the second run E units still with the horrific headlight was downright hilarious.

How anyone takes these clowns seriously is beyond me.

Edit: actually, the more I think about it the more certain I become that this is yet another passive agressive swipe at the prototype modeling community. There is absolutely no way that " [e-mail] " is a legitimate email that they intend to read in good faith.

For the people here who still want to give Rapido your hard earned money: ......... why?

[stevef45]

Whats the msrp of the rapido boxcars in this announcement?

[Baikal]

Jan 25, 2024 12:14:32 GMT -8 12bridge said:

Jan 25, 2024 11:58:03 GMT -8 gevohogger said:

That's for the Jim Sixes of the world who put a dab of silver paint there on the piston.  Then highball around the layout all day with the brakes fully applied.... 

In similar, I was recently told by an EMD employee the original Atlas Blomberg truck is wrong because they tooled it with the spring packs unloaded (not under a locomotive), thus they are higher up.  

When I was working nights in the yard tower I wondered about spring compression on locomotives due to fuel weight. Twice, GP40-2s parked just outside the yard office were low on fuel and would be refueled via tank truck soon. This was common as the loco facility had no fuel storage tanks. Using a steel tape I measured railhead-to-bottom of fuel tank before & after fueling.  Times there was no spring compression after 3,000+- gal of fuel were added. I was surprised, I thought there would be some.  The locos didn't move between between measurements, tape accurate to at least 1/16", etc.

[Mr. Trainiac]

Jan 25, 2024 14:50:50 GMT -8 Baikal said:

Jan 25, 2024 12:14:32 GMT -8 12bridge said:

In similar, I was recently told by an EMD employee the original Atlas Blomberg truck is wrong because they tooled it with the spring packs unloaded (not under a locomotive), thus they are higher up.  

When I was working nights in the yard tower I wondered about spring compression on locomotives due to fuel weight. Twice, GP40-2s parked just outside the yard office were low on fuel and would be refueled via tank truck soon. This was common as the loco facility had no fuel storage tanks. Using a steel tape I measured railhead-to-bottom of fuel tank before & after fueling.  Times there was no spring compression after 3,000+- gal of fuel were added. I was surprised, I thought there would be some.  The locos didn't move between between measurements, tape accurate to at least 1/16", etc.

A GP40 weighs about 250,000 pounds dry. 3K gallons of fuel is about 21,000 pounds. That increases the weight of the locomotive by about 8%.

I'm not sure how much the leaf spring compresses, but you can see the difference between a loaded and unloaded Blomberg truck in the secondary suspension above the journals.

Here's a truck on a flatcar: www.flickr.com/photos/emd111/16406267321
Here's one under a locomotive: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blomberg_B#/media/File:Blomberg.B.jpg

You can see the coil springs on the light truck, but they are hidden on the loaded one. There is at least 5 or 6 inches of compression once the locomotive is on top, so you should have seen around 0.5" of compression from fuel.

[NS4122]

I like the Conrail E8, but the position of the horn and bracket looks to be too low. It just doesn't look right.

[wagnersteve]

1/25/2024, shortly before 8 p.m., EST

steve45, the "catalog" for the newly announced PC&F-built boxcars reached by a link from Rapido Newsletter # 131 states these MSRPS: in US$: 54.95 per single car, 164.85 per 3-pack, 329.70 per sick pack; in Canadian dollars, 64.95, 194.85 , 389.70. All paint jobs are available as singles, some as 3-packs, some as 6-packs, and one, I think, in both multi-packs.

[edwardsutorik]

The PRR G22 gons are interesting. I thought that Walthers had already done them, but the Walthers appear to be class G25, which were a USRA design. They are remarkably similar. So far, all I've picked out is the shape of the vertical stakes (ribs) is different. So I expect I'll be picking up some. As usual, I won't be buying more than one of each version, as I'm not a Pennsy modeler, and don't need six.

Rapido is listing a version of the G22 with a K brake and in shadow keystone. Sort of a problem, I think, because K brakes were disallowed in interchange at the end of 1953, but the shadow keystone was introduced the next year.

But it's only Pennsy, so nobody will care.

The containers would have been useful, but it appears Rapido is doing the thing as one big casting for 12 containers. In prototype photos, there's a gap down the car between the two rows, and it's not showing up in their drawing. In addition, there's frequently a gap between them, front to back. Perhaps the appearance of an all-in-one casting is just an artifact of the drawing. I think it would be quite unwise to do them this way.

