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

[central.vermont]

Have you guys ever discussed with Atlas making Canadian shells to retro fit their mechanisms?

I like that idea Philip!!!
Jon

[Scottl]

That is what Kaslo did-they made the shell (as a kit) and you used an Atlas mechanism.

The 8-40CM has no correct mechanism. The Briggs kit used an SD40-2 frame and the trucks are rebuilt from kit parts.

[CBQ Fan]

This is the first offering in our "Prime Mover": series of "entry level" products. Same exact drive system, motor, chassis as our regular products but fewer factory applied details. Many are found in a parts baggie in the box so modellers can... well... model....... The DCC sound version will be utilizing a less functional decoder, fewer functions so things like ditch lights won't function. Again, modellers can take this base model and do as they wish....

The Prime Movers are priced to be more accessible, albeit right now they are an HO only effort. We haven't discussed an N scale Prime Movers at this time.

Time will tell if this is a popular concept.

Mike

You ought to apply this concept with your n scale passenger line if it would bring down the price by a notable amount.

[cjm413]

We haven't discussed an N scale Prime Movers at this time.

Does that mean you are discussing N scale non-Prime Movers?

http://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale-amtrak-f40ph/

[Puddington]

Does that mean you are discussing N scale non-Prime Movers?

http://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale-amtrak-f40ph/

We constantly discuss new products..... The F40.... I don't think it would sell.... here's why and I stand to be proven wrong.... HO modellers are quite happy to shelf an older model and fork out bucks for a new and better version of the same locomotive.... been proven time and time again.... in N scale that doesn't seem to be the case, although there are far fewer examples of "new and improved" versions of locomotives being offered. Kato makes an F40; there are tons out there.... would a higher end F40 with more prototypical details, all the "bells and whistles" sell....? I've said I don't think so; what's the thoughts of the local gentry.... ?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Shelve the F40PH and make Comet II/Horizon cars.

[peteski]

Shelve the F40PH and make Comet II/Horizon cars.

That would be nice. Or the Amtrak Pooches (but I don't know how many other railroads had them).

Then there are the bi-level Kawasaki cars used on the commuter lines around Boston. Again, not sure if that would be too region-specific.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Or the Amtrak Pooches (but I don't know how many other railroads had them).

That's easy... none.  But the last one in service was one that was leased to CSX that they used on their Track Geometry train.

[sd45elect2000]

For a new Rapido N scale car I might suggest the Fowler outside braced wood boxcar.  The original Fowler cars along with the clones..... I think there would be a good following.

As far as locomotives go, my needs/ wants are pretty mundane. Who ever is the first to do an FM H10-44 has my money.

Randy

[Puddington]

For a new Rapido N scale car I might suggest the Fowler outside braced wood boxcar.  The original Fowler cars along with the clones..... I think there would be a good following.

As far as locomotives go, my needs/ wants are pretty mundane. Who ever is the first to do an FM H10-44 has my money.

Randy

I agree.... but..... with the numerous sub sets and offshoots of that car (for example the Dominion versions) the investment in mould slides would be significant.... but I think it would sell quite well and have a long run life.

[Philip H]

We constantly discuss new products..... The F40.... I don't think it would sell.... here's why and I stand to be proven wrong.... HO modellers are quite happy to shelf an older model and fork out bucks for a new and better version of the same locomotive.... been proven time and time again.... in N scale that doesn't seem to be the case, although there are far fewer examples of "new and improved" versions of locomotives being offered. Kato makes an F40; there are tons out there.... would a higher end F40 with more prototypical details, all the "bells and whistles" sell....? I've said I don't think so; what's the thoughts of the local gentry.... ?

I think the answer lies in how many folks ditched their lifelike F40 for the Kato one.

[peteski]

I think the answer lies in how many folks ditched their lifelike F40 for the Kato one.

I'm not quite sure this is a good example (based on my own F40PH experience).

