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Post by mdvle on May 20, 2020 18:56:19 GMT -8
Recollections, with possible errors, from tonight's Rapido Facebook Live with Jason. YouTube highlight version should be posted soon.
-B36 sideframes - on the way, have had to keep pestering the factory to make them as factory just wants to make new product. -Order deadlines - have been holding off given the number of stores closed, but will soon need to have some in order to keep factories busy. -Will be starting a new policy of order deadlines being the 15th of the month (or the first Monday following if a weekend). -Steam - D10 - mechanism being redesigned to use a coreless motor, then to tooling. Hope to have samples by end of year. Standard Hudson (aka 2816) - design being worked on. CN H-6 still on hold due to a lack of orders, will reconsider what comes after the D10/Standard Hudson next year after final sales numbers are in for D10. -Amtrak Viewliners - would be neat to do, but don't think there is a market for them. -SW1200 - awaiting final samples, lots of changes to the tooling since the first video. -LRC cars - HO cars awaiting a circuit board, otherwise complete - N cars in production -Still can't accept warranty requests, Canada Post hasn't delivered a parcel to them in 9 weeks and they are fighting with Canada Post to get delivery restored. -new website this summer -older release passenger cars - Budd cars first, then Super Continental as the old molds need to be fixed before they can be used again (same thing was necessary for LRC cars and the steam generators). -Ski Train - leaving the factory in a week, should arrive at Rapido approx. 5 weeks later. -more GO stuff likely -Amtrak Cabbage - likely another 2 years until enough demand for another run to be feasible. -Generally, 2 years between runs for new paint schemes, 3 to 5 years between runs for same paint schemes - any sooner and the demand isn't there to justify a complete run. -F59PH - tooling done, expect video in a couple of weeks -Osgood Bradley coaches - currently no apparent demand for a new run. -May 18th was supposed to be US dealer open house with a 3D scanning, obviously didn't happen. Hope 3D scan done in secret in next several weeks. -Next month new freight car announced, sometime after that a new loco. -Flexi-Flo - likely arrive September, very successful in sales. -barrel ore cars on the to do list -certain roadnames are popular with fans, fans often vocal, but have poor sales in model form. -MP30/40 - on to do list -CN balloon top passenger cars - on list to do. -Alco switchers - very likely, particularly the S13, but a challenge given how narrow the hood was. -PA - sales doing well, SF design done, others close. Tooling to start end of June, hope samples in the fall, release next year -avoid EMU/DMU as expected pricing by customers unrealistic given tooling costs. -passenger car in design -N scale steam - idea terrifies him given the challenge of getting one to perform well given the challenges they have faced in HO. -interested in doing vehicles appropriate for a layout set in 1980. -Jason has a column in Railroad Model Craftsman each month - Diverging Points.
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Post by GP40P-2 on May 20, 2020 19:17:32 GMT -8
Recollections, with possible errors, from tonight's Rapido Facebook Live with Jason. YouTube highlight version should be posted soon.
[/div][/quote] Thank you for that summary!! Good stuff.
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Rapido Q/A
May 20, 2020 19:46:56 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by The Ferro Kid on May 20, 2020 19:46:56 GMT -8
Yes, very helpful!
I didn't realize Jason's column was to be every month. I really am going to have to subscribe! Have been buying it quite often anyhow ...
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Post by edwardsutorik on May 20, 2020 19:48:21 GMT -8
-Osgood Bradley coaches - currently no apparent demand for a new run. I thought I wanted 2-3, but I guess I was in error on that. But it DOES explain why NH McGinnis never show up on Ebay. 'Cause if no one wants any, why would you ever try to sell some. At ANY price. Glad we got that cleared up! Ed
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Post by mdvle on May 20, 2020 20:11:59 GMT -8
-Osgood Bradley coaches - currently no apparent demand for a new run. I thought I wanted 2-3, but I guess I was in error on that. But it DOES explain why NH McGinnis never show up on Ebay. 'Cause if no one wants any, why would you ever try to sell some. At ANY price. Glad we got that cleared up!
