Rapido newsletter #165, a survey for N scalers

[Cajonpassfan]

I've met Otto.  He doesn't look a day over 59.  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it (because I'm 60).

Ha!
Thank you Max, although I'm having a hard time figuring out how you do such fabulous modeling with such bad eye sight
Otto

[wm3798]

Obviously that shop in the plaza that had a shelf full of Atlas jewel cases back in the 90s was carrying a lot of inventory, which was probably pretty expensive. 

But imagine walking into a bakery, and they had one kind of bagel on the rack, and you had to preorder the one you wanted and wait a year.

That broad swath of people who get to shell out $40 for a single specialized, highly detailed model they are interested in might be the same wide swath of people who never imagined themselves having model trains until they woke up one day and stumbled across a Postage Stamp set in Two Guys....

Lee

[Scottl]

Yeah, $5 coal cars are coming back like $10 000 cars and trucks.  There are lots of cheap used model items out there at shops, online and at meets for those willing to do the work (myself included). I enjoy that part of the hobby but I also appreciate detailed, accurate models of prototypes.  I don't spend very much on train cars in a given year, but I do have space in the budget for a few deluxe items that I can use.  Rapido has met that interest a few times and I have no complaints.  Their price point is not too far past the legacy companies these days for products with a lot of extra detail and fidelity.

What it comes down to IMO is that some folk seem to have a problem with Rapido.  The newsletters can assume a tone that seems to rub some folk the wrong way, but it is clearly tongue in cheek and meant to be entertaining.  Maybe it is Canadian humor or something, but I sure don't take offense by a company giving me insight into their thinking, however irreverently they do it.  Jason S. is pretty transparent about how they work and the challenges.  It's a tough business and a great way to lose money.  He is also a great ambassador for the hobby *outside* of the hobby so I have a lot of respect for his efforts and perseverance.  Those corny videos and their PR efforts are certainly part of what are needed to attract younger people to the hobby, not cheap boxes of parts.  I'm glad that Rapido, Scale Trains and others get it and have made an effort to spread the word beyond traditional means. 

By comparison, it seems when one of the favored legacy companies comes out with a new scheme or number on 30-year old tooling "my wallet hurts".  If there is nothing there of interest, it is literally a relief for some: "my wallet is safe this month".  Rapido puts out a newsletter without enough n scale or some other transgression:  well, read the preceding 7 pages 

I'll see myself out 

[chessie system fan]

The thing that's gets me is the kids I've met recently are all about sound and are willing to pay for it.  They care more about that than prototypical details.  Bachmann is well represented on their rosters, and it's made me rethink Bachmann's strategy and give them more credit than I have in the past.

I think it helps that there's a large local layout that has monthly operating sessions where they can run their locomotives. 

Freight cars are different.  I don't even know if they own any other than a few train show bargain finds.

[squirrelhunter]

I put in their product recommendation link asking for the PRR X31, NP radial roof and SP B50 single sheathed boxcars and the X3 tank cars.

My pitch was BLI is on the 3rd run of USRA 2-8-2 and 4-6-2's, and those need something to go behind them. BLI and Bachmann have provided a lot of DCC Sound steam in the last 5-6 years, which solved the primary issue of transition era modeling, a diversity of reliable and good looking steam.

But at the same time Atlas, MT and IM have basically abandoned  their transition era freight cars. Atlas USRA wood boxcars haven't been run in almost 7 years, IM USRA composite gons, tank cars, ATSF stock cars and  the 10' and 10"6' AAR boxcars have not been run recently. The thread on the MT bodystyle run frequency showed some of fheir hoppers and gons haven't been run in quite a while.

I don't think all the BLI steamers are going to N Trak "anything goes" types that will put them at the head kf a string of aluminum bathtub gons.

[squirrelhunter]

The thing that's gets me is the kids I've met recently are all about sound and are willing to pay for it.  They care more about that than prototypical details.  Bachmann is well represented on their rosters, and it's made me rethink Bachmann's strategy and give them more credit than I have in the past.

I think it helps that there's a large local layout that has monthly operating sessions where they can run their locomotives. 

Freight cars are different.  I don't even know if they own any other than a few train show bargain finds.

Are they big on Bachmann diesels or steam?

Little N scale speakers can't really do the deep bass of a diesel justice, but the horn/bell cam work well.

