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Post by 12bridge on Sept 5, 2021 10:05:46 GMT -8
After 3 years of waiting, my SW's are finally here. I will try and hold my comments, but here is a large batch of photos. Prototype:  Rapido:  Prototype:  Rapido:  Prototype:  Rapido:  Prototype:  Rapido:  Prototype:   Rapido:  Prototype:   Rapido:  Prototype:   Rapido:   Prototype:    Rapido:  Prototype:  Rapido:  Prototype:   Rapido:  Prototype:  Rapido:  Walthers-Proto Left, Rapido Right  Walthers/Proto Top, Rapido Bottom  Walthers Proto, Rapido, Rapido  Rapido Left, Walthers Proto Right  I wish all undecorateds came with everything (even if half of it is..well, nevermind..), but I can understand why they don't..  No shortage of "What the hell is it, and where does it go" with these.  |
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Post by sd80mac on Sept 5, 2021 10:11:20 GMT -8
Rapido got about 90% of it right...then just phoned in the rest. The missing grab on the top of the hood and the horn mount in the wrong spot are the most glaring errors, now that they've been brought to my attention. The weird raised areas under the stacks also are a head scratcher. The chunky cut levers are also quite noticeable. That being said, I'm still very happy with them. They weigh a lot, can pull a lot, and run very smoothly. And even though the sound file was recorded from a GMD-1, they still sound great, too.
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Post by 12bridge on Sept 5, 2021 10:12:21 GMT -8
Rapido got about 90% of it right...then just phoned in the rest. The missing grab on the top of the hood and the horn mount in the wrong spot are the most glaring errors, now that they've been brought to my attention. The weird raised areas under the stacks also are a head scratcher. The chunky cut levers are also quite noticeable. That being said, I'm still very happy with them. They weigh a lot, can pull a lot, and run very smoothly. And even though the sound file was recorded from a GMD-1, they still sound great, too. Atleast we can change the sound file to something more correct now! |
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Post by sd80mac on Sept 5, 2021 10:14:33 GMT -8
Yes we can! The new 12-567 SW1200 sound file released last week by ESU was recorded from the real ex-GTW 1512.
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Post by csxt8400 on Sept 5, 2021 11:34:45 GMT -8
Those window shapes are horrific. Fix that, make the louvres wider, and make the end railings and cut levers thinner and I'd be more accepting of the other issues. Thanks for the comparison.
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Post by mvlandsw on Sept 5, 2021 11:38:56 GMT -8
Is the truck wheelbase correct? The model truck looks too short but it might just be the photos.
The bolts on the hood door latches stick out way too far.
The walkway detail is way too coarse. The prototype has 17 rows of bumps and the model only has 9 oversized ones. It would be like walking on golf balls.
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Post by markfj on Sept 5, 2021 12:26:00 GMT -8
12bridge, I gave you a “tumbs up” because I know how long it must have taken to get all those photos sized and organized for the post. Good job!
The cab windows are noticeable, as was mentioned above, but those number boards really caught my attention. They would probably look much better if the black part was removed and you just put decals in their place.
On the trucks, I noticed the plate behind the bearings is shaped differently from the prototype photo. I think those are wear plates, so maybe that is correct for the type of truck when it was originally delivered.
Sd80mac’s comments seem to be spot on; a solid effort from Rapido, but just shy of 100%.
Maybe compromises were necessary for the sake of manufacturing. I don’t want to beat up on Rapido since this forum is already considered the hang out for the bad boys of the model train world.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by pboilermaker on Sept 5, 2021 12:27:18 GMT -8
Window size and shape (corner radii) appear drastically off. Unless there was significant variation on the prototype, it is hard to justify.
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Post by 12bridge on Sept 5, 2021 12:35:54 GMT -8
I found a better photo of the front..  For comparison, this is an SW9, however this has newer drop in aluminum frames, rather then the original glass as the 1200 above has.  |
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Post by lvrr325 on Sept 5, 2021 15:33:02 GMT -8
If the walkway detail was to scale, would it even be visible?
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Post by fr8kar on Sept 5, 2021 19:33:33 GMT -8
Why do the screws for the knuckle busters stick out so far? Those screw heads should be barely visible.
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Post by es80ac on Sept 5, 2021 20:53:55 GMT -8
on Youtube, Dan Cortopassi did a pretty seriously critical review of the Rapido SW1200.
Hope Rapido pay more attention to the prototype fidelity of their locomotives in the future.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2021 8:09:03 GMT -8
Are the corner/step well gussets the same as the SW1200 RS?
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Post by fr8kar on Sept 6, 2021 8:59:33 GMT -8
on Youtube, Dan Cortopassi did a pretty seriously critical review of the Rapido SW1200. Hope Rapido pay more attention to the prototype fidelity of their locomotives in the future. I wouldn't have taken 5 points off for the coupler height since it was off by so little and he replaced the couplers anyway, but I think Dan was far more generous elsewhere than I would have been. Glad I don't need one of these. |
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Post by markfj on Sept 6, 2021 9:29:48 GMT -8
on Youtube, Dan Cortopassi did a pretty seriously critical review of the Rapido SW1200. Hope Rapido pay more attention to the prototype fidelity of their locomotives in the future. I’ve been watching Dan’s channel for a while now and I think his reviews are fair and pretty accurate. The corner/step well gusset plates are a head scratcher. Are they correct for only CN units? I think if I want an SW1200, I’ll just track down either a Walthers or Proto model and build it up the best I can. Mark |
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Post by cemr5396 on Sept 6, 2021 9:48:55 GMT -8
Are the corner/step well gussets the same as the SW1200 RS? Looking at my SW1200RS is appears to have many of the same issues as these standard issue SW1200s do, so they probably re-used most of the tooling of that model for this one. Personally I don't find many of the problems with the model to be particularly bothersome, at normal viewing distance you don't really see much of the treadplate, or the knuckle busters for example. I do wonder why if the 1200RS has the same problems this model does, why everyone kept their mouth shut this whole time. I don't remember any complaints about the RSs when they came out, other than some people having motor problems. I also wonder how between the RS and the standard 1200s how the handrails managed to get worse. I think the ones on the RS were quite well done, but on this one..... not so much. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2021 10:10:12 GMT -8
Don’t know. I don’t own an SW1200RS. I was interested in the SW1200.
