rs11
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by rs11 on Sept 18, 2020 17:58:33 GMT -8
I have worked in companies where a person was let go and immediately escorted out of the building.
Not here to speculate about the company involved or why people were replaced, but I've seen people escorted out and well, usually, there is no personal financial incentive for them to reveal passwords or other protected information.
It is the downside, and the risk, when IT people want everything to be password protected.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Sept 19, 2020 5:27:25 GMT -8
The problem with overpromising and under-delivering, whether real or perceived, is people stop believing a manufacturer. Somewhere along the way, the risk of making models was moved from the manufacturer to the consumer by way of reservations being required for upcoming models. All well and good until a few models with problems appear (or worse, the models don't appear at all, whicb is the case with a manufacturer not discussed in this thread).
I understand that Precision Scheduled Production can mean higher profits for a manufacturer and often more models made, which benefits the consumer. On the other hand, I've seen certain manufacturers pull some fast ones on hobby shops, who need to stock models to generate foot traffic. If a model comes out with problems, they are stuck with inventory (or get cut out of the business altogether as some companies "right size" their dealer network or go to direct sales only.)
All sorts of things can contribute to the overall perception of a company. Image management matters. MTH, for example, suffered due to the principal's habit of suing people left and right. Even if they made some good models, some people refused to deal with them.
Any company that avoids reading reviews and commentary on their product because some members "bash" them (real or perceived) does so at their peril. When I designed product we had frequent design reviews and actively solicited feedback from manufacturing, QA and the field. I wanted my designs ripped apart, every flaw daylighted. In the end that process leads to better product. Many designers would not do that. They took any negative feedback personally. Their products and design methodology suffered for it.
Critique is a valuable resource. Smart companies utilize it.
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Post by NS4122 on Sept 19, 2020 9:13:12 GMT -8
Of course constructive or even harsh critiques can be valuable to manufacturers, but you are missing the point that the wild and outright hostile rants that were posted here went way beyond product deficiencies and any value they had as criticism was lost. They impugned the honesty and integrity of the companies involved like they were criminals (over model trains no less). You can defend the validity of the criticism all day long, but in the end, no company is going to value the rantings of hostile raging lunatics or come back and participate on the forum. The problem with overpromising and under-delivering, whether real or perceived, is people stop believing a manufacturer. Somewhere along the way, the risk of making models was moved from the manufacturer to the consumer by way of reservations being required for upcoming models. All well and good until a few models with problems appear (or worse, the models don't appear at all, whicb is the case with a manufacturer not discussed in this thread). I understand that Precision Scheduled Production can mean higher profits for a manufacturer and often more models made, which benefits the consumer. On the other hand, I've seen certain manufacturers pull some fast ones on hobby shops, who need to stock models to generate foot traffic. If a model comes out with problems, they are stuck with inventory (or get cut out of the business altogether as some companies "right size" their dealer network or go to direct sales only.) All sorts of things can contribute to the overall perception of a company. Image management matters. MTH, for example, suffered due to the principal's habit of suing people left and right. Even if they made some good models, some people refused to deal with them. Any company that avoids reading reviews and commentary on their product because some members "bash" them (real or perceived) does so at their peril. When I designed product we had frequent design reviews and actively solicited feedback from manufacturing, QA and the field. I wanted my designs ripped apart, every flaw daylighted. In the end that process leads to better product. Many designers would not do that. They took any negative feedback personally. Their products and design methodology suffered for it. Critique is a valuable resource. Smart companies utilize it.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 19, 2020 12:24:28 GMT -8
...the rantings of hostile raging lunatics... We have more than one? Ed
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Post by NS4122 on Sept 19, 2020 15:08:52 GMT -8
Yup, you don't see Scale Trains here either do you? A few different lunatics turned them away. ...the rantings of hostile raging lunatics... We have more than one? Ed
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 19, 2020 16:39:49 GMT -8
Shane doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is intimidated by lunatics. Or much else.
More than one lunatic, huh? I thought they were just "family".
