Have to ask the questions: New Rapido PA-1 owners, are you happy with your new acquisitions? Do they meet your expectations? How well do they run for you?
We had a thread on these a few weeks ago.
How? They were not actually out then.
Now they are, and will be physically in people's hands within a day or so.
That other thread was more about the "sample" models and photos of same.
I'm trying to discern whether or not I want to try just one unit, based upon people's comments here. As I do not have any ordered right now, but am moving my whole roster back to the first generation era (bought bunch of RS-3's), hearing ahem reading people's comments would be useful to me.
PRR8259How? They were not actually out then.
I don't think we actually had a thread about the PA models after they were in customer's hands.
I am also interested in how the model is. I really wanted a pair of them, but it was not to be. Thus, for me, this thread is about what I missed.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
PRR8259 Have to ask the questions: New Rapido PA-1 owners, are you happy with your new acquisitions? Do they meet your expectations? How well do they run for you?
Looking at opinions for different things, I find that there are usually a certain percentage of buyers who are happy with the product. And also there may usually be a sometimes very small percentage of buyers who think the item is a piece of crap.
And for whatever reason this small percentage of individuals seem to be the most vociferous.
About as happy as a man who just sold a kidney to pay for a PA-PA set can be...
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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Hmmm, I ordered a set but haven't heard a peep that they were out yet.
Texas Zephyr Hmmm, I ordered a set but haven't heard a peep that they were out yet.
Same here!
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!
I assure you they are out now. English's Model RR Supply has a bunch of them, and I looked at a couple today, but they did not happen to have the one roadname that I am interested in.
John
I forgot that I'd ordered a pair of Nickel Plate "Bluebirds". Just got a reminder to send bags of cash to Overland Hobbies in order to free mine from captivity.
I'll post photos in a few days...
They'll be replacing my venerable Life-Like models.
Nickel Plate Depart-Arrive by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
I received a couple of emails and a phone call from Rapido regarding the two I preordered (Leigh Valley). I robbed the local bank and sent them the money. Waiting for them or the cops to arrive. Hopefully it's the loco's before the popo's so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor for a little while.
So, after looking quickly a couple youtube videos of these, I have a question for those who have them or who have seen them up close. Is there any factory provision for close coupling and do the diaphragms work?
If the answer is no, I'm not disappointed that my order for undecorated versions was canceled.
While they do look nice, without that feature they are not that much nicer than my Proto units.
Sheldon
Interesting. My main sources for trains; M. B. Klein's, Midwest Model RR Supply, and Spring Creek Model Trians don't list them this morning.
I have a really hard time convincing myself to buy one at the price point that is mentioned. I get a lot of enjoyment in updating my old purchases; I can spend time and effort detailing and tuning my Walthers and Blue Box units and be very happy.
FlattenedQuarterWaiting for them or the cops to arrive. Hopefully it's the loco's before the popo's so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor for a little while.
I hope they arrive soon for you.
Unfortunately, these were all pre-order items. So anyone expecting to walk into a retail store and finding their favorite flavor on the shelf may be out of luck. Or at least until the units hit the resale market.
I checked the website of the distributor where I have an account and many of the flavors are shown as unavailable. Since they also required pre-orders, unavailable means they never got pre-orders in the first place, or what they received already went out the door.
Well, some people do not necessarily trust Rapido for various reasons beyond the scope of my post here, so that is why there aren't very many that were not already spoken for.
My local dealer is trying to get a unit or two for me, as I did not pre-order any myself.
As of Wednesday afternoon 8/24 distributor Heartland had not yet received their shipment, and I have no idea how many were even still available for sale of what they had pre-ordered, so it is what it is. If I don't get one then so be it.
My main focus is freight trains anyway, so it's not a have to have for me. I just always liked PA's.
There were a whole lot of Rapido boxes coming off the truck at PWRS the other day. They tend to stock a lot of Rapido stuff from what I have seen in the past there.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Well... I just went to the Rapido site, and it seems the GLA hoppers were released already, and are all sold out.
I had two pre-ordered through an online retailer, and never heard a word about them.
