Rapido Newsletter Vol. 188

©2024 Rapido Trains Inc.

Email not showing the whole message? Click here to view as webpage.

Dear Rapido Customer,

It's a summer heatwave with these hot new announcements, fresh out of the sauna. N scalers, we think you're going to be VERY happy! Let's get started.

In this 188^th issue...

• Rapido and Me
• Toronto's First Subway Update - October 15th Order Deadline
• DODX Flatcar Load Update
• New Product Announcements
• Upcoming Shows
• New Updates
• Investigative Reporting with Boaz

If you are using a web-based email service such as Gmail, be sure to click on the link near the bottom of the email that says something like "[Message clipped] View entire message". That will ensure you don't miss any of this newsletter.

Please note that all renders and artwork are subject to change before the final product release.

Rapido and Me — Customer Photo Submissions

Last newsletter we launched Rapido and Me, a call for you to send in your model photos. So far we've received MANY great submissions, and we want to thank you for all your contributions! Keep sending in those photos! As mentioned, they can be on your layout, at the club, on a module or diorama, kitchen table or even on your rug! We aren't picky; we just want to see your models any place, any situation, boxed or unboxed. Send them to us at trains@rapidotrains.com or tag us on social media.

Here's three we wanted to feature for this month.

An HO scale Rock Island SW1200 makes it way through the small yard on the RI. This scene has drastically changed since then, but thankfully Tom K. has kept this era in a time capsule! Photo and models by Tom Klimczak.

Turbo²! A Turbo(liner) meets a Turbo (train). Although this scene would be about 20 years apart, the magic of model railroading makes it happen. Photo and HO scale models by Michael Babischkin.

Two N scale GMD-1s lead a grain train on the Rail Road to Avonlea. The scene certainly has that western small-town Canada feel with the grain elevator and dirt road. Photo and models by Allan Dare.

FINAL ORDER DEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENT:

HO Scale Toronto's First Subway — October 15th, 2024

Attention Torontonians and rapid transit fans! We're elated to announce the HO Scale Toronto's First Subway order deadline, now set for October 15th, 2024. Not only did this project make it past the conditional phase, but it did it with flying colours (particularly red and yellow)! And we have a special treat for you: early pre-production samples that are subject to change. Check them out above and below.

St. Clair Station's iconic tiling. It's all there!

Do you want to order a custom station?

You just need to order, like, 300 of them!

Note all of the etched parts on these cars!

These cars look excellent! The amount of detail is stunning and that station platform looks superb. The tiling is exquisite — the photos do not do it justice. The rails on the station dioramas will go right to the end so you can connect several to make a long display. Also, we will be offering the stations on their own before the order deadline. Probably next month. We haven't got pricing etc. for that yet.

Toronto's First Subway never looked so good. (Yes, these will run on regular HO track. No, we are not making broad gauge TTC spec track.) Check out the bottom of a car in the photo below.

All that piping and third rail equipment is out of this world.

Are you excited yet? We are! And we cannot wait until October 15th to send these off to production. Until then, keep ordering away and tell your friends in Toronto, even the non-modellers and Toronto history fans who might enjoy our station and two-car display.

Please note: the prices for the 4-car sets will be going up on August 1st. To get these subways at the current prices, please reserve yours by then.

Check out the catalogue below.

July Product Launch Video

We have got a ton of new releases this month. Check them out in the video above or click here to watch now. Jeremy and Jordan keep it pretty short and sweet (with another little sneak peek of our studio at HQ). If you're looking for a more in-depth look at each new project, keep on scrolling!

UPDATE! HO Scale M60A1 Tank and 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Mount

The DODX Flatcar Loads are finally revealed and we're ultra excited to announce the HO Scale M60A1 Tank and the 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Mount. Let's start with the M60A1 Tank.

Entering development in 1960, the M60A1 battle tank would prove to be an integral part of the US military’s arsenal and was produced in several variants. Production numbers for the M60A1 would total nearly 8000 units before being production ended in 1980. These tanks would be retired by the US military during the 1990s with the end of the Cold War. Many, however, would be resold to other countries for continued service with many variants still in service as of 2024. These tanks would generally be loaded in pairs on the DODX’s fleet of Magor Heavy Duty DODX Flatcars and could be seen on the rails all across the USA.  

These 3D CAD renders look awesome. Now, just imagine how they'll look in model form! Note: Flatcars shown sold separately.

