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Post by 12bridge on Jul 25, 2020 16:10:38 GMT -8
Surprised nobody posted these yet... Thank god they are pre-production, that way we can have a civil discussion about how many glaring errors are present. First and foremost, that god awful thread plate. It is easily 2-3 times oversize, which seems to be common with all of Rapidos tread detail. Is the thread pattern correctly different on the cab steps (even though one is not even there)? Walkways are dot, but the steps are square pattern diamond. Also, notice that the patterns are inconsistent. Side pieces are more close nit, but the ones behind the cab are more wider spaced. If its like the SW1200RS, the sides are etched, but the rear is tooled into the plastic, making for different pattern appearances. The battery box door...is simply missing. Lift rings are just simply grotesque. The bolt detail on the knuckle busters...not even sure what they were trying to go for here, since they use a recessed rivet or flat head machine screw. MU Plugs look very undersized, this was evident on the SW1200RS. Another carry over from the 1200RS thats downright ugly is that draft gear detail. Its 2020. There is no reason we should not be getting semi-scale draft gears...that everyone else is doing... Missing grab iron on top of the hood by the 3 steps (maybe its there, but I cant make it out..) The GT specific class lights and numberboards do look pretty decent though. We have one of these at work, so its nice to see them done to begin with. Overall, I consider this a C+ at best, SO FAR. Frankly, they could do better. I just dont see how this is any better then the upgraded Walthers model, short of maybe the etched steps.
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Post by simulatortrain on Jul 25, 2020 16:54:37 GMT -8
I'm curious how they got the etched parts of those spark arrestors so fine, when their covered hopper walkways look like S scale, and the safety tread thing.
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Post by slowfreight on Jul 25, 2020 18:30:36 GMT -8
My irritation is that well over a year ago, I shared 5 years' worth of photo research on the C&NW units, only to be told "Thanks, but we're not gonna use the input and instead make the least-common, least-useful road number and paint scheme."
So while I really wanted to buy a pair, I'm getting none.
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Post by westerntrains on Jul 25, 2020 19:02:57 GMT -8
I can only imagine how messed up the PA's will be.
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Post by cemr5396 on Jul 25, 2020 19:58:59 GMT -8
I'm curious how they got the etched parts of those spark arrestors so fine, when their covered hopper walkways look like S scale, and the safety tread thing. I'm genuinely curious what you have against Rapido's hopper walkways. They are metal and look just as good as what Intermountain uses on their hoppers, or what Plano is making. Maybe you're confusing it with the Walthers cylindrical hopper which has an injected plastic walkway? Pic for comparison - Rapido on the left, Intermountain on the right, Walthers in the middle. I also have a car with a Plano walkway, but unfortunately I don't have it with me to add to the comparison as well.
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Post by brakie on Jul 26, 2020 1:02:19 GMT -8
Putting the faults aside I will say that is the best looking SW1200 to date.
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Post by westerntrains on Jul 26, 2020 1:10:33 GMT -8
I'm curious how they got the etched parts of those spark arrestors so fine, when their covered hopper walkways look like S scale, and the safety tread thing. I'm genuinely curious what you have against Rapido's hopper walkways. They are metal and look just as good as what Intermountain uses on their hoppers, or what Plano is making. Maybe you're confusing it with the Walthers cylindrical hopper which has an injected plastic walkway? Pic for comparison - Rapido on the left, Intermountain on the right, Walthers in the middle. I also have a car with a Plano walkway, but unfortunately I don't have it with me to add to the comparison as well. Looking at the photo, the Rapido car is just poorly done as the Walther's car considering it's a etched part. Intermountain is in a class by itself.
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Post by westerntrains on Jul 26, 2020 1:13:38 GMT -8
Maybe just the photo angles, but the cab looks oversized or the hood is undersized.
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Post by SCL618 on Jul 26, 2020 6:24:51 GMT -8
Surprised nobody posted these yet... The battery box door...is simply missing. Lift rings are just simply grotesque. Not all SWs used dual battery boxes on both sides of the cabs. GTW 1518MP 1113MP 1182The offending lift rings, can be replaced with Keyser Valley Models switch lift rings if necessary. SW lift ringsI think it looks good compared to some of the SW products on the market. Nothing is going to compare to one you've rolled on your own with a Cannon cab and additional details, but the Rapido's basic dimensions and bones look good.
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Post by ambluco on Jul 26, 2020 7:07:05 GMT -8
So the thread starts off with generalizations on road-specific units. This is going to be fun.
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Post by 12bridge on Jul 26, 2020 7:13:10 GMT -8
So the thread starts off with generalizations on road-specific units. This is going to be fun. Nothing I posted was road specific other then my comment on the GT version numberboards. These are issues across the board. GA751, That is not the battery box. That is the air brake compartment. The battery box is behind the cab and consists of 3 parts. 2 large doors, with a smaller center door made out of tread plate.
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Post by wp8thsub on Jul 26, 2020 8:26:45 GMT -8
The battery box is behind the cab and consists of 3 parts. 2 large doors, with a smaller center door made out of tread plate. The model photos show three segments, with the center having tread plate (most visible on the center photo of the MoPac unit). We can debate how well the detail is executed, but the doors appear to at least be there.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 26, 2020 8:53:11 GMT -8
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 12:06:11 GMT -8
Hard to judge unpainted etched screens. US MSRP $225/$335 as per site: tinyurl.com/y6ud8ygmUS $110 upcharge for DCC/sound?
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 26, 2020 12:50:43 GMT -8
Hard to judge unpainted etched screens. Except that the etched holes will become smaller. Ed
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 13:16:49 GMT -8
Hard to judge unpainted etched screens. Except that the etched holes will become smaller. Ed Indeed. How much smaller depends upon the paint & method of application.
