Espee time! It's Ontario Northland time! The B-70-69/71/75 class boxcar in HO scale gets a paint scheme addition! Ontario Northland might not be the largest road, but it certainly gets around and the famous yellow chevrons are instantly recognizable.

The ONR would acquire a handful of second-hand cars from the SP in the mid 1990s. These cars had a modified Youngstown-style door and were repainted into the attractive blue and yellow Ontario Northland scheme with the three chevrons. There was no mistaking ownership of these boxcars!

Here's the (single) Ontario Northland scheme we are offering:

Let's go check out the updated B-70-69/71/75 sales catalog. Click the photo below to view it in PDF form.

There! Now the HO Scale PC&F B-70-69/71/75 Boxcar is set. Then again, if you have a paint scheme you would like to see or have added, you can always inquire about an exclusive production run. In the meantime, place your orders for this venerable car today!

Do you like to display your trains rather than run them? Neither do I....wait, what? Just kidding! Everyone has that one (or two) (or six) model(s) that they just want to display, whether it's on a desk, mantle or dashboard. But are you having trouble finding a display case big enough? Well, we have you covered! Introducing the Hobby and Model Display Case, the extended version!

The Extended Version of the Hobby and Model Display Case accommodates one 85' passenger, larger locomotives and 457 cheese doodles. And for an extra bonus, the wood base has two grooves cut down the center, which snugly holds the wheels of the item you want to display. In fact, that means you can JUST display wheels if you want!

For everyone that wants to proudly display one of their models, the Extended Version of the Hobby and Model Display Case is made just for you! Hurry on over to our website or your favorite hobby shop and order hundreds today!

By the way, if you have never seen Jeremy's Display Case Video, it is one of the funniest... things... ever. Please click here on the image below to watch it.

These items are closing out on the 15th of June, 2022: the HO Scale MLW M420 Locomotive (Canadian National versions) and the HO Scale UAC TurboTrain. That's only a few days away, so let's take at the video Jeremy and Jason have put together covering BOTH of these models. Click here or the photo above or below to watch the video.

The CN M420 Rebuilds are almost ready to be counted and sent off to the factory. You still have plenty of time to order the BC and P&W versions. June 15th is the grand date for final CN order entries, so let's take one more look at the Canadian National version, starting off with the sample!

As a helpful reminder, let's go through the new features of the HO Scale M420:

CN has three scheme variations plus there's Oil Creek & Titusville. Check them out below:

Here's the M420 sales catalogue. Everything you need to know about item numbers and paint schemes. Click the photo below to check it out.

The HO Scale M420 order deadline is just a few days away. It's safe to say that this project has been a success so far. So keep rolling in those orders and the next time we discuss the M420s, it should be an unboxing!

Oil Creek and Titusville has just introduced a new paint scheme for their M420 Locomotive. We will be offering this alongside their original paint scheme. You can order these directly from the railroad, from us or from your favorite dealer, but they are being produced in limited quantities so we recommend you order in the next couple of weeks to ensure you get one. Click here to visit our website for more info!

March seemed like yesterday, when we re-announced our iconic, flagship passenger train: the HO Scale UAC TurboTrain. Now we are inching closer to the June 15th 2022, the current order deadline for these fantastic sets.

Make sure you watch the video about this very special train by clicking here or the photo above and below! If you haven't noticed, that's Jason's layout in the videos, looking great.

Have you ever noticed that Jason loves this train so much that it is in our company logo? Didn't notice? Scroll up and have a look!

The American TurboTrain operated first for the US DOT on the New Haven and Penn Central, and then toured the United States in 1971 to introduce the nation to Amtrak. The Amtrak Turbo operated mainly between New York and Boston (with a brief assignment to West Virginia!) until 1976. The TurboTrain is still the fastest ever American production train, achieving 170.8 MPH on December 20, 1967. Even Acela couldn't beat it.

That touring train in 1971 had a three-car set, consisting of a power car, coach and power car. This special set is being made available by Heartland Hobby Wholesale through an exclusive deal with Rapido.

Built for speed...

In March 1976, CN painted its Turbo #1 into new "VIA-CN" colours to launch the new brand for its passenger train services. On April 22, 1976, Turbo #1 achieved the Canadian rail speed record of 140.6 MPH on the Kingston Subdivision near Morrisburg, Ontario. That record still stands today.

Otter Valley Railroad is producing an exclusive model of this record-holding train, featuring the bold VIA colours and the CN noodle logo on the nose. They have commissioned both the five-car set and the four-car addition. Click here to order yours today!

This isn't your 2008 TurboTrain, this is the Turbo 2.0!

Now let's check out those schemes:

Click on the photo for the PDF catalog/catalogue of the UAC Turbo. Everything you need to know to order one or many or ALL!

The order deadline for the new Turbo 2.0 is June 15th, 2022. Order yours directly from Rapido or from your local hobby shop!

Lot's of new items have just arrived and many more are on they way into the warehouse. Let's have a look at our upcoming live stream, some tooling updates, and arrival updates.

