rapidobill

Note to Jason... We have a leak! Somebody is posting EP prototype shots of our upcoming models without permission. This must be STOPPED!!!! This takes all the wind out of our surprise announcement at York..... Bill

Do I have to come over and show you how to use it? ;>)

It looks far better with all the rivets and parts on it! :>) Bill

Where dis you source the acrylic display tubes? Look like they're very nice units... Bill

Forget the cheese sandwich, we missed the box of Kimwipes! I apologize now for the sloppy research. The person in charge of research has been sacked. The person in charge of sacking the person in charge of research has also been sacked. Kimwipes?! :>) If you know what the proper dimensions and colour of a Kimwipes box is, please send a post card to: We Want To Know the Dimensions and Colour of a Kimwipes Box Rapido Trains Markham, Ont, Canada Attn: Anybody left after the sackings. Thank you. Bill (former Rapido employee)

We may have to delay final shipment while we sort this out... :>) Bill

NO WONDER THEY'RE NOT WORKING!!!! Bill

You may well think that, but in fact they're to ventilate the interior compartment in an effort to remove the smell of a moldy cheese sandwich..... ;>) Bill

Hi All, I apologize for the lack of updates here. With the focus on finalizing the APT-E production the Single has, unfortunately, taken a bit of a back seat. Now that the APT-E is well into the final production stages we can get back to concentrating on other projects. As we mentioned in the newsletter, the CAD work for most of the details is now nearly complete. We're hammering out the last few details of the drive system and gearing now. Some screen captures are included below. (Before anybody starts screaming, that horrendous thing sticking out of the cab floor is BOTH ends of the tender coupling!) The comlpete newsletter can be found here. If you're not already a subscriber, please sign up. We'll have further detailed updates in the next issue. Bill Schneider Rapido Trains

WHY IS ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF COMING FORWARD NOW???!!! Barry White, bouncing tilt systems..... the mind boggles....... Bill

How did we miss THAT bit for the sound chip? :>) (Those that buy the set can thank us later!) Bill

Most of the panel lights do NOT flash, only a few. On the original sample the lash rate was so high that we were thinking of adding a disco ball and a figure of Kit with the 70s hair. We decided instead to slow down the flash rate. Maybe we're losing our sense of fun... ;>) The end result is actually quite subtle. The interiors will be lit (of course) and the glass will be clear to allow better visibility. I agree with the earlier poster that a reflective coating would not scale well.... Bill

Well, we didn't have too many choices, so went with the first one that we could find... ;>) Seriously, LOVE the layout, one of my favorites. Bill

I should probably have pointed out that this was painted using whatever they had in the paint gun at the time.... I just wanted to make sure that the rivets didn't disappear under the paint! Also, they were photographed outside in sunlight which tends to accentuate any metal flake in the paint. The decorated units will be closer to the earlier samples seen here: Bill

More like an aircraft fuselage actually... there are many similarities. It would have been SO much easier for us if they'd welded it... ! Bill

Right.... Greetings all. As Jason reported, I am back from China - and completely jet lagged. So, forgive me in advance if portions of this reply sense not make... Our factory has been working hard at finalizing some of the fussier sections of the APT-E tooling. They have revised the inter-car coupling system for easier operation and more reliable electrical connections. The new system is a big improvement on that used on the original samples. We tested the new system by running at full tilt - literally - around a #2 radius test track and through a loop with small radius turnouts. It was nauseating to watch, but the train passed with flying colours. They have also been finalizing the surface details on the car bodies, in particular the rivets.One of the chief reasons for my visit was to ensure that the rivets were suitably small and delicate. I confess that the prospect of having horribly oversized rivets was giving me accelerated hair loss, and for those of you that have met me you know that this is something that I can only afford little more of! I am happy to report that we have come up with a method of doing very fine rivets that seem to capture the feel of the prototype very well. I've attached some photos of a silver painted power car body with the final rivets along with a photo of the roof of PC2. I think that you'll agree that they look spot on. We will have finished, decorated final samples next month, one of which will be running at the Locomotion stand at Warley. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for lunch... or midnight.... I love these 12 hour time changes! Bill Schneider Rapido Trains