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Post by thunderhawk on Jul 26, 2020 13:22:24 GMT -8
Except that the etched holes will become smaller. Ed Indeed. How much smaller depends upon the paint & method of application.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 14:16:40 GMT -8
Indeed. How much smaller depends upon the paint & method of application. Indeed. vs.
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Post by thunderhawk on Jul 26, 2020 14:27:51 GMT -8
I'll have to look into that one. I have Iwata TR1 and TR2 but haven't seen that one. I don't like the standard dual action control as I grew up with the trigger style on real paint guns.
Also have a Devilbiss trim gun as I've grown tired of cleaning airbrushes constantly.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 14:32:49 GMT -8
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Post by simulatortrain on Jul 26, 2020 14:43:22 GMT -8
I'm curious how they got the etched parts of those spark arrestors so fine, when their covered hopper walkways look like S scale, and the safety tread thing. I'm genuinely curious what you have against Rapido's hopper walkways. They are metal and look just as good as what Intermountain uses on their hoppers, or what Plano is making. Maybe you're confusing it with the Walthers cylindrical hopper which has an injected plastic walkway? Pic for comparison - Rapido on the left, Intermountain on the right, Walthers in the middle. I also have a car with a Plano walkway, but unfortunately I don't have it with me to add to the comparison as well. I don't know, maybe it's the thickness of the walkways at the edges. Is that Rapido from the newer run? I have one of the originals and I remember it looking worse than that. Other than the edges I agree it looks decent in that picture. I'm also referencing their Flexi-Flo samples, though:
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Post by thunderhawk on Jul 26, 2020 14:46:32 GMT -8
$300+22 for the grip? I'll stick with the trim gun for now.
The problem I have with airbrushes isn't likely run into by many here as I am trying to paint 10 or more cars at once. Not what they are designed for.
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Post by cemr5396 on Jul 26, 2020 14:53:50 GMT -8
I don't know, maybe it's the thickness of the walkways at the edges. Is that Rapido from the newer run? I have one of the originals and I remember it looking worse than that. Other than the edges I agree it looks decent in that picture. I'm also referencing their Flexi-Flo samples, though: Yes, the one in my picture was from the recent run. But I just pulled out one of my first run cars and the walkway looks exactly the same. I do agree the walkway on those Flexi-Flows don't look as good, but you did mention those are samples. I wonder what the production models look like. I've also never seen a Flexi-Flo IRL, so I'm not going to pass judgement.
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Post by simulatortrain on Jul 26, 2020 15:21:47 GMT -8
Fair enough. Thanks for checking the early car.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 15:25:21 GMT -8
I don't know, maybe it's the thickness of the walkways at the edges. Is that Rapido from the newer run? I have one of the originals and I remember it looking worse than that. Other than the edges I agree it looks decent in that picture. I'm also referencing their Flexi-Flo samples, though: Yes, the one in my picture was from the recent run. But I just pulled out one of my first run cars and the walkway looks exactly the same. I do agree the walkway on those Flexi-Flows don't look as good, but you did mention those are samples. I wonder what the production models look like. I've also never seen a Flexi-Flo IRL, so I'm not going to pass judgement. Is that supposed to be an Apex walkway?
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 26, 2020 15:39:18 GMT -8
$300+22 for the grip? I'll stick with the trim gun for now. The problem I have with airbrushes isn't likely run into by many here as I am trying to paint 10 or more cars at once. Not what they are designed for. An LPH-80 will do fine www.midwestairbrush.com/iwatasprayguns.htmlEons ago I cheaped out on a spray gun when I was repainting one of my cars (this was in the 80's, ordered some spraygun out of some discount catalog, it was chicom). What a disaster. Maybe Chinese spray guns have gotten better, but I'd bet most shops in China are running cheap knockoffs. Not directed at any particular manufacturer, but just look at how body and truck details are obscured by thick paint. Take an undec and paint it with a quality, non-counterfeit Iwata or similar. Look at what the military modelers use and how realistic their work is. I understand the constraints of production. This is why I am always campaigning for unpainted, unprimered undecorated versions. Other people share my way of thinking. If they can't or won't make undecs (which should NEVER be assembled, btw) then at least use a paint that can be easily stripped and a glue that makes disassembly possible. All that beautiful moldwork covered up by thick paint is sinful. So much potential...
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Post by sd80mac on Jul 27, 2020 7:50:11 GMT -8
Yeah, something is off with the top of the battery boxes. There don't appear to be any latches for the lids, nor does there appear to be any tread for the middle section that you would step on when exiting the back door.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 27, 2020 8:42:06 GMT -8
A quick look at pix of the back of SW1200's shows a padlock hasp for each lid section (2). I see also that the lid/step has a runoff slope.
Ed
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Post by thunderhawk on Jul 27, 2020 9:09:12 GMT -8
All that beautiful moldwork covered up by thick paint is sinful. So much potential... Actually the closeups of the undec SD45 the other day shows they mold them a bit proud, and sharp, to compensate a bit for the thick paint. The marker lights are a good example. Good work on their part as there is no way to paint them efficiently with an airbrush and multiple thin coats.
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Post by markfj on Jul 27, 2020 9:46:12 GMT -8
Wow, lots of topics in one thread. Rapido SW1200: Would like to see more photos. Those coupler pockets look a little plan and the tread detail is oversized indeed. Roof walk etchings: Is that a Morton roof walk on the Rapido sample of their Flexi Flow? If not, yikes! Spray guns: Check out Paul Budzik’s video on the matter: Painting Scale Models With A Miniature Spray Gun. He is a military modeler, but you’ll learn a lot from his videos! Thanks, Mark
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