Rapido News 166 - New Mystery Boxes and More!

Rapido Newsletter Vol. 166

Dear Rapido Customer,

Welcome to April. Three new announcements, FOUR important order deadlines and plenty of new info and photos. So, without further ado, Rapido News 166...starts...right...NOW!

Our Best Video Yet?

Michael Gross joins the Rapido team for some California shenanigans!

New Announcements!

Rapido Mystery Boxes!
NEW! N Scale Wide Vision Cabooses!
NEW! N Scale Canadian Passenger Train Sets - CONDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

April Order Deadlines - April 17th, 2023

HO Scale GMDD GP9RM Mother and Slug Locomotives
HO Scale Southern Pacific PC&F B-70-69/71/75 Boxcars

May Order Deadlines - May 15th, 2023

HO Scale Dash 8-40CM
N Scale Dash 8-40CM

Second Section

Cue The Rage
Upcoming Shows
New Videos
New Arrivals / Shipping Dates
Factory and Tooling Updates
Introducing Jeff

California Dreamin'

We're very proud of our latest video creation. We've been disappointed with how the courier companies have been treating our models like footballs. In order to get a feeling for how our models are treated, Jeremy, Jordan, and Jason went to California to film an extreme drop test video. Put simply, they threw a bulkhead flatcar off a mountain.

Their shenanigans were interrupted by Michael Gross. Yes, that Michael Gross - "Steven Keaton" from Family Ties. And Michael put them firmly in their place.

We owe a huge debt of thanks to Michael for putting up with our nonsense. To watch the video, please click here. Please share it with everyone you know!

Rapido Mystery Boxes!

Introducing Rapido Mystery Boxes! For just $149.95 ($179.95 in Canada) you will get a mystery box filled with yummy goodness! Freight cars, locomotives, Rapido clothing, random parts, who knows! We promise that whatever it is will be worth a lot more than 150 bucks. Limited quantities available exclusively through our swag store! Make sure you select which scale you want!

Click here to order!

NEW! N Scale Wide Vision Caboose!

N Scalers: Your requests have come true! Let us introduce you to the brand-new, Rapido N Scale Wide Vision Caboose! Before we get too far in, we have a video accompanying this launch. Click here, the photo above or below to watch.

Between 1972 and 1981, CP’s Angus Shops in Montreal built over 300 modern, wide-vision “vans." For all you guys not wearing toques, "van" is Canadian for “caboose.” Hence the "Angus Van" name that stuck with them throughout their careers. They proved popular with crews and many are still on the road today as shoving platforms, rider cars in MOW service or living a second life on other railroads. Now, let's see more photos of the N Scale Wide Vision Caboose.

Don't these 3D renders just look great?

Working interior and marker lights? Ooh la la!

The original "van" caboose.

Can't forget the other original owners!

Dig that underbody detail!

Check out the N Scale Wide Vision Caboose features:

Super-detailed underbody including all separate air and brake piping
Free rolling Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks
Detailed interior
Full end detail, including uncoupling levers
Separate metal grab irons installed at the factory
Interior battery powered lighting and operating end marker lights
"Warm white" lights that aren't too bright!
Optional roof mounted air conditioner
Optional fuel oil tank details (road name dependent)
Knuckle couplers mounted at the correct height

Now take a look at all of the schemes on the initial run, below.

Check out the PDF sales catalogue by clicking the image below.

The N Scale Wide Vision Caboose will certainly be a popular hit for the 1:160 modelers. June 15th is the order deadline. The tooling is finished for these, except for some revisions to the roof and one side. We expect the tooling to be done by the order deadline, so please order yours now!

NEW! N Scale Canadian Passenger Train Sets!

Behold the N Scale Canadian Passenger Train Sets! Now before we roll any further, we want to mention a very important fact: these sets are CONDITIONAL. This means we will need to reach the minimum quantity of orders before we can give it the green light. That also means we have a special 5% early-bird discount if you place your orders before July 17th, 2023, which will also be the preliminary order deadline.

Now, for the detailed body section of these N Scale Passenger Sets... Each pack includes eight cars chosen from our Panorama Line of N Scale passenger cars to represent a typical consist of each chosen train. Every car features full interior and underbody detailing, interior lighting (now track-powered!), free-rolling trucks and magnetic couplers. Each set will also be packaged in its own "bookcase" presentation box.

