TurboTrain - first test shots

[rapidotrains]

I always look forward to your newsletters and videos. I hate to say this but I can think of two HO engines I didn't really need (who does really) for my switiching that I bought because I laughed so much at your stuff.

Have you thought of just disabling the comment feature on the YouTube videos?

I've thought about it, but apart from the slime there are actually a lot of good comments that appear there. We also want to encourage younger modellers and they reach out through social media. Quite a few times I've had to reply to a YouTube commentator and explain that we can't handle their warranty requests via public YouTube comments and they should email us.

The other day I was really shaken by a terribly racist YouTube comment from a train person. I zapped it but I later chose to share it on our Facebook because I felt a desire to be reassured that our community of model railroaders is mostly good. (I was reassured - the comments were almost universally positive and accepting.) But I've been questioning my decision because the best thing to do with trolls is not to give them a public forum. I wonder if I helped the goon by sharing his post, even if it was in the context of condemning it.

-Jason

[wmcbride]

I've thought about it, but apart from the slime there are actually a lot of good comments that appear there. We also want to encourage younger modellers and they reach out through social media. Quite a few times I've had to reply to a YouTube commentator and explain that we can't handle their warranty requests via public YouTube comments and they should email us.

The other day I was really shaken by a terribly racist YouTube comment from a train person. I zapped it but I later chose to share it on our Facebook because I felt a desire to be reassured that our community of model railroaders is mostly good. (I was reassured - the comments were almost universally positive and accepting.) But I've been questioning my decision because the best thing to do with trolls is not to give them a public forum. I wonder if I helped the goon by sharing his post, even if it was in the context of condemning it.

-Jason

Jason,

I saw that on Facebook. Zapping people like that cuts them off at the knees. It was a pretty horrid post and putting it on FB was valuable in that you heard from so many people who supported you and condemned it.

I appreciate the social media outreach especially to younger folks.

What I was thinking about, in terms of YouTube, was disabling comments but in your posted comments on the video, put a link for warranty issues and links to your Fb page and your web page (maybe also directly to the newsletters). Folks who want to learn more can do that with a click AND no one, including you or anyone else, has to read the kind of stupid, racist, xenophobic drivel that has been posted in the past.

[rapidotrains]

More photos arrived. We should have samples before the big West Springfield show.

-Jason

IC-33 shell (CN/VIA TurboClub Car - "Club" is 1st class in Canada, not a lounge)
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GPPS window casting for the above TurboClub
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Coupler parts
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Interiors
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[peteski]

Looks good Jason, but why does the shell look like it is 2 scale feet thick?  That will make the window inserts look like Coke-bottle glasses.     Why can't you make them thinner with much thinner window inserts. Kato has no problem making the body shells about 0.030" thick.  I don't get it . . . 

I pre-ordered 2 of these sets and now I'm starting to doubt myself. I expect Kato-like models, but these don't seem to quite make the grade.  Maybe I'm being blunt (but I'm just stating the facts).  Is it too much to expect Kato-like-quality models from other manufacturers?  I know Kato is far from perfect, but their models seem to just look better to me.  They look to be more precisely designed and manufactured.

[nickelplate759]

On the other hand, it already looks soooooo much better than the Bachmann "models" I already have.

I'm excited!

[Ngineer]

I should have ordered one.   

EDIT: The order deadline has changed (?) to Monday, February 9th, 2018 (sic). February 9th, 2018 is on Friday.

   Javier

[nstars]

I think it’s only fair to Rapido to leave judgement to the finished model. I think it’s great from Rapido to show these samples of this unique train especially as it’s for them also something new. I’m convinced that they will produce a fine model.

Marc

[delamaize]

I think it’s only fair to Rapido to leave judgement to the finished model. I think it’s great from Rapido to show these samples of this unique train especially as it’s for them also something new. I’m convinced that they will produce a fine model.

Marc

THIS!

[peteski]

I think it’s only fair to Rapido to leave judgement to the finished model. I think it’s great from Rapido to show these samples of this unique train especially as it’s for them also something new. I’m convinced that they will produce a fine model.

Marc

I was under the impression that the latest photos are the final production castings. I doubt that the thickness of the shell will be changed. It was designed to be thick from get-go.  I'm just being realistic here. 

[coosvalley]

My favorite part about the ignorant youtube commenters that think you should make the trains in the USA don't seem to realize Canada isn't in the U.S.

[peteski]

My favorite part about the ignorant youtube commenters that think you should make the trains in the USA don't seem to realize Canada isn't in the U.S.

But is is "Amurica"!  We (the residents) are all "Amuricans", rigth? 

[coosvalley]

But is is "Amurica"!  We (the residents) are all "Amuricans", rigth? 

We, like, own Canada, right?..They're like Puerto Rico kinda, right?

[Angus Shops]

Canadians are polite enough not to respond such nonsense...

Geoff from north of 49

[chessie system fan]

Aren't these cars rounded?  That would explain the thickness in the middle.

[nickelplate759]

My favorite part about the ignorant youtube commenters that think you should make the trains in the USA don't seem to realize Canada isn't in the U.S.

That's not new.  About 20 years ago I needed to travel, for work, from Seattle to Montreal.  I called the travel department of the company I worked for.  The phone menu asked me to press 1 for Domestic travel or 2 for International.  I pressed 2.  After waiting on hold, I talked to an agent to told me I need to start over and press 1.  I asked her when the US annexed Canada - she seemed perplexed by my question....and told me that travel to Canada was considered Domestic.