Author Topic: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?  (Read 11174 times)

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OldEastRR

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #45 on: March 14, 2018, 02:35:57 PM »
0
Following the flame war and locked out thread about N scale/Facebook, I'm still wondering if Rapido will at least look at producing an FA-1 w/ DCC and sound -- believe me, lots of people want one! (probably best if have a DC and DCC one but). I'm pretty sure there is a real demand for this loco -- the LL/Walthers one is way obsolete and besides the decent version is a FA2.
I too, however, am wondering when the 3 locos to be made are going to be announced. I assume the Turbo is one, but ...?

Mark5

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #46 on: March 14, 2018, 03:22:37 PM »
0
Following the flame war and locked out thread about N scale/Facebook, I'm still wondering if Rapido will at least look at producing an FA-1 w/ DCC and sound -- believe me, lots of people want one! (probably best if have a DC and DCC one but). I'm pretty sure there is a real demand for this loco -- the LL/Walthers one is way obsolete and besides the decent version is a FA2.

Actually the split frame versions of both the Lifelike FA-1 and FA-2 are quite nice (just need better flanges).

Walthers is doing their best to sit on this tooling ...  :trollface:

Mark


OldEastRR

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #47 on: March 14, 2018, 04:38:06 PM »
0
But the LL locos are NOT DCC and it's a pain to put sound in them ..... maybe YOU like that, but I don't find it a worthwhile option.
Why do people keep arguing N scale doesn't need a upgraded FA-1??? Certainly could use that better than another GG-1!!!!

DKS

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #48 on: March 14, 2018, 04:45:47 PM »
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Why do people keep arguing N scale doesn't need a upgraded FA-1??? Certainly could use that better than another GG-1!!!!

Well, according to you. SPFs might disagree...

Mark5

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #49 on: March 14, 2018, 05:19:14 PM »
+1
Um .... ok

I was just pointing out that the Lifelike units are nice, and would just need an update to the mechanism to have correct flanges, make it DCC ready, maybe even sound ready. But it won't happen with Wally.

I seem to remember Jason saying that Rapido wasn't going "mainstream" with the new loco releases, so it seems doubtful that they would do the FAs, but they were used in the Great White North so - who knows? :D

But I never said we don't need Alco FA-1 and FA-2 models, in fact I have asked for them in multiple threads over the years.

Mark


CBQ Fan

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #50 on: March 14, 2018, 06:28:06 PM »
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I heard they actually meant three loco units, not three prototypes. Museum quality, crazy details and a price for the rich and famous!   :D
Brian

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Joetrain59

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #51 on: March 14, 2018, 07:32:38 PM »
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Let's hope for C424/5's.
  Joe D

Brian M

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #52 on: March 14, 2018, 08:40:09 PM »
0
I agree that the split frame version of the LL FA-1/2's are nice models. They pull like crazy and look fairly good. But for what it's worth, I did drop a suggestion of an N scale FA-1 in the Rapido suggestion box at the Denver train show a couple weeks ago. Doubt it will result in anything, but might as well try since they were actually taking suggestions....

-Brian.

bbussey

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #53 on: March 14, 2018, 09:33:26 PM »
+9
The Life-Like split-frame FA/FB diesels are excellent engines. Sometimes you have to be a modeler instead of expecting to buy everything RTR.
Bryan Busséy
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OldEastRR

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #54 on: March 15, 2018, 07:16:18 PM »
0
Apparently B. Bussey is commenting on my modeling skills. I suggest he look at the buildings in the National Carbon Company thread, which I built.
Or perhaps Mr. Bussey has a complete mini-machine shop, CAD and Shapeways production methods, photo etching equipment and the like so fabricating anything from scratch or rework anything into anything else is doable for him. To those of us not so equipped, to him we apparently aren't "modelers".
But what I am wondering about is in our small world of model manufacturers, Mr. Bussey through his many contacts in the field, has a major influence on the people who decide what models to make in those companies. It MAY have been coincidence that the first run of the Atlas NE-5s just happened to include the two NH paint schemes that fit Mr. Bussey's layout, but not the as built scheme. I wonder how much sway he has with Jason Shron at Rapido -- enough to convince him that in his view, there's no need for Rapido to make an FA unit as the LL ones are "good enough" for the rest of us? He's already made it clear he's not interested in Rapido making any other streamlined NH equipment except the 8600 coaches. Rapido did the parlor car in HO but seems reluctant to commit to doing it in N. No doubt his home manufacturing set-up will allow him to easily turn the 8600 into any of the other NH cars. Us lesser modelers can suck it, I guess.
I don't like favoritism. It's elitist and discriminatory. I don't like it in Washington DC and I don't like it in model railroading manufacturing.  I put up with it in TRW because that's a part of what TRW is.
It's hard enough to get what we want in N without a bunch of prima donnas making it harder.