If people disagree with their assessment of the demand, the easiest way to try and change perception is by contacting Rapido. Enough people request them, then things might get reevaluated.
Anyway, something I forgot to put in the first post.
Jason has been converted to the allure of making freight cars. Rapido has a bunch in the development pipeline - from all over North America, many from the transition era, with the goal that in say 18 months they will be releasing a freight car each month.
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Post by Paul Cutler III on May 20, 2020 20:46:01 GMT -8
Ed, I think part of the problem with the NH OB 10-window cars is that the stainless steel cars have been siphoning money from NH passenger car fans for the last several years. I, too, would like more OB 10-window cars, but I would also like some 11-window OB cars. We may have to wait 'til the end of the Rapido/NHRHTA stainless steel car projects before we get more OB cars. And if we are lucky enough to average one car a year, it's going to be a while considering we still have SS grills and three SS sleepers to go (well, and the obs, but c'mon...). Not to mention we still have County cars, SW1200's, EP-5's and PA-1's all coming our way from Rapido. As I've told 'em, the NH money well is deep, but not bottomless.
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Post by keystonefarm on May 20, 2020 21:01:46 GMT -8
What happened to the EP-5's ??
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Post by Paul Cutler III on May 20, 2020 22:33:13 GMT -8
Jason did address the EP-5. He said they are working with ESU for the pantograph mechanism and trying out different motors for them. John Sheridan is working on it, but work has been hampered trying to get the motors from Germany. CanadaPost is a mess, apparently, and Rapido hasn't received any packages from them in 9 weeks.
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Post by amtrakfl9 on May 20, 2020 23:06:46 GMT -8
Was very disappointed to hear that an Amtrak P40/P42 wasn't on the short list. It seems right up their alley as a modern Amtrak locomotive, it's definitely not too regional as they are in service across the country, and there is even a VIA version. I guess part of it could be that there are two on the market already, but both have serious flaws and Rapido has done lots of stuff with existing versions from other manufacturers, often with those versions being of better quality than the Kato or Athearn P42.
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Post by unittrain on May 20, 2020 23:16:59 GMT -8
The NYC flexi flows had 2 schemes the straight flexi flo and the split flexi flo.
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Post by lvrr325 on May 21, 2020 0:03:33 GMT -8
1980- correct vehicles are moderately well covered with existing releases and some upcoming Woodland Scenics releases. If you allow some fudge factor, say to use a 1983 model year when the body shell was the same from 1978-up, you get even more coverage. Some mid to late 70s Chrysler products, Ford full size cars, and compacts are absent.
They might be further ahead seeing if the tooling for the old HO Fresh Cherries line could be bought, correct the sizes of the wheels and tires on them, and sell those. That would get you started.
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Post by jonklein611 on May 21, 2020 4:12:17 GMT -8
Great news! I can't wait to round out my Canadian with the rest of the Budd cars.
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Post by riogrande on May 21, 2020 4:14:37 GMT -8
I've heard an issue with Fresh Cherries further being produced are new laws regarding choking hazards. Any one know anything about that? I've been "cherry picking", no pun intended, Fresh Cheeries off of the bay when I can find them for sort-of lower prices. I probably have enough now to fill a couple of tri-levels with a mix of Fords/Mercury cars or AMC cars.
If Woodland Scenics can do 1980 domestic automobiles, that sounds hopeful, depending on price of course.
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Post by markfj on May 21, 2020 4:22:11 GMT -8
I’m wondering how the RS11s are performing now that people have been running them for a while. And did we get a definitive answer on the height of the cooling fan housing (too high or about right)? Still on the fence about getting one. Thanks, Mark
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Post by simulatortrain on May 21, 2020 4:34:43 GMT -8
Definitely too high.
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Post by mdvle on May 21, 2020 6:00:21 GMT -8
Yes, very helpful! I didn't realize Jason's column was to be every month. I really am going to have to subscribe! Have been buying it quite often anyhow ...
