richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL If you are interested, you should contact some of the major online retailers and see if they are still taking preorders for these. Many of them order extras and will take preorders after the deadline. Sheldon, you are correct. Pre-orders are still being taken by retailers. I mistakenly thought that the expected delivery date was February 15th. But, there is no expected delivery date at this time. For all I know, it may still be a year or more away. Rich
ATLANTIC CENTRAL If you are interested, you should contact some of the major online retailers and see if they are still taking preorders for these. Many of them order extras and will take preorders after the deadline.
If you are interested, you should contact some of the major online retailers and see if they are still taking preorders for these. Many of them order extras and will take preorders after the deadline.
Sheldon, you are correct. Pre-orders are still being taken by retailers. I mistakenly thought that the expected delivery date was February 15th. But, there is no expected delivery date at this time. For all I know, it may still be a year or more away.
Rich
The Boswer RS-3's I just preordered are a roughly a year out. Typical these days.
I have been busy putting up lights and ceiling in between work and grandkids - pictures soon. The LED lights and the flust to the joists ceiling system are working nicely.
Sheldon
Alton Junction
richhotrain richhotrain To me, that is somewhat of a scary report, Ed. I am losing my initial enthusiasm. The pre-order supposedly would be a short time frame. Expected delivery was scheduled to begin on February 15th. Rich I am wrong about the expected delivery date. February 15th was the deadline for pre-orders. Nuts, there is no expected delivery date at this time. Rich
richhotrain To me, that is somewhat of a scary report, Ed. I am losing my initial enthusiasm. The pre-order supposedly would be a short time frame. Expected delivery was scheduled to begin on February 15th. Rich
To me, that is somewhat of a scary report, Ed. I am losing my initial enthusiasm.
The pre-order supposedly would be a short time frame. Expected delivery was scheduled to begin on February 15th.
I am wrong about the expected delivery date. February 15th was the deadline for pre-orders. Nuts, there is no expected delivery date at this time.
Contact me directly if you want some specific suggestions.
they make a GREAT product & stand behind it way better then most
so ordering one should not be an issue if you want quality.
Off hand I'd say I've already got about 2 dozen E8s plus a bunch of E7 and E6s already on my roster. Just finished up a pair of Conrail Executive Es last week.
The original Life-Likes were good and Walthers made improvements to them. I'll buy one E-L E8 from Rapido to evaluate it but I really don't expect it to be head and shoulders above the previous Proto runs. I've also got a shoebox full of spare motors, wheels, trucks, gears and all that stuff for the Life-Like/Proto?Walthers Es so I'm sure I can keep my fleet running for a while longer.
Regards, Ed
I've got a pair of their Turbotrains. These have the "new and improved" gearing. The very first runs had gear issues that necessitated a tricky replacement procedure.
Turbo_PC52-Amtrak50 by Edmund, on Flickr
These have custom MRC decoders in them and seem to be OK.
I've got a pair of their F40PH EMD engines and these have never given me any trouble. A pair of RDCs that run just fine although these came with a warning to not tow any additional cars with them as the drive shafts are fragile.
Also a pair of the FL9s. The light boards needed to be replaced on these as the shell would crunch the LEDs on them. Rapido sent me the parts and I electrd to make the repair myself.
My Royal Hudson had an eccentric rod problem which required a return trip to Markham, ON for the repair:
eccentric_1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Mailing the loco back to them set me back $65
Both my RS-11s exhibited bad motor/decoder problems. They also went back to Markham at a postage cost of $80. Rapido has since opened a U.S. service address.
IMG_7998_edited-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
I've got six of the FA-FB locos with no troubles at all with these:
BnO_4011-FA-aba by Edmund, on Flickr
I've never preordered from Rapido. In nearly every case I've watched carefully for on-line retailers to offer the models I want and buy them then.
In their first run I might bite on an E-L unit to power my commuter train. I do wish they would have picked an ex-Erie engine instead of a former Lackawanna one (already have a Proto Lackawanna E8)
In the second run I've sent Rapido a suggestion to offer the B&O in the simplified Blue and Gray. I hope they make a run with that paint job.
Diplomat-at-Akron by Edmund, on Flickr
I've got faith in Rapido and all the folks that work there seem to be dedicated modelers. I'm looking forward to the long-awaited Jet EP-5 which should be coming along any week now.
In spite of the few problems mentioned above Rapido has taken care of every issue and has always responded to any requests for parts or assistance.
Good Luck, Ed
Both my Hudsons had issues and Rapido replaced the decoder and motors in both and they have been flawless ever since. The others run great.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I only have their straight DC locomotives and they all run fine. I have FA-2's for the PRR, Wabash and Ann Arbor, CP FP7 A's and FB, NH FL9's, PRR RS-11's and NKP RS-11's and PRR PA's on order.
Rick Jesionowski
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!
richhotrain Granted, most locomotive manufacturers have quality control problems from time to time. But, I have been generally satisfied with the passenger diesels coming out of BLI, Life Like, Walthers Proto, Intermountain and Athearn Genesis. I have never owned a Rapido locomotive so I have to rely on the experience of others. Not sure how long Rapido has been producing locomotives. Anyone know? Rich
Granted, most locomotive manufacturers have quality control problems from time to time. But, I have been generally satisfied with the passenger diesels coming out of BLI, Life Like, Walthers Proto, Intermountain and Athearn Genesis. I have never owned a Rapido locomotive so I have to rely on the experience of others. Not sure how long Rapido has been producing locomotives. Anyone know?
I believe the Turbo Train was their first "locomotive", introduced in 2008. The company started in 2003.
I finally managed to get a few Rapido freight cars. I tried to order PA1's, but they canceled the undecorated ones.
I just preordered some Boswer RS-3's......... in C&O and WESTERN MARYLAND.
I might be interested in a couple more E8's, undecorated or B&O......... Not on the current list from Rapido.
Yes it was the Royal Hudson. But they fixed the problems, in both engines. How many people are still battling problems from another prominent loco manufacturer that uses proprietary decoders?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy They had motor problems with the RS18 which overheated the decoder, I think. There was also an issue with one of their steam engines and decoder problems. However they stood behind their products and solved those problems.
They had motor problems with the RS18 which overheated the decoder, I think. There was also an issue with one of their steam engines and decoder problems.
However they stood behind their products and solved those problems.
I have several sets of Rapido passenger cars, but I have never owned a Rapido locomotive. Rapido is about to release a series of EMD E8A and E8B passenger locomotives, pre-order required.
Interested to learn others experience with Rapido locomotives.