5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Mount

Developed in the 1950s by the US Navy to replace outdated WWII-era gun mounts, the 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Mount would be used on several classes of USN ships into the 1970s, until being replaced with more modern mounts beginning in 1971. First installed on the USS Northampton, these would see use on a range of ships in the fleet including Forrestal-class aircraft carriers, as well as a number of cruisers, destroyers and frigates. While most of these ships were phased out in the 1990s by the USN, many would be sold off to other countries for continued service into the 21st century. Other countries including Germany and Japan would also use the Mark 42 on their new ships constructed in the 1960s and 70s. Often these mounts could be seen in transit on the Magor Heavy Duty DODX Flatcars heading to ports for shipment overseas.  

Don't miss out on these spectacular DODX loads! Check out the catalog for more info and click the order button to load up!

NEW MODEL! N Scale F40PHM-2 Locomotive

HO Scalers get all the fun? Of course not! Today is your day 1:160 scale fanatics. We have put the F40PHM-2 into the size reduction machine and are proud to present the first ever "Winnebago" in N scale! This model will not only feature high detail, but also come equipped with authentic F40 sounds right out of the box. Click here to watch our launch video!

But wait! Jason doesn't think there are any N Scale Metra modelers. Because of this, our N F40PHM-2 project is a conditional announcement. So let's prove him wrong and get your orders in to make this happen! As an added incentive, if you order BEFORE OCTOBER 15, 2024, through your preferred hobby shop or on our website, you will receive a 5% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! It's your time to shiNe, N scalers!

Operation Lifesaver unit, number 214 races west through Stone Ave.

Photo courtesy of Bobby Allard.

Built between 1991 and 1992, the F40PHM-2s were Metra's final "new" F40 variant purchased, as well as EMD's final run of the F40 series. At the time, they were looked down upon by railfans, as they would replace the ageing BN E9s. But their unique sloped front, reminiscent of the F69 experimental model, quickly gave them the nickname "Winnebagos." The 30 F40PHM-2s would earn their keep on just about every line, but most commonly on the Rock Island and of course the BN.

Starting around 2016, Metra would send the F40PHM-2s for rebuilds at Progress Rail in Georgia. Upon their return, their physical appearance would remain the same but the details included: removal of the Stratolites for a single red APU strobe, PTC antennas, removal of pilot plows and the addition of snowplows, a redesigned cab door, and it was repainted in Metra's latest "fade" scheme. These would be reclassified as the F40PHM-3.

The CB&Q heritage F40PHM-3 heads west in the afternoon. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn.

The N Scale F40PHM-2 might be small, but it packs a punch. Here are the features of this glorious locomotive:

• Correct “Winnebago” style front
• Dual rooftop air conditioners
• Working head lights, marker lights and backup light
• Working Gyralite
• Working ditch lights
• Separate, factory-applied wire grab irons
• PTC Antenna Array where appropriate
• Full cab interior
• Accurate fuel tank profile and exhaust silencer
• Correct pilot plow or snow plow per model
• Sound-equipped models feature a custom ESU LokSound V5 decoder
• MoPower capacitor
• Will operate smoothly on DC and DCC layouts

And now the most important part: the paint schemes. Check them out below.

(Note: This is based on modified HO art with the addition of N Scale couplers. Artwork is subject to change upon final production.)

The F40PHM-2s certainly would look good pulling passenger cars, wouldn't they? After you're done scrolling through the PDF catalog and placing your orders, check out the second announcement just below the F40PHM-2. You won't be disappointed.

Just don't forget that conditional order deadline is set for October 15th. N scalers, make this one count!

A BN set rolls through the coach yard. Photo courtesy of Ron Hawkins.

NEW MODEL! N Scale Gallery Cars

Whoosh! That's the sound of the brand new N Scale Gallery Cars arriving in front of you. A staple of Windy City commuting for many decades, these cars are instantly recognizable by their sleek stainless steel look, green-tinted windows and their longevity. And now in 1:160th scale, you too can own a full trainset or two (or three or four), fully decked out with operating lights and more! Check out the video by clicking here.

Just like the N Scale F40PHM-2 project, the N Scale Gallery Cars are a conditional announcement. This means we need your orders to make this happen! Gather up those orders and send them in before October 15th, 2024. You'll even receive a 5% early bird discount! We know you can make this happen!

The classic Metra BN era with the dark background and the BN logo. Photo courtesy of Steve Popisil.

The Rapido N Scale Gallery Cars will focus on the BN and Metra eras, which feature HEP details and underbodies. For the BN schemes, there was little variation, just a Burlington Northern logo and wordmark plate as well as a blank nameplate above the center door. These cars also featured the RTA logo on the left-hand side of the center doors, as well as the iconic orange and white warning stripes on the front of the cab car.