He noted he is going to alternate columns between the topics of the hobby vs the industry
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Post by mdvle on May 21, 2020 6:06:47 GMT -8
Was very disappointed to hear that an Amtrak P40/P42 wasn't on the short list. It seems right up their alley as a modern Amtrak locomotive, it's definitely not too regional as they are in service across the country, and there is even a VIA version. I guess part of it could be that there are two on the market already, but both have serious flaws and Rapido has done lots of stuff with existing versions from other manufacturers, often with those versions being of better quality than the Kato or Athearn P42.
Part of it may be what Athearn has planned given they have hinted at the next release of their model will be upgraded in some way. So I guess a need to wait and see.
He covered the idea in a more general way, saying that Rapido has no problem duplicating an existing model if there are obvious ways to make a better model, but they aren't going to duplicate for the sake of duplicating. As an example, someone asked about Rapido doing a CN GP9RM to which he said ask Athearn given Athearn has a good existing GP9 to base the model off, and so it wouldn't make sense for Rapido to duplicate the GP9 platform. Same response for all the requests for Gevos and the latest SD70 stuff last night, others are doing them well and so there is no point in Rapido also doing them.
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Post by hovehicle on May 21, 2020 6:22:44 GMT -8
Great news on the vehicle front; I'll take some 1980's Oldsmobiles including the Delta 88, Cutlass and Toronado. Buicks, Pontiacs, and Chevrolets would be great too. Yes, You can make GM vehicles now, just ask Ron over at RPS. He has a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 in development, all he needs is a supplier to make it.
Vito L.
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on May 21, 2020 7:13:12 GMT -8
Hopefully the freight car release information that you posted is true. It'd be like when Exactrail started and was releasing new models at a rapid pace. Hopefully they learned from their early 3800 covered hoppers and the new ones are better designed and that carries through with future freight car projects. I thought I wanted 2-3, but I guess I was in error on that. But it DOES explain why NH McGinnis never show up on Ebay. 'Cause if no one wants any, why would you ever try to sell some. At ANY price. Glad we got that cleared up! If people disagree with their assessment of the demand, the easiest way to try and change perception is by contacting Rapido. Enough people request them, then things might get reevaluated. Anyway, something I forgot to put in the first post. Jason has been converted to the allure of making freight cars. Rapido has a bunch in the development pipeline - from all over North America, many from the transition era, with the goal that in say 18 months they will be releasing a freight car each month.
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leikec
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by leikec on May 21, 2020 7:32:28 GMT -8
My New Haven budget certainly is limited, as is my overall train budget. Especially when new models show up right on top of each other. Rapido products comprise 98.9% of my total HO budget. It doesn't help that I'm interested in too many railroads, and that I dabble in more than one scale.
I think N scale steam is a rabbit hole Rapido would be wise to avoid, at least for now. Far better for them to do Rapido quality FA-2's in N scale, which would sell extremely well, IMO.
Jeff C
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Post by mdvle on May 21, 2020 10:09:01 GMT -8
-Osgood Bradley coaches - currently no apparent demand for a new run. I thought I wanted 2-3, but I guess I was in error on that. But it DOES explain why NH McGinnis never show up on Ebay. 'Cause if no one wants any, why would you ever try to sell some. At ANY price. Just rewatched that portion, he did say that if they got a reasonable number of requests sent to them they would reconsider doing them. So the question comes down to is there enough people wanting another run of them that are willing to indicate that want to Rapido.
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Post by ambluco on May 21, 2020 11:25:12 GMT -8
The "Postcard Guy" was one person asking for the M420. He got his wish. Although I assume some others asked too, they did say it was mostly one guy though.
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Rapido Q/A
May 21, 2020 14:41:32 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by lackawanna1223 on May 21, 2020 14:41:32 GMT -8
Awesome news about freight cars. There’s still a number of essential freight cars from the transition era that should be done.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2020 15:34:04 GMT -8
Awesome news about freight cars. There’s still a number of essential freight cars from the transition era that should be done. Such as? Curious as I dont model this era but all for new models.
