Rapido has announced the new models of the PENNSYLVANIA X-31B rounded roof boxcars.
I am very excited. The only semi-decent model of this car has been the brass one by Nickle Plate Products, and it was not very good. The Bowser models have molded on ladders, which is a non-starter for me.
These are $50.00 each. I pre-ordered three of them. Two single doors and one double door. I hope to use them as Sheldon's ATLANTIC CENTRAL freight cars in my Fleet Of Nonsense. The models I pre-ordered are listed as undecorated kits.
I hope these do not fall to the same fate as the Rapido Undecorated PA locomotives where they decioded not to make the undecorated models.
I am very excited about this freight car model.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I'm in for a half-dozen. These will mix very nicely with my already too-big fleet of X29 box cars, but, hey — Pennsy!
I think the single-door cars outnumbered the doubles considerably but for me it'll probably be four of the automobile cars and two of the single door.
Cheers, Ed
For $13 vs $50, I could shave off a lot of molded on ladders... just saying.
Now this is something I might go for, I could see a handful floating around even a rival railroad. But I'm not about to pre-order. Never have, never needed to. Bet I'll find plenty a few weeks after they arrive. Always do.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerI'm not about to pre-order. Never have, never needed to. Bet I'll find plenty a few weeks after they arrive. Always do.
Not so much with the undecorated models. As we have seen, if pre-orders are not enough, Rapido will not hesitate to pull the plug on the undecorated versions.
I plan on ordering some mostly the single door version as I have enough double door versions.
By the way Ed from the PRR Group.
"
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Rapido says it is also going to do the rather distinctive trucks that the Pennsy used, with combo leaf and coil springs. There might be a separate market for those trucks from the die hard Pennsy fans.
Dave Nelson
dknelsonRapido says it is also going to do the rather distinctive trucks that the Pennsy used, with combo leaf and coil springs.
This X-31A, from Bowser, has such trucks...
...and the CASO also used a similar truck under some of their rebuilt 1914 boxcars....
I was interested in buying one of Rapido's doubledoor version (the non-automobile one), but was told that I cannot buy just one. That means that I likely won't be buying any.
Wayne
You should never preorder anything. If and when the product is released and I like it I will buy it. Have I missed out on items I really wanted? Yes! But that is ok, there is always something else I want.
I'm not in the habit of putting my money on hold for a year or more waiting for a product that they just can't get right or as promised. Does it mean something may not get built? Yes but I don't care there is always something else.
Dave
Wayne - are you sure about that? They list each variation as both a 6 pack and a single.
If I was going to preorder from anyoone, it would be Rapido, the products are always top quality, and since they have their own factory they aren't as subject to the whims of other customers of the factory like many other companies that use shared facilities are. It never seems that the model misses out on production because they needed just ONE more order, it's usually several dozen short, so my one isn't likely to make or break the thing, and then when they do make them, there's always someone who preordered who backs out, and they make more than ordered anyway, perhaps to produce nice round numbers based on one or more of the manufacturing processes. Like maybe the sprues of detail parts produce enough for 50 cars each. Total ordered in the preorder needs ONE part off the last sprue, leaving 49 more - they'll likely build the extra 49 cars to use up the parts they already had to make and pay for.
doctorwayne I was interested in buying one of Rapido's doubledoor version (the non-automobile one), but was told that I cannot buy just one. That means that I likely won't be buying any.
At least in the past Rapido did not object when retailers took a 4-pack apart and sold the cars individually.
JW
DAVID FORTNEYYou should never preorder anything. If and when the product is released and I like it I will buy it.
Rapido has cancelled undecorated models in the past because of lack of preorders. This effected me directly on the PA diesel models. If they do not get enough pre-orders, they do not "bet the company" on the hopes buyes will show up.
DAVID FORTNEYI'm not in the habit of putting my money on hold for a year or more waiting for a product that they just can't get right or as promised.
Rapido only charges my credit card $1.00 until the order is actually completed.
DAVID FORTNEYDoes it mean something may not get built? Yes but I don't care there is always something else.
Unfortunately with undecorated models, there is very rarely something else.
rrinker Wayne - are you sure about that? They list each variation as both a 6 pack and a single.
Yeah, I went through the whole pre-order process, for a single car, and when I got to the part to complete my order and pay the required buck, I got a message that I could not buy only a single car. I have contacted Rapido, and hope to eventually hear from them.I have bought Rapido cars, as undecorated kits, in the past, so I'll wait to see if I hear from them. I want to support them, but my resources are somewhat limited and my needs even more limited...
(many of those boxes hold multiple cars, and those shelves have been completely filled since the photo was taken - not shown are passenger cars, MoW equipment, and locomotives.)My layout's era is, for the most part, outside of that of most of their releases, and I already have many suitable representations of USRA doublesheathed boxcars and wooden reefers.
DrW doctorwayne I was interested in buying one of Rapido's doubledoor version (the non-automobile one), but was told that I cannot buy just one. That means that I likely won't be buying any. At least in the past Rapido did not object when retailers took a 4-pack apart and sold the cars individually. JW
If you order DIRECT from Rapido, you can only order 6-packs , not single cars. These packs are how they ship to their dealers as well. The dealers are fully EXPECTED to open up the packs and sell individually. (The six-pack is the plain brown cardboard "lot" boxes that they send to the dealers/distributors, not special packaging.)