Provided we get enough orders, we will be tooling an all-new Club Galley car as used in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. These will be available in the Inter-City and Rapido sets.

Now let's go through each "named" train, one by one. The sales catalogue will follow at the end.

The Inter-City Limited

The Inter-City-Limited was a joint passenger train between Canadian National and the Grand Trunk Western railroads. The trains operated between Montreal and Chicago, by way of Toronto and Detroit. These cars wore the incredibly eye-pleasing green, gold and black scheme.

The Rapido

Our namesake train! The Rapido was Canadian National's express service between Toronto and Montreal. It was eventually extended further west to Windsor and further east to Quebec City. Upon the creation of VIA Rail, the name was transferred over and used until the late 1980s. Now you can recreate those trains!

Our Rapido and Inter-City Limited train sets each contain:

One baggage car
One Club-Galley car
One "Dayniter" leg-rest coach
One Café-bar-lounge
Four coaches

The Ocean/The Ocean Limited

The longest running overnight passenger train in continuous service in North America! The Ocean provides service between Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia. This has some of the prettiest scenery in Canada. The train also serves as a link between Montreal and Canada's Maritimes. Originally the Intercolonial Railway "Ocean Limited," the train was continued by Canadian National and later simplified to "The Ocean." VIA took over the train in 1978 and it continues to run today.

Our Ocean train sets each contain:

One baggage car
One coach
One "Dayniter" leg-rest coach
One Cafe-bar-lounge
Two Bay-series 10-5 sleepers
Two E-series 4-8-4 duplex sleepers

Scroll down to see the three schemes being offered.

Railcar love!

The Edmundston

Rapido supports preservation! We are proud to offer an exclusive N gauge model of the E- Sleeper “Edmundston”, currently under restoration by the VIA Historical Association. 100% of the sales of our VIA E-Sleeper model of “Edmundston” will be donated to the VIA Historical Association. Not a portion of the sales. Not a small part of the profits. 100% of the sales. So please order yours today!

Check out the PDF sales catalogue by clicking the image below.

Ready to showcase that awesome N Scale Passenger Set? You'll be the hit of the club, or your own layout. So make sure to start that order machine up as this is a conditional announcement. The early pre-order deadline is July 17th, which will also get you a 5% early-bird discount.

April 17th, 2023 Order Deadlines

Two very important projects close out on April 17th: the HO Scale GMDD GP9RM Mother and Slug Locomotives and the HO Scale Southern Pacific PC&F B-70-69/71/75 Boxcar. Let's get right to them.

HO Scale GMDD GP9RM and Slug

The Rapido GP9RM and Slug is a smash hit! But don't let me tell you, watch this new video by clicking here or the photo above or below.

Awesome, vid, eh...Now let's see the 3D renders one more time?

Both styles of the classic CN Geep rebuild with or without the slug as prototypical.

That slug also carries a motor and sound for the traction motors!

Our unpainted pre-production samples

Check out the GP9RM and Slug catalogue by clicking the photo below, which will open as a PDF.

Just a few days before the HO Scale GP9RM and Slug order deadline. Don't miss out!

HO Scale Pacific Car and Foundry B-70-69/71/75 Boxcar

The PC&F B-70-69/71/75 Class Boxcar order deadline is coming up in a few days! Jeremy and Jordan filmed a lovely video about these cars—and the B50-15/16 boxcars—on the La Mesa club layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Click here, the photo above or below to watch.

After receiving the first samples shown in the video, we discovered issues with various details of the doors, ends and roof which we are currently fixing. Below are the latest CAD files, still under review. We expect the design to be finalized in the next few days and the tooling revisions to be complete in early May. So please get your orders in ASAP as we won't give any more notice before we start production.

The new B70 3D renders.

This shows the Youngstown and Superior style doors.

A different angle of the Superior doors.

The end of the B70 boxcar.

Check out the B-70-69/71/75 sales catalog. Click the photo below to view it in PDF form.

The HO Scale PC&F B-70-69/71/75 Boxcar is a hot commodity! Don't miss them as were sure they'll sell out fast.

May 15th, 2023 Order Deadlines

The GEs are chugging to the order deadline set for May 15th, 2023. Let's take a look at the HO Scale Dash 8-40CM as well as the N Scale Dash 8-40CM.