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Rapido Q/A
May 21, 2020 15:56:50 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by lackawanna1223 on May 21, 2020 15:56:50 GMT -8
Awesome news about freight cars. There’s still a number of essential freight cars from the transition era that should be done. Such as? Curious as I dont model this era but all for new models. The BIG one are the UTLX X-3 series of tank cars, which were the most numerous of that period. USRA 50 ton single sheathed boxcar. There’s the Tichy kit but not everyone is a kit builder and Rapido just released the USRA 40 ton double sheathed car so it just seems inevitable. Merchants Despatch reefers, Pullman PS-4 gondolas, ARA XM-1 and “Alternate” ARA boxcar, ACF 1790 covered hopper and on and on.
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Post by lvrr325 on May 21, 2020 17:26:03 GMT -8
I understood the choking issue was related to GM cars and is why you haven't seen say, a Chevy Vega, Chevette or Citation in HO scale, but you do see a 74 Buick station wagon and various trucks. The Fresh Cherries line conspicuously included Ford and AMC and a couple of Japanese cars but no GM or Chrysler.
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Rapido Q/A
May 21, 2020 23:42:28 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by amtrakfl9 on May 21, 2020 23:42:28 GMT -8
Was very disappointed to hear that an Amtrak P40/P42 wasn't on the short list. It seems right up their alley as a modern Amtrak locomotive, it's definitely not too regional as they are in service across the country, and there is even a VIA version. I guess part of it could be that there are two on the market already, but both have serious flaws and Rapido has done lots of stuff with existing versions from other manufacturers, often with those versions being of better quality than the Kato or Athearn P42.
Part of it may be what Athearn has planned given they have hinted at the next release of their model will be upgraded in some way. So I guess a need to wait and see.
He covered the idea in a more general way, saying that Rapido has no problem duplicating an existing model if there are obvious ways to make a better model, but they aren't going to duplicate for the sake of duplicating. As an example, someone asked about Rapido doing a CN GP9RM to which he said ask Athearn given Athearn has a good existing GP9 to base the model off, and so it wouldn't make sense for Rapido to duplicate the GP9 platform. Same response for all the requests for Gevos and the latest SD70 stuff last night, others are doing them well and so there is no point in Rapido also doing them.
I think it needs to be emphasized how inadequate the two existing options really are. The Kato P42 nose shape and front pilot area is wildly wrong, along with the rear grills and rear pilot area. It is impossible to fix this and in my view it completely ruins the look of the model. They are also really lacking in terms of separately applied details although that is fixable. Some have found problems with the unique dual coreless motor drive but I haven’t had too many issues with mine, and they are pretty much the best pulling HO scale engines of all time. This is a shame, as it is wasted on a model that is fatally flawed visually. I wish Kato had put a little more effort into the shape of the shell. The Athearn P42 is actually worse, the nose area is slightly better but still wrong and the models are barely upgraded from the blue box era. They all run like crap with a maximum scale speed of about 30 mph and barely pull. This is especially odd as they have essentially the same drive as all other blue box and RTR locomotives. I have probably had 25 of these over the years from all the different production runs and I always end up selling them due to dissatisfaction. The shell is held on with flimsy tabs that are directly in the middle of the 4 step ladders, and every time you take the shell off you risk snapping the taps and/or destroying the ladders, rendering the model permanently disfigured with a shell that no longer sits square on the frame. They are also very sparsely detailed although again that is an easier fix, especially since Details West used to make an upgrade kit for them. Athearn would have to do quite a bit of work to make these adequate models, and like the Kato I’m not sure they could fix the nose without new molds. Rapido has done the F40PH, which had no less than 3 versions done in HO plastic already, including the Kato which was actually a fantastic model and was much more proportionally correct than their P42. Rapido has also done the Alco FA and PA which both have had lots of coverage in HO before, again with several versions being far better than the existing P42 options. I think it’s safe to say that prior coverage isn’t a good reason for Rapido to not do a P42. That locomotive would fit into their product line extremely well being modern Amtrak with national appeal and plenty of paint schemes, having no good existing plastic options, running prototypically with half the stuff they already make, and even having a VIA version! There’s not much VIA stuff left that Rapido hasn’t done. If anyone has an Overland P40, P42 or P32ACDM they are looking to sell, PM me. Lol.