The Metra versions will represent the 2000s-era timeframe for the cab cars and coaches. The cab cars feature the red and white warning stripes, Leslie S2M horn, single-lens Gyralite, marker lights and ditch lights. Both the coaches and the cab cars feature the BNSF swoosh and the RTA logos on the sides of the center door, Metra-owned nameplate on the bottom left-hand side of the door and either Burlington or BNSF Railway nameplates above the center doors.

A Metra / BNSF Railway Gallery car basks in the evening sun in downtown Chicago. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lassahn.

Each N Scale Rapido Gallery Car features:

• Designed from original blueprints, design drawings and field measurements
• Available as 3-pack sets and single coaches (Randomly selected road number)
• Track-powered flicker-free interior lighting compatible with DC and DCC layouts
• Full underbody including HEP conduit and equipment
• Complete interior including actual “gallery” seating
• Accurate painting and lettering
• Correctly colored tinted windows
• Constant flicker-free interior lighting in both DC and DCC.
• Controllable cab car lighting in both DC and DCC

And now for those awesome schemes — we've separated the images by the sets they will be a part of. First up is the three pack with the cab car and two coaches.

(Note: This is based on modified HO art with the addition of N Scale couplers. Artwork is subject to change upon final production.)

Next is the three-pack coach set. You'll note that Metra-BNSF Railway has two varieties of nameboards: BNSF Railway and Burlington.

Go on and start your orders up for these neat-o passenger cars! Whether they're for display, to run in sets of 8-10 cars or just to drool over — the N Scale Gallery cars are sure to be a big hit.

Just keep in mind that for these cars to proceed, we need to hit the minimum order total by October 15th. Smash that order button!

NEW! N Scale Southern Pacific Dome Lounge

The iconic Southern Pacific Dome Lounge Car has made its way to N Scale! These unique and aesthetically pleasing passenger cars pack a punch, with lots of detail, multiple schemes and an interior second-to-none! Enough talk, we need to look at the 3D CAD renders before we get to the history of the SP Dome Lounge.

To watch the short launch video for the Dome Lounge cars, click here.

Fluted and riveted sides. These cars look fabulous!

SP built one Dome Lounge prototype and six production Dome Lounge cars between 1954 and 1955. All were built new in the railroad’s Sacramento General Shops, using select frame pieces from various retired Pullman-Standard pre-war “Daylight” cars. The Budd Company supplied the dome structure as a kit. Essentially, these cars were newly constructed using salvaged frame pieces for accounting purposes. Another reason for using retired cars was that SP’s foundry couldn’t roll a long enough center sill and no one could supply one quickly enough.

Turn out the lights to see this car really shine!

These cars were introduced into service on the "San Joaquin" and "Shasta Daylights" as well as the "Overland", but they later saw wider service. Later, they would see service on the "City of San Francisco" and the "Coast Daylight". Originally built with fluted side panels, the cars were modified by the SP with slab sides in the 1960s. At least four of these cars lasted into the Amtrak era.

And let's not forget, much like its HO cousin, the N Scale SP Dome Lounge Car will push the limits of detail, inside and out. Check out that attention to detail below.

Insane interior details!

We can't forget the underbody. For N Scale, that's a lot of detail!

The Rapido N Scale Dome Lounge Car consists of many outstanding details and features:

• Designed from original blueprints and field measurements
• Multi-color interior decoration
• Fluted and smooth-side bodies
• Accurate paint and lettering
• Lighting (prototypically) in the dome roof
• Accurate free rolling trucks

And now for the schemes! Scroll down to check them out.

Remember, even though the SP Dome Lounge typically ran one per train, there were MANY trains run by SP. This means you should collect all of the versions! You could even build that CP executive train, too.

These are NOT a conditional release and are in tooling now! We will show you samples and announce an order deadline soon.

Check out the catalog and website for more ordering info.

NEW RUN! HO Scale U25B and Early U28B Locomotives

The HO Scale U25B Locomotive is back along with, for the first time from Rapido, its younger and more powerful U28B sibling! These announcements bring all-new schemes and variations, many of which have never been done before in HO Scale! Jeff has been hard at work to research all of the U25B and early U28B detail variations. Make sure to check out the launch video to see a bit more about these awesome locomotives by clicking here!

And guess what? We have renders for one of the new versions! Check out the WORKING frog lights!

Rock Island was a scrappy Midwestern railroad, but their locomotives always were awesome. Check out those frog lights on this 3D CAD render.

SP 6741 in Los Angeles. Photo by Russell Eslick, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.

