rapidoandy

The order book for our GPV vans closes next Wednesday! A few changes are being made after we received the latest samples, including toning down the rivets on the roof, moving the NEM couplings further back and some tweaks to the position of the brake handle. Don’t miss out ordering yours.

Hi Bill, I am a little surprised it is so poor. I am not an electronics person but let me talk to the person who is when I’m back in the office and see if it’s anything we can sort. It could be a poorly motor. Have you been able to make a comparison with the same models running on a non feedback controller? Andy

I honestly mean it when I say thank you for the feedback - as it’s me that deals with ‘issues’ after a model is released I’m keen learn lessons from each and every model!

Oh my - I have missed out on a lot on my holiday. Firstly, let me start with a few apologies. Sorry it has taken me a while to reply - I’m currently on holiday in a remote-ish part of Scotland and have had to hike up a mountain to get some signal today to make today’s post. Like you, I’m not happy if a model is not right. This has been a complicated project as there are so many people involved, Model Rail, Kernow and us. Hellcat - I’m sorry you 2nd model is not right and I feel your pain. It always happens to models you want the most (I used to drove Stephensons Rocket at the NRM and am on my 4th model of it but that is another story) Lets see what we can do about it. By the sounds of it you have managed to sort most of the issues yourself (many of which I have reported back to factory to make sure we don’t see again on future models). Is there anything outstanding I can help with - feel free to drop me a message on here - when I’m back from my trip at the end of next week I will follow it up personally if we can help. Treggyman - I was sure I replied - my memory says the conversation was about suppression capacitors and hard wiring? If it didn’t get to you I apologise. I’m still working on a ‘perfect’ fix and hopefully the last version of the new circuit board should be with me when I return. Simply the capacitors do provide some protection to the motor and removing them completely may not be the best option long term. I’m still working on it. A few things are slower than I’d like at the moment. With the bus models arriving in September I have had to get our warehouse sorted and kitted out and the services etc installed whilst also trying to run the website, sort order issues, do the warranty stuff and other odds and ends. I don’t like unhappy customers and I will do my best to sort anything I can. Please do drop me a PM and I will do what I can. Thanks Andy

In fairness I have had to hike up a mountain to post today whilst on my holiday - no criticism at all! I hope you enjoyed playing with them!

Well Phil has beaten us to it… For those of you who have not yet seen our newsletter (and if not why not?) here are some shots of the first EP.

Thanks for the comments. I am not an expert on the bus so unfortunatly cannot answer question 1 - I will endeavour to find out. Regarding question 2 - these have all but sold out and we have taken them off sale. However I may have one unallocated - if you want to drop me a PM with which one you are looking for I will look into it for you. Many thanks, Andy

Evening all! I apologise I have not had a chance to add the latest newsletter to the website. As mentioned we have been featuring some models on our Facebook page. For those of you who don't follow us here are two of the forthcoming Fleetlines:

That’s lovely! Would you mind if we feature it online sometime? Thanks Andy

I see people are comparing the cost of models. This cannot really be done - costs in China have gone up tremendously in recent years, so comparing the P class (2018 I think) and the H (Maybe 2017?) with the D is not a fair comparison. It has not been a linear cost increase either so its not even possible to easily work out what the D may have cost to produce in say 2017. Likewise there are so many other variables in model making it is not easy to directly compare any two given models, especially from different manufacturers who may require different margins, spec, volume, timescale etc etc. I do however understand where people come from. They want value for money, detail, accuracy and great running - not all of these go hand in hand and as I tell people producing these fine models is always involves compromise. However, I always ask myself a simple question: Am I happy with the model and do I get value for money against my purchase. I love my model of 737, of course its not perfect - its a model. However I feel it justifies its cost with plenty to spare. Looking at the general consensus here and on other online sources along with talking to people in person I think most people agree. Well done Rails and Dapol!