The Berlin Mills cars are sucking me in, however.



Ed

[cpr4200]

Jan 25, 2024 12:14:32 GMT -8 12bridge said:

Jan 25, 2024 11:58:03 GMT -8 gevohogger said:

That's for the Jim Sixes of the world who put a dab of silver paint there on the piston.  Then highball around the layout all day with the brakes fully applied.... 

In similar, I was recently told by an EMD employee the original Atlas Blomberg truck is wrong because they tooled it with the spring packs unloaded (not under a locomotive), thus they are higher up.  

IMO the current Bowser AAR-B truck also appears to be "unloaded."

[lvrr325]

"umactually" refers to one of the soyjak memes that's been going around for some time. Usually a line drawing of a guy in a fedora with a scrubby beard and under it says "um actually" (spelled incorrectly). So I am sure it's a fake email.

[locochris]

Jan 25, 2024 18:02:47 GMT -8 lvrr325 said:

"umactually" refers to one of the soyjak memes that's been going around for some time. Usually a line drawing of a guy in a fedora with a scrubby beard and under it says "um actually" (spelled incorrectly). So I am sure it's a fake email.

Um actually, it's not a fake email address.  I tested it.

[Baikal]

Jan 25, 2024 16:56:06 GMT -8 Mr. Trainiac said:

Jan 25, 2024 14:50:50 GMT -8 Baikal said:

When I was working nights in the yard tower I wondered about spring compression on locomotives due to fuel weight. Twice, GP40-2s parked just outside the yard office were low on fuel and would be refueled via tank truck soon. This was common as the loco facility had no fuel storage tanks. Using a steel tape I measured railhead-to-bottom of fuel tank before & after fueling.  Times there was no spring compression after 3,000+- gal of fuel were added. I was surprised, I thought there would be some.  The locos didn't move between between measurements, tape accurate to at least 1/16", etc.

A GP40 weighs about 250,000 pounds dry. 3K gallons of fuel is about 21,000 pounds. That increases the weight of the locomotive by about 8%.

I'm not sure how much the leaf spring compresses, but you can see the difference between a loaded and unloaded Blomberg truck in the secondary suspension above the journals.

Here's a truck on a flatcar: www.flickr.com/photos/emd111/16406267321
Here's one under a locomotive: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blomberg_B#/media/File:Blomberg.B.jpg

You can see the coil springs on the light truck, but they are hidden on the loaded one. There is at least 5 or 6 inches of compression once the locomotive is on top, so you should have seen around 0.5" of compression from fuel.

I'm am sure how much the leaf spring compresses with an added 3,000 gallons of fuel.  None.

I 'm sure because I measured.  Not from a distance, direct measurement accurate within 1/16".  I'm providing empirical evidence that a full tank of fuel didn't depress the springs / lower either of the two GP40-2s.  I thought the fuel would make the units ride lower, a bit.  But it didn't, so I have to go with what is real & measureable.

What "should be" is overridden by empirical evidence.  For instance when you measure something, that measurement overrides dimensions on drawings no matter how "official" the drawings might be.

[edwardsutorik]

Of course, if the springs were bottomed out, then the added weight would not cause them to compress more.

Just a thought.


Ed

[Baikal]

Jan 25, 2024 20:20:25 GMT -8 edwardsutorik said:

Of course, if the springs were bottomed out, then the added weight would not cause them to compress more.

Just a thought.


Ed

The GP40-2 springs (that didn't compress with 3,000 gal of fuel) were working just as they should be.  The units were FRA inspected, nothing wrong with them.  Modelers have a hard time understanding this, for some reason insisting that increased weight must result in spring compression under every circumstance.

I've also wrote here before about being unable to consistantly tell if 100 ton grain hoppers were loaded or empty by looking at the springs.  Not just me but other switchmen informally tested this more than once- walked around 1,000s of them. Sometimes you could tell if loaded/empty, sometimes not.  Inconsistant = not a relaible way to tell if a car is loaded.  Banging on the hopper side worked better.  Looking at the switchlist worked best.

[hudsonyard]

Jan 25, 2024 11:58:03 GMT -8 gevohogger said:

Jan 25, 2024 9:46:51 GMT -8 fishbelly said:

- GP38's have their brake cylinders rendered with the brakes set. Piston is out.

That's for the Jim Sixes of the world who put a dab of silver paint there on the piston.  Then highball around the layout all day with the brakes fully applied.... 

