RAPIDO's 50' F30A FLATCAR AND THE 50' F30D TOFC CAR

[maxman]

PC101

I did not see the Video (I will look for it) and I will wait for more input here.

Well, it was posted in your other thread on this similar subject:

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/290578.aspx

 

And it was Ed that posted it:

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Mine are still in the "pipeline" 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrKNTAzY9gk

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so I don't know what to say.

 

Of course the cars in the video were pre-production so maybe they changed their minds.

EDIT:

This is what Rapido's website says:

• Equipped with Rapido's own *NEW* semi-scale couplers

so looks like minds were changed.

[PC101]

maxman

If I remember from the video posted in one of the other threads on this subject the coupler is a Kadee.

 

I did not see the Video (I will look for it) and I will wait for more input here.

With the one foot rule, the RAPIDO coupler does looks like a KADEE #58 but under a scope the tool and die marks/design are different. Even me with one eye and with out a scope can see some differences.

If that coupler on the RAPIDO car is a KADEE, it is a bad job by KADEE and would be a first like this from KADEE that I can think of.

Remove the coupler from a car and examine it side by side with a KADEE #58 and you will see the difference.

Now that I have the couplers removed, I can stick a #58 w/spring plate or a #148 w/wiskers in both ends. 

EDIT. I see Ed posted first before I was finished with my post.  I heard that name Maconald-Cartier connected with RAPIDO before. Thanks for your input Ed.

 

[gmpullman]

The two-dozen X31s I recently bought all came with Maconald-Cartier couplers. Close to Kadee but slightly less relief, a shinier finish and the trip pin is of a harder steel than what Kadee uses. I've already replaced half of them for the genuine Kadees. At least they're not the ones dipped in chocolate-brown paint.

Here's the Macdonald-Cartier "scale head". Note some pitting on the knuckle of the lower one and the inside of the upper one:

Macdonald-Rapido by Edmund, on Flickr

The Kadee in the center has much cleaner molding and darker finish plus a fully cored profile:

Kadee_Rapido by Edmund, on Flickr

Here's the chocolate-dipped ones at top, Kadee in left-center and the Macdonalds scale-heads in the lower-right:

Kadee_Rapido_trio by Edmund, on Flickr

I had previously clipped the trip pins off the Macs before replacing them on my X31s. The trip pins have an odd copper color inside but they are magnetic.

Regards, Ed

[maxman]

If I remember from the video posted in one of the other threads on this subject the coupler is a Kadee.

[PC101]

Let me discuss here about the FLAT CAR. 

First thing, this is a nice looking piece of rolling stock. Now I need to find a load to put on and tie down.

Second thing, my item #138004-1, PENN CENTRAL #701096 F30A flatcar has a squeak as it runs down the track and the car has some rolling resistance that I have not yet found the cause. (I really did not look to hard for it yet).

Third thing, if you have trouble making these RAPIDO cars couple together, look real close (magnifying glass and bright light close) on the inside of the coupler knuckle and you will see ''flash''. Have fun getting that out of there. Or just swap out RAPIDO's coupler for a KADEE.   

EDIT: 12/15/2021. ok, both cars, the F30A flat car and the F30D TOFC, being somewhat alike can be replied to here in this Subject/Thread.