Oh there is a lot of wooden bits on engines in the National Collection if you know where to look ;-)

I am disappointed the tender tank innards do not have wood grain like the real 737 ;-) It was never an "official" to do - but in my time there I did get agreement to put it right subject to time and other projects. I think it was about two years between that agreement and me leaving and we never found time! Oh it will run under Rule 1. I loved 737 to much to not have a model I have even cabbed it in motion :-)

My model of 737 has just arrived and has made for a very happy Andy... It even has the historically prototypically incorrect but correct for the museum painted loco boiler band under the safety valves - we always meant to correct that when I was at the museum but we never found time to do so.... Nice one Rails!

Afternoon, I have responded to your email :-). Simply we sell our products at the RRP we set. It is up to other retailers to decide what they want to do. We cannot tell them what price to sell it at. Likewise if we sold it at the lowest price we wouldn't have any retailers. Andy

I have just updated the artwork images on the original post. The SR versions now feature the correct brown solebars and headstocks along with tare weights. Two of the 7 planks have also been edited to have the correct post-36 lettering style as described (rather than the pre-36 lettering). Happy modelling!

Hit the nail on the head there. The subfloor, solebars, headstocks, W irons, axleboxes, springs, V hangers and all that underframe detail is on one part. The brakes, linkages and blocks another part, rake handles on either side are separate and made in such a way that they cannot be fitted the wrong way round :-) For whoever asked the coupling hooks are a separate part that are fitted into a slot. Andy

Morning everyone, Thanks for all the positive responses- it is great to know people are as excited for these as we are. Picking up on a few comments: The interior vertical lines are there for both the main door and the top door. The lighting in the photos don't help and the plain plastic colour again makes it difficult to see. We have not made them huge great seams as frankly that is not prototypical. The wagons had no internal ironwork, the only details that are missing are the very flat-domed coach bolt heads that were sunk nearly flush into the woodwork. Now - it is feasibly possible to produce this sort of detail but it requires specialist collapsible moulds which get very expensive. This will only mean a greater price and I am not sure the cost justifies the extra detail for many modellers. The underframe however has been VERY cleverly designed by our UK CAD team and required no fancy tooling to be able to produce that level of detail - so obviously we included everything we could! Regarding price - the world is getting more expensive. In terms of return for us the % is no different to many other projects - we are certainly not being greedy over it. Unfortunately raw materials, transport, tooling and assembly costs are all on the rise - we cannot do a lot about that. There have been comments (elsewhere) I think that an open wagon should cost less than a box van as there is less wagon. Actually - it's almost the same price or possibly more expensive (see my comment about moulds above if you want to start adding lots of detail into the inside). They require a pretty similar amount of moulds etc etc. However many modellers do feel there should be a cost difference - maybe that is why there have been lots of vans produced in the past? I have to own up to making the mistakes on the artwork - my bad! These will be corrected. We were waiting for a few experts to come back with some information to allow us to complete the Tare weights on some. However I missed the brown solebars / headstocks putting this together last week. Likewise we somehow managed to produced the post-36 examples in pre-36 style - again these will be corrected shortly. Regarding the other bodies that fit these chassis - I wouldn't be much of a SECR fan if I didn't know about them. Frankly, lets see how these sell. We have a number of very exciting wagon projects - this is just the beginning of our plans. I have spent a lot of time in the past restoring full size wagons and have a fairly hefty collection of works drawings for lots of different wagons from all over the country. Many of these I would love to see in model form - hopefully the sales of these wagons will justify our thoughts of increasing the range. Happy modelling!

