Rapido Newsletter Vol. 162 and a bit

©2023 Rapido Trains Inc.



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Dear Rapido Customer,

We have some important updates as well as the January 16th, 2023 order deadlines to discuss. Let's get right to them.

Product Updates from Jason

• HO Scale Budd Manor and Baggage Dorm Cars
• HO Scale Union Pacific E8 Locomotive
• HO Scale Dash 8 Update

January Order Deadlines - January 16th, 2023

• HO Scale BART Trains - Early-Bird Discount!
• HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcar
• HO Scale Canadian 26' Can-Car and 45' Trailmobile Trailers

Dear Rapido Customer,

Jason here. I’ve asked Bobby if I could have the first part of this special newsletter so I can provide an update on a few projects. Before I do, I want to remind you that we have an order deadline coming up next Monday, and Bobby will include links to those products at the bottom of this email. Please click here to watch our new order deadline video.

A Seaboard sleeper from the most recent run.

Since the release of the HO Scale Manor Sleeper late in 2022, a number of our customers have justifiably raised concerns about discolouration on the roofs of some cars. While this issue is not prevalent on all cars, there are a large enough number that exhibit this issue to varying degrees. This discolouration occurs where the molten plastic flowing from either end of the car shell intersects. 

When the original models were produced for our Canadian sets back in 2012, the base models were injected using opaque black plastic. When the models were then painted with our stainless steel finish, this discolouration was barely noticeable. All runs of stainless steel cars since then have been produced in black plastic with a similarly negligible discolouration.

The latest run, showing the discolouration across the roof.

Fast forward to 2022 and these newer models were not made using the same black plastic as the originals. The factory making these cars informed us that the black plastic they are receiving now from their suppliers has a high recycled content and cannot flow properly, especially in the fine roof fluting, so they used grey plastic instead. 

The lighter plastic is allowing the discolouration to show through the stainless steel paint much more than before. It's still the exact same tooling, but it's amazing how such little details can be highlighted with a different base colour.

We've already begun discussions with the factory on how to correct this issue and they have performed a few comparison tests using different base colours. The factory is closed now for Chinese New Year but we’ll continue working with them when they reopen next month.

If your model has a significant roof discolouration and you would like a replacement shell, please contact us by March 31st and we will add you to the list for new shells, which the factory has offered to produce for us. Unfortunately they can't just stop all current production so the new shells will take a few months to arrive.

To be added to the list, you can simply reply to this email but change the subject to "Replacement Manor Shells." Please include a photo of the affected cars as well as your full contact info. Please note that we will need the old shells back when the new ones arrive and we will send you a prepaid mailing label.

This is one of my own Manor Sleepers from The Canadian set in 2012. As you can see, the slight discolouration has been there all along, just not nearly as bad as on some of the cars we're seeing now. There is no way for us to remove it completely.

If the discolouration on your model is very faint, it is likely that our replacement shells will be no better. If you look at all our stainless steel cars delivered from 2012 to 2021, you will see a similar slight discolouration as it is part of the manufacturing process. Unfortunately there is no way for us to remove it entirely. Our replacement shells will match the quality of our previous runs of stainless steel cars, like the photo above of one of my 2012-era Manor sleepers.

This project seems to be a bit cursed. In addition to the discolouration on the roofs, and the fact that production took a year longer than it should have, the CP Action Red “Manor” names were shifted on our artwork. This means that the arrangement of the car names did not match the order which was advertised. Our warehouse was so jammed with shipments in the fall that we did not do a thorough enough check of the models before they left. Had we done so, we could have just printed new labels and solved the issue in one day. We’re expanding our warehouse space soon and we've already changed some of our practices at Rapido HQ to prevent this sort of mistake happening in the future.

If you did not receive the CP Action Red Manor sleeper you requested and you specifically wanted that particular car, please reply to this email and change the subject to "CP Action Red Manor Mix-Up." We'll do our best to get you the correctly named car.

I am very sorry for both of these issues. I doubt we could have found the first issue as we spot checked several dozen models and none of them had it. The second issue was just carelessness on our part and we’ll work hard to ensure that mistakes like that don’t happen again.

Note the double steam generator hatch. We'll have replacements available.

Delivering so many different prototypes lately, we were bound to screw up a detail or two. It was recently brought to our attention that our HO Scale UP E-units should have a single steam generator, rather than the double steam generator visible in the rear hatch of the photo above. Due to an artwork error which was not caught, our units were fitted with a dual steam generator hatch.

We have made replacement hatches which are available to anybody who owns a Rapido UP E8A. Installation is simple! They just clip in, and full instructions will be included with the hatches.

If you would like replacement hatch(es) simply reply to this email but change the subject to "UP Hatch." Please provide your mailing address, daytime phone and proof of purchase (copy of receipt or photo of model).

