Rapido C40-8M for HO, when for N?

[lock4244]

I think this is a very good summary and explains our difficulty in the N scale market, as well as the difficulty that a lot of other primarily HO manufacturers face.

We just can't get out models at the same price point as Kato. They have economies of scale that are orders of magnitude greater than Rapido's production ability/capacity. If we brought out an N scale F40 with the exact same detail level as Kato it would probably be 60% more expensive. Sure our cars are more detailed than Kato, but for a market used to paying $25-$35 a car, there is a (justifiable) belief that a $55 car needs to be gold plated. And so our baggage car orders sit in the doldrums.

Mike is keen for us to start a large project in N scale, and I am discussing it with our engineers when I am in China next month. But I am very nervous about producing it because I know it would be expensive. We can eat the tooling costs of the baggage car while we wait for the orders to show up. We can't eat the tooling costs of a more complex model or train.

-Jason

Make that project an SW1200RS. Please, take my money. We don't need another F40 in N scale, already have one... just like we don't need a Rapido FP7/FP9 because we can make due with the Intermountain one.

So, SW1200RS it is then, we're in agreement. This has been a productive meeting 

[cjm413]

Make that project an SW1200RS. Please, take my money. We don't need another F40 in N scale, already have one... just like we don't need a Rapido FP7/FP9 because we can make due with the Intermountain one.

So, SW1200RS it is then, we're in agreement. This has been a productive meeting 

I think you meant to say "RS1325", the SW1200RS is "the same thing" as the Life-Like model (ducking for cover)

[Scottl]

So, SW1200RS it is then, we're in agreement. This has been a productive meeting 

What about a GP40W?

[lock4244]

What about a GP40W?

That's too easy for them to pawn off on Atlas.

But yeah, GP40-2L if you insist.

[lock4244]

I think you meant to say "RS1325", the SW1200RS is "the same thing" as the Life-Like model (ducking for cover)

I'd hate to see effort wasted on such a rare bird as the RS1325, regardless of how cool that model is.

You know, if someone did a completed shell for the SW1200RS (by completed I mean painted) that would drop onto the Kato NW-2 (with flexicoil trucks) I's be elated. Even if it cost what a complete locomotive cost, it'd be work it to me.

Of course, same for my oft requested GP40-2L. If a complete shell was available decorated that would drop onto the Atlas GP40 chassis, i'd jump for a bunch. If frame mods were required, no problem.