Ed
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Post by lvrr325 on Sept 19, 2020 21:48:35 GMT -8
...getting back to the SP&S color on the FA's, SP&S is one of the Pacific Northwest roads that I model, I've already got 2 RS-3's, a C424 and 425, a Baldwin VO1000 and 2 C636's - all in the correct color. I was going to get the FA's until I saw the pictures and it was a definite 'no go'... I have a number of Rapido cars and a Rapido CN GMD1 all gorgeous and amazing! When they get it right it's really right, but the SP&S FA's aren't in the latter category, simple as that, nuff said... Same deal here, I have C420s, C628s, U23Bs and GP38's - some that I painted myself, in the latter case - all in the same LV paint scheme that all more or less match up within reason, which they should. Based on multiple pictures the Rapido model is way too bright. So I passed on them. I can live with a detail or two that's not 100% but I don't want to have to screw around trying to weather something to make it fit in with the thousands of dollars of engines I already have. Way too easy to mess up and ruin the thing. I don't think it's even Rapido's as much to blame as the AHRS given they provided the paint sample. Rapido made what they asked for. That said I also had to pass on the Tuscan ones that were for regular sale. I don't think anything is particularly wrong with them, just that the numbering is only good for 1964-67 which puts them outside my era and the paint looks fairly dark on them to where trying to alter one to how it appeared later it would be easier to just start from scratch.
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Post by mdvle on Jan 14, 2021 16:14:55 GMT -8
Bill & Jordan on Trainworld Live. First part of discussion was about Amtrak exclusive edition, then the E8's in general. discussion of other items coming up to an order deadline tomorrow. discussed EP-5, they have a list of other overhead electric stuff they would like to do. Starting around 53 minute point Bill started showing samples - the PA, the GLa hopper, and the CPR D10.
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Post by Christian on Jan 15, 2021 1:13:53 GMT -8
Of course constructive or even harsh critiques can be valuable to manufacturers, but you are missing the point that the wild and outright hostile rants that were posted here went way beyond product deficiencies and any value they had as criticism was lost. They impugned the honesty and integrity of the companies involved like they were criminals (over model trains no less). You can defend the validity of the criticism all day long, but in the end, no company is going to value the rantings of hostile raging lunatics or come back and participate in the forum. Rapido is quite visible on other forums. Here, just seeing the name Rapido in a topic brings out the hostility that some folks have toward the company, employees, owners. Right down to criticizing sentence structure in Rapido's public presence. I wish I was so perfect. I bet Ford Motor Company wishes it was so perfect. But, that's the way of the world. I am reminded of Shakespeare's comment; “The course of true love never did run smooth.” (Yes, Shakespeare on a model train forum!) In ten years Rapido has come from one fellow's desire for a Via passenger car to being a major player in the hobby. Yes, the road has been rocky. One more Shakespeare; "Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them." Rapido has chosen to ignore the slings and arrows from the Atlas Rescue Forum.
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Post by Christian on Jan 15, 2021 7:39:18 GMT -8
]If your comment on criticizing sentence structure is directed towards my comments in another post Nope. Not recent. Sometime last summer or fall and I have no recollection of who made the comment. If it was a comment in this thread I would have quoted and been more direct. As for Ford - every business gets harsh criticism. Just a simple comment with no hidden text.
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Post by lars on Jan 15, 2021 9:26:30 GMT -8
]If your comment on criticizing sentence structure is directed towards my comments in another post Nope. Not recent. Sometime last summer or fall and I have no recollection of who made the comment. If it was a comment in this thread I would have quoted and been more direct. As for Ford - every business gets harsh criticism. Just a simple comment with no hidden text. Fair enough. Post deleted. I said my piece in the appropriate thread, and we'll move along here.
