Two new passenger cars from Rapido

[jmlaboda]

Congrats Puddy!!!  Rapido is in good hands... NOW!!!

[bbussey]

I will mention the CSX idea to the gang... as for CR, I don't know but will also mention it... Turbo....will have to ask.....man, it's hard being the rookie.....

If CR pullman-green is not in the 2nd release, or if the 2nd release is scheduled years out, then I will pick up an undec from the 1st run and paint it myself.  Makes more sense to do that than to wait.

CR should have been in the 1st release though, along with any other prototypical schemes.  There are only five American schemes AFAIK — Erie, EL, CR OCS blue, CR OCS pullman green, and CSX OCS.  All five should have been in the first run.  When there are so few schemes of the prototype (and physically only two cars that would account for a mere seven SKUs to replicate everything that ever existed), the foobs should follow later.

[u18b]

And actually there are two schemes per CR and CSX.

Conrail has already been mentioned,  but CSX came in
Bright Future- (what I want)
and the current dark future.

[rapidotrains]

CR should have been in the 1st release though, along with any other prototypical schemes.  There are only five American schemes AFAIK — Erie, EL, CR OCS blue, CR OCS pullman green, and CSX OCS.  All five should have been in the first run.  When there are so few schemes of the prototype (and physically only two cars that would account for a mere seven SKUs to replicate everything that ever existed), the foobs should follow later.

Unfortunately the "foobs" are what pay the bills, so by necessity we need to release popular paint schemes first even if they never owned the exact car.  There are a lot more people interested in a good-looking NYC car than there are people interested in an accurate Conrail or CSX business car. 

We can certainly try to do the Conrail and/or CSX cars in the second run but I doubt we'd sell more than 50-75 cars of each scheme, and we generally need 300+ for a paint scheme.  When it comes to company service cars, it's usually just the observation cars that sell, and even those don't sell in huge numbers.  Few people know that Conrail and later CSX had/has an ex-Erie 10-5 in service.  And of those who know, not that many care enough to actually buy one.

I got in trouble when I did the CN 6-6-4 sleeper in HO.  To me, it is hugely different from the 10-5 and I was determined to make one.  Those two battery boxes on one side are a huge giveaway.  But to 95% of modellers out there, it looked almost identical to the 10-5.  I never noticed!  We had real trouble selling it at first.  We eventually sold enough by bringing the second run roads up into the first run.  Even the L&N modellers were happy with their incorrect 10-5 "Pines" and didn't order the correct 6-6-4 "Pines" when we really made them!

So my prediction is that the Conrail/CSX paint schemes won't sell enough to be viable.  I would love to be proved wrong.

-Jason

[u18b]

Jason, thank you so much for coming here to inform.

Much appreciated.

OK.  Can you tell us if we buy an undec---- will it be with a painter in mind and not have parts that are glued in place with heavy heavy paint that we would have to strip--even though it's undec?

The problems I have mentioned have been done by some other manufacturers which will go nameless.

[bbussey]

Unfortunately the "foobs" are what pay the bills, so by necessity we need to release popular paint schemes first even if they never owned the exact car.  There are a lot more people interested in a good-looking NYC car than there are people interested in an accurate Conrail or CSX business car. 

We can certainly try to do the Conrail and/or CSX cars in the second run but I doubt we'd sell more than 50-75 cars of each scheme, and we generally need 300+ for a paint scheme.  When it comes to company service cars, it's usually just the observation cars that sell, and even those don't sell in huge numbers.  Few people know that Conrail and later CSX had/has an ex-Erie 10-5 in service.  And of those who know, not that many care enough to actually buy one.

I got in trouble when I did the CN 6-6-4 sleeper in HO.  To me, it is hugely different from the 10-5 and I was determined to make one.  Those two battery boxes on one side are a huge giveaway.  But to 95% of modellers out there, it looked almost identical to the 10-5.  I never noticed!  We had real trouble selling it at first.  We eventually sold enough by bringing the second run roads up into the first run.  Even the L&N modellers were happy with their incorrect 10-5 "Pines" and didn't order the correct 6-6-4 "Pines" when we really made them!