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Post by railmodeltroy14 on May 22, 2020 2:23:07 GMT -8
Part of it may be what Athearn has planned given they have hinted at the next release of their model will be upgraded in some way. So I guess a need to wait and see.
He covered the idea in a more general way, saying that Rapido has no problem duplicating an existing model if there are obvious ways to make a better model, but they aren't going to duplicate for the sake of duplicating. As an example, someone asked about Rapido doing a CN GP9RM to which he said ask Athearn given Athearn has a good existing GP9 to base the model off, and so it wouldn't make sense for Rapido to duplicate the GP9 platform. Same response for all the requests for Gevos and the latest SD70 stuff last night, others are doing them well and so there is no point in Rapido also doing them.
I think it needs to be emphasized how inadequate the two existing options really are. The Kato P42 nose shape and front pilot area is wildly wrong, along with the rear grills and rear pilot area. It is impossible to fix this and in my view it completely ruins the look of the model. They are also really lacking in terms of separately applied details although that is fixable. Some have found problems with the unique dual coreless motor drive but I haven’t had too many issues with mine, and they are pretty much the best pulling HO scale engines of all time. This is a shame, as it is wasted on a model that is fatally flawed visually. I wish Kato had put a little more effort into the shape of the shell. The Athearn P42 is actually worse, the nose area is slightly better but still wrong and the models are barely upgraded from the blue box era. They all run like crap with a maximum scale speed of about 30 mph and barely pull. This is especially odd as they have essentially the same drive as all other blue box and RTR locomotives. I have probably had 25 of these over the years from all the different production runs and I always end up selling them due to dissatisfaction. The shell is held on with flimsy tabs that are directly in the middle of the 4 step ladders, and every time you take the shell off you risk snapping the taps and/or destroying the ladders, rendering the model permanently disfigured with a shell that no longer sits square on the frame. They are also very sparsely detailed although again that is an easier fix, especially since Details West used to make an upgrade kit for them. Athearn would have to do quite a bit of work to make these adequate models, and like the Kato I’m not sure they could fix the nose without new molds. Rapido has done the F40PH, which had no less than 3 versions done in HO plastic already, including the Kato which was actually a fantastic model and was much more proportionally correct than their P42. Rapido has also done the Alco FA and PA which both have had lots of coverage in HO before, again with several versions being far better than the existing P42 options. I think it’s safe to say that prior coverage isn’t a good reason for Rapido to not do a P42. That locomotive would fit into their product line extremely well being modern Amtrak with national appeal and plenty of paint schemes, having no good existing plastic options, running prototypically with half the stuff they already make, and even having a VIA version! There’s not much VIA stuff left that Rapido hasn’t done. If anyone has an Overland P40, P42 or P32ACDM they are looking to sell, PM me. Lol. I agree that a quality plastic model is lacking and wish I never would have sold my Overland P42. RMT
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Post by craigz on May 22, 2020 7:26:00 GMT -8
I’m wondering how the RS11s are performing now that people have been running them for a while. And did we get a definitive answer on the height of the cooling fan housing (too high or about right)? Still on the fence about getting one. Thanks, Mark Not sure what your alternative is besides the Atlas. Maybe chase down undecs and lower the fan if it's that objectionable? I'm going to have to look at mine again...at least they're black so easy to match the paint
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Post by edwardsutorik on May 22, 2020 7:33:54 GMT -8
Both Atlas and Life-Like make/made an RS-11.
I sold mine because I expected the Rapido model to be a vast improvement, and correct the two big problems I had with the previous models:
The Atlas has enormous handrails. They would have to be replaced for the Atlas model to be acceptable to me.
The Life-Like had dimensional problems with the body. Or cab. Or both. Also not good.
I had in mind a possibility of putting the proper Atlas body on top of the Life-Like deck, with its superior handrails, and coming up with a good (enough) model.
Ed
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