If you want single cars, or a specific mix of cars, place an order with your favourite shop.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
DrWAt least in the past Rapido did not object when retailers took a 4-pack apart and sold the cars individually.
Rapido plainly states that for these freight cars in the six packs the cars are packed for individual sale.
I think they are expecting the dealers to break open the packs and sell the cars individually.
The Rapido page specifically has a line item for pre-ording a single car. However, it appears you need to order TWO. I got as far as checkout and it said a minimum of two. You don't have to get a 6 pack.
rrinkerHowever, it appears you need to order TWO. I got as far as checkout and it said a minimum of two.
That rules did not seem to apply to the undecorated models, but they are individual only, and are not available in packages of six.
If they make me order a second double door boxcar, I guess I would do that.
cv_acr...If you order DIRECT from Rapido, you can only order 6-packs , not single cars. These packs are how they ship to their dealers as well. The dealers are fully EXPECTED to open up the packs and sell individually. (The six-pack is the plain brown cardboard "lot" boxes that they send to the dealers/distributors, not special packaging.)...
I've followed that process for Rapido cars in the past, but find that the dealers often up the price.
doctorwayneI've followed that process for Rapido cars in the past, but find that the dealers often up the price. Wayne
I've found the opposite is true. When I bought a Rapido F40PH from Lombards, it was significatly cheaper than direct at Rapido. Same with several other vendors I deal with.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I checked the Rapido website.
For this frieght car it says:
Order deadline: TBA
Delivery: TBA
Current status: Design
When do we know if they received enough pre-orders to put it into production?
SeeYou190When do we know if they received enough pre-orders to put it into production?
They probably have a production number in mind that makes it profitable. There is also probably a time line. If a couple months goes by and they only have a few hundred orders, they will pull the plug rather than continue to advertise a product that no one wants.
If they get a better response than expected, they will let the orders roll in for longer than they planned.When they know, they will tell us, but it's a function of how fast orders roll in.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Something else I have seen them do is indicate when their preorder state is 'close but not quite yet cigar time' -- to get any fence sitters to commit. This without having to state either how many preorders they actually have, or saying how many additional are needed.
OvermodI have seen them do is indicate when their preorder state is 'close but not quite yet cigar time'
I would like to know this. I would love a thermometer type thing like they use in fundraisers to show how close they are.
I really want these boxcars.
Lastspikemike...Support your local retailer. It works well.
I no longer have a local dealer, but do have one through whom I've ordered some rolling stock such as the Rapido cars. I've also relented on ordering just one, as a very good friend who models the Pennsy might enjoy getting one, too...when the border opens and I finally get to visit him again.
I have quite a bit of Pennsy rolling stock, as both theirs and those from the Central were frequent visitors in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. The NYC was actually a part-owner, along with the CPR, of the Hamilton-based TH&B.My hometown saw cars from pretty-well all over North America, and it was like seeing a moving representation of map when stopped at a railway crossing, given the variety of roadnames on-view.
My layout pretty-much duplicates that type of scenario.
doctorwayneI no longer have a local dealer
I do not have one either.
After this Covid-19 situation relents, I have no idea where my closest local hobby shop will be.
SeeYou190 doctorwayne I no longer have a local dealer I do not have one either. After this Covid-19 situation relents, I have no idea where my closest local hobby shop will be. -Kevin
doctorwayne I no longer have a local dealer
Once this virus thing is done, we should plan a trip. It's about half that distance for me. I passed through once a couple of years ago when I was driving back and forth from Buffalo but it was too late in the day to stop. Put some more faces to the names - met a bunch of people at the Timonium shows over the years.
LastspikemikeBonus, if you yourself are a good customer of the retailer you can often get a small slice of that discount. That would not be possible direct from the manufacturer for just one or two units.
Several years back I spent a hefty amount of money during the month at a hobby shop and never once got a discount. After I found out members of his club was getting a attractive discount while other customers did not I took my money elsewhere. I didn't shed any tears when he closed his shop.
As far as a LHS.. The closest full stock hobby shop is 65 miles away and that's to far. I can get everything I need on line at attractive prices unlike at LHS that wants full MSRP or jacks the price up his old stock because the newer items costs more or no longer available.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE After I found out members of his club was getting a attractive discount while other customers did not I took my money elsewhere.
One of the advantages to being a member of Scale Rails of Southwest Florida was a 10% discount at Gulf Coat Model Railroading in Sarasota.
After I quit the club 25 years ago they still gave me the discount. I guess they wanted to keep my business, and they did.
rrinkerOnce this virus thing is done, we should plan a trip. It's about half that distance for me. I passed through once a couple of years ago when I was driving back and forth from Buffalo but it was too late in the day to stop. Put some more faces to the names - met a bunch of people at the Timonium shows over the years.
I am going to Timonium in October (OCT 3&4 is still on their web site), then to Maine, then to English's in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, then back home.
I was considerign Timonium, but the Modular Committee decided that we are not going to take the club layout there - it sound like they are going to reduce or remove the display layouts and spread the vendor tables out more for social distancing. I might still go, but probably just for the day. If I go with the club, we go Friday to set up and I stay over until teardown Sunday. It's only about an hour and half for me (says 1:41 but that's following the speed limit - I drive fast).