Jump to content
 

The Official Rapido APT-E Thread

rapidotrains

By rapidotrains,
in Rapido Trains

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Administrators
SteveCole

SteveCole

Posted
  • Administrators
Posted

BRM May includes a 4-page review of the Rapido/Locomotion Models BR APT-E, written and photographed by Andy York. Here's one of Andy's many stunning pictures from this month's magazine. The APT-E also graces this month's front cover! Click here to buy BRM May.

 

post-14186-0-26380500-1461921408_thumb.jpg

 

post-14186-0-32759100-1461921418.jpg

 

BRM prides itself on offering the latest product news and most in-depth product reviews every issue! Subscribing to BRM guarantees your copy every issue, delivered direct to your door for free! Click here for our latest subscription offers!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
oorail

oorail

Posted
Posted

Here is 12 minutes of the APT-E during its running in session on my layout, features GoPro Hero4 Session chase shots of both PC-1 and PC-2. If you don't have a spare 12 minutes, then you'll at least want to check things out around 08:00 as there are some interesting shots of the tilt system in action!

 

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

 

Now that its here I can actually go finish the scenery without worrying about the APT-E clearances! ;)

 

Enjoy!

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • RMweb Gold
Colin_McLeod

Colin_McLeod

Posted
  • RMweb Gold
Posted (edited)

Great video. It's good to see trains running at speed.

Makes a very pleasant change from the ones that crawl at scale walking pace in an attempt to be "realistic"

BTW What is the camera train that goes even faster than the APT-E?

Edited by Colin_McLeod
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Jitmen

Jitmen

Posted
Posted

Here is 12 minutes of the APT-E during its running in session on my layout, features GoPro Hero4 Session chase shots of both PC-1 and PC-2. If you don't have a spare 12 minutes, then you'll at least want to check things out around 08:00 as there are some interesting shots of the tilt system in action!

 

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

 

Now that its here I can actually go finish the scenery without worrying about the APT-E clearances! ;)

 

Enjoy!

Amazing footage thanks for sharing
Link to post
Share on other sites
oorail

oorail

Posted
Posted

Great video. It's good to see trains running at speed.

Makes a very pleasant change from the ones that crawl at scale walking pace in an attempt to be "realistic"

BTW What is the camera train that goes even faster than the APT-E?

 

Its a Bachmann Jinty (weathered) pulling a conflat wagon with the GoPro Hero 4 session blue tacked to it! :O

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites
Mr_Tilt

Mr_Tilt

Posted
Posted

I was at the Bristol Show today, actually at Thornbury in recent years, and I'm sad to report that not a single E-Train model was visible. 

 

Actually there were very few 'Modern Image' layouts there, at least those in BR Blue anyway.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Mr_Tilt

Mr_Tilt

Posted
Posted

It seems a waste of money by BR that the apt-e was just left surely more coaches could of been added and it could have ran some sort of service?

 

Not at all, it was designed purely as an experimental train, and some elements were not suitable for passenger use, not the least being the tilt system.

 

In any case, post the 1973 fuel crisis, when the cost of fuel quadrupled overnight, the gas turbine was a non-starter economically. BR would have lost money hand over fist if an extended E-Train had gone into service.

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites
Salmotrutta

Salmotrutta

Posted
Posted

Here is 12 minutes of the APT-E during its running in session on my layout, features GoPro Hero4 Session chase shots of both PC-1 and PC-2. If you don't have a spare 12 minutes, then you'll at least want to check things out around 08:00 as there are some interesting shots of the tilt system in action!

 

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

 

Now that its here I can actually go finish the scenery without worrying about the APT-E clearances! ;)

 

Enjoy!

Why did they bother with the APT-E if a Jinty can go at 150 mph? :) Nice video - I must get mine out of its box.

Link to post
Share on other sites
No Decorum

No Decorum

Posted
Posted

Not at all, it was designed purely as an experimental train, and some elements were not suitable for passenger use, not the least being the tilt system.

 

In any case, post the 1973 fuel crisis, when the cost of fuel quadrupled overnight, the gas turbine was a non-starter economically. BR would have lost money hand over fist if an extended E-Train had gone into service.

I wonder, if Craig’s magnificent 8+2 configuration had been repeated in reality, what sort of speed those ten gas turbines would have managed.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
Mr_Tilt

Mr_Tilt

Posted
Posted
 

Why did they bother with the APT-E if a Jinty can go at 150 mph?  :) Nice video - I must get mine out of its box.