Now before we get too far in, we want to remind you that we have a masterclass on the U25Bs, which gives you all sorts of history and facts about Erie's venerable 4-axle road switcher. It even includes roster info! Click here or the photo above to whisk yourself away and become a U25B bookworm.

The awesome Frisco high hood U25B. Just look at that consist. Photo by Jim Boyd, courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.

Frog lights! That Rock Island U25B looks sharp. Photo by Ben Phillips courtesy of the Kevin EuDaly collection.

Among the new features the U25B and early U28B Locomotives will be getting is one very unique part that should get our Midwest and Northeast fans excited! Rock Island versions will feature the unusual "frog lights" that were seen in the late 1970s onward on select units. These would light up as a steady beam, or they could alternate in a flashing pattern similar to today's ditch lights on eastern roads. Maine Central would eventually get some of these units and those lights would stay through the end of their careers.

Now, you can power train 57, the "ARRO" (Automated RailRoad Overland) from Blue Island to Omaha and points west with a quartet of U25B/U28Bs at 60 MPH, while dodging slow orders! This newsletter writer will be getting ALL FOUR, but you didn't hear that from me — and please don't tell the other half, otherwise I'll be in the doghouse until 2026.

More renders!

We can't get enough of this RI U25B. it just looks so good!

The Rapido U25B and early U28B Locomotive features include:

• New Phase IV units representing late U25Bs and early U28Bs
• Working "frog lights" (Rock Island and MEC #225 and #228)
• BN with five-step stepwell
• Working funky SP light package
• Improved thinner front and rear handrails
• Single front window or new double front window
• Both low and high-short hood versions
• Flat or new sloped low nose
• New side sill mounted handrails on Phase IV units
• Early high- and later low-style side doors
• Operating class lights in the correct locations
• Road specific details for each model
• Different exhaust stacks (depending on roadname)
• Road-specific battery box doors on engineer’s side
• MoPower capacitor

On top of that, we are retooling the contour of the long hood roof to be just a little bit better than it was before.

Check out the paint schemes below.

The U25B and early U28B locomotives are the face of the 1970s and 80s. These could be seen just about anywhere on the east coast, Midwest and the west coasts, plying the rails. That means they'll look right at home on your layout, but you have to order them first! Click the catalog or webpage buttons below to start your orders.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT! HO Scale Budd RDC-1 and RDC-9s

Yee-haw! Here come MORE HO Scale Budd RDCs — now in a variety of requested paint schemes. We're excited to offer some of the commuter and cult classic roads on this run. Many of these cars still exist on tourist lines today, which only adds to the intrigue of the everlasting Budd RDC. But wait! Did you ALSO say RDC-9s? Yes, we did and this will be a first in the plastic world of model railroading. Watch Jeremy and Jordan discuss these models by clicking here.

A CN RDC-9, above, sits in Toronto. Below, a VIA RDC-9 is part of a set, resting at Spadina. Photos courtesy of Bram Bailey.

The Budd RDC-9 was introduced in 1956 for the Boston & Maine as a "powered trailer", designed for use with two regular RDCs in a three car consist. It was a motorized coach powered by a single motor and containing seating for 94 passengers. Lacking control cabs or end windows, it was not designed for independent operation but was controlled by controls in a coupled RDC.

These cars were very distinctive looking and after careers with B&M, they would last into the MBTA-era. In 1965, seven units (6900/01/02/15/19/20/25) were sold to Canadian National for Railiner services. CN would then transfer these to VIA, which kept them in service until 1988. MBTA's RDC-9s lasted even longer, until 1989. Some still exist on tourist roads today.

A trio of Septa RDCs hustles east on the West Trenton Line. Photo courtesy of Gerry Putz.

Jordan was super happy when our first RDCs arrived in 2016!

Metro-North RDCs layover at Port Jervis, NY. This variation also ran on the east of Hudson services, too. Photo courtesy of Otto Vondrak.

Our first run included the oddly similar New York Central RDC-1s.

Many Budd RDCs would linger on into commuter services for various commuter agencies in the northeast. Some of these commuter operations would bundle the RDCs in sets of four or more cars, creating good-sized consists. (Or eleven for CP!) Other roads would operate them in pairs or even singles on lighter branchline routes.

Do you run freight operations and question why you would need any RDCs? Well we should mention that MOST of these commuter operations ran over major freight routes. In fact, many of these runs would tie up freight operations daily in the AM and PM rush hours. You too can recreate dispatcher frustrations by running a set of commuter RDCs right out in front of a waiting freight train.

