When do we (N scalers) get this? N.P. radial roof boxcar?

[JoeD]

was that a compliment??   LOL   

Joe

I doubt it - I now firmly believe that the person (artist/designer/die-maker) producing molds for Rapido firmly believes that greatly exaggerating the clapboard details is the best way to represent those on model trains.  But unfortunately in this case subtle would be much more realistic. As it was clearly shown on their N scale meat reefers, paint does not fill or hide those yooge gaps, and those gaps are so pronounced that they break up the tiny Tampo-printed dimensional data.

I am starting to think that I should sent one of undercoated MTL wood reefers to Rapido and ask them to examine it. MTL has the size of the gaps figured out perfectly. It should not be difficult for Rapido die makers to duplicate that look.  The way Rapido seems to model wooden-side cars they would make them good Christmas tree ornaments rather than fine scale models. 

[brill27mcb]

Take 'em when you can get 'em, Joe...  - Rich K.

[tom mann]

Ok guys the board gap thing has been done to death...I'm sure the point was made and it's time to move on.

[peteski]

Yes, Joe, it it is a compliment given where it is due. I made the same statement when we were beating to death the N scale Rapido meat reefer bodies.  To me the MTL wood reefer sides have just the right look to make them look realistic.  That includes the subtle hinges and ladders.  But these models were done during the Kadee days, before you joined the company, so you can't take a credit for them.  But you sure can reap the rewards.    

Ok guys the board gap thing has been done to death...I'm sure the point was made and it's time to move on.

The flogging will continue until the gaps are made more realistic (and in-scale). 

Just kidding - I'm all gapped out for now.  Over and out.

[Cumbo2000]

I doubt it - I now firmly believe that the person (artist/designer/die-maker) producing molds for Rapido firmly believes that greatly exaggerating the clapboard details is the best way to represent those on model trains.  But unfortunately in this case subtle would be much more realistic. As it was clearly shown on their N scale meat reefers, paint does not fill or hide those yooge gaps, and those gaps are so pronounced that they break up the tiny Tampo-printed dimensional data.

I am starting to think that I should sent one of undercoated MTL wood reefers to Rapido and ask them to examine it. MTL has the size of the gaps figured out perfectly. It should not be difficult for Rapido die makers to duplicate that look.  The way Rapido seems to model wooden-side cars they would make them good Christmas tree ornaments rather than fine scale models. 

I agree completely that Rapido is exaggerating this detail to the detriment of their models. For the meat reefers the spacing between the boards is just too wide for me and others.  It is a perception issue and each eye-brain sees this detail differently. The modeler or manufacturer must make a compromise between making a model an exact scale reproduction of the prototype or a model that looks like what we perceive to be an exact scale reproduction.

We are discussing N scale here, but this discussion also occurs for HO scale models. Al Westerfield a former resin kit manufacturer used Evergreen V-grooved siding for the masters for his models of DS prototypes. Many thought this siding made the "gaps" between the boards too wide and tried to get him to change. I believe he never did.

Bob Witt

[thomasjmdavis]

I suspect it has to do with the manufacturer wanting you to see particular details at a common viewing distance.  The issue for many of us is that is just not the way we see the prototype.  Has to do with how you view the old "3 foot rule." From my own point of view, I figure that 3' viewing distance is equal to 480 scale feet, so I should see the same detail on my layout at 3' that I see in real life at 480'.  As it happens, I have a railroad track just over 500' north of my house (almost exactly 480 if I cross the road in front of the house, and a bridge goes over the cross road just east, so I can get a good, clear look).  I have pretty good eyesight (need reading glasses for close work, but better than 20-20 at a distance).  I cannot see indvidual rivets at 480.  So, from my point of view, if rivets are not visible on my models at 3 feet, that is OK, but I do want to see them if I do a close up photo, or have a close up view on the layout.

BUT... I had a friend take a look at one of the cars I was building from M&R car sides (ATSF heavyweight) which have very fine etched rivets.  He thought them "inaccurate" because the rivets were "too small to be seen" unless you were very close to the model. So I think there probably are a lot of modelers out there who would prefer the Rapido philosophy over the MT philosophy. He's probably happier with those mass produced freight cars with 9 rivets down the side that scale out to 6" rivet heads.  It is interesting that the details on Rapido passenger cars (and many of the details on the reefer) are so fine, while the board gaps are so large.  Still, it seems it must be a marketing decision.  They are clearly aware of it- and have the technical expertise to do it the other way if they want to.