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Post by mdvle on Feb 2, 2021 17:56:32 GMT -8
Rapido Trains - MB Klein / modeltrainstuff.com virtual event - February 2nd, 2021
possible errors by me making notes
- handrails - $8k to $10k for molds to inject plastic stanchions around the handrail - F59PH - GO sold well, other not so well - others selling better with the Bi-Levels announced - Bi-Levels - in tooling, early to mid April samples expected - Bi-Levels - won't make money on first run given how complicated a project it is - SW1200 - arriving in 2 batches, first batch end of April, 2nd batch 30 to 60 days later - later phase/commuter F40's - in production - biggest seller Amtrak (12 numbers), but Ski Train with 3 numbers strong 2nd place - 4th factory comes online next month - each Rapido factory about 70 people - nearby Athearn and ScaleTrains factories much larger with 100's of people - 5th factory for a new product line starting up in April (expect product announcement then) - Amtrak Turboliners - tooling just started, samples expected May - E8 - most successful Rapido project launch ever - F30* - best selling Rapido freight car - goal - by 2022 having a freight car (new tooling or additional release) each month - new tool freight car announcement next week - X72 / B100 samples very soon - CN H-6 steam - new marketing will be done once D10 arrives - Q&A from viewers: - designing a new Canadian passenger car (revealed in discussion of project process) - production - takes 3 to 6 months, first month taken up with ordering supplies, setting up paint masks, etc. - production - then cutting parts off sprues - freight cars typically 10k units... - buses - very pad printing intensive, factory works on them during slow periods given low profit vs train items - N scale fishbowl bus - thought about, high on list - N scale RDC's - though about, not certain, warming up to - U33C/U30C - U boats in general have come up, lots of early GE fans at Rapido - Alco RS3, C628 - if someone else has done a good model recently then won't happen, but stuff that hasn't been done in decades and their is room for improvement like the C424 would be fair game - B36 - look into another run - BC Rail RS18u - unlikely, problem with BC Rail (in general) is that they did things unique so models need extensive tooling for just BC Rail version - example, the RS18u would be almost entirely new tooling compared to CP version which had greater numbers and longer life - BC Rail - but if someone wants to give Rapido $95kUS they could do the BC Rail M420 - next run M420 - 3500 series - F40PH2-CAT - extended frame, thus all new tooling, don't think sell enough - commuter modellers are dedicated, but there aren't enough of them to make many projects feasible - Amtrak Talgo - would be interesting - F40PH phase 3 with quiet fans - maybe in a couple of years - passenger cars cost almost the same to tool as a loco, but sell for much less than a loco - this is why foobies are necessary
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Post by 690 on Feb 2, 2021 18:10:11 GMT -8
The line about the RS3/C628 sounds like they're basically saying Bowser has done these, and well enough that we don't see any point in making our own version. A Rapido level C424 would certainly be nice, I think most people would probably agree that while the Atlas version is okay considering how old the tooling is, we could definitely use a new version with better tooling, and better details.
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Post by csxt8400 on Feb 3, 2021 0:48:01 GMT -8
A new car a month? On top of all their other stuff, that is impressive. Pretty surprised to hear how well the G30 is being sold, in a good way. I really looked into picking up some for a MOW cut but didnt come to a good enough conclusion to splurge.
Great news on the E8 success.
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Post by thelastspike on Feb 3, 2021 5:52:06 GMT -8
The M420 3500's will be well received.
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Post by jonklein611 on Feb 3, 2021 6:40:27 GMT -8
Two new factories? That's impressive!
I wonder what the new passenger car will be? I'm hoping for Renaissance cars so I can finish my VIA Fleet.
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Post by mdvle on Feb 3, 2021 8:05:46 GMT -8
I wonder what the new passenger car will be? I'm hoping for Renaissance cars so I can finish my VIA Fleet.
I doubt the Renaissance cars will ever be done RTR, they don't appear to have enough popularity - and there is no possibility of foobies.
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Post by jonklein611 on Feb 3, 2021 8:15:53 GMT -8
I wonder what the new passenger car will be? I'm hoping for Renaissance cars so I can finish my VIA Fleet.
I doubt the Renaissance cars will ever be done RTR, they don't appear to have enough popularity - and there is no possibility of foobies.
One can hope, we got the Turbo, maybe we get more Via stuff? Maybe if we convince Jason to update to 2002 on his layout?
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 3, 2021 8:22:44 GMT -8
I wonder what the new passenger car will be? I'm hoping for Renaissance cars so I can finish my VIA Fleet.
I doubt the Renaissance cars will ever be done RTR, they don't appear to have enough popularity - and there is no possibility of foobies.
But with a different mindset, they might be able to market them as "Legendary Liveries".... Just like Athearn does!
Think of the possibilities: MBTA, Amtrak, Iowa Pacific, modern-day Rock Island, Brightline, etc, etc...
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Post by mdvle on Feb 3, 2021 9:41:11 GMT -8
I doubt the Renaissance cars will ever be done RTR, they don't appear to have enough popularity - and there is no possibility of foobies.
One can hope, we got the Turbo, maybe we get more Via stuff? Maybe if we convince Jason to update to 2002 on his layout?
The Turbo had the advantages of being iconic (so of more interest to collectors) as well as Amtrak. The Renaissance fleet has neither. And given how few corridor trains used the fleet Jason changing his era wouldn't help much.
As for gevohogger's suggestion of copying Athearn's Legendary Liveries, I would hope that all of the manufactures are looking for opportunities to cash in on that market. I suspect for Rapido that the F40 might be an attractive choice for some fallen flags along the lines of Amtrak didn't happen or X didn't participate. But I don't think the Renaissance fleet would sell in that way given the European design being too different.
