Rapido FL9 in N announced

[Kisatchie]

How will we be able to get this thread to 25 pages?

Rapido is sneaky. They don't post photos of the model. They just use prototype photos and drawings. 


Hmm... Kiz just gave me
photos of bananas for
supper...

[High Hood]

I have absolutely NO need for one... but I really want one in Penn Central!

[JanesCustomTrain]

I know:  so this FL-9 will use the Walthers SW chassis?

No, this FL-9 will use a chassis based on the innovative Atlas/Rivarossi FM mechanism   

Jane

[u18b]

Man.... I came sooooo close to doing an FL-9 something like almost 20 years ago.

I had made Bryan Bussey a 5 axle C-liner based on an Atlas/Kato SD7/9 chassis.  Ran exquisitely.

Bryan came up with drawings and plan for trying to kitbash an FL-9.  We probably would use the same kitbashed chassis.

Bryan and Gary were using a guy name Conrad that made tremendously good castings.

I was to make the master, and then we would get castings (we had already done a U18B together.).  We tentatively planned to kitbash a Kato F unit, and Bryan was exploring etching the rivet lines in brass!

Then I went back to graduate school and the project went nowhere.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I have Bryan's drawing somewhere in a file.

So Bryan has been waiting for this for maybe 20+ years.

[thomasjmdavis]

 I am jealous.

I can't think of any reason to have one at Dearborn Station in Chicago (if I ever build it), but since it has a 3rd rail shoe, maybe I could run it on the El (if I ever build it), in North Shore colors, pulling Electroliner cars.  You know, for that train that ran from Grand Central Station in NYC to Roosevelt Road in Chicago, via Milwaukee.

No, this FL-9 will use a chassis based on the innovative Atlas/Rivarossi FM mechanism

Cool, that way, we all have spare parts at hand

[wcfn100]

I could use the whistle.


Jason

[bbussey]

Sweet!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

AAAAAAAAAAANNNNND still no Comet cars.

[CBQ Fan]

Shockingly the Conrail unit looks cool.  What cars would they have pulled?  If I can find a credit card with an expiration out to the next decade I may just order one.

[bbussey]

Good question on the Conrail unit.  It would have pulled the commuter cars of the era.  Too soon for Comets I think, and too late for PBLWs, 8600s and heavyweights.

Comet cars would be nice, but I much rather see FL9s and PBLWs.

[bbussey]

I could use the whistle.

Me too.  And there are two Hancock whistles to choose from — the shielded whistle above the windshield, and the unshielded whistle mounted above the rear door.  I'm guessing both will be free-standing detail parts, and I can use a few dozen of each.

[CBQ Fan]

I have seen photos of Conrail E units pulling commuter cars out of Chicago.  I always thought that was interesting!  A great pocket size passenger train..


What about the Amtrak, what cars would they have pulled?

[bbussey]

Amtrak trains would have been Heritage equipment.

Note in the photo of the Conrail unit in the Rapido Newsletter that the trailing car is a fluted Budd coach.  So I'm guessing vintage streamlined coaches would be appropriate.

[Puddington]

Well we aim to please and confound...............
 
The FL9 is a logicial "next step" for us in HO, as we have a very well received FP9A.... I just thought as long as we were in for a penny in HO......

Seriously; Jason is committed to N scale ( I mean he hired me and I'm such a blushing violet when it comes to N scale...) so,  if we were going to announce the unit in HO we'd better announce in N scale too... what with the Osgoode Bradley's and all.... (Ya can smell what the Puddy is cookin eh ?)

Yes, it's 18 months away, yes, we don't have a sample yet, yes; we've been bringing products to market in 14-18 months now for over a year.... yes; we're still a small, Canadian based compnay run by four train nuts and we don't have the resources of some big guys, but hey; here's the deal; we're doin an FL9; we'll have samples at Springfield and then you'll be able to "do what Railwire does best".......

Happy July 4th friends.......... I'm pourin a JD...............

[coosvalley]

Amfleets too..

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/8930/N52385T.jpg