The "Ontarian" RDCs are ready to depart Kingston on Jason's layout.

High detail! Check out that underbody piping. Nothing comes close.

All of our HO Scale RDCs feature:

• Rapido’s acclaimed “stainless steel” finish
• Separate underframe piping and conduit
• Loads of roadname-specific details
• Fabricated or cast truck sideframes (as appropriate)
• Separate grab irons and front door chains
• Etched-metal roof grills and fan covers
• Lit number boards and class lights
• Correct engine sounds (as appropriate)
• MoPower capacitor

The Rapido RDC-9s feature all of these, plus:

• Correct blank ends
• Weird headlight and/or marker light (where appropriate)
• Prototypically accurate single motor - don't run these on their own, eh?

If you would like unlettered RDCs, they can be made available in all the versions that we are producing on this run. Minimum order numbers will apply, however. Please contact us for more details!

Now, the best part: the schemes! First up are the RDC-1s.

And now we have the brand new RDC-9s.

Ready to order three, no four, no five RDCs? You can! Simply head over to the catalog below or the button for the website below that. Remember, those commuters need a ride to work and are counting on you!

NEW RUN! HO Scale ATSF and Southern Pacific Budd RDC

Some will say we saved the best set of HO Scale Budd RDCs for last (says Jordan). Here comes the Santa Fe DC-191, DC-192 and the famous Southern Pacific SP-10, post rebuild!

Check out this amazing photo taken by E.W. Fleer, sometime between 1953 and 1955. The two cars are making their Santa Ana stop on train 82. Photo courtesy of the Victor Yoder collection.

Rapido proudly presents the Santa Fe RDC set: DC-191 and DC-192. These RDC-1s were built in 1952 and were outfitted with Automatic Train Stop (ATS), to operate at a maximum speed of 80MPH. Santa Fe only painted one end of each car, as they intended to always run them as a set. These received an attractive yellow “cat whisker” with a square ATSF emblem on the front door. They held down trains 80, 81, 82 and 83 in this configuration.

This will be the as-delivered version. We did the post-wreck rebuild versions a few years ago. Now you can recreate Los Angeles before it became packed with traffic on your layout!

The Santa Fe RDC has the same great features as our other RDCs, with the addition of:

• Offered as the prototype operated… as a pair!
• Accurate early painting & lettering, including the square emblem

The art for the ATSF RDC set is below and do they ever look sharp.

Southern Pacific SP-10 Rebuild

The magical SP-10. High numberboards and the blank rear end set this RDC a part from the others. Photos courtesy of Bob Zenk.

After years of requests from our customers, we are finally producing the rebuilt version of SP-10!

Southern Pacific owned one RDC-1, which they received in 1953. Dubbed a “Pocket Streamliner”, number 10 held down the Sacramento-Oakland Pier trains. In 1959, SP-10 was transferred to the Northwestern Pacific for Redwood service trains 3 and 4.

Shortly after entering service on the NWP, SP-10 was involved in a grade crossing accident with a logging truck on October 7, 1960, which damaged the end of the car. Sent for rebuilding, it would emerge with a blanked end, which would necessitate single direction operation.

Becoming somewhat of a celebrity on the west coast, SP-10 would continue in regular service on the NWP until Amtrak arrived in 1971. With the discontinuance of trains #3 and #4, the car would be sold off to Oregon, Pacific, & Eastern/Yreka Western as their #100 where it would operate until 1978. After spending many years at the Galveston Railroad Museum in Texas, SP-10 would return to California in 2016 with the intention of a full restoration.  

And now for the SP-10 features:

• Prototypically correct rebuilt “blind” end
• Accurate Motorola antenna
• Accurate Nathan Type P Airchime horns
• SP-style roof-mounted numberboards

Below is the art for SP-10 and the Yreka Western.

Yreka Western would receive this car and here it is, in all of its glory. Photo courtesy of Bob Zenk.

Click on the button below to read the catalog. Maybe you just want me to stop talking so you can order one or both of these RDCs. Click that second button to do just that!

CN 1501 heading past the former EJ&E JB Tower, in October 2022. Photo courtesy of Bobby Allard (On work time...).

CONDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

HO Scale Canadian National Track Geometry Vehicle 1501

Stop the presses! Here comes a personal pet project of mine that I've wanted since 2022 — when I saw Canadian National 1501 trot through West Chicago.

Jason: That was only TWO years ago. I've wanted an MLW S-13 since 1980!

Bobby: I wasn't alive in 1980. You are really old. Moving on...

Jason: What about my witty comeback?