Last newsletter we highlighted the return of our annual Canadian Dealer Open House, on June 13th, 2022. This event is open to all Rapido wholesale customers from the United States, Canada and around the world. (Sorry general public, maybe next time!) What we mean by "Canadian" is it simply takes place in Canada at Rapido HQ.

If you are a dealer and you want to join us, we will be offering travel credits as well as discounts on sales on the day of the event. Please let us know by Friday if you will be coming and how many are in your party. For the American dealers, if you don't want the fuss and hassle of the border legalities, don't worry! We will be hosting an American Open House for the public and one for dealers on October 2-3 at the Illinois Railway Museum. More info on that in July's newsletter.

During the event we will host a Facebook Live (around 4:30 EDT) in which we will be announcing a bunch of new products in HO and N scales!

Please click here to visit our Facebook page. Jason will also have the bus out if you want to go for a tootle and we'll do our usual awesome kosher BBQ.

If you are a dealer, you should join us in person!

Remember the snippet above where we said we will be hosting another Facebook live? For everyone that cannot make it to the Dealer Open House, which is all non-dealers, you also get to join in on the fun, albeit remotely. Jordan will be joined by a few others to launch the latest projects we've been working on, which just so happens to be THREE NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS incorporating four new products. Yes! N Scale, too. We can't forget about the N crowd! See you on June 13th around 4:30 EDT!

If you're reading this after the live event, you can still watch it on our Facebook page and eventually on our YouTube.

Come out to Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend of the 10th and the 1th of June, 2022 to see great modeling, awesome layouts and of course, Rapido Bill's NYO&W layout! The setting is the New England/Northeast Prototype Modeler's annual meet, which is back after a three-year hiatus!

The show is Friday and Saturday, with many clinics and great models on display. You'll also see Rapido's latest samples and converse will Bill about Rapido's latest doings. Then on Sunday, there is the annual open house layout tour. This year Bill will have his NYO&W layout open, so pop on by and say hello!

Check out their website for a list of clinics, events and the layout schedule at: https://nerpm.org/index.html

LOTS of new items are arriving, both at your dealer or to our warehouse soon! What could they be? Let's find out:

Boiler plate facts: As we mentioned in most of our previous newsletters... all of our shipments that left China recently have been delayed due to closures and port/shipping congestion. We are doing our best to track and corral these shipments, but please be aware some items might arrive a bit later than expected.

The time has come: The Metrolink HO Scale Bilevel Commuter Cars are on their way to a dealer and hobby shop near you!

Get on the GO with these new HO Scale Bilevel Commuter Cars.

Don't mess with Texas! The HO Scale Bilevel cars are almost ready to ship.

Tanks! The N Scale GP-20 tank cars are on their way to YOU!

Finally! The N Scale F40PH-2Ds are almost at the doorstep!

The 52'6" Mill Gondolas are almost here and will be "gon" before you know it.

A patriotic PA-1 Locomotive! American Freedom Train stands at the ready.

Possibly the MOST iconic PA-1 Locomotive paint scheme: Santa Fe Warbonnet.

Does it get any better than the Rio Grande's yellow and silver?

That signature NKP blue sure stands out on the PA-1 Locomotive.

Could SP be the best looking scheme on the PA Locomotives?

The HO Scale AutoFlood Coal Hoppers look amazing!

The inside and the outside of the HO Scale AutoFlood Hoppers.

The road where it all started for the N Scale B-100-40 Boxcars: Southern Pacific.

Just look at all of that underbody detail on the N Scale B-100-40 Boxcars.

Those N Scale B-100-40 Boxcars look absolutely gorgeous!

Have a look at some of the latest photos from our factories!

Here's an updated view of the high nose HO Scale U25B Locomotive.

Those HO Scale U25B Locomotives looking good.

The HO Scale U25B Locomotives, side by side - they look GREAT!

Could it be? YES! Samples of the HO Scale Fruehauf Trailers.

The end detail on the HO Scale Fruehauf Trailer is simply exquisite.

Ready to load your LTL shipments into this Fruehauf Trailer?

Another Fruehauf Trailer, yes! It looks great!

Those Budd Manor cars are looking better and better!

We can't forget the HO Scale Budd Baggage-Dorms!

Here's a Union Pacific HO Scale Budd Baggage-Dorm.

The ends on our HO Scale Budd Baggage-Dorms are pretty, too.

The VIA Historical Association's latest newsletter

Hi guys! The VIA Historical Association volunteers have been busy and here's a quick update. We sent out our first proper newsletter last month that includes project updates and more information about the new VIA book. Please click here to sign up for VHA newsletters. We won't bombard you with emails - we've done two in the last two years!

Chief Mechanical Officer Chris Fox and his team have been very busy cleaning up RDC 6133 for display next week at the TRACCS Rail Day taking place at VIA's Toronto Maintenance Centre. If you are in the rail industry and you will be there, please come and say hello to some of the VHA team.

As always, we're looking for donations to support our restoration efforts. Please click here to donate. Our goal is to have a short heritage train restored in time for VIA's 50th in 2028 and it's gonna be tight...

Back to you, Bobby!

Thanks, Jason.

That's a great way to end this newsletter. Hey everyone - remember our huge announcement coming next week! Stay tuned...

Until then,

Bobby