TurboTrain on 9.75" radius & new loco announcement coming 6/25

[rapidotrains]

Hi all,

Just FYI we had a customer ask us if the Turbo works on 9.75" radius and we couldn't answer as we had never actually tested it on those curves. In fact, I couldn't even find any 9.75" radius track in the office as we always say "11-inch minimum radius."

So I ordered some 9.75" radius track and I tested it today. To our surprise, the Turbo had no issues.

So if you have 9.75" curves, you should be fine. This was the final pre-production sample with factory-installed lights and sound, and I have to admit the sounds are a lot better than the HO model.

In other news, we are announcing a new N scale locomotive on Monday. The locomotive sample and the handrails for the locomotive are in two separate courier packages en route from China. The handrails weren't ready when the loco was... Hopefully they both arrive on time!

-Jason

[peteski]

Oh what a tease!  But thanks for the update (about both).  The  Turbo is almost here!!

And at least we now know that the new loco will not be steam*, but a narrow-hood Diesel, probably of some obscure Canadien prototype. 

*I just threw that in. I knew it wouldn't be a steam loco from talking to Bill at the Springfield show back in February.

[ek2000]

Hi all,

. This was the final pre-production sample with factory-installed lights and sound, and I have to admit the sounds are a lot better than the HO

-Jason

Any chance you could do a video of the final preproduction sample?

[rapidotrains]

Any chance you could do a video of the final preproduction sample?

We'll do a video when the production models arrive. The pre-production sample is just a yellow dip job with a rough blue stripe for colour matching.

We also got a bunch of shells for colour matching, which is a good thing as two of the colours were off.

-Jason

[coosvalley]

Canadien, colour, ....what is going on up there in Canada?

Kidding aside, I can't wait to see what's coming!

[Point353]

And at least we now know that the new loco will not be steam*, but a narrow-hood Diesel, ...

Handrails do not necessarily imply a narrow-hood diesel. It could be a P30CH:

[learmoia]

Hi all,

Just FYI we had a customer ask us if the Turbo works on 9.75" radius and we couldn't answer as we had never actually tested it on those curves. In fact, I couldn't even find any 9.75" radius track in the office as we always say "11-inch minimum radius."

So I ordered some 9.75" radius track and I tested it today. To our surprise, the Turbo had no issues.

So if you have 9.75" curves, you should be fine. This was the final pre-production sample with factory-installed lights and sound, and I have to admit the sounds are a lot better than the HO model.

In other news, we are announcing a new N scale locomotive on Monday. The locomotive sample and the handrails for the locomotive are in two separate courier packages en route from China. The handrails weren't ready when the loco was... Hopefully they both arrive on time!

-Jason

OK Jason, Take a loop of 9" curves, make a circle, build the longest turbo train you can that will fit in the circle (nose to nose).. and demo it at the shows.. (both rediculous and informative.)

Bonus points if you put it on a turntable that spins the speed of the train, so the running train stays stationary.

~Ian

[drbnc]

The pre-production sample is just a yellow dip job with a rough blue stripe for colour matching.

Sounds like my first car...

[central.vermont]

My money is on one of these!!
Jon

[spookshow]

Jason, I'd suggest building yourself one of these (it don't cost much) -



What we have here is sloppily laid Atlas Code 80 sectional track; featuring a 9.75" radius inner loop connected by plastic-frog turnouts to an 11" radius middle loop. The outer loop is 19" radius with curving 2% grades.

If a given locomotive can handle pulling cars around all that, they're good to go for the vast majority of us

Cheers,
-Mark

[ljudice]

A Conrail B36-7 would be nice....

[dougnelson]

Jason -
Those are not handrails - they are PRR Trainphone antennas for your soon-to-be-announced N scale FA2s. 

[nstars]

Jason -
Those are not handrails - they are PRR Trainphone antennas for your soon-to-be-announced N scale FA2s. 

That would be great, but somehow I doubt it.

Marc

[nkalanaga]

Obscure Canadian Diesel?  Maybe a Newfoundland narrow gauge EMD?  I'd rather have one of the WP&Y's DL535Es, but would take either one. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

A Conrail B36-7 would be nice....

Amen brother!

That'd probably get me to get off my butt and actually get my TV train working.