Bobby: There isn't room.

Moving on, you might ask what is CN 1501 and what's the significance of it? Let's dive into this unique but important RDC that's been around since the late 1950s.

Stop the presses AGAIN! This project is fully conditional, which means it needs to make its target number to proceed to tooling due to the unique sides and ends. Now, of course, I know we could sell the bus or the office to pay for it, but I'm not sure I'll have a job after that happens — so conditional announcement is the only way to go here.

Jason: I'm not sure you'll have a job either way.

Bobby: I'm going to finish this now. Please stop interrupting.

CN 1501 cruising along in Ontario. Should we tell Dave A. that this is actually Onondaga, NY, and he also needs one for his Conrail layout? Photo courtesy of Joseph Bishop.

CN 1501 began life as an RDC-1, numbered D-108, in passenger service. D-108 would be renumbered to 6108 in 1969 and continue to serve CN for another nine years. In 1978, all remaining CN RDCs were sold to VIA Rail, where 6108 kept its number until its 1990 retirement and eventual sale to CN in 2007. By then CN had a desire to create a "Rail Geometry Vehicle" for testing rail on their network. CN repurchased 6108 and extensively rebuilt it with all sorts of track analyzing equipment, including lasers that point at the rails.

In 2008, this RDC emerged as CN 15016, with a striking paint scheme, but for the most part kept its original appearance. CN would quickly renumber the car to 1501 to avoid data issues with their network computer systems for dispatching.

CN 1501 heads across the Grand River in Caledonia, Ontario. Photo courtesy of Joseph Bishop.

CN only owns the one car but when not needed they lease it out to other railroads for use such as the Iowa Interstate. In addition to all of their rail lines in Canada, CN also owns the Illinois Central, Wisconsin Central, Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, Grand Trunk, DWP and the DM&IR, so it frequently makes the rounds on all of these lines throughout the year.

You may want to purchase a CN 1501 for no other reason than to create dispatcher havoc at your local club or on your layout.

A closeup of the side on CN 1501. Note that neat CN Engineering logo which includes an RDC. Photo courtesy of Joseph Bishop.

And now for the features of CN 1501:

• Rapido’s acclaimed “stainless steel” finish
• Correct CN-rebuilt sides and ends
• Working LED headlights and ditch lights
• Cast truck sideframes
• Separate grab irons and side mirrors
• Etched-metal roof grills and fan covers
• Lit number boards and marker lights
• Amazing RDC engine sounds
• Correct P5 horn and E-bell

Below is the art for this unique RDC.

OK friends, this is where we need your help to make this a reality! In order to proceed with the tooling we have to get enough orders to make it happen. Otherwise I'll be forced to raid someone's RDCs at work and start hacking and chopping things to kitbash my own CN 1501.

The conditional order deadline is the same as the RDC order deadline mentioned above. If we get enough orders, we make it. There is no 5% discount because the tooling for this is going to cost a mint!

Click the catalog button to check out the nice spread I made for the RDC but please click the order button, many times, below it! Thanks for listening to my TED BOB talk.

Two Government of Alberta tank cars. Please note: all of the model photos in this section are from the initial run.

RE-RUN! HO Scale Procor GP20 Tank Cars

Are you ready to rumble with some popular HO Scale GP20 Tank Car schemes making a triumphant return? We've heard the requests for new numbers of the first-run schemes and we're delivering!

The order deadline for these new schemes really tight - less than two months away on September 16th.

The Procor GP20 tank cars!

The GP20 Tank Car was suitable for lighter density commodities which would not congeal or freeze in cold weather, such as various oils and fuel. The same car could also be equipped with interior heater coil pipes. The same basic design — including tank diameter and length — was manufactured from 1969 until 1984.

This tank car was constructed with both 70-ton and 100-ton capacity trucks. Later designs were also equipped with a separate fittings dome (in addition to the manway assembly fitting), which allowed the tank rating to be upgraded from 60 psi to 100 psi. The 100-ton cars also had reinforced drain valves.

Two Government of Alberta tank cars, but one is UTLX and the other is PROX.

The Rapido GP20 Tank Car features:

• Drawn from original blueprints and drawings
• Artworks sourced from original design drawings and photos
• Photo-etched metal walkways
• Detailed vent stacks, loading hatches, air tanks and braking equipment
• Semi-scale Pearson-Borden knuckle couplers
• Early style features 70-ton trucks with 33” wheels and an exposed drain valve
• Late style features 100-ton trucks with 36” wheels and a reinforced drain valve housing

Check out the new schemes being offered below.