Truth be told, having seen a couple freshly painted wood passenger cars in museums, it would be hard to tell a (double sheathed) wood car with fresh paint from a steel car with fresh paint at 480' (of course, other details on the car might give it away).  What makes the wood car obvious when it is weathered is NOT the gap between the boards (other than maybe on a derelict car), but that individual boards weather differently and result in differences in fading and chipping of the paint- the sort of thing that wins prizes for those of you who have really mastered painting and weathering technique.  Dirt may get wedged into the cracks between boards, but that is going to be a line of 1/16 to perhaps a 1/4 inch on a lot of cars, something that scales to thousandths in N scale.  And I can make that happen if I want to on a MT car by using a thinned gray wash.

[nkalanaga]

I've seen relatively freshly painted wood boxcars, as the NP and GN still had a lot of them at the BN merger.  And I'll agree that, on a car on good condition, the boards don't show.  Also, the NP used these cars for grain, and even with double sheathing, you want the sides TIGHT, to keep the grain in and the rain out.

[mmagliaro]

The Rapido announcement page *does* show single-car part numbers for this car, so at least for now it does not look like you are stuck buying a 4-pack if you don't want one.

Personally, I'd like a few of these since I model NP and SP&S.  I scratchbuilt one, but it was an awful lot of work.  I'm not keen to make any more by hand.   The board gaps do bug me, though.  (And I hear you about not whipping that complaint to death, but I think if we keep it brief, it adds value in that if Rapido reads these boards and sees a wide-spread disapproval of the spacing, they might at least think about changing it).

[peteski]

The Rapido announcement page *does* show single-car part numbers for this car, so at least for now it does not look like you are stuck buying a 4-pack if you don't want one.

Personally, I'd like a few of these since I model NP and SP&S.  I scratchbuilt one, but it was an awful lot of work.  I'm not keen to make any more by hand.   The board gaps do bug me, though.  (And I hear you about not whipping that complaint to death, but I think if we keep it brief, it adds value in that if Rapido reads these boards and sees a wide-spread disapproval of the spacing, they might at least think about changing it).

I'm glad to see others noticing the same poor design being repeated by Rapido, but you do realize that those wide gaps are in H0 scale car prototype, right?  That announcement is is for a H0 scale model. 

[mmagliaro]

I'm glad to see others noticing the same poor design being repeated by Rapido, but you do realize that those wide gaps are in H0 scale car prototype, right?  That announcement is is for a H0 scale model. 

Yep, I do realize that.  Which means there will probably not be any changes in the HO version.  But
that also means that maybe we have a shot with the N Scale version if they decide to do one, if they happen to consider these remarks.

[peteski]

Yep, I do realize that.  Which means there will probably not be any changes in the HO version.  But
that also means that maybe we have a shot with the N Scale version if they decide to do one, if they happen to consider these remarks.

If they ever do N scale version I doubt they will change the gap size. Rapido somehow seems to be stuck in the Bachmann  toyland of N scale when it comes to that highly exaggerated feature.  Actually I shouldn't even say that, because even the 40-year-old Bachmann old-timer wooden side cars have more delicately engraved sides.

[tom mann]

Actually I shouldn't even say that, because even the 40-year-old Bachmann old-timer wooden side cars have more delicately engraved sides.

Fixed it for you:

Actually I shouldn't even say that, because even the 40-year-old Bachmann old-timer wooden side cars have more delicately engraved sides. because Tom Mann told us to give the board gap talk a rest

[peteski]

[OldEastRR]

Any other RRs use this type car? It's not iconic as the B&O wagontops so anybody can use the B&O cars on any layout.

[wcfn100]

It's not iconic as the B&O wagontops so anybody can use the B&O cars on any layout.

You have any basis for that statement?  NP cars went everywhere B&O cars went.  Railroads didn't care how iconic a car was.   


Jason