rapidoandy

Lumens rather! Somewhat tired this weekend!

Well you will be pleased to know then that we have had a number of complaints from modellers about the lack of lumins emitted from the Dyno car and that it was too dim in their view. Just because a Sherlock Holmes film (whatever that is) was too bright does not mean everyone in the world who ‘didn’t experience it’ cannot comprehend what it may have looked like. Andy

They have indeed left the factory but it will take a few weeks of them to float their way to us and for us to process them. Plenty of time to persuade you all to order a couple more :-) Thanks Andy

Actually - with all due respect that’s not true. It’s not a considerable expense. Clever design makes it possible. All the extra parts only require simple two face moulds and all of the bits that were ‘extra’ in some way were fitted onto moulds that we already needed. If making the interior required a whole new mould then yes it gets expensive / but this (not the SECR brake required it). There is a small amount in the assembly but the actual extra cost per unit is fairly negligible over the run. We checked. Even at RRP the price is similar to other brakes that have been released around the same time - even with all these extra bits. Andy

They are just about ready for collection from the factory so will be our next release!

Well they are almost here.... The factory have advised me that they should be finished in a couple of weeks and then its just a case of shipping them here. Looking likely to be sometime in May. Many thanks, Andy

We have a complete set of Turton, Hudson and others. Being honest if anyone thinks that each of these should be 100% perfect then they probably need to go back to scratch building. Some are very near and will fit on the tooling we have with the compromises we have to make. Conversely if we only pick 100% accurate liveries you find that they are become rather bland and biased towards certain parts of the country - which will hurt sales. Regarding un-numbered wagons - this isn’t really doable as the vast majority of customers want a model they can use straight from the box without having to apply transfers. Doing the same wagon with multiple numbers is possible - but factory MOQs make that harder and more of a risk. Unpainted wagons are also not ideal - the factory don’t knock much off yet people will want it to be substantially lower than the standard price. Andy

I’d say there has never been a better time to be a railway modeller generally.😀 Andy

So the big problem with the LNWR vans is that the warning plate is moulded onto our doors and it falls right underneath the lettering (likewise the same van in LMS days). The result looks rather odd and we though would not go down well enough to warrant it in the range without re-tooling the door which we don’t want to do at this stage.

Rapido Trains UK is to offer modellers of pre-Grouping railway companies a ready-to-run vehicle, akin to the ‘generic’ four- and six-wheel coaches offered by other manufacturers… only this time, it’s a metal-bodied van. The GWR pioneered the metal-bodied van, better known as the ‘Iron Mink’ and the basic design was adopted by not only private wagon builders but other railway companies. Other railways and builders would use what was essentially the ‘Iron Mink’ body but use underframes and fittings to their own design. Sales & Marketing Manager Richard Foster said, “We thought we’d take advantage of the fact that the metal-bodied vans built by other railways were so similar to our GWR Diagram V6 ‘Iron Mink’ to offer ready-to-run vans to modellers of railway companies and private owner organisations where the pickings of RTR models are quite slim. “We trust that modellers will overlook any slight prototypical inaccuracies in order to enjoy highly authentic and well-researched liveries on a beautiful looking and refined model.” The order book for Rapido’s ‘Not-quite-Minks’ range is now open but modellers only have until April 28th 2023 to place their orders. Orders can be placed through Rapido UK stockists or direct on our website. Pre-order here: https://rapidotrains.co.uk/not-quite-minks/

Rapido Trains UK is to add some of the railway's unsung heroes to its range of 'OO' gauge wagons: five- and seven-plank open wagons to the Railway Clearing House's 1907 standards. The Railway Clearing House was formed in 1842 and would go on to manage the flow of wagons between railway companies, standardise mileage rates and even provided neutral ground for railway managers to meet. It issued a set of standards for goods wagon design in 1907, which were used by railway companies and wagon builders alike. Many thousands of private owner wagons were built to the RCH standards (which were revised in 1923) and many lasted until BR started to phase out wooden-bodied wagons in the 1960s. Those in industrial service continued to earn their keep until much later. Rapido UK Sales & Marketing Manager Richard Foster said, “The RCH’s 1923 open wagon design has been produced by many different ‘OO’ gauge manufacturers over the years but the original 1907 design has never been produced before in ‘OO’. We thought that that was something that needed rectifying as soon as possible!” Rapido UK has selected the 9ft wheelbase underframe and will offer two main variants: the five-plank with side doors and the seven-plank with side and end doors. Rapido’s UK design team has also been able to include the following detail differences: · Ribbed- or smooth-tapered buffers · Square, rounded or Ellis axleboxes · Straight or bent ‘V’ hangers · Split- or solid-spoke wheels · Single- or double-sided brakes The order book for these wagons is open and you can either order from your local Rapido Trains UK stockist or direct via our website. https://rapidotrains.co.uk/rch-1907-private-owner-wagons/

