timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
|
Post by timberley on Jan 24, 2015 16:46:05 GMT -5
Great news for anyone modelling any roads that ran RDCs at any point - we'll finally have a proper, definitive model of the Budd RDC courtesy of Rapido Trains! Announced at the Springfield show today, Rapido will be doing the RDC-1, RDC-2 and RDC-3 in both Phase 1 and 2, and a whole whack of prototype specific variations. Knowing Rapido, these are going to be brilliant....and will actually have a full interior and underbody, sound, etc. Here's a bit from the announcement: "Rapido is proud to announce Phase 1 and Phase 2 RDC-1, RDC-2 and RDC-3 models.
Why is our RDC called the "Absolute" RDC? Because once you buy our RDC models, you'll never need to buy another one again.
In setting out to produce a worthy model of such an iconic and widely-used train, we had a number of objectives:
100% accurate dimensions Full interior detail Hidden drive system Complete underbody including all of the glorious piping
So...... Jason and Dan laser scanned not one, but TWO.... here's just some of the details.....
The first release will be the RDC-1, in Phase 1 and Phase 2 versions. Here is a complete list of features: Accurate Phase 1 and Phase 2 details and fluting Numerous American and Canadian paint schemes Full interior detail with constant lighting Two five-pole, skew-wound motors hidden in the actual engine bays Crazy amount of underbody detail Separate underframe piping and conduit Lit number boards and class lights Working front door Mars light, if appropriate Fabricated or cast truck sideframes, as appropriate All wheels powered (Hauling a coach will void the Budd warranty.) Separate grab irons and front door chains Etched-metal roof grills and fan covers Wrap-around nose fluting, if appropriate (hurray PGE!) Separate diaphragms, if appropriate Loads of roadname-specific details (We're even doing the wacky rebuilt Phase 1 headlight/numberboard thingies for CN/VIA. And they work!) DC Silent or DC/DCC/Sound
Full paint scheme and ordering info will be announced in the next Rapido News. We'll send that out in about a week. To put it simply, Bill and Jason couldn't get the publicity material ready in time. Bill's been a bit busy with some small train show in the Massachusetts and Jason's been busy picking daisies. We don't even have an RDC web site yet! So stay tuned!"
|
|
timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
|
Post by timberley on Jan 24, 2015 21:32:19 GMT -5
The newsletter is now available online, with more details on the RDC announcement: rapidotrains.com/rapidonews64.htmlIncludes some design drawings showing the dual hidden motors under the floor, and the full interior and underbody detailing. A newsletter will follow in about a week's time with details on the various road names and versions being included in the first run.
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Jan 25, 2015 3:20:38 GMT -5
Now all we need is the roadnames they plan to release. Amtrak used RDC's between New Haven-Springfield were in ph I paint B+M Used RDC's as their commuter and part time LD fleet. LIRR used them as scoots on the Mainline to Greeport and on the Montauk Branch to Montauk, and were Warrantly breakers(towing coaches) NYC used RDC's in Commuter and Branchline services. NH used RDC's in commuter service/branchline services in the NY and Boston S.Station. Alaska as local(bush) train services in the offseason. CN,then VIA Rail in various services across Canada including the well known E+N service on Vancouver Island.
|
|
timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
|
Post by timberley on Jan 25, 2015 16:16:49 GMT -5
Road names for the first run are supposed to be sent out later this week. It looks like they were posted at the Springfield show as well, though none of the photos I've seen shows in enough detail to be sure. All I know is that it looks like there will be a LOT of US road names, and a LOT of Canadian road names in the first run. And according to Jason, even with the massive first run they've still had to leave some of their planned names/variations for another later run.
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Jan 25, 2015 17:07:48 GMT -5
The known RDC varients: RDC-1 Powered coach RDC-2 Powered coach-baggage RDC-3 Powered coach-bag-RPO RDC-4 Powered Baggage-RPO no coach seating RDC-9 Trailer coach,blind ended,1 motor for HVAC and lighting. Only car allowed to be towed by any powered RDC
|
|
timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
|
Post by timberley on Jan 25, 2015 17:43:20 GMT -5
The known RDC varients: RDC-1 Powered coach RDC-2 Powered coach-baggage RDC-3 Powered coach-bag-RPO RDC-4 Powered Baggage-RPO no coach seating RDC-9 Trailer coach,blind ended,1 motor for HVAC and lighting. Only car allowed to be towed by any powered RDC The announcement says they'll be doing RDC-1, RDC-2 and RDC-3 variants (plus a whole load of prototype specific variations within that - things like different headlights and marker lights, diaphragms, etc). There are also both Phase 1 and Phase 2 versions of those variants, which will also be done. They will apparently do the RDC-9 and RDC-4 *IF* the other models sell very well. I'm sure they'd very much like to, as I know CN had RDC-9s, and there are in fact 2 RDC-4s still operating today with VIA Rail (on the Sudbury-White River route).
