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New Rapido Video from the LRC Factory


Gerald Henriksen
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Shows various stages of different North American models and gives a very good idea of just how much time and effort is involved in building a Rapido calibre model.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka7LC1jia64

 

Hopefully it might give some folk some understanding of where the costs are incurred in building these models. Sophisticated machines and labour-intensive activities both shown to good effect.

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Once you've had a bit of an insight into how these high detail models are produced, it boggles the mind to understand how people complain that the retail cost is too high.

 

It's incredible that any such model loco costs less than £250.

 

 

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Imagine spending all day, every day, with a bottle of Loctite, gluing etched grilles onto locos! Or sitting with a pair of snips, cutting the same feeds off the same plastic components, thousands of times over. It's no wonder that they want reasonable rates of pay. (CJL)

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Imagine spending all day, every day, with a bottle of Loctite, gluing etched grilles onto locos! Or sitting with a pair of snips, cutting the same feeds off the same plastic components, thousands of times over. It's no wonder that they want reasonable rates of pay. (CJL)

It doesn't always work like that though.

I might be comfortable today, but my mis-spent youth included working on two Uk model railway production lines, before the days of China, but also other monotonous jobs including loading car tyres in trucks, flipping burgers, mixing ceramic dust, frozen food factories, repairing bowling balls, fire eating juggling and even a Butlins bar man, many of these jobs have left this shore.

 

All are mundane and boring,(juggling and fire eating across America excepted), but as a hard up student pay important money that's lacking and give valuable life experience.

 

Did they pay what they are worth ?... well you have a choice..take it or leave it, knowing leave it means others will replace you and no one will miss you. Take it means the only way to earn more is increasing hours worked.

 

Working a hitec China production line, making tech products for well known Global electronics companies, under video surveillance, strip searches, managed accommodation, tight contracts and scrutinised working hours, or having freedom to open windows, walk around at will, chose your own accommodation and have daily variation on a model railway production line.. the environment is much better,

 

However, Business only works if they find a source willing to to make something for less than they can find someone to sell it to.

 

We can wax lyrical about the price we pay for models, but even if you volunteered an extra £20, the person building it won't get it.., but model railway factory conditions are a long way from the worst over there, you should consider offering more for your phone, dvds, camera, kettles, microwaves, clothes, car spares than your model train.

 

The LRC factory looks like luxury, compared to some places in the region and I'll guess the pay isn't that bad either, even if push fitting bits of plastic or removing flash isn't the most exciting job on earth, it's probably better than working a production line making pastry dumplings by hand !

Edited by adb968008
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  • 2 months later...

Jason's latest factory video is online here.

 

In the latest North American newsletter he addresses the costs of model railway products, including the rising costs of labour in Guangdong Province.

In the video he explores new potential space in Guangxi Province, separate from the LRC factory in Guangdong Province (near Guangzhou/Canton and Hong Kong).

Edited by Ozexpatriate
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Very interesting to watch, that's for sure. I think for the pricing you just need to balance out how customers want to pay and how much the company wants to sell the models for. Doesn't look too great working there, but at least they're happy.

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It is true that a lot of this work is tedious. But the LRC factory seems to be clean and well lit, and fit for purpose.  Importantly there does appear to be a rapport between Jason and his people - his hands on style is impressive. I have seen worse (on the real railway). Rapido looks pretty good to me, and its ethics sound.

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