Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Seriously, what is Rapido thinking Locked

18019 views
111 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,240 posts
Posted by tstage on Thursday, July 28, 2011 9:27 AM

TA462

If you guys don'y want it, can't afford it or are just plain jealous that a company like Rapido is looking after us Canadian guys then you go can go jump off a bridge.  I can't really say what I want to say so I said jump off a bridge.  Why is it that it's always the same guys crying like a bunch of babies no matter what the topic is.   You guys are really getting old.   I'm really surprised that a fine site like this one allows some of you guys to spew your opinion about everything, even though it doesn't concern you or you don't have any experience on the topic.  You guys have no intention of buying one so just SHUT UP.   None of you could even build one to the same standard as Rapido so don't even start with that crap.   I for one am very happy to help Rapido by paying a deposit to build something I want.   The rest of you guys go have fun playing with your crap, low quality toy trains on your little 4x8 layouts and keep dreaming about the guys that actually buy this stuff that company's like Rapido build in low quantities for us collectors and higher end modellers.

Wow, TA! Surprise  Feel free to disagree but there's no reason to get demeaning and/or turn this conversation into some sort of "border war".

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Thursday, July 28, 2011 9:00 AM

Scarpia

Huh. I just had to pay half up front for a roof job on my home, the other half when the job's complete. Seems to me that just 25% down up front is a deal. But that's real life for you, and real business practices.

According the Home Builders and Remodeling Guild here and the top {and slightly more expensive} Roofing contractor around here One should NEVER pay anything up front until work is started. All types of shingles should be readily available on credit  to the roofer if they offer them.

This ALSO PREVETNS "fly by night" rip-off contractor absconding with your money and never showing to do a job.

Even bank financing will rarely pay up front costs before a job is started, once started, they will have to pay out 25%, 50% when half the job is done and the balance when job is finished. Most housing roofs around here can be done in one or two days. SO paying 25% when the start on day one is fine, and 1/2 should be done {unless rain sets in} by end of dayone, then the other half finished day two so your money and the job are parting and completed almost simultaneously.

The only exception is if you ask for special order items such as custom fit kitchen cabinets, and then you only pay a nomimal deposit of 10% of cabinet costs only, NOT for labor and other materials.

Any GOOD contractor worth doing the job should have credit out the wazzoo they can buy supplies for your job on when they start the job so your money should NOT be needed BEFORE starting the job. If they don't pay off creditors when they get teh balance of the job, there is a problem with that contractor and should not be hired..

For example: we had the old gray colored plastic plumbing that cracks and splits with age and ours did so. The plumber's estimate was $3200.00 to replace ALL our plumbing with the new PEX plumbing. Never charged a cent till the job was half done, then wanted half payment, balance was when job was complete with no leaks.

For example: we had our roof done ten years ago. PAid NOTHING UP FRONT, and only PAID when job was COMPLETED! {only took one day for 1000 sq ft.}

My area may be different than others by local, state laws.

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Modeling the Seaboard Air Line Ry.
  • 531 posts
Posted by citylimits on Thursday, July 28, 2011 8:18 AM

 

Smile

 

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, July 28, 2011 8:07 AM

Wow. Just. Wow. 

All this hoohaw over some dang simple request of a deposit....there are some boutique amplifier builders that do the same thing as these guys..and no one squawks about it like here.  

And what is it about people who are not interested in this particular model getting into this thread to heat it up? You not buying...great..more for the ones who do want it...sheeesh.

A certain fellow who used to come on this forum had said sometime ago that pre-orders were going to be the name of the game for many manufacturers...just deal with it. 

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 28, 2011 8:03 AM

dknelson

This entire discussion is making me begin to be almost nervous that Tyco will never deliver my Pennsylvania Railroad 2-10-4 that they advertised in 1966.

Dave Nelson

Dave,

That is your fault.  You were cautioned back then not to make that 75% deposit.   Laugh

But, relax, you will eventually receive your order.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Thursday, July 28, 2011 8:00 AM

This entire discussion is making me begin to be almost nervous that Tyco will never deliver my Pennsylvania Railroad 2-10-4 that they advertised in 1966.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • 558 posts
Posted by Scarpia on Thursday, July 28, 2011 7:54 AM

Huh. I just had to pay half up front for a roof job on my home, the other half when the job's complete. Seems to me that just 25% down up front is a deal. But that's real life for you, and real business practices.

