Rapido Trains - New GP20

[bbussey]

Based on the capacity and light weight markings (even though the load limit is absent), these would ride on 100-ton trucks and 36” wheels.

One additional note - I believe these are the first Rapido freight trucks that take .540” axles.

[BCR 570]

Thank you; I had thought 36" wheels but would like to be sure.

I am presently awaiting my replacement cars - fingers crossed!


Tim

[thomasjmdavis]

Exactly
My point is that it isn't greed. It's possibility.

Without Chinese manufacturing, the only thing we'd have made over the past 20 years would be Micro-Trains freight cars.
No new engines except Kato.
No DCC, since much of that is actually manufactured there.

The fact is that Chinese low cost "turnkey" manufacturing makes our hobby possible.

Maybe.  But that analysis ignores the other possibility-
More manufacturers could have recognized Micro-trains and Kato as being superior long term business models. Which arguably, they are. And adopted similar business  models, where they would maintain control over manufacturing and quality standards.
Instead of adopting the "move it to China" business model- which includes giving up control of the tooling and the production schedule to Kader or other Chinese companies, and substantially losing control over quality.

And for some (note I say some, not all) companies that have adopted Chinese manufacturing....
WHY is it that once the containers arrive from China, NOBODY bothers to do any quality inspection, and instead just ships the stuff to the end users without any quality control, at all?  It is pretty clear that whatever is in the container goes straight into USPS, UPS or whatever boxes regardless of condition. How much of the price we pay is going to the assumption that a large percentage of the order will be returned as defective, or at least for repair? 

[ljudice]

Maybe.  But that analysis ignores the other possibility-
More manufacturers could have recognized Micro-trains and Kato as being superior long term business models. Which arguably, they are. And adopted similar business  models, where they would maintain control over manufacturing and quality standards.
Instead of adopting the "move it to China" business model- which includes giving up control of the tooling and the production schedule to Kader or other Chinese companies, and substantially losing control over quality.

And for some (note I say some, not all) companies that have adopted Chinese manufacturing....
WHY is it that once the containers arrive from China, NOBODY bothers to do any quality inspection, and instead just ships the stuff to the end users without any quality control, at all?  It is pretty clear that whatever is in the container goes straight into USPS, UPS or whatever boxes regardless of condition. How much of the price we pay is going to the assumption that a large percentage of the order will be returned as defective, or at least for repair?

A lot of these quality issues started in 2020 - I suspect the pandemic played a big role...

[kiwi_bnsf]

Just to add a further data point to this (already quite long) thread…

I received my package of sixteen Rapido GP20 tank cars yesterday direct from Rapido, and they were beautifully packed in a sturdy box, with pellets, as well as bubble wrap around the jewel cases. This shipped all the way from Canada to my home in New Zealand.

After reading many of the comments here, I opened them with trepidation, but was pleased to find not a single part out of place. There was one oily smear on the side of one car, but this was removed in a few minutes using a cue tip dipped in hot soapy water. I don't see any CA or glue residue anywhere, and all the handrails seem affixed pretty firmly.

The models are stunning — especially the see through etched end platforms. It's also nice to have body mount couplers as standard.

In terms of some of the negative comments on this thread, I would point out that Rapido does not outsource their production to a third-party in China. They have their own dedicated factory in China with their own staff, and they visit there frequently to manage things directly (although perhaps not so much with the current pandemic restrictions — but you can do a lot via a video chat these days). Rapido have some great videos of their production processes and I think their transparency on this is to be praised: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rapido+trains+factory

It is always disappointing when there are issues with shipping damage, or quality issues, but so long as the manufacturer puts it right, it's no different to other consumer goods, and I don't think it's fair to just blame Chinese manufacturing. Most of the computer/phone/tablet you are using to interact with this thread was probably designed in the USA and made in China — a business model that seems to work pretty well for many products.

Cheers

[sd75i]

  Just received mine yesterday from LH and everything was intact.  One of the cars weights was moving around inside but other than that, All Good!  After looking them over, I think I need some more!

[Wutter]

Just as an FYI to anyone that receives damaged cars, and wants to do a quick fix instead of sending them back and getting new cars. Mine came like this:
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You can easily get the end platform off by taking the screw off from the bottom that holds it on. Be careful because the bolster beam fits over the screw boss for the trucks, so you need to ease it over that.  The end handrail is metal and can be pushed out of the end platform easily since the plastic doesn't stick to the metal very well, and the tank end cap can be removed from the end platform if your handrails are still attached (one side of mine was pushed out already)

If your weight feels like its stuck in a weird angle like mine, you can loosen the end platform screw on the opposite end of the car because the screws act like set screws when the cylindrical weight is in place (correct or not). The weight should pull out without any other obstructions after that, but it could still be jammed in against the clips at a weird angle.
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The root cause of the issue is that the centered clip inside the body that holds the cylindrical weight either comes deformed in some of these cars, or from transit vibration, the clip is opened up and is no longer retaining anything.
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I put a long screwdriver in and folded the two halves as close as I could so they would clamp onto the cylindrical weight. After re-forming the clip, I put some PVA glue (Elmers/Kristal Klear) between the floor of the tank and the weight to prevent the weight from rattling around, but still be able to remove it in case I need to sometime in the future.

