Reviews

MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2011 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE OSGOOD BRADLEY LIGHTWEIGHT COACHES

"Detail to die for. The models match all of the major dimensions for length, height, and width from the New Haven’s own car diagrams. The cars are beautifully detailed, with splendid underbody plumbing, etched-brass end gates, and see-through step wells, all features you’d expect on brass models, not plastic ones. And the car includes factory-installed truck and brake chains – a great touch!...

The Rapido cars feature detailed interiors, complete with the distinct round bulkhead mirrors found on the prototype cars.

The models feature a detailed interior, including separately applied seats molded in color, lavatories, and the distinct round bulkhead mirrors seen inside the New Haven cars. The models also come with Rapido’s battery-powered (supplied) Easy-Peasy lighting system. With the full interior and the lights, these cars are perfect for installing passenger figures.

Rapido has done a wonderful job with its attention to detail on these cars".

MODEL RAILROADER NEWS
NOVEMBER 2010 - REVIEW OF OUR N SCALE "EASY-PEASY" LIGHTING

The unique collaboration between Rapido Trains and Micro-Trains Line mates two products designed to go together. Rapido started making the "Easy-Peasy" Passenger Car Lighting Set as an aftermarket kit for older N-scale passenger cars. Micro-Trains specifically designed their new line of N heavyweights to take the Rapido light board.

The Rapido LEDs are green. I've used them in other passenger cars and the green tinge isn't really noticeable… you do get a nice warm incandescent effect.

One of the greatest aspects of model railroading is collaboration. Kudos are in order for Rapido and Micro-Train coming together to make N scale passenger railroading that much better; the Easy-Peasy lightboards really are as easy to install as advertised."

MODEL RAILROADER NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2010 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE CP WIDE VISION CABOOSE

"Modern, wide-vision cabooses were the last hurrah of the North American caboose...Canadian Pacific ordered a type known as the "Angus” by train crews. These were built by CP's Angus Shops..

Rapido's "Angus Vans"
We know Rapido from their excellent passenger cars, but this is a bit of a departure, though a welcome one.

The CP Rail version goes first because it is the author of this model. The CP Orange is very different from every other orange in the railroad world, and it looks to my eye as though Rapido has nailed it. Based upon numerous photos I've seen both paint and decoration are spot on.

Detail is sumptuous. The exterior features the smoke jacks and bathroom vents a long with the radio antenna on the roof of the cupola. The steps and porch decks are see-through metal with accurate spacings while the ornate handrail s are consistent with the prototypes. There are even swing grab lights, which, like the backup lights, aren't functional. The marker lights do work, however, through the magic of surface-mount LED’s.

The underside detail isn't just good; it is complete.

Operating the Angus
Rapido has shown significant innovation in their lighting systems, and we expected that here. We weren't disappointed.

I nterior lighting allows you to enjoy the detailed and accurate interiors, and the marker lights actually work, no matter how small they seem. In all, this is a caboose that's fun to run, day or night.

Bringing up the rear
End your train with the best. These cabooses are superb in every way, from the exterior decoration and paint, to the detail, to the interior, and to the operating features.

MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE
June 2010 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE CP WIDE VISION CABOOSE

"A superb model of CP Rail's all-steel wide-cupola caboose is the first freight train car produced by Rapido Trains. It's an all-plastic model that comes ready-to-run with interior lighting and marker lights that function on direct current and Digital Command Control layouts...

This caboose (or "van" in parts of Canada) continues the attention to fine detail that Rapido established with its passenger car line. The plastic carbody contains 202 parts... The end platforms and steps have authentic etched-metal open gratings, and the marker lamps are illuminated with fiber-optic strands. The underbody detailing is as complete as any contest model I've ever seen, including the simulated cushion underframe.

The model is smoothly painted in the proper CP Rail color scheme. The color breaks are sharply defined, and the printed lettering is cleanly applied, straight, and opaque.

This new caboose is an impressive model."

MODEL RAILROADER NEWS
JANUARY 2010 - REVIEW OF OUR N SCALE PANORAMA LINE PASSENGER CARS

"Rapido Trains is a relatively new company in the model railroad market. After scoring sucesses in HO for several years, they have now moved into N scale with beautiful models of Canadian railroad prototypes.
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Rapido's... N scale coach and duplex sleeper are their first entries in a series that will add different car styles as time goes on. And what an entrance!

… check out the exquisite interior. It has crisply molded and surprisingly scale seats, beds, even fixtures in the bathroom.… Both cars' ends have etched-brass painted vestibule gates.

The underbody equipment has detail on sides and bottom, with a pleasingly realistic array of boxes, tanks, generator, etc., along with steam, brake, and e1ectrical lines. They even include the toilet discharge chutes.

Rapido finished this little gem with clean, even painting, sharp delineation at color borders, and a semi-gloss finish. Micro pad printing provides the logos, car names, teeny tiny number boards in the windows, and readable letters on the inner vestibule doors

Rapido is making. not only excellent ca rs, but an effort to please as many modelers as possible with a variety of roadnames .."

MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2008 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALETURBOTRAIN

"With a recorded speed of 170.8 mph, the TurboTrain remains the fastest passenger train to run on North American rails, and that was 40 years ago. The Rapido HO TurboTrain includes a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder and is available in all the different prototype versions. For this review we tested the VIA Rail Canada three-car set."

"The model is made primarily of plastic. The quality of the molding is excellent and placement of vents and other details match prototype photos."

"Paint coverage on the model is smooth and even. The separation lines of the blue logos and the striping is legible and straight."

"The interior floors are painted a yellow-tan color. The seats are painted blue. All the car windows are flush fitting and tinted, which looks very realistic when the interiors are illuminated."

"With Rapido's extensive attention to detail and the array of realistic sound effects, this HO scale TurboTrain is a fitting tribute to its historic prototype." (emphasis added).

RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
SEPTEMBER 2008 - REVIEW OF TURBOTRAIN: A JOURNEY

"In TurboTrain: A Journey, author Jason Shron....offers a look at the experimental train's development and history. With over 200 photos and illustrations (almost all in color) spread across its 136 pages, this book is not meant to be a scholarly, technical dissertation on the train. That is not to say, however, that it is not informative. It is. TurboTrain: A Journey is a well written, concise account of what has proven to be one of North America's last attempts to develop a non-electrified, high-speed passenger train designed for medium distance runs. Readers are taken on a ride that stretches from the first idea and design of the train, up through the final run and their ultimate scrapping."

"Shron covers the problems that beset the two programs - some mechanical, some political - but also points out the high efficiency rating that the CN Turbo ultimately achieved, making it the most reliable passenger train in North America." (emphasis added)

TRAINS MAGAZINE
JUNE 2008 - REVIEW OF TURBOTRAIN: A JOURNEY

"Author Jason Schron's (sic) book isn't intended to be a definitive history of the Turbo. Rather, it's a tribute to the innovative trainsets' engineering and service. He paints a pragmatic picture of a technology that, in Canada, suffered numerous teething problems and near-death, only to rebound as a reliable and popular means of transportation..."

"With several never-before-published photos, the book is a fitting tribute to a train technology ahead of its time that ultimately fell victim to an industry behind it." (emphasis added)

SCALE RAILS
AUGUST 2007 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE 10-5 SLEEPER

"A look under the car shows some of the most complete underbody detail on the market today."

"The underbody detail is so complete that it includes the handrail attached to the bottom of the vestibule safety plate. All the AC and brake piping is represented, along with all the appliances that are fed by the piping. The side view of these cars provides a peek at the vast amount of detail normally found on brass passenger cars and not on HO plastic cars."

"The restroom windows are properly glazed with frosted glass. The lettering is superb, clean, and crisp, and located properly on the car when applicable. Even the car number is in place on the ends of the car beside the end steps. You may need a magnifying glass to read these numbers, but they are just as clean as the larger side lettering."

"Overall, the Super Continental Line of passenger cars from Rapido are some of the best on the market today. Rapido is to be commended for listening to the model railroaders and coming to market with cars that have so many upgraded features." (emphasis added)

CONTINENTAL MODELLER
FEBRUARY 2007 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE COACH

"The coaches have interior lighting powered by batteries to elminate flicker....This is a reasonably simple task (printed instructions are included) achieved by removing the roof and fitting the two batteries included into sockets beneath the roof access hatch. The lighting is switched on and off by waving the provided 'magic wand' over this hatch.

"With the roof removed, the interior detail can be fully appreciated. The seating is moulded in appropriate colours, different to the floor and partitions. The toilets, obviously not visible from outside, are also detailed. There is a luggage rack at one end and the windows by the door on each side are marked as if having a number board where the individula car number for the train would be placed."

"Underframe detail is excellent. The trucks are fitted with blackened metal RP-25 wheels which roll smoothly."

MODEL RAILROAD NEWS
FEBRUARY 2007 - REVIEW OF OURHO SCALE COACH AND DUPLEX SLEEPER

"Only one word describes the paint and decorations: exquisite. Paint application is consistent, even and appropriate while masking and lettering is pipoint sharp. All of this is applied to styrene seurfaces that are nicely molded, square, and true. These are the fundamentals of good car construction, and Rapido has nailed them down.

"If you should think that passenger cars offer little real detail on the outside, then turn one of these babies belly up....what we have is more accurately detailed than any other styrene car I have ever seen. This is brass quality or better for a plastic price.

"Considering the level of detail and the included battery lighting, I feel the higher price point is well worth the extra expense, especially if you'd like to have the extra quality." (emphasis added)

MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2007 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE COACH AND DUPLEX SLEEPER

"These new HO passenger cars from Rapido Trains are among the best-detailed mass-produced models we've ever seen.... Both of these models ride on the correct type 41-BNO-11 4-wheel, outside-swinghanger trucks made by either General Steel Castings or Canadian Car & Foundry. Each truck has a rigid cast Celcon plastic frame with four added parts per side, which produces an excellent appearance.