HO Scale Dash 8-40CM

A few months ago we made dreams come true with our revamped HO Scale Dash 8-40CM with upgraded tooling. Now we're pleased to announce the pre-order deadline is set for May 15th, 2023. While we are still working on a video, which will most likely appear before the May deadline, let's take this time to quickly look over the renders and early production samples.

The CN version on the left and the BC Rail on the right.

Did someone say detailed traction motors? We're sure these'll roll just fine.

Also note the correct bell location that later CN Dash 8s received.

The rears, showing off new etched details.

Don't forget you can also purchase the CN -style Split-Cooling Radiator upgrade as a kit.

Lots of new features, but how do they look, colorized? Scroll down to see the 3D renders.

These 3D renders look amazing.

BC Rail is still the best looking scheme to grace a cowled GE. (Ed: In your opinion...)

The HO Scale Dash 8-40CM is packed with details. Here are the features:

Accurately scaled from prototype blueprints
Roadname-specific details including bell position, single or double rear headlights, with or without battery boxes behind cab, horns, CN or BCOL style ditch lights and more
An insane level of detail with air filters, many separate pipes and moulded traction motor cabling and air/control pipe runs
Optional split cooling radiator for CN and later BC Rail versions (in a polybag).
Heavy, die-cast chassis with a powerful motor and dual flywheels
Operational headlights and rear lights with operational factory-installed ditch lights (plus rock lights on BCOL locomotives)
Operational white class lights
Operational sidestep lights and track lights
Newly tooled accurate cab interior
Newly tooled fuel tank and trucks
Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
DC/Silent (DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound) with twin sugar cube speakers
Factory-installed couplers mounted at the correct height

Now, here are the schemes we will be offering on our first run of HO Scale Dash 8-40CMs.

Before we show all the schemes, Otter Valley Railroad will be offering TWO special road numbers: 4604 and 4620 in the faded-out BC Rail paint scheme. Note 4620’s unique replacement number board and door!

Check out the Dash 8-40CM catalogue below. Click the photo to open up the PDF.

We're hoping to have an updated video of the HO Scale Dash 8-40CM Locomotives ahead of the next newsletter and May order deadline, so keep an eye out on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

N Scale Dash 8-40CM

The N Scale Dash 8-40CM Locomotives also have an order deadline of May 15th. Here are some photos from our last run.

The CN Schemes.

A yellow sill stripe and the website logo make up this Dash 8-40CM.

The best looking Dash 8. That's right, I said it!

(Ed: Except for CN stripes.)

Lots of details...for an N Scale loco!

Have a look at these N Scale Dash 8-40CM features:

Accurately scaled from prototype blueprints
Roadname-specific details including bell position, single or double rear headlights, with or without battery boxes behind cab, horns, CN or BCOL style ditch lights and more
An insane level detail with air filters, many separate pipes and moulded traction motor cabling and air/control pipe runs.
Heavy, die-cast chassis with a powerful motor and dual flywheels
Operational headlights and rear lights with operational
Factory-installed ditch lights (plus rock lights on BCOL locomotives)
Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
DC/Silent (DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound)

Despite the nice looking models, we know the artwork is always popular. Check it out below.

Check out the N Scale Dash 8-40CM catalogue below. Click the photo to open the PDF.

The N Scale Dash 8-40CM has made a big splash. We'll be back in May to close the orders for this awesome loco.

Second Section - April 2023

Anyway, lots of new photos, videos, arrivals and future shows! Here comes the Second Section for April 2023. Off we go!

Cue The Rage

Jason's column in the March Railroad Model Craftsman addressed rage in our hobby. We have now posted it on our blog, and we think you will find it an interesting read. Please click here to read it.

We highly recommend that you subscribe to RMC, so you read Jason's column every month! Please click here to subscribe.

Supertrain Calgary - April 15th and 16th, 2023

Join Dan Darnell and a bunch of American Rapido people at Calgary for the first Supertrain in a few years. We're excited to be back and will display lots of samples and answer any questions you may have. That'll be on April 15th and 16th, 2023, inside the Community Gym.

Note the convenient timing of the GP9RM order deadline to be right after this show, so all you Calgarians can see it in person and order by the dozen the next day!