You might also notice that my end platform was tweaked at an angle in two directions, both downwards towards the end of the car, and also twisted when looking at the end. It appears that the end platforms are made from some type of plastic that is more flexible than normal styrene/ABS, more similar to Acetal/POM but not quite. I was able to twist and form the end platform back into shape without damaging anything.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Maybe.  But that analysis ignores the other possibility-
More manufacturers could have recognized Micro-trains and Kato as being superior long term business models. Which arguably, they are. And adopted similar business  models, where they would maintain control over manufacturing and quality standards.
Instead of adopting the "move it to China" business model- which includes giving up control of the tooling and the production schedule to Kader or other Chinese companies, and substantially losing control over quality.

There are a couple of reasons.

The first is capital: starting a business where you're an importer is a hell of a lot cheaper, and a hell of a lot less risky than building your own factory. That means that attracting capital (investors or banks willing to loan to you) is going to be difficult (and therefore expensive). It'll take millions of dollars if you're going to build your own domestic factory and staffing it with workers. The solution to this is pooling the capital extensive things, which is essentially the model manufacturers currently do (in China).

The second is scale: how many concurrent products will you need to be producing and releasing simultaneously to keep the expensive equipment and employees you're paying loans for? If you're producing below that rate you're going to be wasting money (the cost of financing) every minute that they sit idle. One structural issue here that puts us US employment at a structural disadvantage against foreign competition is our broken healthcare financing system: your assigned risk pool is going to be small enough that as a small operation you'll be paying through the nose for health insurance. (Quick aside: making startups and small businesses like this less internationally competitive is one of the reasons why the American employment based health insurance model is a significant drag on our economy and why I'm an advocate for, lets just say, "alternative approaches".)

A third is infrastructure: If you're making complex stuff (like a locomotive) there's a bunch of subcomponents and raw materials that are not readily available domestically. I would not be surprised if things like gears, springs, screws, bushings, etc... are all off the shelf things purchased from third parties. There is a supporting infrastructure for small scale medium-cost manufacturing that exists in China that does not exist in the US. A small manufacturer like Spring Mills, ESMC, or even ScaleTrains won't be able to replicate that infrastructure domestically.

[dem34]

Received my Six pack today a little late. Out of the 6 only 1 had only has a coupler that sticks a little but otherwise no running issue or assembly issues I can see.  Great looking cars and at least my pack rolls about as well as my Micro trains stock out of the box. I really have to wonder if all the duds were a result of some snafu at a distributor.

[basementcalling]

Maybe.  But that analysis ignores the other possibility-
More manufacturers could have recognized Micro-trains and Kato as being superior long term business models. Which arguably, they are. And adopted similar business  models, where they would maintain control over manufacturing and quality standards.
Instead of adopting the "move it to China" business model- which includes giving up control of the tooling and the production schedule to Kader or other Chinese companies, and substantially losing control over quality.

And for some (note I say some, not all) companies that have adopted Chinese manufacturing....
WHY is it that once the containers arrive from China, NOBODY bothers to do any quality inspection, and instead just ships the stuff to the end users without any quality control, at all?  It is pretty clear that whatever is in the container goes straight into USPS, UPS or whatever boxes regardless of condition. How much of the price we pay is going to the assumption that a large percentage of the order will be returned as defective, or at least for repair?

MT may have in house control, but if you look at the new release thread for July and their prices, the new PS2 hopper, even with significant upgrades in 21st century tooling over their older cars, is also coming in significantly higher in price. The TBOXes are also higher, though not as expensive as the new covered hoppers.  MT may have QT under control, but making products in China allows new tooling at lower cost than if other companies had to do it in house in the USA. Their cars would be significantly higher in price.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Finally got my cars today. I haven't run them but they sure look nice just sitting there.

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[dem34]

Running these a few days, atleast with mine, flawless running in terms of couplers and rolling resistance. But going to be honest these things shed parts like nobodies business. Given a bit more running I think this issue will probably go away as I resolve each car but I keep finding bits and bobs falling off, little CA does the trick but as of now they won't be leaving the home loop.

[peteski]

Whenever I open this thread I expect some GP20 loco info, but all I keep seeing is info about a GP20 tank car. 

[jagged ben]

Whenever I open this thread I expect some GP20 loco info, but all I keep seeing is info about a GP20 tank car. 

You should know by now.  Did I get you to look again?

[peteski]

You should know by now.  Did I get you to look again?

Yup!