The once and future ATSF reefer from Rapido

[thomasjmdavis]

Apparently, Jason used his tardis, went back to the middle of last year, to the day before they cancelled the ATSF reefer, and brought it forward to earlier this week.

It has been "relaunched".  No actual commitment to make anything, of course.  And no information about whether the delivery, if they are made, will be within my lifetime.  I can't even find a closing date for the pre-orders.  Perhaps they will hold them long enough to get an ad placed in the Warbonnet this time....  Nah, probably not.  All Santa Fe modelers read the all the way to the very end of every Rapido newsletter...right?
https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-184---New-Models--Big-Deadlines-and-Much-More.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=pLS8dhha3Ww
I've sent off an email to the folks I pre-ordered from back in 2022 to find out if I need to do the paperwork all over again. 

[peteski]

At least this reefer will not have the board gap problem. Hopefully not weld size problem. 

[kiwi_al]

Awwww Crap!!! both ATSF and BNSF - run Mr Wallet Run!!!!

[johnb]

whew! introduced in 1955! too late for me!

[Rossford Yard]

Interesting that they say the N Scale RDC is a record breaking seller for them.  IIRC, the Kato RDC's were one of the slowest sellers they had, and many remained on shelves and in warehouses for a long, long time.

[peteski]

Interesting that they say the N Scale RDC is a record breaking seller for them.  IIRC, the Kato RDC's were one of the slowest sellers they had, and many remained on shelves and in warehouses for a long, long time.

Yes, Kato RDCs did not sell well (even though they offered multiple variants - more than what Rapido is making).

Charlie Vlk was working at Kato USA at that time and he offered his opinion (based on his knowledge of Kato's operation) on TRW as to why the Kato RDCs bombed.

Have Rapido RDCs been shipped out?  I have couple reserved and haven't heard anything about shipment.

[Sokramiketes]

Yes, Kato RDCs did not sell well (even though they offered multiple variants - more than what Rapido is making).

Charlie Vlk was working at Kato USA at that time and he offered his opinion (based on his knowledge of Kato's operation) on TRW as to why the Kato RDCs bombed.

Have Rapido RDCs been shipped out?  I have couple reserved and haven't heard anything about shipment.

Charlie's opinion wasn't that they didn't sell well, it's that Kato's minimum runs were outrageously big at the time.  So they were left with a lot of overstock (and never were able to do the second run).

[CBQ Fan]

Charlie's opinion wasn't that they didn't sell well, it's that Kato's minimum runs were outrageously big at the time.  So they were left with a lot of overstock (and never were able to do the second run).

This is correct.

[peteski]

Charlie's opinion wasn't that they didn't sell well, it's that Kato's minimum runs were outrageously big at the time.  So they were left with a lot of overstock (and never were able to do the second run).

I didn't remember the exact explanation, but it makes sense. Kato's runs are/were rather large. Maybe what Rapido considers a bestseller, is actually similar to the amount of RDC Kato sold in their humongous run.

[lock4244]

I think Rapido's choice of paint schemes may be a factor... I think the CN, CP Rail, and Via will probably sell enough to make it viable, everything else is gravy.

Maybe it was the threat to leave N scale drove sales?

[thomasjmdavis]

Well, if they made money on the RDC, more power to them.  It does demonstrate that if they make N scale stuff for US roads, the product can be profitable. 

[nickelplate759]

I think Rapido's choice of paint schemes may be a factor... I think the CN, CP Rail, and Via will probably sell enough to make it viable, everything else is gravy.

Maybe it was the threat to leave N scale drove sales?

And B&M.  B&M ran 5+ of them in groups all the time, so if if you want one you want several.

[Mark5]

I am tempted to get a B&O unit (I don't think Kato did B&O). B&O had 12 RDC-1s and 4 RDC-2s.

Back in the 80s and 90s, I occasionally rode RDCs in MDOT/Marc commuter service from Washington DC to Brunswick MD. B&O 9913 retained its B&O lettering to the end (retired in 1993) - I rode in it multiple times.

Here's 9913 in Washington DC in 1991: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=851544

Mark

[peteski]

And B&M.  B&M ran 5+ of them in groups all the time, so if if you want one you want several.

I only reserved 2.  Pricey li'l buggers! Still have bunch of undec. Kato units. I'll paint them up when I retire! 

[JMaurer1]

I would love to get an SP shell, but I don't think I can justify the price for something that that I already have (Kato custom lettered for the SP, less the ears) and is just outside of my timeline.

Bigger question is how the thread drift when from ATSF reefers to RDC's...?

(Lock: I see what you did there)