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Post by sd80mac on Mar 2, 2018 7:52:32 GMT -8
Finally! Man, between the Scaletrains C39-8 and SD40-2, and now Rapido's B36-7, it is a GREAT time to be a Conrail modeler! I would love to see this followed up with a B23-7 and B30-7, maybe some 6 axle versions too? The Dash 7 line has been neglected for too long!
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Post by middledivision on Mar 2, 2018 7:56:10 GMT -8
Thanks for giving the option of ditch lights on the CR model.
I'm in for a pair to go with my B40's.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2018 7:57:26 GMT -8
It is quite possible Rapido can produce this sort of model because they have their own factory in China and do their own in house design and cad work. it is also quite possible Rapido has a base of knowledgeable people that they can draw from to get the correct information. you do not produce a model like this without having the right information and people who are passionate about what they are doing. This type of thinking is not the norm in the realm of our hobby. This crosses over to the static model world.
I do not know about Athearn or ST. I do not know if they have their own dedicated factory or design team.
And as written in the original post, there are still details that are being addressed. I am praying one of those details is the casting marks on the truck frames.
I am also curious if this model will sport tread plate or possibly a tread plate overlay? If not. Looks like a candidate for custom tread plate. i like laying down my own tread plate because you can make it look rough like the prototype with hard edges.
Besides the tread plate. I see two things I would change. I would replace the cab door handles with Precision Scale door handles and I would relocate the coupler further in and replace it with a Sergent. I also like the fact that Rapido will offer undecorated models.
Brian
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Post by edwardsutorik on Mar 2, 2018 8:27:20 GMT -8
...how far behind could a B30-7A1B in Burlington Northern be?  About a minute, if I had my way. Ed |
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djh4d
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Post by djh4d on Mar 2, 2018 8:28:44 GMT -8
There goes my savings. I'm going to have to get some CSX with the ditch lights.
-Dave
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Post by cp6027 on Mar 2, 2018 8:44:12 GMT -8
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Post by catcliffedemon on Mar 2, 2018 9:03:36 GMT -8
This engine shares the same truck centers with B30-7A and late phase B23-7 units (36’ 8”). This may be problematic for those of us hoping for a B30-7A1 or B30-7A1B at some point, since those had 37'-10" truck centers. Unless the frame -- which appears to have some plastic components and may be modular in nature -- is designed to accommodate the two other dimensions GE used for truck centers. Are you sure about this? Our understanding is that all GE Dash 7s built after the fall of 1980 have the same frame length and truck centers. I wouldn't trust mechanical department drawings as we've found so many basic dimensional errors in these. The BN B-units and Southern B30-7A1 locomotives were both delivered in 1982. Regards, Rapido Gareth |
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 2, 2018 9:14:12 GMT -8
This may be problematic for those of us hoping for a B30-7A1 or B30-7A1B at some point, since those had 37'-10" truck centers. Unless the frame -- which appears to have some plastic components and may be modular in nature -- is designed to accommodate the two other dimensions GE used for truck centers. Are you sure about this? Our understanding is that all GE Dash 7s built after the fall of 1980 have the same frame length and truck centers. I wouldn't trust mechanical department drawings as we've found so many basic dimensional errors in these. The BN B-units and Southern B30-7A1 locomotives were both delivered in 1982. Regards, Rapido Gareth No, I haven't measured these locomotives if that's what you mean. But that truck centers dimension appeared on Southern B30-7A1 drawings. The only way to know for sure would be to measure an example of either a Southern or a BN unit. I assure you I've tried to find them nearby to do exactly that. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2018 9:47:43 GMT -8