I feel that the higher pitched sound of steam works better with N scale speakers.

[bbussey]

... But at the same time Atlas, MT and IM have basically abandoned  their transition era freight cars.

The latest new MTL freight car is the PS-2 2-bay cement hopper.  The next freight car is the ATSF 65' mill gondola.  Both transition-era freight cars.  And MTL has released schemes on the 33' 2-bay hopper, single-dome tank, 40' sliding door boxcar with roofwalk, 40' plug door boxcar with roofwalk, 50' gon with drop ends, 3-dome tank and 50 flatcar this year.

Atlas has the ex-BLMA ACF gondola, the 2-bay offset hopper and the USRA steel rebuilts in the Master line and a ton of transition-era Trainman models scheduled for release this year.

And to be fair, IMRC has transition-era boxcars, reefers and tank cars on reservation, but the numbers haven't been hit yet to trigger production.

There are still plenty of transition-era models being released regularly from the larger manufacturers.

[wm3798]

Yes, the train show finds and junk box rescues are an excellent source of inexpensive rolling stock, especially now that those of us who started collecting when this stuff was truly mass produced (regularly and literally for decades!  The Trix F unit was introduced in 1966 and produced continuously until 1999) are now dropping like flies, leaving behind enormous piles of noisy engines and 40 foot boxcars with chunky stirrups and roof walks for pennies on the ORIGINAL dollar.

As for sound, it has been a boon to the hobby, and I'll agree that steam sound is more compatible with N than diesels.  (Steam models are also much more fun to watch, I've found).  Bachmann is a good hybrid of what I think more manufacturers should be trying.  The EM1 and other Big Steam project are following the made to order format, but you can still find their train sets in Hobby Lobby, and at the holidays other mass retailers.  While they try to get away with the $40 boxcar with 50 year old tooling, they also put out a train set with three of them plus engine plus track and controller for around $150.

I'd like to see more of an old General Motors approach to the market, with offerings that meet a variety of price points, from the entry level set (Chevrolet) to the made to order quasi custom dripping with chrome (Cadillac) and a couple of steps in between, where the basic models are offered as kits that can be customized, and the more custom models are offered as kits at a lower price point.  With Scale Trains, Rapido, and others all climbing over each other to meet the top of the market, a lot of modelers get overlooked who just want something to do in the evening other than worry about when their expensive preorder will be shipping.

Lee

[Dwight in Toronto]

Yeah, $5 coal cars are coming back like $10 000 cars and trucks.  There are lots of cheap used model items out there at shops, online and at meets for those willing to do the work (myself included). I enjoy that part of the hobby but I also appreciate detailed, accurate models of prototypes.  I don't spend very much on train cars in a given year, but I do have space in the budget for a few deluxe items that I can use.  Rapido has met that interest a few times and I have no complaints.  Their price point is not too far past the legacy companies these days for products with a lot of extra detail and fidelity.

What it comes down to IMO is that some folk seem to have a problem with Rapido.  The newsletters can assume a tone that seems to rub some folk the wrong way, but it is clearly tongue in cheek and meant to be entertaining.  Maybe it is Canadian humor or something, but I sure don't take offense by a company giving me insight into their thinking, however irreverently they do it.  Jason S. is pretty transparent about how they work and the challenges.  It's a tough business and a great way to lose money.  He is also a great ambassador for the hobby *outside* of the hobby so I have a lot of respect for his efforts and perseverance.  Those corny videos and their PR efforts are certainly part of what are needed to attract younger people to the hobby, not cheap boxes of parts.  I'm glad that Rapido, Scale Trains and others get it and have made an effort to spread the word beyond traditional means. 

By comparison, it seems when one of the favored legacy companies comes out with a new scheme or number on 30-year old tooling "my wallet hurts".  If there is nothing there of interest, it is literally a relief for some: "my wallet is safe this month".  Rapido puts out a newsletter without enough n scale or some other transgression:  well, read the preceding 7 pages 

I'll see myself out 

I’m pretty much with you on this, word-for-word.  I’ve had disappointments with a few of the selections I’ve received from Rapido over the years, but when all is said and done, I am thankful that they are there.  Also, I have tremendous admiration for Jason Schron - to start a model railway fabrication and distribution business, nurture it, grow it, create employment for what has become a sizeable staff (in Canada, America, and the UK, no less) … good on ya, mate!