But maybe it brings us some steam era or other Budd or PS cars that otherwise wouldn't happen given how fragmented the passenger fleet designs were.
and, for gevohogger (assuming I am remembering correctly) - maybe those liveries tip the balance on a P30CH...
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 3, 2021 11:17:52 GMT -8
I could see them doing a C424 so they could do Canadian specific detailed examples. They should be able to nail it with that one.
I like Atlas but they don't seem to have any interest in updating the models that date to the Kato era any further. As it stands my Reading one I'll probably have to make a correct fuel tank for. If Rapido did one I might think about buying it, kind of a tough call since I paid $50 for this one, but to get one with the drip rails and right tank and so forth might be worth the big investment.
And to go back a tad further, it is odd the love some manufacturers get here and the hate others get. Rapido's made some mistakes, sure, they seem to try to correct them when possible. Clearly they know better what they're doing than I do, if the F30 is selling as well as they say despite an existing model and the high cost.
Probably my only serious beef with them is after preorders it's a hard sell because the prices are higher and there's not much discount. Which, I just don't order up for impulse buys on the high end stuff. Clearly they're doing fine just the same. I don't see where anything they do could harm the hobby or the hobby retailer.
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Post by cera2254 on Feb 3, 2021 18:06:33 GMT -8
I would definitely be in for a C424/425: TPW, CR and RDG versions. The worst part of the Atlas version is that generic horn on the cab roof and it’s large gaping hole.
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Post by 690 on Feb 4, 2021 18:27:08 GMT -8
The D&H C424Ms that went to Guilford would be an instant buy for me if they did the cut down rear numberboards, proper Phase I sill, and other C424M modifications.
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Post by Judge Doom on Feb 5, 2021 16:01:19 GMT -8
The GP35 and C424/C425 would both be good candidates for a Rapido level model. Present on both sides of the border, popular, long-lived. The Canadian GP35's (CP's 24 and CN's 2, with distinct Canadian steps, handrails, lights/bell, etc) could be piggybacked into the US-specific tooling.
Atlas did do Canadian body versions of the C424, but that was back in the early/mid 2000's and, since they were Atlas Classic models, they lacked a lot of extra details, and didn't have the proper pilots. They also didn't tool a CP body version with the distinct modified carbody intake filters (late 70's to present).
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Post by mdvle on Feb 5, 2021 16:21:22 GMT -8
I think the big concern on the GP35 would be possible duplication - many seem convinced Athearn and/or ScaleTrains are going to do them, so unless there was a good indication that isn't happening it could be risky. The C424/425 however are a much better bet. Used in the Toronto area around 1980, and no one else currently seems interested in tooling up Alco/MLW models.
[edit]
added bonus, I see the NH had the C425 - and the NH fans like buying Rapido stuff.
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Post by orangec on Feb 5, 2021 16:24:57 GMT -8
If they would do C424s, then C425s could be next. I will definitely go for several C425s in PC/PRR & NH (non dynamic) versions. GP35s will be a plus too, PC/PRR in various phases. I went Rapido in a big way. Figured just one FA2, then bought three more. Just two RS11s, ended up with four and eying another three. F30s announced, ordered ten, that will und up being fifteen.
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Post by cemr5396 on Feb 5, 2021 17:25:18 GMT -8
C424 I could see as both CN and CP had a lot of them, and they would sell a TON of them to Canadian modelers. C425 also, because of the similarity to the 24.
IMO the GP35 is unlikely from Rapido, it will be done by Athearn or ST - or maybe both.
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Post by carrman on Feb 5, 2021 18:25:03 GMT -8
I'd be down for BN C424's and C425's.
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Post by markfj on Feb 6, 2021 6:30:01 GMT -8
Yes a Rapido C424 would be great! And don’t forget the RCT&HS has RDG #5204 and I’m pretty sure they would let Rapido scan and measure the unit. If I recall correctly, this locomotive is currently not running, but it is intact and still has the original prime mover. Except for the paint it is in pretty good condition. Thanks, Mark
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Post by cemr5396 on Feb 6, 2021 7:25:54 GMT -8
I think there is a CP C424 at Exporail as well. I don't remember if it is running or not. I think that would be the more likely one for Rapido to pay a visit to, #1 because it's a Canadian built unit, for a Canadian road, in Canada's (if not NA's) premier railway museum. #2, because who knows how much longer it will be before the world is back to something somewhat resembling normal. It could still be a long time before they are able to make a field trip south of the border to visit one of the units extant in the USA.
If the Exporail C424 is running that is a big bonus because they can record it to create their sound files while they are there.
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