Worrying about your "lost" deposit so far in advance is absurd. A complaint after the fact is legitimate, teeth gnashing months or years in advance borders on ridiculous.  To the OP, I understand your concerns, and why you felt the need to post, but it does seem a simple yes or no decision.

Rapido does great work in the hobby. Either pay the deposit, and get a great set (one that will be worth a ton more down the road if you decide to sell it), or sit down. 

Mayhaps  folks should spend their time crafting some new models, instead of bellyachin' about a product and business process that through their own decisions, doesn't affect them in any way.

I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:56 AM

Perhaps I should have put here WHAT I put in Selector's {Crandell's} BLI thread, then many of you may understand WHY I feel as I do:

I decided to take a chace on a preorder with no money down, when it came in, I declined the order as my financial situation had changed greatly. They offered me a "3-pay lay away" program and I took it for the 4  passenger cars I pre ordered. All three payments have been charged to my credit card, and 2 have been paid off.  The third  auto-billed the 15th of this month. Now I cannot get a straight answer from them as to WHEN my order will be shipped, IF it has been shipped, all I get is  "our computer crashed, I have to look it up manually and will call you back" I will call again tomorrow and see, if they can't tell it has shipped and when and with a tracking number, I will DEMAND they refund my credit card the money back!!! In Writing if I have to. {Con-Cor}

I will never pre-order again. Thank you very much. Money down or not.

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:51 AM

Motley

Thanks Rich. You made a very good point, I didn't even think of that.

Also, when I placed the order with DMW and they verified my credit card, that is a promise to pay. Why is Rapido worried about a lot of people canceling right before delivery?

And if people do cancel their orders, is Rapido not confident enough to be able to sell those units? I mean this is such a great product and all....

There is absolutely no risk at all for Rapido to produce this train.

Just out of curiosity, I have to ask, why is Rapido only going to produce 2,000 trains?  Is the train intended to be a collector's item?

Here is what Rapido has posted on its web site:

The production run will be strictly limited to 2000 trains or less, divided into six consists. Once we have orders for 2000 trains, the order desk will close. So even if we sell out in a month, we will not make more than 2000 sets.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:46 AM

Thanks Rich. You made a very good point, I didn't even think of that.

Also, when I placed the order with DMW and they verified my credit card, that is a promise to pay. Why is Rapido worried about a lot of people canceling right before delivery?

And if people do cancel their orders, is Rapido not confident enough to be able to sell those units? I mean this is such a great product and all....

There is absolutely no risk at all for Rapido to produce this train.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:04 AM

Motley

When I placed my preorder with DMW about a couple of months ago, I was told that the delivery date was Nov 2011. Now Rapido is saying end of 2012.

Red flags everywhere.

Even if they finally deliver a product, what if something is wrong with the manufacturing. We all know at this point, that quality control is almost non existent in China.

If a big company like Athearn can't prevent issues like there recent release of the SD70Aces, with the way the speaker was constructed during assembly.

My days of preorders are over. If it's not in my LHS, and I can't walk out with it after paying for it, then I guess I'll pass.

All I can say is good luck to those who have paid the deposits. At this point I just don't trust that they will deliver the product.

Michael, in spite of all that has transpired in this thread, I continue to agree with you. 

For those who don't agree, they should consider that when you first placed your order with DMW, nothing was said about a pre-order deposit.  And, DMW didn't know about the pre-order deposit because Rapido "forgot" to tell its U.S. distributors.  Also, when you consider the tenor of the letter which the OP received from DMW, what would you think.  DMW all but told the OP to consider cancelling the order.  Rapido should have done the right thing and honored the pre-orders made without deposits since it was Rapido's oversight not to indicate to DMW that they were requiring pre-order deposits.

Rich

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Thursday, July 28, 2011 4:50 AM

When I placed my preorder with DMW about a couple of months ago, I was told that the delivery date was Nov 2011. Now Rapido is saying end of 2012.

Red flags everywhere.

Even if they finally deliver a product, what if something is wrong with the manufacturing. We all know at this point, that quality control is almost non existent in China.

If a big company like Athearn can't prevent issues like there recent release of the SD70Aces, with the way the speaker was constructed during assembly.