OK, enough jibba jabba, check out the catalogue and website button below.

Upcoming Shows

Rapido Live! — July 25th, 8:00PM EDT

Calling all Rapido fans! Jordan and Jason will be hosting July 25th at 8:00PM EDT from Jason's layout room. Come join them for a night of Rapido model discussion that will most likely warp into a wild discussion about anything! You won't want to miss the back-and-forth between them.

Join in on our Facebook page. If you happen to miss it, you can always re-watch it later via Facebook or when we upload the video to our YouTube.

Rapido Live w/Cowcatcher — August 14th, 7:30PM EDT / 6:30PM CDT

Fellow modelers, join us on August 14th at 7:30PM EDT / 6:30PM CDT, for a rousing livestream between Jordan, Bobby (yes, he still occasionally does Rapido Livestreams!) and special guest, Tim Blackwell of Cowcatcher Magazine. The three amigos will discuss current announcements, order deadlines and the current state of Rapido models. You won't want to miss this exciting event!

Join in on our Facebook page. If you happen to miss it, you can always re-watch it later via Facebook or when we upload the video to our YouTube.

Factory Updates

Check out those NS C30-7s in the printing room and the NdeM shells in the painting room.

The Santa Fe Warbonnet is possibly one of the most recognizable schemes, even in this early state.

BART! The C cars above and the A cars below.

Those BART number plates are looking sharp.

Who remembers the FGE R7 Reefers from back in the day? OK, loaded question, but the models look great so far!

Investigative Reporting

by Boaz Shron

This issue, Boaz interviews the video marketing team to find out more about Rapido's efforts in this field.

Rapido has always been on the cutting edge of model railroad marketing, particularly on their YouTube channel. From a very young age, I would look forward to my dad calling me downstairs to show me his latest Rapido video project on his computer, which would invariably have me rolling on the floor with laughter within the first twenty seconds. 

The Rapido team fleeing a Jason-turned-Cyberman in the GP9RM video. It’s scenes like these that I set out to better understand.

So I decided to go behind the scenes with Rapido’s marketing team to better understand the thinking and process behind their unique video creations. The following is a transcript of that discussion, which I edited for clarity. Well, I tried to, anyway. 

Boaz Shron, host: Rapido’s marketing team, thank you very much for joining me today. Now, let’s get right to it: what sets Rapido apart in the industry when it comes to video marketing?

Natasha Shaikh: What’s really cool about Rapido is that there isn’t an ego in our videos. There isn’t a need to hold a very formal approach to things. It’s very fun, everything looks fun, people are having a whale of a time, even when they have bigger fish to fry at their desks-

Jason Shron: You can’t compare a fish to a whale because a whale is a mammal. And though I have tried several times, I have spectacularly failed to fry anything on my desk.

Boaz: Thank you, Jason, for your —

Jason: Daddy.

Boaz: I’m interviewing you. I can’t call you Daddy. As I was saying, thank you Jason —

Jason: Daddy.

Boaz: Fine. I’ll move on. (sighs) All right then. A question for all of you: what is the best balance between humour and getting your point across in your videos?

Jeremy Fleming: We've been trying to use humour more selectively lately. Because people don't want to slog through a whole video of just joke after joke after joke. So we save it for key moments, pauses, or at the beginning or the end of the video. So it doesn't take away from what we're showing or the message we're trying to get across. 

Jordan Smith: In practical terms, this means keeping Jason busy so he doesn’t bother us while we’re filming. 

Jason: I wouldn’t bother you guys while you’re filming if you didn’t film right where I make my cup of tea!

Jordan: There I was, in the middle of a perfect take on the Ballast Hoppers video, and hosehead here just waltzes in and starts rummaging in the cupboard – at full volume – for his precious Yorkshire Tea. Drink normal stuff like the rest of us, eh?

Jason: Don’t get me started—

Jordan (in a mock upper class British accent): But no, President Poupon over here needs to have his “imported English tea”. Well aren’t you Mr. Poshy McPoshface? Oh yes, why don’t we all make English breakfast tea and have some scones while the Dowager Countess plays the grand piawno in the drawring room?

Jason: Take OFF, hoser!

Jordan: No you take – mmmph!

Jason has thrown one of the Cyberman helmets at Jordan’s chest, knocking over the imported English tea in the process. Jordan grabs Jason’s head and slams it into the desk. Nat tries to pull them away and Jordan pushes Nat into Jeremy, who falls on the coffee table. Jason has got up from the desk and has managed to lock his knees around Jordan’s face. The two fall on the floor, Jeremy takes the opportunity to sit on both Jason and Jordan while Nat grabs everyone’s legs in a jumble.

