Rapido Announces the GARX 37' Meat Reefer in N scale

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I would like to see one decorated for "Ed K's Little Meat and Bacon".

You're the worst Tom Mann, the worst.

lol

[chicken45]

I'm sorry. I'm still giggling at "meat reefer." It hasn't run its course yet.
I'll see myself out.

[sirenwerks]

...If this reefer doesn't sell well, then it will not only be our first N scale freight car, but it will also be our last N scale freight car....

Wow, a shakedown.  Not trying to fan any flames or enrage any decision makers but there are many variables involved in the N v HO market and your pulling an "if it sells in HO it should certainly sell in N".  Kinda like saying if it sells in the US it will certainly sell in Asia. Yea, no it may not.  It might, but that's a risk the manufacturer takes and dismissing a whole market based on ham-fisted (pun intended) product selection (admit it, you are capitalizing on work you already did for the HO model) is kinda bogus. 

I don't necessarily have a dog in this fight, it looks like a great model but I don't think I can rationalize more than 2 or 3 for my era (late 60s); so I don't know that I personally can support the company's risk.  Now if these were steel meat reefers I'd be up for a couple dozen and my wallet would be open already.  But, keep in mind it were a steel meat reefer, a car I personally care about, I would be more concerned about the details, like some are here. 

Railwire breeds some critical people.  Personally it is why I like this site.  And looking at N scale models in photos tends to bring out details (or lack thereof) that looking at a physical model don't.  There's something funny about enlarging a small object... For instance, cat hairs look a lot bigger next to a N scale model than a HO one.  While delivery can be perceived as a bit harsh, Asshats are well meaning and deliver some pretty good market research and input - free of charge.  Phrase for the day - grain of salt.

[Kisatchie]

I'm so glad I don't need any of these cars. I'm modeling 1971, so I doubt there were many left by then.


Hmm... I'd like a reefer
that ships termites...

[tom mann]

Have you asked Dave Foxx how well it will sell?

I'm almost confident it won't sell nearly as well as anything else you've done in HO scale.  I say this with some assurance because the manufacturers that produce both N and HO products seem to produce 10 times as much HO (reference:  Athearn monthly release emails).  I assume that if N sold nearly as well, there would be more parity.

I'm sure there are exceptions, and you probably have access to survey information where this car is listed near the top of everyone's "want" list.

[Dave V]

By "won't sell nearly as well" do you mean raw numbers or as a proportion of units made?  The former will always be the case because obviously there are fewer N scalers than HO scalers.  I would assume that Rapido is generating a proportionally smaller run than they would in HO.

[Scottl]

After reading this thread and the companion newsletter thread again, I know why Kato, Athearn, IM, and other companies don't bother reaching out to forums.  Even MT has given up, and I'm sure Atlas will eventually get TRW treatment.

In my day job, we get people who pick up published research papers and go to town on the blogs and comment sections of news services.  They think that they have it all figured out.  There is an endless parade of posters, most of which make their criticism sound serious and authoritative, packaged along with with the adolescent noise makers to make a constant stream of text that goes on for pages and pages. Eventually the effort of responding becomes overwhelming, since you actually have a job to do, so you give up.  However, it never ends, and some posters go on for years because they don't forget anything- ever.  It is something you harden yourself to over the years, and when I see it play out here, I recognize much of the same dynamic and set of personalities. 

Keep up the newsletters (they are great- well written and engaging), but I suggest you save your other time for your work and life.

[tom mann]

Scottl:

When I see and read a thread like this, I don't assume anything bad about the people that post in it.  To me, everyone here is just "really really into" it.  Like Jason's Dr. Who example:  commentary here is the equivalent of over-analyzing that is done for the fun of it.  Like a hobby within a hobby.

I suppose that it could be that the manufacturers just want to hear "good job guys, attaboy".  I don't know because not a single manufacturer has reached out to me to let me know their expectations.  Maybe I lock announcement threads in the future?

[Angus Shops]

Yup, great looking car, probably not perfect but way better than nothing at all. I'll buy and handful.

Geoff

[chicken45]

I think at the end of the day, these cars will not only meat, but surpass our expectations. I never sausage a nice meat reefer. (Sorry for the sausage joke...those are the wurst!)  I think we are roasting them too much as the car isn't out yet. I'm sure Rapido knows the steaks are high with their first freight car.

People complain all the time, but it could just be a cultural thing with Rapido being from Canada and us down here in the United Steaks. I think the car is well done.


Sorry for all ribbing yinz with all these puns...I had a feeling I'd butcher them.

[Kisatchie]

I think at the end of the day, these cars will not only meat, but surpass our expectations. I never sausage a nice meat reefer. (Sorry for the sausage joke...those are the wurst!)  I think we are roasting them too much as the car isn't out yet. I'm sure Rapido knows the steaks are high with their first freight car.

People complain all the time, but it could just be a cultural thing with Rapido being from Canada and us down here in the United Steaks. I think the car is well done.


Sorry for all ribbing yinz with all these puns...I had a feeling I'd butcher them.

What a load of baloney!


Hmm... Oscar Mayer...?

[Scottl]

Tom:  Strangely, I hear the same thing with all sorts of bloggers and trolls- they are really into the subject and it is passion that leads them to present "correct" opinions and information (usually in that order).

What it comes down to is decency and respect, especially for companies go out of their way to engage beyond just posting announcements.

I have enough blog battles at work, I don't need this for fun.  I'll just shut up and ignore the product threads.  Back to critical discussion and bad meat puns.

[Dave V]

I think at the end of the day, these cars will not only meat, but surpass our expectations. I never sausage a nice meat reefer. (Sorry for the sausage joke...those are the wurst!)  I think we are roasting them too much as the car isn't out yet. I'm sure Rapido knows the steaks are high with their first freight car.

People complain all the time, but it could just be a cultural thing with Rapido being from Canada and us down here in the United Steaks. I think the car is well done.


Sorry for all ribbing yinz with all these puns...I had a feeling I'd butcher them.

Cattle puns?  Really?  How udderly banal.

Don't you see we're on the horns of a rare dilemma?  And yet all you can do is meat out the puns?  Well, I for one will not be cowed into silence; I will chuck the puns and steer this conversation back to the tender subject at hand.  I have no beef with the pre-production samples.  Any way you slice it, this car will sell until the cows come home. 

[chicken45]

You're the worst Tom Mann, the wurst.

lol

FTFY

Also can we get this in the rotation? Here's a...ahem... link.

[chicken45]

Cattle puns?  Really?  How udderly banal.

Don't you see we're on the horns of a rare dilemma?  And yet all you can do is meat out the puns?  Well, I for one will not be cowed into silence; I will chuck the puns and steer this conversation back to the tender subject at hand.  I have no beef with the pre-production samples.  Any way you slice it, this car will sell until the cows come home.

Also +1. Well done. Not to be confused with Weldon.