My days of preorders are over. If it's not in my LHS, and I can't walk out with it after paying for it, then I guess I'll pass.

All I can say is good luck to those who have paid the deposits. At this point I just don't trust that they will deliver the product.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, July 28, 2011 1:48 AM

You either trust the man or you don't.  That's really the crux of the matter.  The amount of deposit is entirely contributory to the eventual delivery of the product if you ever expressed your intent to buy one.   So, I would ask those who are balking, would you ever have been in a position to pay more than four times what he is asking you for today?  If so, then get your priorities straight.  If you admit that you probabably would not, then it is entirely moot.  Now Jason is asking people to put their money where their mouths were when they first held up their hands. 

Crandell 

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Thursday, July 28, 2011 12:51 AM

The price sounds steep, but I suspect the person who rather dismissed it as a "train set" likely did not appreciate just what it includes.  The 10 cars contain duplicate examples of coaches and the two types of sleepers, there are two DCC/sound equipped A-units, together with a dummy B-unit.  This will be a train that conveys the appearance of CPR's flagship.  Once you break the price down into the various units it is close to other premium high quality offerings, and I believe in this case it will look even better in real life than in advertising.  Even if deliveries fall back, this promises to be a train worth waiting for. 

A bigger problem for some of us is that it may overwhelm our layouts, something like11 actual feet long.  I am surprised that nobody has questioned why Rapido chose to offer it only as a complete train rather than issue car by car as happened for the Super Continental.  But that is their decision.

My other thought is financial.  While some may be worried about putting a substantial deposit up front, does this also not protect us somewhat against possible price increases?  Both sides have made a commitment.

John

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 28, 2011 12:22 AM

Like many other smaller businesses, Rapido is feeling the effects of the credit crunch we are in. It has become nearly impossible to obtain project funding from the banks these days and Chinese manufacturers like to see cash, as they have lost confidence in the US $´s stability.

Asking for affirmative pre-orders accompanied by a deposit is an unusual thing for consumer products, but not that uncommon in other industries. If we want those small, innovative and creative companies to stay in business, we will have to accept the fact that we have to pay deposits on our pre-orders.

I don´t see anything wrong or sinister in what Rapido is asking for, but I do question some of the retailers behavior.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 11:46 PM

fwright

 

 galaxy:

 

I hope EVERYONE who wanted one will DECLINE the deposit, OR that the deposits don't equal enough to manufacture the item and RAPIDO does NOT Refund the deposits, SO EVERYONE WILL TAKE NOTICE AND NOT PRE-ORDER AT ALL.

 

I have to wonder why you feel the need to control the behavior of others.

Fred W

I was wondering the same thing.

A past Canadian Prime Minister once said "government has no business in the bedrooms trainrooms of the nation"Laugh

 

                                                    Brent

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 11:38 PM

Canadians have had a history of being unable to get many things produced in Canadian versions of just about anything. Not just train related. With a small population, the market just wasn't and often still isn't there for manufacturers to make a profit. It wasn't until CP and CN started moving south of the 49th in a big way that U.S. modelers became interested. Thus more and more CP and CN models are becoming available to all of us.

As far as "The Canadian" by Rapido is concerned, I think the only way we Canucks will get our hands on this piece of history is to help out by providing deposits. I am sitting on the fence as to whether I'll bite or not as MRR has taken a back seat in my life right now. If I do, I have no problem in this case giving a deposit that is little more than a couple of tanks of diesel for my truck.

I attended the presentation by Rapido at PWR here on the West Coast and was very impressed with what I saw. The Rapido guys are great and I trust their integrity 100%. The model had incredible detail and I think the price is reasonable.

I don't know the business end of it but I don't think the quantity of sales would be there on a train that is special to Canadians but may not be as big a seller elsewhere on the planet to bring the cost down.

I have eleven Rapido coaches and think they're great. I hope they come out with a few CP heavyweights to go along with my Sunset Models "Selkirk" if I get one.

I will not give advanced deposits on anything else. But sometimes we have to pull together to get special things done. I think this is a special circumstance.

 

                                                                   Brent

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 11:34 PM

What is Rapido thinking? I believe that Jason is trying to pursue a dream of bringing an iconic train to life with the best detail possible. He clearly has limited resources (don't we all!). He is asking for financial support from those who would like to own said train.