CBQ Fan

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #55 on: March 15, 2018, 07:35:41 PM »
0
Don’t let Bryan get to you. He is very very very very important in the industry according to himself. The expression Big duck little pond comes to mind.  Only maybe substitute pond with bird bath.

Don’t feel bad.  He told me I have no idea what I am talking about when it comes to producing products.  Having run a business designing, specing, producing, financing and selling products from multiple countries in Europe and Asia and  the U.S. doesn’t qualify me as educated in business. Even if those sales are in the hundreds of millions it still doesnt count. 
Brian

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tom mann

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #56 on: March 15, 2018, 08:01:13 PM »
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Guys let’s not gang up on Bryan. His response doesn’t warrant personal attacks.

peteski

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #57 on: March 15, 2018, 11:20:29 PM »
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Guys let’s not gang up on Bryan. His response doesn’t warrant personal attacks.

I actually agree with Bryan's response - RTR is overrated.  :D
Does this make me one of those TRW groupies or fanboys of him? That dreaded TRW clique?  :RUEffinKiddingMe:

Peteski de extra snarkski
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bbussey

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #58 on: March 16, 2018, 12:18:24 AM »
+3
Apparently B. Bussey is commenting on my modeling skills. I suggest he look at the buildings in the National Carbon Company thread, which I built.
Or perhaps Mr. Bussey has a complete mini-machine shop, CAD and Shapeways production methods, photo etching equipment and the like so fabricating anything from scratch or rework anything into anything else is doable for him. To those of us not so equipped, to him we apparently aren't "modelers".
But what I am wondering about is in our small world of model manufacturers, Mr. Bussey through his many contacts in the field, has a major influence on the people who decide what models to make in those companies. It MAY have been coincidence that the first run of the Atlas NE-5s just happened to include the two NH paint schemes that fit Mr. Bussey's layout, but not the as built scheme. I wonder how much sway he has with Jason Shron at Rapido -- enough to convince him that in his view, there's no need for Rapido to make an FA unit as the LL ones are "good enough" for the rest of us? He's already made it clear he's not interested in Rapido making any other streamlined NH equipment except the 8600 coaches. Rapido did the parlor car in HO but seems reluctant to commit to doing it in N. No doubt his home manufacturing set-up will allow him to easily turn the 8600 into any of the other NH cars. Us lesser modelers can suck it, I guess.
I don't like favoritism. It's elitist and discriminatory. I don't like it in Washington DC and I don't like it in model railroading manufacturing.  I put up with it in TRW because that's a part of what TRW is.
It's hard enough to get what we want in N without a bunch of prima donnas making it harder.

Nope, the other manufacturers decide what they want to produce and when they want to produce it.

New Haven owned the largest fleet by far of the P-S 1944 steel caboose, so it makes sense that Atlas would release their NE-5 model in New Haven's most popular scheme first.  Personally, I would have preferred to see the as-built scheme first (which best fits my layout and why my scratchbuilt NE5 is in the as-built scheme), but I'll happily take the schemes released in the order produced.  Don't know where you came up with two schemes as they have released only one to date.  The Trailiner scheme I commissioned as a limited-run, which you also are capable of doing.

Rapido has found success producing models based on New Haven prototypes, initially due partly to the influence and investment of the NHRHTA.  Again, I'm happy to see whatever they release but I don't factor into their decision-making, including whether they will or won't release PBLW smokers and/or fluted parlors in N.  And if they choose not to release N scale models of those prototypes, yeah I'll kitbash my own (which I did with the PBLW smokers) and not fret or be bitter about it.  Regardless, the steady stream of prototypical New Haven products that has been released in N over the last few years by multiple manufacturers would make most New Haven modelers happy I would think, instead of fussing about the models not yet made or re-made.

Anyone is free to manufacture model railroad products if he feels knowledgeable enough to do so.  More product means more diversity and greater choice.  But given that I model primarily a railroad with esoteric prototypes, it makes little sense to wait for me or Atlas or Rapido or any other manufacturer to release everything I want to see in RTR form.  And if there is a model already available that is 90% of what I need, such as the Life-Like FA/FB, I can do the extra 10% needed and prefer the manufacturers put time and resources toward something new that hasn't been done before.  It doesn't take much effort to add a decoder to an analog model.  And as a sidebar, the FAs/FBs look even better with the MTL true-scale couplers between the units.
Bryan Busséy
NHRHTA #2246
NSE #1117
www.bbussey.net


draskouasshat

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Re: Three New Rapido N Scale Locomotives Coming?
« Reply #59 on: March 16, 2018, 01:12:04 AM »
+2
The Life-Like split-frame FA/FB diesels are excellent engines. Sometimes you have to be a modeler instead of expecting to buy everything RTR.

Spot on @bbussey! Model railroading requires modeling. This isn't some game on your phone.
If you just want to buy stuff, move to HO.

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