Rapido Trains is pleased to announce the introduction of two completely new wagon models. The most numerous wagon built by the South Eastern & Chatham Railway was a rugged design of 7 plank open wagons built on a standardised steel underframe. Over 2000 wagons of this design were built between 1915 and 1927 with large numbers surviving into British Railways service. During this time, the only design change was the addition of a sheet rail to the Southern Railway built wagons at the time of construction. This all-new model will feature a separately fitted sheet rail to allow both SECR and SR built examples to be modelled. To complement the seven plank wagon an all new five plank wagon will also be offered. A total of 550 diagram 1347 wagons were built by the SECR and SR. Although classed as “rebuilds” only the wheelsets and buffers were reused from older wagons– these being coupled to the standard chassis used on the seven plank wagons. A further 150 wagons were also built to the near-identical diagram 1349. These wagons featured self-contained buffers which Rapido will produce as separately fitted parts to allow both the diagram 1347 and 1349 wagons to be produced. Due to their relatively modern design both wagon types survived into British Railways service finding their way across large parts of the railway network. Prototype Factfile – Diagram 1347 and 1349 Five Planks Built: Diagram 1347 – 550 Wagons Diagram 1349 – 150 Wagons How long did they last? Wagons were built in batches by the SECR and its contractors from 1920 with the Southern Railway building further batches in the mid-1920s. Wagons of both types survived into the 1950s with a small number making it into the early 1960s. Where did they work? Wagons could be found running all over the SECR network in the South East. Photographs also show wagons working further afield in locations like Stratford, Carlisle and even Renfrew near Glasgow! Can I see one? One diagram 1347 wagon, No.12522 survives in operational condition on the Severn Valley Railway. No.50899 can also be seen on the Bluebell Railway. Prototype Factfile – Diagram 1355 Seven Planks e Built: 2121 Wagons How long did they last? The first prototype wagon was built in 1915 to test the new steel underframe. Further batches of these wagons were built between 1919 and 1927 by the SECR and SR. Over 70 wagons of this type survived into BR service into the 1960s whilst the last survived into the 1970s. Several were sold into private usage including a number with the Port of Bristol Authority. Where did they work? Wagons could be found running all over the SECR network in the South East. Photographs also show wagons working further afield in locations like Offord & Buckden, various locations on the GWR network and even Renfrew near Glasgow! Can I see one? Three diagram 1355 wagons can be seen at the Bluebell Railway. Specification: Injection Moulded construction High level of detail above and below the floor line. NEM coupler pockets Separately fitted buffers to allow for production of the Diagram 1347 and 1349 five plank wagons Separately fitted sheet rails to allow for SECR and SR built batches of the Diagram 1355 7 plank wagons Correct split-spoked wheels running in metal bearings For more information and to pre-order yours today visit www.rapidotrains.co.uk or speak to any of our Official Retailers. The orderbook will close on the 1st September 2021 with production following soon after with an anticipated delivery in early 2022. Sample artwork is below.

Order books have opened for a number of new products - don't forget you can now order these directly from the UK arm of the operation. Happy modelling!

We have done quite a lot of digging on the subject and couldn't find definitive information. Some sources say the later Lots of AA20 were built with the lower footstep from new, whilst the first Lots (with 114 range of numbers) had the higher steps from new. Some sources say they were lowered. I have some friends digging through drawing registers to see if we can get a definitive answer - however we base our number / livery selection on photos so we can be sure what height step they had!

Haha we're in the UK now!

We can do it in-house :-)

Some of you may have seen our latest newsletter and the short piece about the Titfield Toads. Lots of you have asked why we are including two identical toads in each of the train packs - well the answer is - we're not! During the filming two toads were used W68740 which appears in all the close ups and a lot of the film. This is the type with the lower bottom footstep. A second toad, W114814 was also used, this being the same AA20 diagram bit with the bottom footstep at a different height half way up the axleboxes. W114814 was renumbered W68740 on the body side (but kept its solebar plate as W114814 and was used in some of the "distant" type shots (although not exclusively). Watch the film closely and you can see the van changing between scenes. We are pleased to say we plan to produce both version. So simply W68740 will appear in both packs - as itself alongside Lion, while the tramcar back will feature a model of W114814 masquerading as W68740 complete with correct footstep height and two different numbers. It's the attention to detail that counts!

The order books will close on the 1st July and it will go into production. No firm date but we are hopeful pre-Christmas.

Order one immediatly! :-)