New Videos

If you are an SP B50 boxcar fan, we included this car in our B70 video, so please click here or on the image above to watch if you haven't yet.

Want to learn more about the HO Scale Bulkheads? The unboxing video is now live, click here or the photo above to watch.

Did you miss the Rapido Live from a few weeks ago? Click here or the photo above to watch Jordan and Jason with special guests Lionel Strang and Tony Cook discuss all things Rapido and more. This is great to have on in the background while you are working on the layout.

Shipping and Arrival Updates

We have two shipments on route, with five more leaving the factory in the next few days. As we don't like to count our chickens before they have hatched, here are those two shipments:

HO NH County Cars - Shipping in May
HO Turboliner - Shipping in May

We just love showing this photo for the phone details.

The New Haven "County" car.

Every scheme on the Turboliners.

R-T-L: Ready To be Legendary!

Factory and Tooling Updates

Check out the completed production model.

Here's the repainted CN noodle version.

Minnesota Commercial M420 locomotives.

Oil Creek & Titusville original scheme M420 hoods.

The CN M420 cabs. Next stop final detailing.

The OC&T cabs - for the new scheme.

The CN M420 long hoods.

Piles of M420s, waiting for assembly!

Check out these RS-11 hoods!

Rows of D-10 cabs.

D-10 tenders.

The pilot trucks for the CP D-10. Lots of them!

Horizon car frames and interiors.

Check out all of those Horizon seats!

Some Thoughts from Jeff Lassahn

I’m Jeff, a new Rapido Project Manager. It’s a job I didn’t even realize existed, and it has been exciting to learn what it involves and join the Rapido team. As a Project Manager, I guide specific projects through all of their stages.

At a recent train show, a modeler asked “do you just download the designs from a website?” If only! Instead, we look for drawings, info in car and locomotive encyclopedias, and photos. If possible, it is extremely helpful to get hands-on measurements, which makes it that much more disappointing when you find out your prototype is completely scrapped.

A Wisconsin Central PS 5077 boxcar shows underframe details as it gets scrapped.

Speaking of scrapping, here is the underframe of a 50 ft PS 5077 boxcar being scrapped. This view is what I wish I had for every project, but alas, there isn’t a good database of cars and engines on their sides.

I’m the Project Manager of the C30-7 Project, which is really exciting - I grew up next to CSX in the 1990s, and remember the chug and smoke of C30-7s pulling away with heavy freights. In my youngest years those were CSX, Conrail, and NS engines, in my teenage years they were the ragtag leasers from nearly every railroad that owned C30-7s. They are one of my favorite engines, and it is fun to have a part in creating exciting details that have never been produced before.

A fun aspect of working for Rapido is that you get to pitch model railroad projects. This is the most recent C30-7 I’ve been able to photograph, and I’m pushing for us to offer it, but I’ve been told “the tooling cost is too high.”

Ferrocarril Central del Perú C30-7 1001, showing extremely unique modifications to meet clearance requirements on the world's second-highest railway.

I’m still pretty new, so I’ve got plenty of projects in progress to juggle before pushing for more of my own. I was surprised to see how the approval process happens at our team meeting after the Springfield show. It was much more open than I expected; if I could make a strong case for a project, even an unusual one, it was reasonably considered. I’m excited to get current projects into production and into modelers hands, and then come up with more!

Jason: Thanks, Jeff. Beauty essay. Bobby, do you mind if I jump in?

Bobby: Sure, go ahead!

Jason: OK - So speaking of more new projects, this is one train I'd really like us to make:

A classic Gloucester two-car set rests in Davisville Yard, 1978. Photo by Ted Wickson, Robert Lubinski collection.

I'm putting it out there because we could use underbody drawings of these things. They have some documents at the Gloucester Archives, but if anyone has these drawings sitting in a drawer or - better yet - scanned already, we'd love to hear from you.

Departing Rosedale Station en route to Eglinton in 1955.

Photo by Bill Hood, Robert Lubinski collection.

In case you don't recognize the prototype, these are Toronto's first subway cars, built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company over in the UK and entered into service in 1954. This, coincidentally, is 70 years ago next year, the same year as Rapido's 20th anniversary. You see where I'm going here? Get it? "Get it?"