Rapido N Scale SP “3/4” Dome Lounges out now

[mark.hinds]

Thanks for the heads-up; was going to kitbash one (eventually).  I bought one #3604 SP Daylight for in-store pickup.  According to "Southern Pacific Passenger Trains, Volume 2", this car was assigned to the San Joaquin Daylight during my era.  MH

[Dwight in Toronto]

I posted earlier about how nice it is that Rapido incorporated track-powered, magnetic-stick-toggled coach lighting in these cars (instead of the button batteries approach).

Although I haven’t examined how their powered trucks are designed, it occurred to me that if these were available as spare parts, perhaps they could be retrofitted to earlier Rapido passenger cars, and thereby abandon the batteries.  They could also be used in kit-bashing and scratch building, as an alternative to Kato’s powered trucks.

I’ll enquire as to potential availability.

[nkalanaga]

I got mine today.  Unlike Dwight's CP car, which seems to have clear dome "glass", the Amtrak version has tinted glass, and looks quite good with the Railsmith domes.

The lights on mine don't seem quite as noticeable as in his, but since all of my passenger trains run during daylight, they won't be used anyway.  Mine didn't flicker at all, so that feature works.

[busdriver]

Nkalanaga,

Where did you get the lead weights?  I'm having similar issues with tight curves and derailing.  Definitely seems like some weight will help keep the wheels from popping off.

Bryce

[nkalanaga]

Mine are the square 1/4 ounce weights originally for auto wheel balancing.  Somebody used to sell them in small packages for model railroaders, but mine came from O'Reilly Auto Parts.  I ordered them several years ago through our local store.  You can probably find other sources online.

The only problem I had ordering them was that I had to swear that they wouldn't be sent to California.  Since I live in Kentucky, that wasn't a problem.

Since mine was in a baggage car, with no interior details, I just stuck them to the floor.  In Rivarossi 10-6 sleepers, I used to stand them on edge in the aisle!

[busdriver]

Thanks....I'll be visiting my auto parts store.  I'm not sure anyone makes lead anymore, but we'll see.

Bryce

[nkalanaga]

If you have an O'Reilly near you, here are links for them. 

https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/tools---equipment/professional-equipment/tire---wheel/wheel-weights/27eef2d9f3b9  The index page

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/quikstik/tools---equipment/professional-equipment/tire---wheel/wheel-weights/27eef2d9f3b9/perfect-equipment-quikstik-3-ounce-wheel-weight/pwt2/100360   The kind I bought years ago

Their website says that these are in-stock in Ashland, KY.  I didn't check the Grayson store, which is closer, but any O'Reilly store should be able to order them, and I'd imagine any other chain could get similar products.

[samusi01]

If you have some sort of hobby store nearby that caters to pine car derby, they may well have tungsten weights of the same form factor. Locally I’d check out hobby lobby.

[Dwight in Toronto]

I posted earlier about how nice it is that Rapido incorporated track-powered, magnetic-stick-toggled coach lighting in these cars (instead of the button batteries approach).

Although I haven’t examined how their powered trucks are designed, it occurred to me that if these were available as spare parts, perhaps they could be retrofitted to earlier Rapido passenger cars, and thereby abandon the batteries.  They could also be used in kit-bashing and scratch building, as an alternative to Kato’s powered trucks.

I’ll enquire as to potential availability.

My email enquiry received the following response:

Unfortunately, we are not able to sell the Dome car trucks at this time. And of course, all our trucks are designed for the specific prototype and model design; they are not generic.

In any event, our stock of warranty parts is limited and so I doubt we'd be able to supply many.

Sorry I can't be more helpful at this time.


Oh well, it was worth a try.

[peteski]

Well unfortunately Rapido ain't Kato or Atlas. They don't  sell parts, but they do come through when parts are needed to repair damaged Rapido model.

[CBQ Fan]

I bought tire weights off of Amazon.

[thomasjmdavis]

Rapido did at one time sell passenger trucks- originally made for their 'Panorama" line- their CN prototype passenger cars. In 3 variants, 2 different four wheel trucks for most of the cars, plus the six wheel trucks used on some of their CN baggage cars.  I have several packages of them, purchased from retailers.  But even if there is a box of those under a desk somewhere in the warehouse, those were not made with electrical pickups- they were from the days of leaky battery lighting.

But... attempts to secure other parts for projects have proven fruitless.