I see nothing sinister here. I don't think he is out to defraud anyone. I do think he has spent far too long perfecting his dream. I also think he has stretched his reach to the limit.

We model railroaders have two choices - if you want the Canadian then put down the deposit, but if you don't want one or are afraid of losing your deposit then the rest is obvious - don't put down a deposit.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • 114 posts
Posted by Fastball on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 10:23 PM

RapidoBill

Sheldon,

Not to pick nits, but:

The Canadian National modelers, by and large, have no interest in this train.

The Candian PACIFIC crew are quite enthusistic.

Bill Schneider

Rapdio Trains

Thanks, I was wondering if any one else was going to catch that. 

Now, if I may enter this discussion by saying that I am extremely wary of how I spend my money.  I'm an N scaler but that does not matter since this appears to be a discussion more on how a company does business and how a customer reacts to that rather than a discussion on a certain HO model.  Plunking down 25% of a rather stiff MSRP would put me into hesitation mode based on a couple things.  One is the long delayed delivery date.  This train was announced in 2008?  Wow.  It's 2011 and closing in on 2012 fast.  The anticipated full delivery date is in late 2012, another year away.  I'm old, I could die by then. The other thing that would bother me is I went to take a look at the preliminary mock ups of The Canadian and I noticed the shortcomings mentioned by an earlier poster.  This would give me pause for concern that hopefully these issues would be ironed out.  I have a several Panorama Line passenger cars in Canadian National and VIA livery and am quite pleased at the workmanship.  I realize that Rapido is a small scale operation, three employees, but to me the delay of nearly four years scares me.  Currently I have two future-release N scale passenger cars on order from two different manufacturers and depending how long the wait is will tell me if I ever do that again no matter how upscale the quality is.  I am of the mindset that I want to see it before I buy it, and I have so much stuff now, one less passenger car is not going to make a difference on my layout.  For me to purchase something at this stage of the game, it has to be either something never before produced or something that is so extraordinarily fantastically off the charts correct and detailed that it blows everything else made before it out of the water.  That's what gets my attention.

-Paul   

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:57 PM

Guys,

If you haven't seen it yet take a look at this clip. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X0BIyntWaU

I'm not a Canadian modeler but am a Budd fan and consider my interest in passenger trains very strong.

The sound of the locomotive's 567's baritone chant is quite pronounced, the lighting looks good. The metalizing (plating) on the Budd cars looks smooth with a visible sheen (even under that bright light), the underbody detailing also well done......and guys did you notice? > The window shades in the cars are in various positions.  I'd probably do a back flip if Walthers ever produced a "Champion" or "Silver Meteor" with this level of detailing.

This train looks like a grand slam home-run!YesCool

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Colorado
  • 4,075 posts
Posted by fwright on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:48 PM

galaxy

I agree this would set a DANGEROUS precedent.

I guess I fail to see the great danger.  I've put down deposits to reserve products I really wanted.  Virtually all custom locomotive builders work that way.  Even for an item such as a factory-ordered car, the dealer will want/require a deposit for the high popularity models.  To have a production boat built for you will nearly always require a deposit.  I have paid a deposit for materials in various home improvement/building projects I have contracted out.  Since putting a deposit is in some ways an act of partnership, I would not recommend the practice to those who believe in adversarial relationships between customer and manufacturer.

1} what if RAPIDO DECLINES to manufacture the product "due to lack of orders"? Will they REFUND the DEPOSITS paid? And in a TIMELY MANNER?

Rapido already stated they had sufficient deposits and orders to go ahead with the project.  Based on Rapido's reputation, I believe they will refund the deposits should anything go wrong with the plans.  But we likely will never know the answer for sure because I expect Rapido will deliver.

2} IF Rapido DOES refund to those outlets offering the item, will the OUTLET get the refund back to the orderer in a TIMELY MANNER?

That would be the responsibility of the outlet, wouldn't it?  All the more reason to buy products from outlets you trust rather than shopping on price alone.  I put value on personal relationships with businesses I deal with, and am willing to sacrifice a little price advantage for personal service.  I stopped doing business with banks and other companies who I thought were less than ethical, and gave my business to those whom I believe I can trust.