An exasperated Jordan looks on as Jason’s ear follows the rest of his body to make a cup of tea in the aforementioned Ballast Hopper video.

Boaz: Is this what happens every time you guys try to film something?

Nat: Normally it’s not this bad. There is usually less blood.

Jason: Can you please let go of my legs? You’re really strong!

Jordan: I’m with hoser – Jeremy we can handle. But you are really strong and my legs hurt!

Boaz: Well, it’s nice to find a note of agreement. You’re all off the walls today. Now get up off the floor.

Everyone untangles themselves and dusts themselves off.

Jeremy: Not to be pedantic, but you can’t be off the walls and off the floor. Unless you’re able to stand on the ceiling.

Boaz: I would argue with this, but at this point I have to pick my battles. Jeremy, if you had to pitch making funny videos to another model train company, what would you tell them?

Jeremy: People like to laugh. The hobby is fun, right? We are showing the fun side of the hobby.

Jason: You can't impose humour on somebody else. It has to be sincere. There are very few competitors of ours, that like Rapido, are run by a bunch of model railroaders. We're model railroaders; we're train fans; we're nerds. We bring a real honesty to these videos. We're also a bit silly and quirky. I think if you went to a very corporate competitor, a company that is just a way to make money for the owners, who are not model railroaders, you can't really impose that silliness onto them. They just wouldn't know what to do with it. It wouldn't be sincere. Our silliness works because we're sincere about it.

The Cyberman (Jason Shron) and his son The Fourth Doctor (Isaac Shron) share a moment in the GP9RM video. Russell T. Davies was not consulted about the canonical implications of the Doctor’s father having been turned into a cyberman. 

Boaz (taken back): Well, thank you, Jason — er, Daddy. That was actually very insightful. Can you guys walk me through how a video idea comes about, and how you execute it?

Nat: There are various versions of how an idea comes about. With me here managing the team, I’ll lay out a list of what has to get done. Every week we meet to do video brainstorms, and I’ll provide the list of what we need to shoot. It’s not just for fun – these videos have to get done. Occasionally, Jeremy will come up with a fun little idea, or Jordan will decide that it’s time to do an unboxing. People love unboxings; it’s one of the more popular styles of videos.

Jeremy: So for a lot of the unboxings, I just walk in the office, we discuss key points that we're going to go over, and then Jordan just goes with it. There are a couple of takes sometimes, but overall, it's just very free flow. And then I piece it together and remove any redundant information or pauses or stuff like that.

Boaz: What percentage of video ideas just come from goofing off in the office?

Natasha: A lot more than you’d think.

Jason: Most of our ideas come from goofing off. Or somebody's watched a movie and they’ll say that we should rip this movie off in our video. We had a lot of fun making the video about our trip across America. The whole second half of the video was a love letter to The Breakfast Club and The Blues Brothers. Click here to watch or on the photo below.

Jason (Continued): That was planned well in advance because I always wanted to visit Shermer High School. But most of our ideas come very organically. Like me throwing a GO bi-level car at Nat’s head, which I did the other day. We should do that in a video soon, shouldn’t we, Nat?

Nat: Not unless you want me to cause you further bodily harm.

Boaz: I think we’ll leave it at that. Thank you all very much.

Jordan: (looks at Boaz’s computer) Hey, you haven’t used the vast majority of my quotes.

Jason: That’s because you’re not remotely quote-worthy, you big fat hosehead.

Jordan: That’s it, you’re fired. I’m Jordan Smith, the new President & CEO of Rapido Trains Inc.

Jason: Take off! You are not — ow!

Jordan has upended Jason’s desk onto him. Nat and Jeremy give up hope and leave the room.

Jordan: Now that Jason is out of the picture, make sure you call me President & CEO.

Boaz: You got it.

Jordan Smith, President & CEO: Thanks. It was good chatting with you. You should probably have your dad get that injury looked at.

Thanks, Boaz! Another outstanding contribution on the inner workings of Rapido videos. I hope everyone's OK, and I'm glad I don't work from the Markham office!

This concludes July's newest news. We know the temperatures are sizzling outside, so we hope this dialed back the heat. Although for some of you, it probably ramped it up with these hot announcements! OK, enough rambling, we'll see you in August with even more order deadlines and possible more announcements.

Bobby Allard

Newsletter Dude

Rapido Trains Inc.

USA: PO Box 796, Higganum, CT 06441

Canada: 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, ON L3R 5H5

Check out our YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram!