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Rapido ALCO-PA

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:13 PM

DrW

 

 
PRR8259

Look at the cylinders on the trucks in all the Rapido PA photos.  They are all crooked; they should be horizontal. 

 

 

Interesting observation. But they do not seem to be randomly crooked. It looks intentional. They seem to follow the curve of the top of the truck frame. Of course, you are correct that they should be horizontal.

 

Well, looking at these pictures, I'm glad they canceled my preporder for undecorated versions - my Proto units look better.

And they run just fine, even after all these years. 

Window glass thickness? Nose curvature? I'm glad the therapy worked.

Sheldon

 

    

DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 371 posts
Posted by DrW on Sunday, June 12, 2022 11:38 AM

PRR8259

Look at the cylinders on the trucks in all the Rapido PA photos.  They are all crooked; they should be horizontal. 

Interesting observation. But they do not seem to be randomly crooked. It looks intentional. They seem to follow the curve of the top of the truck frame. Of course, you are correct that they should be horizontal.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:34 AM

Look at the cylinders on the trucks in all the Rapido PA photos.  They are all crooked; they should be horizontal.  Others have noticed a lack of detail around the coupler pockets.

I'm thinking the Overland Models Alco PA's look better, despite the many years that have passed since they were made.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, June 10, 2022 6:35 AM

gmpullman

My "Park" series obs has thick glazing and there were light "leaks" between the black gaskets and side walls:


And the rear window is also crooked. Ugh!

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, June 10, 2022 5:32 AM

DrW
My only complaint is the windshield "glass". It looks like coke-bottle eyeglasses - way too thick.

I noticed that too. It was also a problem on some of their passenger cars. My "Park" series obs has thick glazing and there were light "leaks" between the black gaskets and side walls:

 Park_tail by Edmund, on Flickr

I solved it (mostly) by painting a mask around the gasketed area.

 Park_glaze1 by Edmund, on Flickr

I was disappointed in the BLI Pennsy P5a front and especially the side cab glazing:

 BLI_P5a by Edmund, on Flickr

 BLI_P5a-Cab by Edmund, on Flickr

I sent a message to AMB Laserkit who has offered some laser-cut replacement windows for some models but they replied that they haven't had much interest in this P5a.

Too bad, it really detracts from a nice model. Athearn is, I believe, using the nice glazing made by Paul Lubliner at least on the Highliner shells from his outfit.

Regards, Ed

DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 371 posts
Posted by DrW on Thursday, June 9, 2022 4:05 PM

The first pics of Rapido's PAs just showed up in today's news letter:

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-152---The-calm-before-the-storm-.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=B4aJ0YzkNas

My only complaint is the windshield "glass". It looks like coke-bottle eyeglasses - way too thick. Athearn Genesis has solved this problem much better in their F3/7/9s.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 4:37 PM

PRR8259

Bad news:  The painting of the Kodachrome paint scheme Santa Fe B36-7 #7497 was absolutely horrible.  There are about 3 very different shades of yellow on the unit, due to incorrect priming prior to painting the yellow, and the SP Red is way off color with respect to both prototype photos and many other Kodachrome models that have been made.  Rapido refused to do anything whatsoever to correct these positively horrible paint jobs.  When ScaleTrains, Athearn and Bowser have made mistakes in loco painting, they (all 3) have owned their mistakes and offered new replacement bodies with corrected paint.

Ouch! Jason, say it ain't so.

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 12:08 PM

Good news:  Rapido's B36-7 was a home run for Santa Fe modelers.  They really nailed the LED flashing Santa Fe beacon.  They also are developing a "correct" Santa Fe U25B (rear steps adjacent radiators are different from other units), and a GP38 is also in development.

Bad news:  The painting of the Kodachrome paint scheme Santa Fe B36-7 #7497 was absolutely horrible.  There are about 3 very different shades of yellow on the unit, due to incorrect priming prior to painting the yellow, and the SP Red is way off color with respect to both prototype photos and many other Kodachrome models that have been made.  Rapido refused to do anything whatsoever to correct these positively horrible paint jobs.  When ScaleTrains, Athearn and Bowser have made mistakes in loco painting, they (all 3) have owned their mistakes and offered new replacement bodies with corrected paint.

(I have brand new Athearn Kodachrome units on hand that are a much better match to the photos in the Morning Sun SPSF diesel book.)

DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 371 posts
Posted by DrW on Friday, June 3, 2022 4:08 AM

gmpullman

 

Rapido scanned one of the few remaining PAs, Doyle Mc Cormack's former Santa Fe #18 so is "should" prove to be accurate shapewise.

...

 

 

Overall, I agree with your assessment. Modeling the Santa Fe, Rapido has not produced much that I am interested in. The RDC-1/2 Budd Rail Cars look and run beautifully, and I am eagerly awaiting the PAs.

Just a small correction. The Santa Fe # of McCormack's PA was 62L. It was renumbered #18 by the next owner, the D&H.

JW

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, June 2, 2022 10:12 AM

khier
but shapewise I am not happy with any of them.

Rapido scanned one of the few remaining PAs, Doyle Mc Cormack's former Santa Fe #18 so is "should" prove to be accurate shapewise.

My present roster is only the former Life-Like Proto 2000 models. I did not care to venture into the MTH offering. I'm pretty satisfied with the Protos but I'll pick up a couple of the Rapido models when they become available.

You can see test shots here:

https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/pa-1.html

Some details aren't perfect on Rapido models, so there may be issues but no one will know until they are in buyer's hands. I have some of their FL9s and I'm not too convinced about the look of the glued-in number boards. At least they are illuminated which is a plus over any of the Highliner Genesis models.

A few of my Rapido locos had to be returned for motor replacements, decoders and mechanical problems. Their track record is good... not great. They DO stand behind their warranty work but sometimes packaging and shipping a new model back to Markham can be a headache (and costly). I understand they have a U.S. repair address.

I'll be able to give a better answer after I have a Rapido PA in my hands (and on the track).

khier
I am not happy with any of them.

Specifically, what is the detraction?

 

In advance, Good Luck, Ed

 

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 196 posts
Rapido ALCO-PA
Posted by khier on Thursday, June 2, 2022 5:12 AM

Dear All,

I have ALCO-PA units made by MTH, Older Life like Proto 2000 and Walthres Main Line. Each of them has its ups and downs, but shapewise I am not happy with any of them. Does the latest issue by Rapido look better than the above variants?

 

Thanks in advance

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