TurboTrain - first test shots

[delamaize]

+2

Simmer down Pete.   

I am holding judgment till I see a completed model, or at least a shot of the windows in the test shots.

From what Rapido has done in the past, I'll defer to their expertise. They have not let me down yet.

[delamaize]

So Mike, ***snip***

I wasn't referring the banhammer towards you, I was saying it towards me. Since I usually get my peepee slapped when I speak my mind. Not here usually, but most everywhere else. But hey, assume it's aimed at you, whatever floats your boat.

And Yes, I do find you to be annoying sometimes, and I feel sometimes I'm not alone on this.

The Skytop observation car isn't a "simple shape" nor is the Superdome car a simple model.
How many other roads used the exact same configuration of FP7 as did the Milwaukee?
The Turbo is being offered by Rapido in six paint schemes.

As compared to the Turbos, It is a simple shape. No curved sides, Standard shape overall, outside the dome it's self, it is a simple shape when compared. I would be willing to bet the tooling for the skytop Vs the turbo is a lot less complicated, and a lot simpler.
Also, Since when does Kato do EXACT configuration for EVERY railroad they paint rolling stock into? I guarantee we will see this FP7 released into other railroads, even if the details are not 100% for that railroad.

You completely missed my point, Kato is a lot bigger company, with a lot more resources, and a lot more product, in a lot more markets. Tooling costs are not as much of a concern as it would be to a smaller manufacture like Rapido.

[peteski]

I wasn't referring the banhammer towards you, I was saying it towards me. Since I usually get my peepee slapped when I speak my mind. Not here usually, but most everywhere else. But hey, assume it's aimed at you, whatever floats your boat.

And Yes, I do find you to be annoying sometimes, and I feel sometimes I'm not alone on this.

You banned?!
Why in the world would you get banned for anything you stated in this thread?  I didn't see anything inflammatory (except for telling me to take a chill pill).  Besides, nobody gets banned for a single offense - you get a warning or two first.  Trust me, I know.

You find me annoying? Good, that means I'm doing what I set out to do - make people take notice of model shortfalls (and I'm f****ng passionate about it). 

[Point353]

I am holding judgment till I see a completed model, ...

The problem with that approach is by the time you see the completed model - or, better yet, a dissection and analysis by peteski -  it's too late to place an order.

From what Rapido has done in the past, I'll defer to their expertise. They have not let me down yet.

Did you buy one of the HO TurboTrains?

[nuno81291]

That is quite a thick looking post between the windows.. very happy with my Ho rapido purchases. Considering the variation, and I’m guessing anticipated sales and tooling that it was this or nothing for them and I ask myself whether I could overlook that (yes I think I could live with it).. I think Pete Is totally fair to call it as he sees it, but I appreciate Jason’s response.

 We need some MBTA power in HO Jason 

[peteski]

Yeah, some MBTA Kawasaki cars would make me happy (even with thick walls)!
 I'll never forget attending a private showing of those cars (at South Station) before they entered the service. What I treat that was. Another unforgettable moment was riding in the control cab of a MBTA RDC from Boston to Fitchburg and back.  Fun stuff!  It is good to be friends with railroad people in high places.  Too bad they have since retired.

[central.vermont]

On a different note............ Jason I was looking at your product announcement and see you have them listed as DC/ DCC Sound but not just DCC. I really would like to buy one but do not want sound. Are you selling a straight DCC with NO sound version????


Jon

[rapidotrains]

The problem with that approach is by the time you see the completed model - or, better yet, a dissection and analysis by peteski -  it's too late to place an order.
Did you buy one of the HO TurboTrains?

The HO Turbo ran like a beached whale. It looked nice, but it was poorly designed. It was our first powered model and it was released 10 years ago. At that point, Rapido was just Dan and me. And we were a bit (i.e. very) clueless.

Even so, it is the single model we get the most requests for. We are working on an HO Turbo Mk. II.

-Jason

[rapidotrains]

On a different note............ Jason I was looking at your product announcement and see you have them listed as DC/ DCC Sound but not just DCC. I really would like to buy one but do not want sound. Are you selling a straight DCC with NO sound version????


Jon

Unfortunately no. Because we would have to spend a lot of time and money developing it and because we would need custom-programmed silent decoders, the retail price would be about the same as the sound model.

I think your best bet is to get the sound model and just turn off the sound. Or if you are very handy with DCC, you can get a pair of silent decoders and then rewire or reprogram so the two power cars don't fight each other.

-Jason

[rapidotrains]

Another photo from the factory.

This tooling vendor is very good.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[nstars]

Looks good, Jason!

Marc

[Point353]

The HO Turbo ran like a beached whale. It looked nice, but it was poorly designed. It was our first powered model and it was released 10 years ago. At that point, Rapido was just Dan and me. And we were a bit (i.e. very) clueless.

Even so, it is the single model we get the most requests for. We are working on an HO Turbo Mk. II.

-Jason

Will there be a "cash for clunkers" trade-in program?

[rapidotrains]

Will there be a "cash for clunkers" trade-in program?

If you don't want your first run HO Turbo I recommend you sell it on eBay. They can go for a lot of money.

That being said, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. We are working on the new Turbo, but it will be 2019 at the earliest before it sees the light of day.

The scrap value of an HO scale Turbo is at least $0.50.... 

-Jason

[peteski]

Overall they look good, but I also see something on those shells, but I'm not going to say anything until I have my models in-hand (or until someone else mentions it).    I really have to wean myself of trying to compare these to ones from other manufacturers.  Bad Peter, bad!

The early shots of the Turbo Train look wonderful.  That's better, no?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Jason those are looking good. I may need to pick up one, even if it does not work for my era... i'll just run it with my Shinkansen 500 and Eurostar.

Come to think of it, this would look bad a$$ next to me Acela in South Station.

Now if only we can get you guys to start working on Comet II/Horizon commuter cars or the Kawasaki bi-levels.

Have you started packing for Springfield yet?