In the spirit of full disclosure, I had lobbied hard for a four foot long box about three inches square which would hold the entire train in one piece. I was overruled by more practical, if less imaginative types in the company (OK, he owns the place...) who suggested that this might be... ummmm.... somewhat prone to shipping damage. Besides, it made the format of the book that we promised to include somewhat more problematic. But, oh, the possibilities..... Bill Schneider Rapido Trains

Charlie... "To APT or not to APT, that is the question.... " Either that, or he's trying to book his pints in advance! Bill

Now this is the point where somebody should have called security..... :>) Bill

Ok, for those who may be wondering, we're not ignoring this thread. OK, yes we are ignoring this thread. But with good reason - we've been busy! Jason and I have been at the factory for the last several days working on many projects including the APT-E, and good progress is being made on all fronts. For those who have asked or wondered, here it is: The APT-E running on a #2 radius figure-eight. I can assure you that it is can be quite nauseating to watch it zip around, but it does work just fine if looking just a LITTLE odd doing it! Kit, I'm sorry - it's at 9-1/2 degrees. We're starting over. Bill Schneider Rapido Trains

While I understand some of Igor's point, (and this is not directed at him specifically but rather a general comment based on this thread and others) I do still wonder whether it is really expected that all companies should have staff monitor the various forums and chat groups at all hours including the weekend in order to find out if anybody has a question on their products. If so, we would have to hire staff and increase prices to cover the costs! I wonder instead if it would not be more efficient in general if first an attempt is made to contact that company directly during normal business hours first before posting a question on a forum and then complaining when it is not answered during a holiday weekend.... Lest it be thought that I am singling out RM Web I should poijt out that we have EXACTLY these same issues on the Canadian and US forums! Bill Still waiting for our ride to the factory.. ;>)

Greetings from Hong Kong! Jason and I have both survived the trip and look forward to getting on with the job! At the risk of stirring up the pot more (hey, I've been in an aluminum tube for 16 hours...), just one observation: All sorts of speculation, name calling rumours, disparaging words, questions of parenthood and the like started a few days ago and carried on over the long weekend during which the museum was busy and Jason and I were travelling. In the end it all seems to have been quickly solved by a simple phone call to the company involved.... Odd how well that works.... Bill (glad that I'm half a world away!) Schneider

An important note/request: Jason and I will both be travelling for the next two weeks on quite a busy schedule. In addition, we will be twelve hours out of our normal timezone and with sketchy internet access.... all of which means that we may not be reading or posting on this forum regularly. If you have specific questions on the project, deadlines or progress on the model please e-mail us directly http://www.rapidotrains.com/contact.html for an honest answer before starting speculatiion on line what our evil intentions might be..... Bill Schneider Rapido Trains

Andy, Sorry for the delay, we've been rather busy and have not had much time to monitor all the forums over the last couple of days (see my previous post). Regarding the tilt angle, the model is designed to tilt from a rest state at vertical to a maximum of 9 degrees (Mr. Tilt would have it no other way!) at rough;y 18" radius. The tilt is progressive. I do not have a chart to determine the exact degree of tilt at each radii, but during test runs on the Shildon Club's layout during the Stirling Single launch the tilt was apparent and commented on by those who saw it. Sorry that I can't be more precise at the moment. Bill

"(Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong)." Wow... travel for a few days and LOOK what happens... You're wrong. ;>) Greetings from Toronto. First of all, Jason and I leave for 2+ weeks in China at 1:00 AM Monday morning (whether that constitutes tonight or tomorrow I will leave up to you!) We're not going to get good take-out, but rather to spend some time with the factory working out the last details on several projects, including the APT-E. If the project were not going ahead. Were it not, I would be home instead with the family who - oddly enough - have expressed an interest in having me hone after just getting back for the UK trip! So, rest assured that the project IS going ahead and ALWAYS HAS BEEN. If would be risiculous to assume that we would spend the money on the R&D and tooling just to make fancy paper-weights from it. Locomotionmodels.com operate their web site, not Rapido. There was a count-down clock going, but that seems to have been removed. Whether that constitutes an extension or not I don;t know, but my guess is that is an oversight. My suggestion though is that if you still want to order one take advantage of the fact that you can before they find out! How any of this indicates that we cannot be trusted is beyond me, but each will draw his own conclusions.... Bill Schneider Rapido Trains