Rapido CTA 2600 Series Announcement--and N Scale hint

[sandypsj]

Rapido has officially announced (https://www.facebook.com/rapidotrains/posts/pfbid029a9Uhbrq2MvLW5LDYzFjtzYyDj6PRuC5vFuBsXL6Lq3kyqyyKgnizgScErmZstFil) the hinted CTA 2600 series in HO, along with accompanying CTA elevated structures. As a fun surprise, the Facebook post says they'll be doing them in N too! No idea if they'll be doing the elevated structure in N, but I've asked in the Facebook comments.

[reinhardtjh]

The newsletter I got only mentions the CTA 2600 in N scale. But I just skimmed so I could have missed it.  I had to look twice to see the CTA announcement.

[thomasjmdavis]

Whether Rapido makes the L structure or not...

ITLA has been making Chicago L structures in N and HO for a decade -
https://itlascalemodels.com/collections/elevated-the-l/products/ho-n-7-piece-elevated-railway-superkit

[mu26aeh]

Still no sodium chlorate cars in N scale, so nothing worth talking about from them

[reinhardtjh]

Still no sodium chlorate cars in N scale, so nothing worth talking about from them

Rapido will get my attention when they start announcing X23, X29, H21, GLa, F30 and other steam/transition era items in N-Scale.  I did get an HO GE 44 tonner in Arcade & Attica paint just because HobbyTyme commissioned a special run.  No where to run it but it looks terrific.

[bbussey]

Rapido will get my attention when they start announcing X23, X29, H21, GLa, F30 and other steam/transition era items in N-Scale.  I did get an HO GE 44 tonner in Arcade & Attica paint just because HobbyTyme commissioned a special run.  No where to run it but it looks terrific.

Yup.  A lot more bang for the buck from a profit standpoint with those models than with CTA transit cars.

[thomasjmdavis]

Still waiting on the N scale ATSF mechanical reefers.... that were hinted, announced, pre-orders taken, pre-order deadline passed, still taking reservations... went dormant... relaunched, preorders taken, deadline passed, pre-orders still being taken... added another paint scheme...pre-orders still being taken... 

So... it's true- an 'announcement' is not really an indication that they will make something, at least, not within my lifetime.

I prefer Bluford's preorder system- announcement, take preorders, preorder deadline, produce product, deliver.

[Missaberoad]

Rapido will get my attention when they start announcing X23, X29, H21, GLa, F30 and other steam/transition era items in N-Scale.  I did get an HO GE 44 tonner in Arcade & Attica paint just because HobbyTyme commissioned a special run.  No where to run it but it looks terrific.

Nobody bought their poorly tooled meat reefer so clearly N scale transition era doesn't sell.

Nobody bought their very specific single province/route ore car so clearly N scale in general doesn't sell.

Hopefully there is a market for these very specific light rail cars otherwise who knows what their future in N will be.

Makes me wonder what Rapido would look like if Mike was still with us.

Apologies for being so salty, I see alot of lost potential.

[Englewood]

I for one will buy their CTA cars. But then, I was born and raised in Chicago. I think they'll do well with these cars. It is a bit of a niche product,  but there's enough collectors and non-prototypical modelers out there that'll buy them because they're different.

[bbussey]

I for one will buy their CTA cars. But then, I was born and raised in Chicago. I think they'll do well with these cars. It is a bit of a niche product,  but there's enough collectors and non-prototypical modelers out there that'll buy them because they're different.

They would sell a LOT more X23, R7 and F30 models.

[OldEastRR]

Hahaha. Well, since there's only one type of CTA car, doesn't matter if Rapido does only one type in N scale. Not like the NH cars.

Now I know the only reason Rapido made a set of NH signature train cars in HO is because the NHRHTS subsidized most of the costs. But to do only ONE type car in N, with no intent to make the rest of the cars or anyone to subsidize it, seems like a very foolish and effort/money wasting effort.

[garethashenden]

They would sell a LOT more X23, R7 and F30 models.

If we choose to remember that Rapido is a Canadian company, then Fowler boxcars seem an obvious choice. Maybe even the CP Minibox?

N scale is different from HO, not just in the size, but in what people want and expect. They make such strange choices, its almost feeling deliberate at this point. 

[pdx1955]

Still waiting on the N scale ATSF mechanical reefers.... that were hinted, announced, pre-orders taken, pre-order deadline passed, still taking reservations... went dormant... relaunched, preorders taken, deadline passed, pre-orders still being taken... added another paint scheme...pre-orders still being taken... 

So... it's true- an 'announcement' is not really an indication that they will make something, at least, not within my lifetime.

I prefer Bluford's preorder system- announcement, take preorders, preorder deadline, produce product, deliver.

I did see in one of their newsletters that these were in production now, so hopefully we'll see them sooner than later.

[muktown128]

Interesting interview of Jason Shron by David Popp

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-latest-developments-in-united-states-tariffs-and-the-model-train-industry/ar-AA1FFmqo?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&cvid=ab4e269608ef4012bb197f317ade2ba4

[thomasjmdavis]

I did see in one of their newsletters that these were in production now, so hopefully we'll see them sooner than later.

I took a look, and sure enough, in the April virtually all HO issue, there is a photo midway through of a bunch of decorated (presumably N scale) reefer bodies... so, maybe someday soon.  Must have missed it the first time through, bored to sleep with all the HO FTs and tankcars  and Canadian Flyers and gondolas and other HO stuff....