PRR8259 Well, some people do not necessarily trust Rapido for various reasons beyond the scope of my post here, so that is why there aren't very many that were not already spoken for. My local dealer is trying to get a unit or two for me, as I did not pre-order any myself. As of Wednesday afternoon 8/24 distributor Heartland had not yet received their shipment, and I have no idea how many were even still available for sale of what they had pre-ordered, so it is what it is. If I don't get one then so be it. My main focus is freight trains anyway, so it's not a have to have for me. I just always liked PA's. John
Rapido has let me down a few too many times. In my experience, they overpromise and underdeliver. As an example I wanted to get their SW1200s. But then in the last week of preorders, they subly removed the ditch lights, the marker lights, and a few cab details. Well shoot, why pay Rapido prices when I can get a walthers proto sw1200 for $120 less? Just my two cents. Take it as you will.
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
SeeYou190 Well... I just went to the Rapido site, and it seems the GLA hoppers were released already, and are all sold out. I had two pre-ordered through an online retailer, and never heard a word about them. -Kevin
When I preordered my Rapido F30 flat cars, I had an interesting experiance. For whatever reason, EVERYONE had their decorated versions of the F30 flats a week before my undecorated F30's were shipped to me. I ordered and purchased them from a large well known retailer/mail order outlet here in the Mid Atlantic.
As the layout space is progressing and benchwork is about to begin, I am also getting my workbench in working order. As I revisit models previously built, and those still to be built, I become less and less interested in purchasing much more expensive RTR.
I guess I almost have enough trains.....
Rapido has passed the point of deminishing return, and has yet to make a model I want that is completely missing from my roster.
Lombard still has some in stock.
An "expensive model collector"
n012944Lombard still has some in stock.
I went and looked, and they do not list the undecorated model.
The place I ordered them from does not list the undecorated model either.
I would bet that Rapido cancelled the undecorated GLA hoppers. Since I did not order them directly from Rapido, I guess I never got a notice.
That is what I get for bargain shopping.
Thank you for sharing the tip.
A pair of mine arrived today —
NKP_181_Rapido by Edmund, on Flickr
Nothing was broken or loose in the shipping process save for one rear coupler that seems to be jammed open.
A note on the couplers, these are Rapido's own "old Macdonald" couplers. [Macdonald-Cartier] They are pretty much worthless. Some reviews I've read, even in MR, for the recent Rapido cars and locos refer to them as being Kadee. They are NOT Kadee.
NKP_181_Rapido-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Minus one point for the headlight LED configuration. IMHO the color leans too much to the "cool-blue" side and not a decent "yellow-white" or golden glow color. In addition there seems to be an arrangement of the lens that kind of makes the headlight and Mars light "shadowy" rather than seeing the full brightness of the lamp. The Mars light is set for a very slow oscillation. I'm sure that can be fixed in a CV setting. The number boards are nicely lit but perhaps just a tad bright. I'll probably fix this by placing a small piece of masking tape behind the board which is a method I use to tone down the brightness and give the boards more of a yellowish glow.
NKP_181_Rapido-Proto by Edmund, on Flickr
NKP_181_Rapido-Proto-rear by Edmund, on Flickr
Out of the box the Rapidos couple slightly closer than the Proto 2000s. I'm sure Kadee short-shank couplers could be substituted. I will change out all the couplers anyway and might try a short shank for evaluation.
NKP_181_Rapido-Proto-rear-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Yes, most of the brake cylinders are slightly askew. This was even pointed out when the sample photos were shown. I will have to take a look at what it will take to tweak these back into proper position.
NKP_181_Rapido-paint line by Edmund, on Flickr
There is a slight oops where the painting mask didn't quite fit up properly so the paint separation is a little fuzzy and there's a little overspray around the door jamb.
I have not run them as yet. That will be later tonight. The default sound settings have the wrong horn, no biggie, and, of course, is considerably too loud. Both easily fixed.
NKP_PE6 by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm nearly always happy. I'm a glass half-full kind of person.
Cheers, Ed
SeeYou190 n012944 Lombard still has some in stock. I went and looked, and they do not list the undecorated model. The place I ordered them from does not list the undecorated model either. I would bet that Rapido cancelled the undecorated GLA hoppers. Since I did not order them directly from Rapido, I guess I never got a notice. That is what I get for bargain shopping. Thank you for sharing the tip. -Kevin
n012944 Lombard still has some in stock.