3} What if the quality is garbage when the product arrives and you decide not to pay the balance to complete the order...you MUST OBVIOUSLY be out your $320.00?

The same happens on eBay.  I offer a complete refund if you believe the product I shipped was not as advertised.  I've only had one person complain, and that was about wheel wear on a used locomotive.  I offered to refund his money, including return shipping, when he returned the item.  I never heard from him again.  I know from all the reports I read Rapido stands behind their product.

When you buy on-line or mail order, your credit card is charged before you receive the item.  You are trusting the business to deliver as promised.  You are trusting them to make good any damage during the shipping process.  You are trusting them to refund your money should the item not be what you ordered.  Little difference except the length of time Rapido is holding your money.

4}If the 25% down is $320.00 then the whole package must be $1,280.00.? I dunno, unless it is BRASS I wouldn't pay that for a set.

I get it.  You are not going to buy the product regardless of pre-order requirements.

I say this is a time WE SHOW MANUFACTURERS who is BOSS. AND decline to order this item AT ALL sight un-seen with non-refundable deposit!!!

I hope EVERYONE who wanted one will DECLINE the deposit, OR that the deposits don't equal enough to manufacture the item and RAPIDO does NOT Refund the deposits, SO EVERYONE WILL TAKE NOTICE AND NOT PRE-ORDER AT ALL.

I have to wonder why you feel the need to control the behavior of others.  If they want to pre-order (with deposit) from a company you don't like a product you are not going to buy anyway, I don't understand why you want their partnership to fail.  I don't model the same era or region you do.  But I don't encourage the projects to make the models you want fail - even though I won't be buying any.

I think Jason said it very well.  Without the pre-orders and deposits, he doesn't have enough capital to produce the product.  That model train would simply not be made.

There is no requirement to pre-order or buy said train, or even buy any Rapido products.  It is your choice.  If you want a model of the Canadian at Rapido quality and prices, you help make the production happen by fronting some of the money.

I believe Jason to be honest enough that were production not to happen for any reason, the funds would be refunded, irrespective of what it would cost him personally.  Rapido at least has a track record of delivering the products as advertised.

Most new manufacturers don't even have a track record, but still must take deposits to raise the necessary capital to enter production.

Many of our present train manufacturers got started in a similar way.  "Somebody" decided they wanted a particular model that wasn't being made, or wasn't being made to their standards.  The somebody interested some friends to put up some money to make additional copies of the model for said friends.  The model is produced, and the profits (if any) are re-invested towards starting production of the next model.

as always, my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:45 PM

stilson4283

Jason and Bill,

If no one else will say it, I will.  

I am glad there is a company out there doing it right.  Not half way, or good enough, but right.  You past products are precise and exquisite and don't change a thing.  It is great to see a small company like yours doing excellent work time and time again.  Don't mind the naysayers and keep up the GREAT work.  

I cannot wait to see the final product!

Chris

Nice, but are you buying one?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Big Blackfoot River
  • 2,788 posts
Posted by Geared Steam on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:36 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I'll just say this,

Sheldon

You lied. Laugh

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:28 PM

stilson4283

Jason and Bill,

If no one else will say it, I will.  

I am glad there is a company out there doing it right.  Not half way, or good enough, but right.  You past products are precise and exquisite and don't change a thing.  It is great to see a small company like yours doing excellent work time and time again.  Don't mind the naysayers and keep up the GREAT work.  

I cannot wait to see the final product!

Chris

Only one person questioned the quality - many are questioning the marketing.

You are most welcome to commission the nice people at Rapido to build you a train - I still prefer to build my own.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:18 PM

RapidoBill

Sheldon,

Not to pick nits, but:

The Candaian National modelers, by and large, have no interest in this train.

The Candian PACIFIC crew are quite enthusistic.

Bill Schneider

Rapdio Trains

Point taken, see why I'm not interested. Life is short and I have a saying - I use to be well rounded until I learned what I really liked.

My modeling interests are narrowly focused on the B&O, C&O and WM and my fictional ATLANTIC CENTRAL in 1954. I'm not a "collector", don't own a Big Boy, or a GG1 or a NYC hudson. The newest locos are some SD9's just delivered by EMD and the oldest a few museum 4-4-0's. In fact don't have a display case for them either. All the trains run on the layout , fit the theme and many have been built from kits.

