Rapido Update Email

[CBQ Fan]

I just read through all the HO wonder in the Rapido email.  All those FA/FP-2 photos left me wondering how much money is being left on the table by not offering those in N scale.  I would be a buyer and I can’t imagine that I would be in the minority.   All these F & E units plus GG1’s and no Alco love.  Sad.

[reinhardtjh]

I'd go for 2 sets of A-B lashups.  In PRR, of course. 

[jjb62556]

I have FPA-FPB-FPA-4's with sound in N scale made by Rapido for Prairie Shadow. Some of the sweetest engines I have...Jim in Minnesota

[Englewood]

I wouldn't buy any.

[nickelplate759]

I like FA and FB units a lot, and have a few.   I won't buy any (more), no matter how good they are.  I will buy Rapido's Turbo when it comes out.

[OldEastRR]

Really wonder who has the pull with Rapido that steers the choices they make in N. Their choices for N production compared to their HO stuff seems unusual. Not doing FAs are a good example. But they'll make FL-9s?

[Dave V]

Really wonder who has the pull with Rapido that steers the choices they make in N. Their choices for N production compared to their HO stuff seems unusual. Not doing FAs are a good example. But they'll make FL-9s?

Jason's a member here...you could always ask him directly.

Maybe the fact that the LL FA is a decent little engine already but there was no FL9...Rapido isn't Bachmann, LOL.

[thomasjmdavis]

Really wonder who has the pull with Rapido that steers the choices they make in N. Their choices for N production compared to their HO stuff seems unusual. Not doing FAs are a good example. But they'll make FL-9s?

I don't know for a fact, but I would suspect it has something to do with marketing.  At a show, for instance, I imagine the the conversation goes something like this (It wasn't a Rapido booth, but some years ago, based on conversations overheard at another manufacturer's booth at a train show, for a different model.)....

NH modeler: "Would be great to have an FL-9."

Rapido:  "Would you be willing to pay $150 for a highly detailed model?  Or $250 with DCC sound?"

NH modeler: "That is at the higher end of my budget, but, yeah, for an FL-9."

a few minutes later....

Other N scaler: "Would be great to have an Alco FA."

Rapido:  "Would you be willing to pay $150 for a highly detailed model?  Or $250 with DCC sound?"

Other N scaler: "Well, I was thinking more like $65, maybe $135 with sound.  You know, priced like a Kato F unit."

 I don't "need" FAs.  But if I did need FAs, I would need them in blocks of 3 and 4.  As with EMD F units, I would rather see them produced at a lower price point even if it means less detail.  But a loco that I might only buy one or two of, and which helped identify time, place and railroad and could become a focal point, I would pay a higher price for. 

[Mark5]

At this point the FA-2 would seem like a no-brainer for Bachmann ... (yup, I said that   )

They've done it in HO, so that's where my bet is.

Mark

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Bachmann will only do that after issuing the SD40-2, SD70ACe and ES44

[CBQ Fan]

I could also see BLI doing one for some reason.

All I know is someone needs to do one!

[Mark5]

Bachmann will only do that after issuing the SD40-2, SD70ACe and ES44

Probably true!

[delamaize]

IIRC, Prairie Shadows actually owns the rights to the FAs, and Rapido just manufactured them. So I guess if you wanted them in N scale, you'd need to harass Prairie Shadows for another release and more road names!

@rapidotrains is this correct?

[eagle5473]

When I spoke to someone at the Rapido booth at The Springfield show they said making New Haven stuff was a license to print

Aaron

[learmoia]

We keep asking for an FA for the same reason we keep (kept) asking for an SD40-2.. The company that owns the decent tooling refuses to get any $$$$ out of it..

I doubt anyone was clamoring for FAs when LL was pumping them out like crazy. 

As long as it's not Intermountain jk   

~Ian..