They, like all of us, will pull the occasional blooper from time to time, but I wish them nothing but continued growth, success and prosperity. 

[Frank Amato]

There's actually a few boxcar types that were 'paperboxes' on CN, including other NSC designs that did not have the straight side sill. The TLT model is the most common, and given CN's fleet included CN, CV, and DWP schemes, the most eye catching (especially the CV and DWP).

Good call @lock4244 , thanks for those details!

And thanks @bbussey for the TLT vs Life-Like clarification.

  Frank

[cv_acr]

@amato1969

There's actually a few boxcar types that were 'paperboxes' on CN, including other NSC designs that did not have the straight side sill. The TLT model is the most common, and given CN's fleet included CN, CV, and DWP schemes, the most eye catching (especially the CV and DWP). If Rapido did a paperbox, they could do these:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn401203&o=cn

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn401256&o=cn

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn401442&o=cn

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn411162&o=cn
This one may not have been in newsprint / paper service, but was common, and I recall seeing them as late as 2021.

These are representatives of much smaller fleets that CN operated, BLT 1964, 1964, 1966, and 1974 respectively, but they were out there.

True, but as you say these are smaller fleets and basically unique to CN. The TLT car was a good choice as it was represented across both major Canadian railways, including multiple of CN's US subsidiaries, plus a couple of regional/shortline schemes (PGE/BCOL and MDW).

The Atlas rib-sided NSC car (http://archive.atlasrr.com/NFreight/arc-nnsc50pdbc.htm) was also a good choice as it fills in a different looking car that also applies (with some tooling variations) across multiple railways including CN, CP, BCOL, and ONT.

Now, maybe with some tooling variations and a "kit" sort of design mentality, multiple versions of the NSC smooth-sided cars could be done sharing at least "some" of the tooling components.

A smooth-side 52' NSC insulated boxcar like this one might be a decent choice in either scale as well, although less of a signature than the paper boxcars, it's still a distinct Canadian car:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166566&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166551&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx2959&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx3011&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ont260&o=ont
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=hbry286068&o=hbry

[chessie system fan]

Are they big on Bachmann diesels or steam?

Little N scale speakers can't really do the deep bass of a diesel justice, but the horn/bell cam work well.

I feel that the higher pitched sound of steam works better with N scale speakers.

Oh, it's all diesels for them. Considering how much railfanning they do I'm not surprised.  But the large local layout where I see them has mostly Bachmann steam.

[dandopinski]

CN 286xxx series insulated boxcars and the CN 235xxx series mechanical reefers would be excellent additions

[lock4244]

True, but as you say these are smaller fleets and basically unique to CN. The TLT car was a good choice as it was represented across both major Canadian railways, including multiple of CN's US subsidiaries, plus a couple of regional/shortline schemes (PGE/BCOL and MDW).

The Atlas rib-sided NSC car (http://archive.atlasrr.com/NFreight/arc-nnsc50pdbc.htm) was also a good choice as it fills in a different looking car that also applies (with some tooling variations) across multiple railways including CN, CP, BCOL, and ONT.

Now, maybe with some tooling variations and a "kit" sort of design mentality, multiple versions of the NSC smooth-sided cars could be done sharing at least "some" of the tooling components.

A smooth-side 52' NSC insulated boxcar like this one might be a decent choice in either scale as well, although less of a signature than the paper boxcars, it's still a distinct Canadian car:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166566&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166551&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx2959&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx3011&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ont260&o=ont
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=hbry286068&o=hbry

I could totally use some of those insulated boxcars, still common back in the late 80's.

Since Rapido tooled the barrel ore cars, a small fleet of CN boxcars that were fairly well traveled (relative to the ore cars) seems like a safer bet 

[lock4244]

Now, maybe with some tooling variations and a "kit" sort of design mentality, multiple versions of the NSC smooth-sided cars could be done sharing at least "some" of the tooling components.

A smooth-side 52' NSC insulated boxcar like this one might be a decent choice in either scale as well, although less of a signature than the paper boxcars, it's still a distinct Canadian car:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166566&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166551&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx2959&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx3011&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ont260&o=ont
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=hbry286068&o=hbry

@cv_acr

So the insulated car is dimensionally the same as the paperbox and, built alongside the paperboxes in the early 70's, essentially the same design / car?