Nothing against your products, everthing I have seen looks very nice, I have had some nice conversations on here with Jason, and I have past experiance in the industry, but if ever higher priced limited production RTR is where the hobby is headed, I'm glad I already own most of what my layout requires.

Even if you were to make a WM Pacific, I'm sure I would not be on board for a preproduction deposit.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Dayton, OH
  • 268 posts
Posted by stilson4283 on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:09 PM

Jason and Bill,

If no one else will say it, I will.  

I am glad there is a company out there doing it right.  Not half way, or good enough, but right.  You past products are precise and exquisite and don't change a thing.  It is great to see a small company like yours doing excellent work time and time again.  Don't mind the naysayers and keep up the GREAT work.  

I cannot wait to see the final product!

Chris

Check out my railroad at: Buffalo and Southwestern

Photos at:Flicker account

YouTube:StellarMRR YouTube account

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 8 posts
Posted by RapidoBill on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:04 PM

Sheldon,

Not to pick nits, but:

The Candaian National modelers, by and large, have no interest in this train.

The Candian PACIFIC crew are quite enthusistic.

Bill Schneider

Rapdio Trains

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • 8 posts
Posted by RapidoBill on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:01 PM

I've been following this with... some interest. Jason has already cleared up a couple of issues, but I want to address one more. There are several posts that go on about "What if they don't make it?" This, of course, is a legitimate concern from anybody who has not been following the development of this train for any period of time. I could of course mention that I have two years' worth of pay checks to show for the company's commitment to the design process and production requirements, but I doubt that that would convince anybody. So...

Let me quote from the September 6, 2010 Telegraph newsletter (available on line at http://www.rapidotrains.com/telegraph27.html "Only after everyone has seen the actual model will we close the order desk for The Canadian and take deposits from dealers." Two things to note here. First, the date of the mention of deposits - September, 2010 - not 6 weeks ago as others have claimed. Second, the statement that we would show actual models before requiring firm deposits. For anybody who has been following along, Jason just spent the last month or more touring dealers in Canada with the samples and Dan and I had them at the National Train Show in Sacramento.

So, what can we all take away from this? First, the notion of our asking for deposits is not a new announcment. Second, we have invested a ton (tonne for those north of the border) of cash already in this project which is evidenced by having complete samples of all cars and locomotives that are complete to a point that we are willing to show them publically. Which means, in a nutshell, that we WILL be producing the train. We have invested this much into the train already that it woud make NO sense NOT to make it. We don't need that many expensive paperweights around our offices.

Finally, to the perceived issue of quality on the samples. These samples were hand decorated and assembled at our factory at the end of what was a very long three week visit there by Jason and myself. See http://www.rapidotrains.com/telegraph30.html and http://www.rapidotrains.com/tt_13.html. At the time of the NMRA show they already had several thousand miles of travel on them. Given these factors (hand assembly and travel and display damage), it should be entirley understandable that they show a few imperfections. This, of course, is the danger of showing pre-production samples. We will let the quality of the rest of our recent releases speak for what can be expected.

As I told a friend on e-mail the other night, we won't force you to buy the train, and in order to get it to market we can't change the terms. It is up to you (each) to decide whether it is worth the investment.

Bill Schneider
Product Design
Rapido Trains

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 8:55 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I'll just say this, I sure am glad I don't model the Canadian National and I'm glad I have the skills and desire to build model trains rather than just buy them because this aspect of this hobby is getting way out of hand.

Don't get me wrong, I have bought my share of high detail RTR from time to time, as well as building a lot kits and doing kitbashing super detailing. But if this is where this hobby is headed, my RTR buying days are about over.

Sheldon

LOL

Sheldon, you took the words right out of my mouth.  I, too, am glad that I don't model the Canadian National.  I got better ways to spend my money.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 8:36 PM

I'll just say this, I sure am glad I don't model the Canadian National and I'm glad I have the skills and desire to build model trains rather than just buy them because this aspect of this hobby is getting way out of hand.

Don't get me wrong, I have bought my share of high detail RTR from time to time, as well as building a lot kits and doing kitbashing super detailing. But if this is where this hobby is headed, my RTR buying days are about over.

Sheldon

    

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!