 

Jinty's don't tilt, and even if they did I'm not sure anyone's ever made a servo-valve that would work on steam.........

 

 

I wonder, if Craig’s magnificent 8+2 configuration had been repeated in reality, what sort of speed those ten gas turbines would have managed.

 

Good question, with only 3500 hp I have my doubts if it'd reached even 125 mph. There'd be a lot more aero drag with that many trailer cars and a LOT more wheel/axle friction with all those extra E1T bogies.

 

I expect there a formula for it somewhere, but I don't know where it is.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
jonklein611

jonklein611

Posted
Posted

Do train manufacturers still have experimental and prototype trains?

 

Yes,

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JetTrain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_Change_Train

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_1000_Shinkansen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_951_Shinkansen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIN350

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STAR21

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300X

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastech_360#Class_E954_Fastech_360S

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastech_360#Class_E955_Fastech_360Z

 

None of which have been made into models (I think).  I'm willing to bet the APT-E was the first to be produced in scale.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Salmotrutta

Salmotrutta

Posted
Posted

Which?,

 

The Jinty or the APT?

 

Regards

 

Ian

Both! I have been a bit hesitant to get the APT out - I need to set up a test track as my layout will cause an APT rhino-ectomy. The Jinty is planned for a sound chip and possibly working lights - I just need to order the chip as the file isn't available as a download in the ESU website.  

Link to post
Share on other sites
Salmotrutta

Salmotrutta

Posted
Posted

 

 

 

Jinty's don't tilt, and even if they did I'm not sure anyone's ever made a servo-valve that would work on steam.........

 

 

 

Good question, with only 3500 hp I have my doubts if it'd reached even 125 mph. There'd be a lot more aero drag with that many trailer cars and a LOT more wheel/axle friction with all those extra E1T bogies.

 

I expect there a formula for it somewhere, but I don't know where it is.

 

Here you are Kit - a prototype for everything...  Although the manual tilting device might be hard to operate at speeds above 150 mph :)

post-27796-0-14571500-1461977213.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • RMweb Gold
PaulRhB

PaulRhB

Posted
  • RMweb Gold
Posted (edited)
Er your link to the 1000 includes-

"The Class 1000 Shinkansen is available in model form from Micro Ace."

;)

Great set of links though which is why I noticed :)

Edited by PaulRhB
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Jitmen

Jitmen

Posted
Posted

Not at all, it was designed purely as an experimental train, and some elements were not suitable for passenger use, not the least being the tilt system.

 

In any case, post the 1973 fuel crisis, when the cost of fuel quadrupled overnight, the gas turbine was a non-starter economically. BR would have lost money hand over fist if an extended E-Train had gone into service.

Thanks for that info
Link to post
Share on other sites
Jitmen

Jitmen

Posted
Posted
Looks like the Japanese stand alone?
Link to post
Share on other sites
UP 4000

UP 4000

Posted
Posted

I wonder, if Craig’s magnificent 8+2 configuration had been repeated in reality, what sort of speed those ten gas turbines would have managed.

 

Thank You, Really appreciate it, I'd like to see mine run at high speed! One Day, One Day.

Link to post
Share on other sites
dibber25

dibber25

Posted
Posted

I wonder how large a layout one needs to really let the model (as the basic 4-car set) rip? My layout is something over 20ft long and eight feet wide, with curves in excess of three feet radius. I've dared to let it up to 92 on the 128-step speed setting of the Digitrax controller but I'm not sure I'll take it any faster. The road-holding is superb and I'm guessing that the combination of the rigidity imposed by the articulation and the benefit of actually tilting assists the model just like it did the real thing. Can I ask those who've actually had it up to full speed how big the layout was that you did it on? And what sort of radius were the curves? I guess those with access to substantial club layouts will have had the highest speeds. I'm asking purely out of personal curiosity because, in a sense this model is as experimental as the real thing was. Also, I wouldn't want anyone to be tempted to push theirs beyond the limits of their own layout. It's too good a model to risk damaging it, and that's why I've been pretty cautious so far - the curves on my layout are very close to the baseboard edges. It must be a long time since RMweb had 125pp of comment about a single new model. (CJL)

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...