Never need to program it, just drag it around! I've seen plenty of club members do just that anyway.

[cemr5396]

Jan 25, 2024 21:15:26 GMT -8 Baikal said:

Jan 25, 2024 20:20:25 GMT -8 edwardsutorik said:

Of course, if the springs were bottomed out, then the added weight would not cause them to compress more.

Just a thought.


Ed

The GP40-2 springs (that didn't compress with 3,000 gal of fuel) were working just as they should be.  The units were FRA inspected, nothing wrong with them.  Modelers have a hard time understanding this, for some reason insisting that increased weight must result in spring compression under every circumstance.

I've also wrote here before about being unable to consistantly tell if 100 ton grain hoppers were loaded or empty by looking at the springs.  Not just me but other switchmen informally tested this more than once- walked around 1,000s of them. Sometimes you could tell if loaded/empty, sometimes not.  Inconsistant = not a relaible way to tell if a car is loaded.  Banging on the hopper side worked better.  Looking at the switchlist worked best.

I disagree, I've never found covered hoppers hard to tell load or empty just from looking at the springs. Empty cars consistently ride 3-4 inches higher than loaded ones. A loaded car is often very close to bottomed out on the springs, an empty is almost right to the top. When you look at the couplers of a load and empty next to each other, they look like a mismatch on a Kadee height gauge in HO. Tank cars I find much trickier, because they are significantly heavier than other types of cars when empty, there is less of a ride height difference between a load and an empty. Boxcars too, because they are often cubed out before grossing out.

It's possible that the spings on the Geep 40 in your example are stiff enough that the weight of the fuel does not produce enough deflection to cause a measurable distance. I've gotten the impression from years spent trackside that an average loco rides basically like a brick on a skateboard, so even the weight of the locomotive is not enough to cause significant enough deflection to absorb impacts from bumps in the track or what have you.

[lvrr325]

With freight cars you can tell by the noise when they cross a diamond or frog or what have you. Empties are usually louder.

[craigz]

Jan 25, 2024 14:44:13 GMT -8 cemr5396 said:

Jan 25, 2024 9:04:45 GMT -8 12bridge said:

*and only to be rebuked by company employees for mistakes being pointed out, or saying they will sell the product to somebody else who will like it anyway.  

seeing that paragraph in the newsletter was mildly amusing, seeing it posted here directly above a picture of the second run E units still with the horrific headlight was downright hilarious.

How anyone takes these clowns seriously is beyond me.

Edit: actually, the more I think about it the more certain I become that this is yet another passive agressive swipe at the prototype modeling community. There is absolutely no way that " [e-mail] " is a legitimate email that they intend to read in good faith.

For the people here who still want to give Rapido your hard earned money: ......... why?

No, it's a real email address. And I don't think it's passive aggressive at all. I think it's a full on move to shift responsibility for errors from themselves to those who have the chutzpah to point out mistakes, ie, complain. Somebody there is tired of catching the heat for screw ups after promising wonderfulness.

But at least we can go to autograph signing sessions at Trainworld, right?

As for buying their stuff - only after it's on the street and seen by myself or somebody whose opinions I trust. Because I don't trust Rapido to consistently deliver.

[lars]

Jan 26, 2024 12:19:15 GMT -8 craigz said:

Jan 25, 2024 14:44:13 GMT -8 cemr5396 said:

seeing that paragraph in the newsletter was mildly amusing, seeing it posted here directly above a picture of the second run E units still with the horrific headlight was downright hilarious.

How anyone takes these clowns seriously is beyond me.

Edit: actually, the more I think about it the more certain I become that this is yet another passive agressive swipe at the prototype modeling community. There is absolutely no way that " [e-mail] " is a legitimate email that they intend to read in good faith.

For the people here who still want to give Rapido your hard earned money: ......... why?

No, it's a real email address. And I don't think it's passive aggressive at all. I think it's a full on move to shift responsibility for errors from themselves to those who have the chutzpah to point out mistakes, ie, complain. Somebody there is tired of catching the heat for screw ups after promising wonderfulness.

But at least we can go to autograph signing sessions at Trainworld, right?

As for buying their stuff - only after it's on the street and seen by myself or somebody whose opinions I trust. Because I don't trust Rapido to consistently deliver.

I'm learning to take their products as seriously as they do.  If they hit the discounters, I'll bite knowing that there may be some issues.  If they're not at a good discount, I'll mostly likely pass.