Check out the BC Rail modified radiators. These will now be featured on the later BC models being offered.

This isn’t about a problem but an improvement. Since launching the “new and improved” CN and BC Rail Dash 8 locomotives in December I am happy to say that orders have been very strong, unlike the Canadian flatcars! (Read more about that below.) I had doubts about this project because we sold so many of the “Prime Mover” pared-down models. However, the project management team insisted, and I am glad they did.

We’ve received email feedback about how we can improve the models even further, and we have listened. I am pleased to let you know that Dan has worked with our team in China and this new run of Dash 8 locomotives will include all working class lights and the later BC Rail units will include the rebuilt, four-panel radiator cover. You can click here to reserve yours.

I love this photo. This guy reminds me of Juan Epstein from Welcome Back Kotter. Maybe he has a note from his mom asking for replacement E8 roof hatches. "Hey man, everyone knows it was only ONE steam generator."

Please be assured that we are working hard to improve our processes from design to delivery. Now that we are once again allowed to visit our factories in China, we will be able to keep a closer eye on production.

I plan to send more occasional newsletters like this, informing you about stuff going on behind the scenes at Rapido. If this sort of thing interests you, I have a monthly column in Railroad Model Craftsman and I often spill the beans about the ins and outs of model train manufacturing there. I recommend you subscribe.

Thanks for your continued support,

Jason

P.S. Oh, and please order some flatcars! Nobody seems to have noticed them. These are going to be gorgeous models and the prototypes ran all over North America! Coincidentally I need a bunch for my layout... Over to you, Bobby!

January 2023 Order Deadlines

Thanks, Jason.

OK, everyone! The January 16th, 2023 order deadlines are on Monday! Here's a quick reminder of the three projects closing out on the 16th: the HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet, HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars and HO Scale Canadian Trailers.

HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet - Early-Bird Discount

The HO Scale BART Legacy Fleet is one of the most unique products we have ever announced. Order yours by January 16th to get the 5% Early Bird discount and to ensure we can actually make these things!

In case you missed it, we have a BART documentary that highlights the history of the system and of the models we are producing. Please click here or on the photo above to watch.

Check out the PDF sales catalog by clicking the photo below.

You can order these from our website or directly from BART by clicking here. We strongly urge you to support BART's first foray into model railroading and buy directly from BART's official online store at Railgoods.com!

HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcar

The orders for the Canadian Piggyback Flatcars are surprisingly low. (Ed: Meshuga low.) What? I'm not even going to ask.

Our HO scale PRR flatcars - which included several TOFC versions - sold like hot cakes while these have hardly sold at all. We're talking TEN TIMES as many cars! Come on, Canada! Surely CN and CP flatcars together can outsell just one American railroad, even if it is the PRR! Oh, and PC. And Conrail. And LV. And TTX. (Ed: You're not helping our argument there, Bobby... Let's just ignore that other stuff.)

These are going to be gorgeous cars, with see-through, etched-metal decks and different trailer hitch options. They are surprisingly weighty, so they will track well empty or loaded. Click here or on the image above to watch our new video!

These cars ran from 1966 to the late 1980s, all over Canada and all over the USA as well. Check out the new full-color renders we have! Dan is painting up our latest samples and we'll have them at Springfield.

Check out the render of the CP and CN Canadian Flatcars.

Those trailers look GREAT on the Canadian Flatcars!

Are the Canadian Piggyback Flatcars that neat car you really like but can't justify because it only ran in Canada? Well, let's squash any thoughts of that with Dan D's photo below of a sister CP flat taken in California. Yes, these cars got around all throughout North America. From the southwest all the way up to Vermont and Maine. With that in mind, these cars would look great on your layout, no matter where your locale and theme are set!

SP, CP and ATSF - What a great combination for any model railroad!

Check out the catalogue for the HO scale flatcars by clicking the photo below.

These HO Scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars will look great on your layout, so please get your orders in ASAP!

HO Scale Canadian 26' Can-Car and 45' Trailmobile Trailers

What better way to complement your flatcars than with the HO Scale Canadian Trailers? These are the 26’ Can-Car Industries Dry-Vans with and without side doors and the 45’ Trailmobile design trailers, also with and without side doors. And, just like the flatcars, these also close out on the 16th of January.

We have also included these trailers in the new video. Click here to watch, if you haven't already.

Check out the catalogue for the HO Scale Canadian Trailers by clicking the photo below.

Please order your HO Scale Canadian Trailers today!

This has been a brief but (we hope) informative look into some of our recent changes and goings on over here. We'll be back later this month with a full newsletter for January.

Thanks for reading!

Bobby

Bobby Allard

Marketing Officer

Rapido Trains Inc.