"The nickel-silver RP-25 insulated wheelsets are mounted in gauge on metal axles. The axles have needlepoint bearings which ride in the acetal plastic sideframes to produce minimal friction. This bearing combination makes these cars very free-rolling, so they can be easily operated in trains with prototype-length consists....

"Rapido Trains' new passenger cars are well-designed and include many innovative features. The manufacturer's attention to detail is excellent, right down to the tiny car number displays near the vestibules and the wider frames on the hinged emergency exit windows. With their good looks, excellent finish, and free-rolling trucks, these streamline cars should do well on both sides of the border." (emphasis added)

RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
NOVEMBER 2006 - REVIEW OF OUR HO SCALE DUPLEX SLEEPER

"The trucks, consisting of insulated, blackened metal RP-25 wheelsets on metal axles in plastic side frames, are very free rolling.... The pre-attached hand grabs on the vestibules and ends are separate wire pieces that accurately represent stainless steel hand grabs.... The model's ... battery-powered lighting is a first for ready-to-run, HO scale passenger cars and eliminates flickering lights over swiches and dead spots, drain on the power pack and the need for a decoder in each car. The factory-applied paint is even and smooth and the lettering is outstanding with the fine lettering clearly legible.... Rapido Trains has produced a superb, ready-to-run passenger car model." (emphasis added)

P.M. IN SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA WRITES:

"To date I have purchased all of the Great Northern lightweight coaches and deplex sleepers that you have produced and have on order the cafe-bar-lounge car. You are to be congratulated on producing one of the finest quality models that I have the pleasure of owning. These are really museum quality pieces - and I look forward to many different cars being produced over the coming years.

"Thank you very much. Keep up the good work."

C.W. IN RAINIER, OREGON WRITES:

"Your passenger cars are exquisite. Just drop dead gorgeous. I've purchaced two of the 8 Duplex Roomette-4 Bedroom-4 Section pullmans in Great Northern....I plan to add passengers to the cars to finish them up. Great job."

L.R. IN MARION, IOWA WRITES:

"I have in my equipment roster 99 Milwaukee passenger coaches, ranging from inexpensive modified plastics to one of a kind brass such as the first generatioon 1934 Hiawatha....

"My entire collection of passenger cars takes a back seat to your product. It is truly a museum piece of rolling stock. When not in use on the layout I display it under glass on my back bar along with my 1934 Hiawatha. It is the best detailed passenger coach I have, or have ever seen. It "out-equals" my brass equipment that cost 6 times as much. You are to be complimented on the beautiful authentic detail of the product. The Milwaukee Road River Series Sleeper is the PRIDE OF MY FLEET. I look forward to more of your product.

"Your car makes the 100th passenger car on my Model Railroad. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!"

L.J. IN AURORA, ILLINOIS WRITES:

"There is no way I can thank you for the CN/VIA coaches, E series Pullman, and now the Bar Lounge, not to mention the new 10-5 Pullman.

"I bought one of your coaches in the late CN paint. I opened the box and was blown away! I will be using this car along with other Rapido Cars to complete a prototype VIA Cavalier. A train I rode more than once.

"When I got the Rapido CN coach home opened the box I found what I never would have thought I'd find, a beautiful, prototype, detailed, out of this world passenger car. Rapido has done the impossible. If someone would have told me 5 years ago we'd have passenger equipment of this outstanding quality I would have laughed in their face!

"Also when I put the car on the track at the club... it rolled away down the mainline! NOT only a wonderful model but they also run... like melted butter! I can't wait for the Turbo Train, I have on order the 5 car set of early Amtrak.

"This is from a passenger train fan of long standing... THANKS!"

L.H. IN QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC WRITES:

"I want to congratulate you and your staff for bringing out a product (Super Continental RTR) at a more than reasonable price. I just received my first car, one of many I am sure, you have set a new standard in what should be known, in my opinion, as the "Rapido Standard" which puts all and by that I mean "ALL" manufacturers in second place, that includes $500 Brass Cars."

T.W. IN CREWE, ENGLAND, WRITES:

"Thanks so much for the VIA Rail cars which arrived today. Wonderful! They are just as I imagined them to be knowing your approach to detail and accuracy. You have done the hobby proud in producing such a superb product."

K.E. IN CALGARY, ALBERTA, WRITES:

"Once again a big thanks for these models. The more I look at them the more I like them. To call them super-detailed is an understatement. I'm anxiously looking forward to the 4-8-4 sleeper and the next cars, the cafe-bar-lounge and the 10-5 sleeper."

W.K. IN SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS, WRITES:

"I just purchased one of your CN Coach models and I am extremely impressed with the quality and accuracy of this outstanding model. I am also planning on aquiring each one of your other offerings, as well."