The Rapido web site shows undecorated GLa hoppers, and shows them as "out of stock" - the question is did they really make any?
This hobby has changed considerably in the time I have been in it, and I don't see all of it as good.
Just happy that I have much of what I need and want to build my upcoming layout, which, like my garden tractor, I expect will last me the rest of my life.
I have tried to be a Rapido customer, with little success.
My Bowser GLa hoppers are just fine....
My Proto PA's are close coupled like this:
With this simple kit which has been offered for the Proto PA and E7 units for over 2 decades.
And my front couplers are like this and work fine.
There is no question that the Rapido PA is more detailed and more road specific correct. But my interest in PA's is only for the roadname pictured above.
I had a set of undecorated PA's on preorder as soon as they were announced, Rapido decided they could not make any money selling me those locomotives.
So I bought two more NOS Protos on Ebay.
And Ed, your Proto unit is missing the coupler lift bar it came with, note my picture from the bottom.
ATLANTIC CENTRALThe question is did they really make any?
If they did, I'll bet it was just enough to satisfy their pre-orders directly from Rapido.
I placed my pre-order from an online retailer that everyone said gave good service. They only charged my credit card for 0.02 for the reservation.
Oh well, it's not like I am hurting for open top hopper cars. If I really want a GLA I think Funaro and Camerlengo makes a kit.
When it comes to PAs, I just bought two NOS undecorated A shells and two NOS undecorated B shells on eBay, all from Athearn. I have an A/B powered Athearn set that has served me well. It looks like I will have plenty of chances to paint and detail updgraded bodies for them.
SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL The question is did they really make any? If they did, I'll bet it was just enough to satisfy their pre-orders directly from Rapido. I placed my pre-order from an online retailer that everyone said gave good service. They only charged my credit card for 0.02 for the reservation. Oh well, it's not like I am hurting for open top hopper cars. If I really want a GLA I think Funaro and Camerlengo makes a kit. - - - - - - - - - - When it comes to PAs, I just bought two NOS undecorated A shells and two NOS undecorated B shells in eBay. I have an A/B powered Athearn set that has served me well. It looks like I will have plenty of chances topaint and detail updgraded bodies for them. -Kevin
ATLANTIC CENTRAL The question is did they really make any?
When it comes to PAs, I just bought two NOS undecorated A shells and two NOS undecorated B shells in eBay. I have an A/B powered Athearn set that has served me well. It looks like I will have plenty of chances topaint and detail updgraded bodies for them.
Already had three Proto PA's and one PB which I powered years ago (the early releases only offered unpowered B units).
When Rapido canceled the undec units, I found several more Protos on Ebay and now have parts for two AB sets and a AA set.
And I bought spare axle sets, and other spare parts from LifeLike years ago when they were just 40 minutes from my house.
The Roster is now full in the PA department.
You make a good point there. If they see undecorated models as such a money loosing, extra trouble, issue, it would make sense to only produce those orders that they are making the full markup on as long as it is enough units for reasonable production deviation same as a separate roadname.
OR,
The retailers simply decide not to order them?
A Proto PA rear shot with all the parts.
ATLANTIC CENTRALAnd Ed, your Proto unit is missing the coupler lift bar it came with, note my picture from the bottom. Sheldon
Thanks for pointing that out, Sheldon. I had every intention of mentioning that fact but got involved with the other captions and also had other obligations away from the internet which precluded me from further editing.
These older PAs were actually on my "to-do" shelf for lubing and other upgrades and I knew I was going to be opening them up so thought there was no reason to replace the cut lever since I'd be removing it again soon to remove the shell.
NKP_187_Cut lever1 by Edmund, on Flickr
The trailing unit has faired better.
NKP_187_Cut lever by Edmund, on Flickr
Fact of the matter is, the horns are missing as well:
NKP_187_Missing Horns by Edmund, on Flickr
In later years the Leslie A-200 was replaced by a Nathan M-5 (reference my photo at PE Tower in an earlier reply) and I was in the process of performing this modification
I should have mentioned it.
Thanks, Ed