I started with the old Model Power F40s (in the '80s).  The shell wasn't very accurate, it had holes on the sides (for latches on the frame).  The mechanism was a joke: an old style open-frame 5-pole motor with tiny armature and weak magnets.The gearing and trucks were also really crude (detailing-wise  and and mechanically).

I did what I could at that time to make them better (and succeeded):  I plugged up the latch-holes in the body cut out the original mechanism and replaced it with The then-new Bachmann GP40 chassis.  While not all that great, it was way better than the original.  Heavy split-frame, decent motor and more accurate truck side-frames.  After some tuning, it actually ran quite well. I reshaped the fuel tank and added air tanks. I painted them for Amtrak Ph. II and II scheme. I did that to about 3 or 4 of those models.

Few years later Life Like came out with their F40.  It had much more accurate body, but the mechanism and the under-body details were still rather crappy.  I think I bought 2 of them   I bought them undecorated.  They stayed in boxes - I never painted them or started running them.

Several years later Kato came out with their version of F40s.Excellent shell details and superb mechanism.  After couple of runs they did I ended up with about 7 or 8 of those models.

According to what you speculate (I bought a bunch of Katos to upgrade my Model-Power/Life-Like fleet), if Rapido came out with a super-detailed F40, I should be ditching my Katos and buying bunch of Rapidos.

I don't think I would. The Kato is an excellent model (visually and operationally).  I actually think its level of detail is a good balance of sturdiness and realism.  Let's face it - Rapido mechanism will not be in the same class as the silky-smooth Kato (which unlike Rapido also doesn't use any wires).  The shell (while maybe it will have additional details like separate grabs) will probably not be as finely made as Kato. Plus I'm sure the price will be way higher than Kato models.  So, even thought I ditched the Model Power ones for Katos, I would not be tempted to replace my Kato fleet with Rapidos.

[cjm413]

We constantly discuss new products..... The F40.... I don't think it would sell.... here's why and I stand to be proven wrong.... HO modellers are quite happy to shelf an older model and fork out bucks for a new and better version of the same locomotive.... been proven time and time again.... in N scale that doesn't seem to be the case, although there are far fewer examples of "new and improved" versions of locomotives being offered. Kato makes an F40; there are tons out there.... would a higher end F40 with more prototypical details, all the "bells and whistles" sell....? I've said I don't think so; what's the thoughts of the local gentry.... ?

Overlap wouldn't be a problem if you offer an early phase F40PH...

[cjm413]

Overlap wouldn't be a problem if you offer an early phase F40PH...

http://rapidotrains.com/f40ph-master-class/

[craigolio1]

We constantly discuss new products..... The F40.... I don't think it would sell.... here's why and I stand to be proven wrong.... HO modellers are quite happy to shelf an older model and fork out bucks for a new and better version of the same locomotive.... been proven time and time again.... in N scale that doesn't seem to be the case, although there are far fewer examples of "new and improved" versions of locomotives being offered. Kato makes an F40; there are tons out there.... would a higher end F40 with more prototypical details, all the "bells and whistles" sell....? I've said I don't think so; what's the thoughts of the local gentry.... ?

I've buily two of the Briggs C40-8m, they are ready for assembly, but I would still buy two if Rapido released them as I have a feeling I will be tinkering with them to keep the modified chassis running through it's life.

Same goes for my Kaslo FP9, if Rapido brought them out in N scale.

I ha e so many projects in the go that when the oppertunity comes to have an RTR with accurate details and decent quality, I'm in. I stocked up on Kato SDs back in the day with the intent of modelling accuser GMD BCR models. Now Intermountain has announced then. Some of those chassis are under my C40-8m now.

If no one ever produced a better model we would be stuck all the old n scale crap we had 30 years ago. Maybe not with an F40ph, because a high quality one exists, but maybe the C40-8m would go.

I don't know. How did the GMD1 do?

Craig