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Post by drsvelte on Sept 6, 2021 11:16:13 GMT -8
There were a number of issues with the RS-11s and there was quite a discussion of these. The paint on the LV and Conrail versions was botched. The radiator fan shroud is too high. The wind deflectors were very poorly done. The model is extremely difficult to disasssemble.
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Sept 6, 2021 11:19:30 GMT -8
I know the tread plate was discussed on here for the RS. Metal etchings and steps also.
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Post by cemr5396 on Sept 6, 2021 11:34:41 GMT -8
There were a number of issues with the RS-11s and there was quite a discussion of these. The paint on the LV and Conrail versions was botched. The radiator fan shroud is too high. The wind deflectors were very poorly done. The model is extremely difficult to disasssemble. who said anything about RS11s? |
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Post by bnsf971 on Sept 6, 2021 12:19:21 GMT -8
Am I the only one that noticed the trucks are not American Flexicoils, but rather Dofasco Canadian trucks? Is that what should be on the model pictured?
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 6, 2021 12:39:37 GMT -8
Am I the only one that noticed the trucks are not American Flexicoils, but rather Dofasco Canadian trucks? Is that what should be on the model pictured? I thought perhaps, GTW being Canadian-ish, that that was correct. However. My GN SW1200 has "Dofasco" on its sideframes, too. My grade of B+ for this model has been steadily declining. This latest faux pas (as they say in Quebec) brings the letter grade down to a C-. I have gotten to the point where I've decided I'd prefer to pass on the upcoming UP E's, and just work with my pile of old P2K's. Ed |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2021 13:10:32 GMT -8
I’m glad to have a Walthers undec SW1200…combined with KV models parts…it will be just fine.
I’d love to see Athearn Genesis do the B23-7 as well…to go with my MoPac Genesis fleet.
In fact, they can do the SD40-2 in the Genesis line as well. Walthers can bring the SD7 back, too…anytime!
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Post by sd80mac on Sept 6, 2021 13:12:30 GMT -8
Am I the only one that noticed the trucks are not American Flexicoils, but rather Dofasco Canadian trucks? Is that what should be on the model pictured? Any American SW1200 built with flexicoil trucks, including the GTW versions, would not have the Dofasco versions. Seems Rapido just recycled the trucks from the SW1200RS. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Sept 6, 2021 13:34:43 GMT -8
Am I the only one that noticed the trucks are not American Flexicoils, but rather Dofasco Canadian trucks? Is that what should be on the model pictured? Any American SW1200 built with flexicoil trucks, including the GTW versions, would not have the Dofasco versions. Seems Rapido just recycled the trucks from the SW1200RS. ...Sigh... |
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Post by cemr5396 on Sept 6, 2021 15:04:24 GMT -8
Am I the only one that noticed the trucks are not American Flexicoils, but rather Dofasco Canadian trucks? Is that what should be on the model pictured? Any American SW1200 built with flexicoil trucks, including the GTW versions, would not have the Dofasco versions. Seems Rapido just recycled the trucks from the SW1200RS. I think nearly the whole model is recycled from the SW1200RS. Which makes sense, as long as you get rid of the uniquely Canadian features. It's ironic, because Rapido has built their company on making proper Canadian stuff, instead of recycled US models painted in CN or CP. Except this time it has happened in reverse. I didn't need one of these, but this may be the first time Rapido has genuinely disappointed me. I know they can do better, I think they just bit off more than they could chew with this massive project, and as a result it was poorly executed. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 6, 2021 15:14:31 GMT -8
Then the question might be when will they STOP biting off more than they can chew?
Ed
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Post by cemr5396 on Sept 6, 2021 15:19:22 GMT -8
Then the question might be when will they STOP biting off more than they can chew? Ed Hopefully they have learned from this and it will be a one-time occurrence |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 6, 2021 15:57:12 GMT -8
Then the question might be when will they STOP biting off more than they can chew? Ed Hopefully they have learned from this and it will be a one-time occurrence But this little event didn't just happen in the last couple of days. We've been talking about some of this for months. They had time to learn from what we said, and apparently mostly didn't. So I see no reason to think this is a one-time thing. I expect the mistakes on locomotives to just keep on coming. Freight cars, on the other hand, have been quite good, all in all. Just thought I'd add that part. Ed |
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Post by 12bridge on Sept 6, 2021 16:16:24 GMT -8
Many issues were pointed out to them when they posted the first samples 2 years ago. Nothing changed. 1200 is grey, 1200RS is black      To compare, the 1200RS forward class lights are molded into the shell, the 1200 is a separate part.  I did not bother shooting photos of the included horns. They are so awful its not even funny. The best part, Rapido made a (plastic) horn parts pack several years ago, with some great looking horns. These brass ones? Trash. The Hancock looks like it was carved from a soap dish. Oh, the GTW has the wrong one as well, but that's besides the point. Its 2021. The amount of horns in collector hands is through the moon. NO reason to keep getting crap looking horns (across the board). |
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