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Rapido Newsletter America 250 Edition
©2026 Rapido Trains Inc.
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Dear Rapido Customers (Americans and others who love American models),
It's the Fourth of July, which means it's time to celebrate 250 years of freedom! [Insert James Brown's "Living in America", eagles wearing stunner shades soaring over you, fireworks shooting off and hot dogs raining down.]
Rapido is proud to bring you a brand new Semiquincentennial locomotive scheme in HO AND N, as well as some awesome celebratory Home Shops cars!
Grab those cool beverages, tongs (make sure to double click them), barbecue sauce and a lawn chair because we're about to "cook".
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In this Fourth of July issue...
- New HO and N Scale SD70MACH
- Home Shops Exclusive Models
- Spotlight: Current Bicentennial and Semiquincentennial Schemes
If you are using a web-based email service such as Gmail, be sure to click on the link near the bottom of the email that says something like "[Message clipped] View entire message". That will ensure you don't miss any of this newsletter.
Please note that all renders, pre-production samples and artwork are subject to change before the final product release.
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NEW SCHEME! HO Scale SD70MACH Metra 525
Celebrate America's 250th birthday with the newest Semiquincentennial locomotive: Metra 525! Delivered in late June, 525 proudly wears the iconic red, white and blue, along with the America 250 logo on the nose and long hood. This rebuilt SD70MACH joins 27 other locomotives of its type for commuter operations in the Windy City.
Check out some 3D decorated renders we just completed of the 525!
Please note these 3D CAD renders are subject to change before the final product release.
| The patriotic Metra 525 joins our wide variety of HO Scale SD70MAC and SD70MACH variations we announced earlier in the year. We are looking into adding the newly modified grilles (units 524 and up), and all going well we should be able to. | HOLD UP! Isn't Metra the MOST popular scheme so far? YES, that is correct! That means you'll certainly want to preorder this one to make sure you get it as we are sure to sell out. (We'll remind you again, below. Seriously, we expect these will go faster than the 525 did on its first run.) | |
The HO Scale SD70MACH Locomotives feature:
- Metra rebuilt SD70MACH version
- PTC antennas
- Three HTCR truck variations, all with rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
- Full lighting package including track lights, step lights, and walkway lights
- Metra-style LED Gyralite, nose marker lights and emergency strobe on cab
- Tons of unique rebuild details, including HEP, HEP cables, buffers and more
- Flared radiators
- K5LLAr1 horn as well as many other specific roof details
- Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
- Full interior cab details
- Metal grab irons
- Full traction motor casing details
- Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
- Rubber sanding lines
- Metal knuckle couplers
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- Standard DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- Suggested minimum radius: 22”
Here is the art for Metra 525. We think it is the NICEST Semiquincentennial locomotive in 2026. Sorry all your GEVO fans. Ours is better! Bah!
(The Metro North P32AC-DM is also the nicest...)
| We anticipate this scheme to be the most popular SD70MAC variation we're making. That means it will probably sell out the fastest which means you certainly need to preorder them! No dillydallying around. You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
NEW SCHEME! N Scale SD70MACH Metra 525
Yes N fam, we gotchu too! We're excited to launch Metra 525 in 1:160 scale complete with all of the bells and whistles (er, horns). Maybe you operate both scales and want both SD70MACHs. One for your home layout and one for your at-work desk layout that they use to deliver reports to that guy down the hall.
Whatever the scenario may be, we're super stoked to announce this model, packed full of details, sound and more. In fact, we're looking forward to some design updates soon. In the meantime, here are some more pretty action shots from its first week in service.
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The N Scale SD70MACH Locomotives feature:
- Metra rebuilds, also a first in N scale!
- Railroad and era appropriate PTC antennas, where applicable
- Working headlights, ditchlights, and extra lights.
- Metra: features a faux LED Gyralite, marker light and emergency light on the nose and cab.
- Metra: tons of unique rebuild details, including HEP, end buffers, and more
- Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Heavy, die-cast chassis with a powerful motor and dual flywheels
- MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
- DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
- Suggested minimum radius: 11”
Here is the art for 525. Note: the HO art has been used for the launch.
| Just like its big HO scale brother, we fully anticipate this scheme to be the most popular variation we're offering. This means it'll probably be the first to go once it arrives at hobby shops. PLEASE preorder them so you don't miss out! You can do so from your favorite hobby shop or directly through us. | | |
NEW HOME SHOPS SCHEMES!
