Latest Dash 8-40CM sample

[rapidotrains]

Hi all,

Our latest Rapido News is online and it includes a Dash 8 update. We're reopening the order desk for another month because the factory STILL hasn't made them, much to our frustration.

Here's the link: https://conta.cc/2LCnGbw

A couple of photos below.

Mohan and I are at the airport, about to board a plane to China. I'll be reviewing the latest samples of the N scale Canadian while there and no doubt posting photos to our Facebook page.

Best regards,

Jason

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[Mark5]

Hand painted I guess. Why are the handrails on the front thicker than the hand rails (white) on the nose?

[davefoxx]

Mohan and I are at the airport, about to board a plane to China. I'll be reviewing the latest samples of the N scale Canadian while there and no doubt posting photos to our Facebook page.

@rapidotrains,

Thanks for the update and have a great trip, Jason.  Oh, and on your way back from China, please bring the HO scale Seaboard System B36-7s with you.   

DFF

[peteski]

Hand painted I guess. Why are the handrails on the front thicker than the hand rails (white) on the nose?

My guess is that the handrails on the body are from wire, while the front handrails are molded plastic.  Hey, modelers asked for super-detailing - this request creates a whole new set of problems. 

[reinhardtjh]

I think Rapido knows about the thickness on the handrails.  In the email newsletter I got they said to please ignore it.  So I assume it's been handled or will be when actual production begins.

[peteski]

I think Rapido knows about the thickness on the handrails.  In the email newsletter I got they said to please ignore it.  So I assume it's been handled or will be when actual production begins.

Yeah, they'll use thicker wire handrails to match the plastic ones. 


Yes, I'm joking - relax everybody. 

[Englewood]

Those are looking very nice! But please, don't tempt me. I already have two on order and now I'm wanting a couple more!

[learmoia]

Is that nose door window..... Painted On ?!?!?!?!?..  *Gasp*...
 

Since its. Nose headlight model, that is a good move to minimize light bleed through.. (also good if the windows got plated over in later years.. or omitted on some versions.)

Looks great!!.. hopefully the handrail thickness can be evened out a bit in production painting..

I like the roof detail on the cab..

~ian

[peteski]

Is that nose door window..... Painted On ?!?!?!?!?..  *Gasp*...
 

Same with the markers/classification lights.

[rapidotrains]

My guess is that the handrails on the body are from wire, while the front handrails are molded plastic.  Hey, modelers asked for super-detailing - this request creates a whole new set of problems. 

This is correct. It is accentuated in the sample because the handrails are painted by hand, which is a thicker application of paint.

But there is no way to avoid it. The plastic handrails will be thicker than the wire handrails. I'm sure some customers will snip off the plastic ones and replace them with wire, which would be amazing. But to do that in mass production would result in a lot of models arriving with loose handrails floating around the box. It's such a challenge keeping front wire handrails attached in HO that we're actually switching back to plastic for HO models. It would be impossible in N.

The door window - a BC Rail only feature - was painted on in HO also. 

The N model has more detail than the HO, including the correct BCR rear light.

Regards from Hong Kong airport,

Jason

[MK]

Regards from Hong Kong airport,

Jason

Watch out for the tear gas and demonstrations!

[learmoia]

That makes sense... (on the nose door..)

I was going to ask how wide spread are the issues in Hong Kong.. but one area they have protested was the airport.. so.. Yeah, Be careful.. ~Ian

[wm3798]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  In N scale, the whisker thin nature of actual scale grabs makes any added on detail just stand out like a sore thumb.  I know it's not as "Gee Whiz" as having zillions of separate castings to worry about, but I think in person and (when lightly weathered) in photos, molded on grabs are fine in most applications.  But maybe that's just me.

Lee

[basementcalling]

I'll just say the photo is disappointing and leave it to Jason and crew to recitfy matters on their visit to the factory.

[peteski]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  In N scale, the whisker thin nature of actual scale grabs makes any added on detail just stand out like a sore thumb.  I know it's not as "Gee Whiz" as having zillions of separate castings to worry about, but I think in person and (when lightly weathered) in photos, molded on grabs are fine in most applications.  But maybe that's just me.

Lee

Nope.  Not alone.
I'm also quite happy with molded-in details like Kato does.  Like I mentioned earlier, the mismatch in thickness is a price to pay for requesting manufacturers to use all the separately-added thin wire grab irons on the shell.