So my prediction is that the Conrail/CSX paint schemes won't sell enough to be viable.  I would love to be proved wrong.

I never said not to release foobs, I said the prototypical roads should be released first.  Since you've never released any CR or CSX product to my best recollection, you have no precedent as to how popular those roads are (both of which are strong sellers for other manufacturers incidentally) nor have you a prior experience to base your prediction on.  Conrail is a HUGE seller for me, extremely huge (and so is Canadian Pacific, as it turns out).  And since you take advance reservations prior to the product being manufactured (weren't the 10-5s first announced two or three years ago?), you can still announce roads and cancel them if the minimum reservations aren't met — a practice you have done previously, so there is precedent there.

As to your specific statement:

Few people know that Conrail and later CSX had/has an ex-Erie 10-5 in service.  And of those who know, not that many care enough to actually buy one.

Overwhelmingly, unlike freight equipment, modelers buy passenger equipment and motive power decorated for the specific roads they model.  I can assure you, Conrail and CSX modelers are well aware of their respective OCS consists.  Again, I don't know how you can formulate that conclusion without any precedent data to support it.

The problem with your HO 6-6-4 situation is that you released foobs on the HO 10-5 prior, which undermined your 6-6-4 market.  That seems more like a planning/marketing issue rather than a model not selling on it own merits.

I stand by my original statement.  But your statement above answers the original question I asked — an undec should be procured for custom painting the CR model desired.  I'm fine with that, as having the plastic model to start with is 90% of the battle.

[bbussey]

... OK.  Can you tell us if we buy an undec---- will it be with a painter in mind and not have parts that are glued in place with heavy heavy paint that we would have to strip--even though it's undec?

I've bought Rapido undecs in the past for kitbashing purposes.  They are unpainted plastic and snap together and can be disassembled/assembled easily.

[u18b]

You know.... Let's just pretend.

Suppose, for the sake of argument,   only about 30 people with money know about and would buy a prototypical CSX car in bright future.

Aren't there a whole whole bunch of other people who model CSX and would NOT know that the car is prototypical?   They buy foobies.  They don't care.  They just like CSX.

And isn't this especially true since the CSX car is "pretty"?  I mean, aren't there some people who don't care about road names, they just like things that are pretty?

And aren't there plenty of unsophisticated Conrail modelers who would do the same.   It seems like Conrail and CSX sell fairly well in locomotives.

[Philip H]

Since it's unlikely anyone will do a proper KCS business train anytime soon . . . . I agree with Bryan's sentiments - throw a prototypically correct CR and CSX out FIRST.  You'll be glad you did.

[skytop35]

The cafe bar lounge is similar to many rebuilt coaches that numerous roads used for serving light meals, snacks and drinks. It comes with a highly detailed interior, partial skirts or fixed steps where appropriate and "Easy Peasy" lighting.

Hi Mike,

Is the cafe bar lounge based on an actual prototype car? The web site doesn't specifically mention one. (or I didn't see it if it did)

[lock4244]

Jason must be some kind of wizard or shaman or or voodoo doctor... how else to explain Pud proudly announcing a release that not only doesn't include CP, but does include two different CN schemes! Witchcraft 

[wmcbride]

BTW, what's the scoop on the Turbo Train in N?  I was told that it was Jason's pet project which has been getting delayed year after year.  I don't want a Bachmann Turbo Train - I want one from Rapido! 

Me, too! Turbo Train that is.

Bill McBride

[learmoia]

Comment Removed.

[jmlaboda]

"Is the cafe bar lounge based on an actual prototype car?"

Like the earlier cars these two releases are based on Canadian National prototypes, though neither types were built with skirting.  With the skirting the 10-5 is accurate for U.S. cars.

[Puddington]

"Is the cafe bar lounge based on an actual prototype car?"

Like the earlier cars these two releases are based on Canadian National prototypes, though neither types were built with skirting.  With the skirting the 10-5 is accurate for U.S. cars.

"What he said.........."