Greenbrier Coil Car America 250 Schemes
To celebrate America's birthday and 250 years of freedom, Home Shops got in on the action with the HO Scale Greenbrier Coil Car. While there are many locomotives wearing tribute schemes, there seems to be a lack of freight cars with the same until now.
Oh, and don't forget that the order deadline is August 15th — only one month away!
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Home Shops Leasing
Introducing the Home Shops Leasing Coil Car, complete with special Semiquincentennial graphics! The car wears the America 250 and flag logos proudly on the side of the hood with the Home Shops logo in the upper left corner. Home Shops Leasing adorns the side of the car on the sill completing this awesome-looking coil car.
Learn more about Home Shops Leasing and how it can work for you by clicking here.
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Texas and Great Northern
The Texas and Great Northern cars feature a striking red, white and blue scheme. The blue hood has a white band featuring the slogan: “American Steel • Strength for Liberty • 250 Years”. These cars can be seen all across the nation’s rail network and proudly haul American-made steel products to market.
Read more about the TGN and the Meridian Speedway by clicking here.
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Virginian & Ohio
The Virginian and Ohio is one of the most recognized freelance roads in model railroading. For America’s 250th birthday, the V&O jumped in with their fleet of coil cars wearing detailed patriotic graphics. The V&O logo sits proudly inside of 13 stars to honor the original colonies. This car is ready for steel and will look great mixed into any consist!
Read more about the V&O's history by clicking here.
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Spotlight: Current Bicentennial and Semiquincentennial Schemes
Don't forget about our other amazing Bicentennial and Semiquincentennial schemes we are offering!
Click here or scroll down to check them out.
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HO Scale Santa Fe Bicentennial CF7
What could have been... You may recall, the Santa Fe painted a number of SD45-2s into a Bicentennial scheme in 1976, which inspired this design. The Santa Fe 2526 comes with all of the features of the other CF7s and includes the neat Stratolite on the cab roof next to the air conditioning unit.
How can we make this even sweeter? The 2526 is just a few weeks away from delivery to our warehouse — that's how!
Click here to order this extremely popular CF7.
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HO Scale BART Bicentennial Legacy Fleet
BART applied special Bicentennial logos to a handful of its cars in 1976. These cars are joining our own Bicentennial model fleet, complete with logo and the correct road numbers! We'll be offering an A-B-B-A set, as well as the single light gray A car, which was a standalone test scheme.
Click here to order these very important BART Legacy cars.
| This is the one-of-a-kind light gray "test scheme." | |
HO Scale Metro-North P32AC-DM Number 250
Metro-North unveiled their "America 250" locomotive that celebrates the 250th birthday for the United States. This awesome looking locomotive takes cues from prior 1976-style Bicentennial locomotive schemes as well as adding some unique touches of its own.
The project has been sent to the factory for production BUT you can still order as long as you do it soon!
Click here to order this attractive P32AC-DM.
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HO Scale Conrail U34CH Number 1776
In 1976, wreck-rebuild U34CH number 3351 was outshopped as number 1776 in a patriotic red, white and blue scheme. The 1776 roamed the commuter zone of Northern New Jersey hauling Comet I railcars and stayed in this scheme for a number of years.
Click here to order this colorful U34CH.
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HO Scale Lehigh Valley Northeastern Caboose 1776
With the 1976 Bicentennial craze in full effect, the Lehigh Valley painted caboose 95085 into a patriotic red, white and blue scheme, complete with stars on the ends in anticipation of America's Bicentennial.
Click here to order this shiny caboose and complete your consist.
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N Scale MBTA Comet Car "Massachusetts 250 Wrap"
To honor Massachusetts's 250th anniversary, the MBTA wrapped a car with dazzling graphics complete with American Flag on the sides. This car wears an attractive blue with the "250 Revolutionary War Anniversary" proudly written on the side. But wait, there's more — this car is currently in production which means you'll want to grab one as soon as they hit the shelves!
Click here to order this stand-out coach.
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This wraps up the Fourth of July's special announcements. We'll be back shortly to discuss the next wave of order deadlines and product updates.
Until then, take a dip in the pool, fire up that grill and sit back and relax.
Bobby
Fly like an eagle.
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USA: 382 High St, Buffalo, NY 14204, USA
Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5
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