Actually, after doing a little more digging, I found the listing for the re-issued CP Budd cars with metal plating, which were recently introduced for $75.
Despite this new run being re-labeled under WalthersProto and being available with interior lighting, I don't see how it is all that much different at all...the description is otherwise identical. I have a hard time seeing this "prototypical window tinting" they claim to have...
Anyway, summary here is that this is not really anything new. Appears to be the same tooling, with the new metal finish (as had already been released), just there's now an option of getting ones with lighting installed.
-Tim
I'm a little confused by the new Walthers listing. They just re-issued these cars quite recently with the metal plating (saw some in the LHS recently...looking better, but not nearly Rapido quality), but now this appears to in fact be an upgraded line of cars under the WalthersProto name.
In addition to plating, these are now supposed to actually feature window tinting, installed grab irons, and a (more expensive) version will be available with interior lighting installed.
Still, I think the Walthers cars will be a waste compared with the Rapido if you want CP Budd cars, because they are still based on American prototypes and are nowhere close to accurate (even if you ignore the dramatic differences in detail).
The new Walthers cars with lighting are listed at $85. That's a HUGE increase given that the original models were last listed at $45, and that the improvements are not really all that many. So even at $100 a piece, the Rapido cars seem like a steal when you consider that they are 100% accurate for the Canadian prototype, have ridiculous interior and underbody detail (with all the bits and pieces and correct colours), absolutely nailed the window tinting (with window shades and everything), and have the most realistic stainless-steel finish I've seen yet, something Walthers is still a long way from achieving.
TA462 Walthers has sold Canadian Budd cars for years.
Walthers has sold Canadian Budd cars for years.
These are new, hence the per-order deadline of October 31st.
I do not think old stock would be pre-ordered.
These are the new "Metal Finish" that Walthers has been promoting.
So, this is not the old stock at all.
Probably just a coincidence. Rapido has been working on The Canadian for several years, Walthers may have decided at some point to offer the stainless Budd cars too.
IIRC, the single Rapido cars will retail at $100 each. But, being Rapido, they are perfect. (I am biased, having one of the first sets. They are IMHO, perfect. Even the locomotives are perfect.)
I have to go now and play with my trains.
Rapido having released their second set of the Canadian will most likely be offering individual cars after they deliver all of the various versions of the Canadian.
I am advised by a number of suppliers I deal with that Walthers has just announced that they will be offering their version of the Canadian Budd cars, pre-order by end of October 2012 and delivery in December.
These cars will of course be offered in a number of different Railroads, so perhaps the competition is no as great.
Still I wonder why would Walther's choose to release these so soon after Rapido has released their versions.
For those who have not seen the Rapido Canadian Budd cars the level of detail is beyond anything I have seem offered before. This applies not only to the passenger cars but to the FP9 locomotives Rapido released with the Canadian sets.
Their EMD F units will be available in a number of Canadian names, I myself have just ordered a couple of sets in the CN livery. Their release of these FP9's has truly raised the bar for quality. These engines sound terrific, their running characteristics are great as is their low speed.
I believe they will be offering undecorated versions.
Walthers has not indicated that they will be offering any CP EMD F units other than the Budd cars for the Canadian.
I wonder how they will fare when judged against the Rapido offerings.