Until today, I had not heard of the 37' 10" truck centers. I had the dimensions as 36' 2"; 37' 2"; and 36' 8"...However, looking at some BN photos of the cabless boosters indicates the rear truck may be kicked out a bit further, based on the jacking pad location in relation to the stanchion placement on the sill or walkway. I am not a BN expert, either...to qualify that. trainiax.net/mephase-geb-7.php |
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Post by catcliffedemon on Mar 2, 2018 10:14:06 GMT -8
No, I haven't measured these locomotives if that's what you mean. But that truck centers dimension appeared on Southern B30-7A1 drawings. The only way to know for sure would be to measure an example of either a Southern or a BN unit. I assure you I've tried to find them nearby to do exactly that. Our friends at the Minnesota Commercial will be able to assist here, they have examples of both! Thanks for the heads up to this potential change in truck centers. -Rapido Gareth |
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 2, 2018 10:16:26 GMT -8
Here's the diagram that's the source of the 37'-10" measurement. Apologies for the low resolution, but this is what was posted on the Southern Yahoo group:  |
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 2, 2018 10:17:49 GMT -8
No, I haven't measured these locomotives if that's what you mean. But that truck centers dimension appeared on Southern B30-7A1 drawings. The only way to know for sure would be to measure an example of either a Southern or a BN unit. I assure you I've tried to find them nearby to do exactly that. Our friends at the Minnesota Commercial will be able to assist here, they have examples of both! Thanks for the heads up to this potential change in truck centers. -Rapido Gareth Glad to help, my friend! I'm both a Southern modeler and a BN modeler, so this one's a double whammy for me. I'd love to see it done right. |
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Post by oakway on Mar 2, 2018 13:05:45 GMT -8
Gareth, Burlington Northern B-units.
If you build it, they will come. Can't model BN intermodal without LMX's, GP50's, and of course, Rapido B30-7AB's.
Those photos of your B36-7 are priceless. Tell Jason you want a raise.
John
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Post by rapidotrains on Mar 2, 2018 13:20:34 GMT -8
Gareth, Burlington Northern B-units. If you build it, they will come. Can't model BN intermodal without LMX's, GP50's, and of course, Rapido B30-7AB's. Those photos of your B36-7 are priceless. Tell Jason you want a raise. John He's already getting ten bucks a week. That's gotta be enough. -Jason |
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Post by theengineshed on Mar 2, 2018 13:26:25 GMT -8
Those pre-production photos are very nice! I'm especially impressed by the thin front cab wall, well done! I shot ATSF 7488 back in the day, those sound baffles were really neat...  ATSF 7488 Farwell TX Jan 1983 by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr |
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Post by oakway on Mar 2, 2018 13:32:10 GMT -8
Hey Gareth, just tell Jason this. Everyone loves my Tote Boat's.
10 buck's a week? Give that man a raise. He's gunna make you some coin on this project.
John
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Post by bdhicks on Mar 2, 2018 13:35:05 GMT -8
Ooooh, a Minnesota Commercial unit. Is that one just for me?
Although I suppose if it was that wouldn't be enough to guarantee production.
Little nervous about that artwork, though. In all the pictures I can find it only has the herald on one side of the cab, and the artwork shows the side that shouldn't have the herald.
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Post by roadkill on Mar 2, 2018 13:36:13 GMT -8
It's models like this that make me happy I don't model past 3/31/76... Between these and the ST C39-8's I'd go broke  . |
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Post by lvrr325 on Mar 2, 2018 13:50:00 GMT -8
Thank goodness it's this and not a B23, I rode so many of those I'd have to buy one.
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Post by oakway on Mar 2, 2018 14:11:28 GMT -8
Lvrr, I hope those B23's you were on had the AAR trucks. If not, I feel your backpain right now. Any of them with the FB trucks above 50mph beat the living crap out of a crew. LMX units included. After 232 miles to Chicago on a Ex Santa Fe B23-7, you could taste your spleen.
John
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Post by bdhicks on Mar 2, 2018 14:58:58 GMT -8
So, if Rapido's been hanging out around the Minnesota Commercial shops taking measurements, does that mean we'll soon be getting models of the B23-7, B30-7, B30-7AB, C30-7, M420, S13, RS18u, RS23, SF30C and SF30B?
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Mar 2, 2018 15:27:54 GMT -8
I didn't see the mention of the BQ23-7......
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Post by catcliffedemon on Mar 2, 2018 15:48:18 GMT -8
nervous about that artwork, though. In all the pictures I can find it only has the herald on one side of the cab, and the artwork shows the side that shouldn't have the herald. My fault! The heralds were in pretty bad shape when I visited The MNNR, I thought that they’d fallen off on one side. The artwork is only preliminary so if we find that it only had the herald on one side then that’s how we’ll make the model. -Rapido Gareth |
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Mar 2, 2018 15:53:10 GMT -8
Is this website by Michael Eby the best phase information for the B-boat series of locomotives? trainiax.net/mephase-geb-7.phpIf you look under the "Drawing" tab and select "Undecorated - By Type" and then select the locomotive you can see which phase for each road name/series. |
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Post by lvrr325 on Mar 2, 2018 15:59:28 GMT -8
Lvrr, I hope those B23's you were on had the AAR trucks. If not, I feel your backpain right now. Any of them with the FB trucks above 50mph beat the living crap out of a crew. LMX units included. After 232 miles to Chicago on a Ex Santa Fe B23-7, you could taste your spleen. John Conrail units on locals around here. Got some rare mileage on a couple occasions. They did at one point try replacing pairs of B23s with a single B36, but it didn't work well, they were too slippery trying to do local work. At least the crews I talked to didn't like them. |
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Post by Brakie on Mar 2, 2018 15:59:57 GMT -8
What a beautiful state of the art locomotive..
All to sadly I can't use such a beauty.
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Post by csx3305 on Mar 2, 2018 16:36:27 GMT -8
RE: NS/SOU B30-7A....The 37'-10" dimension is correct. Bank on it. There's an extra fourteen inches of hood length in there too, you can see this where the long hood end radius falls in relation to the stepwell walls/gussets. Compare to other Dash 7's of the same vintage and it will jump out at you. (I have one on the workbench right now as we speak)
I guess I can finally stop making snide remarks under my breath every time I see a Rapido announcement (" Too bad you guys aren't making anything I can use"). You got me on this one, and got me BIG. Preordered the three early CSX numbers, and will be back later for a SBD, ATSF, and possibly a CR.
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Post by ncrc5315 on Mar 2, 2018 16:56:23 GMT -8
Great looking locomotive, will look really good as a retired unit, at a modern day Midwest grain elevator.
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Post by alcofan on Mar 2, 2018 17:07:20 GMT -8
nervous about that artwork, though. In all the pictures I can find it only has the herald on one side of the cab, and the artwork shows the side that shouldn't have the herald. My fault! The heralds were in pretty bad shape when I visited The MNNR, I thought that they’d fallen off on one side. The artwork is only preliminary so if we find that it only had the herald on one side then that’s how we’ll make the model. -Rapido Gareth Very nice looking units. The 75 might have had a P3 when the MNNR first received it, but for most of its life on the Commercial it has had a K3 of some sort, with all bells facing forward. -Josh |
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Post by jbilbrey on Mar 2, 2018 19:15:34 GMT -8
Too bad it wasn't a RS11 or RSD12 as I probably could have gotten away with just one of them, LOL.
Seriously, that is a great looking model. Hopefully, these will be a popular enough item that Rapido continues with the B23-7 and B30-7. It would be nice to have a "family" of these instead of one unit absolutely blowing the others (like an Atlas B23-7) away. I have been trying to decide between the Seaboard System or one of the CSX "Tote-Boats". But as much as I like the SBD, the CSX unit will probably win out as I've been looking for some more models from that "late 90's - early 00's" period - likely a result of me scanning a lot of my freight car photos from that period and posting them to Flickr. I wish now that I took more photos of them when CSX was using them. At the time, they were "just another GE" and there wasn't any good way of modeling one besides the RPP route. It was only when I realized that the Dash-7's were disappearing that I began seeking them out.
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