Rapido Trains UK is delighted to add one of Britain’s most famous locomotives to its range: Metropolitan Railway 0-4-4T No. 1. Launched to coincide with the 160th anniversary of the start of railway services on the Metropolitan Railway, ‘Met 1’ brings a model from the Tube’s history back to life for many to enjoy. ‘Met 1’ played a central role in January 2013’s 150th anniversary celebrations of the Tube when it brought steam back to London Underground’s tunnels for the first time since 1971. As a consequence of celebrating the opening of the world’s first underground railway, No. 1 challenged the likes of Flying Scotsman or Thomas The Tank Engine as the world’s most famous steam engine. 2023 also marks the 125th anniversary of the Met 1 locomotive which was first built in 1898 at the historic Neasden Works in northwest London. Visitors to the London Festival of Railway Modelling on March 18th/19th will be able to see the first Engineering Prototype being put through its paces and enjoy the detail and design carefully included in the new addition to the Rapido range Sales & Marketing Manager Richard Foster said, “As No. 1 was essentially a one-off, it has some unique features and detail differences. Therefore, we’ve just produced No. 1, which has become a bit of an icon. We have discovered that classmate No L48 (formerly Metropolitan No. 81) was close enough in detail to be able to offer that too.” Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London said: “The Tube is a true London icon, connecting people across the capital and transporting tourists and commuters across the city. This new model of ‘Met 1’ brings a model from the Tube’s history back to life for enthusiasts and collectors to enjoy.” No. 1 is being offered in two preservation era liveries: the livery is carried between 1999 and 2009 and the take on the 1920s Metropolitan livery that it has carried since 2013. Rapido also plans to offer two London Transport liveries, including ‘Met 1’ as No. L44. All models have been fully licensed from Transport for London. ‘Met 1’ has the high specification one would expect from a Rapido Trains UK model. Fine detail, a smooth and powerful mechanism, flickering firebox, Next18 decoder socket and factory-fitted sound speaker. Sound-fitted versions are also available. All ‘Met 1’ models are available to order now and the order book closes on July 3rd 2023. Production will commence shortly after and delivery expected towards the end of 2023. You can order from your local Rapido Trains UK stockist or direct from our own website. Pre-order here: https://rapidotrains.co.uk/metropolitan-e-class/

Well I never expected so much froth over time... Maybe its a range of radio signal NSE style station clocks with a sound fitted option for the clunk as the flaps roll over. Of course as it all rolls back at midnight it will wake everyone in the house up!

Hi Ian, You do seem to have an odd one but we will keep it in mind. That said it’s a fine balance - I have also been asked to ensure couplings are a tight fit so that they don’t pull out when operated in long trains - something I have seen in the past. Andy

Oh me me!! I know! Sadly I have been off as I have a poorly toddler and not got round to updating a few things. The OAA is really not far off finished. I’m hoping we may get a few samples flown over in time for Ally Pally. Then it’s the mercy of shipping by sea - the reality is it’s probably going to be the end of April or so. Andy

Its OK Andy, it wasn't Phil going "chuff chuff" on this recording - it was me this time!

Sounds sensible to me... :-)

Watch this space.... news very soon I hope :-)

I have asked the relevant man and have been promised some measurements when he's next there...

I like cake. We certainly plan to offer chips with our sound set on in the near future as soon as the ESU issue is resolved. Sadly I cant trade cake for one mind...

It might cost you a cake next time we catch up. Leave it with me and I will ask.

No problem. The warranty form let’s you give us lots of info (and even photos) and we usually get a postage label out within a few days for you to return it. Happy modelling!

Would you like me to ask the team at Chasewater for a sketch and some photos?

Drop us a line via the website - I don’t like the sound of that. we are more than happy to take a look.

As mentioned up thread the samples were fine for removing the couplings - but somewhere along the way they have got far tighter than I have liked. It will be fed back to the factory. Andy