|
|
|
Rapido RDC
Jan 26, 2015 12:31:18 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by acelaphillies on Jan 26, 2015 12:31:18 GMT -5
The known RDC varients: RDC-1 Powered coach RDC-2 Powered coach-baggage RDC-3 Powered coach-bag-RPO RDC-4 Powered Baggage-RPO no coach seating RDC-9 Trailer coach,blind ended,1 motor for HVAC and lighting. Only car allowed to be towed by any powered RDC Thanks for the rundown! I wasn't quite sure what the differences were myself.
|
|
|
Post by rails4dmv on Jan 26, 2015 13:20:30 GMT -5
Here's hoping for CNJ, PRSL, Metro North & MARC
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Jan 26, 2015 18:36:00 GMT -5
Jason has many roadnames to choise from,B+M,NYC,and New Haven,had the largest fleets. ATSF,WP,and DMIR had the smallest fleets(1-3 cars max,each RR) PRSL had mixed ownership of RDC's from PRR and RDG 1 of the more famous runs was the RDG Crusader from Phil Reading terminal to the CNJ's Jersey City Terminal, after the Aldene Plan went into effect,Newark Penn Station on the NEC.(the train layovered at Harrison yard)
|
|
cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
|
Post by cab4 on Jan 29, 2015 14:13:37 GMT -5
Actually, the paint scheme I really want to see is Reading and/or SEPTA on those Phase II RDCs.
These are the cars that made up the Wall Street and the Crusader in their final years!
For example, the Wall Street consist was- Reading #9166 Phase II RDC-3 (turned snack-bar coach), Reading #9163 RDC-1 Phase I
Crusader- Reading #9165 Phase I RDC-2 (turned snack bar coach), Reading #9151 Phase II RDC-1.
In fact, it seemed like most of the Reading RDCs were of the Phase II variety, and any "Phase 1" units seemed to be secondhand.
|
|
|
Post by rails4dmv on Jan 29, 2015 17:48:40 GMT -5
Here's which RDC model's I think Jason is going to do in the first release....
CN (obviously) CPR (obviously) VIA (obviously) Amtrak New Haven New York Central B&M PRSL B&O CNJ Reading Rock Island Undecorated....
Here's which one's I think should be included or eventually get made (fingers crossed at least one of these makes the first round)....
LIRR Penn Central Metro North Lehigh Valley MBTA (would sell out) Cape May Seashore Lines SEPTA (would sell out quickly but highly doubtful) MARC (would sell out quickly but highly doubtful)
I don't think the western RR (Santa Fe, SP, CNW & Northern Pacific) will get made. I remember the P1K model's of these particular roads getting blown out for $29.99.
|
|
timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
|
Post by timberley on Feb 5, 2015 13:55:01 GMT -5
First run details have been announced! They're starting with just the RDC-1 models, in both Phase 1 and 2 (with a bunch of little variations). Apparently more RDC-1 variations will come in a later run, as will the RDC-2 and RDC-3. As it stands now, there are 15 US paint schemes and 9 Canadian ones, plus undecs - that's just the first run of one version! There's this little note from Jason in the newsletter: "The first production run comprises just RDC-1s. As it is, we're only announcing fewer than half the possible RDC-1 paint schemes and we've already got almost 100 item numbers! ... So if you don't see your favourite (or favorite) scheme listed, please have no fear! It may be that your railroad did not have any RDC-1s (ALASKA!) or that we just couldn't fit it into the first run." Here's the website with details: www.rapidotrains.com/rdcus.htmlFor quick reference, the roads are: AVAILABLE US PAINT SCHEMES:Amtrak New Haven (Script) New Haven (McGinnis) Boston & Maine (Minuteman) Boston & Maine (McGinnis) New York Central Baltimore & Ohio Penn Central Chicago & Eastern Illinois Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Central New Jersey Reading Long Island Southern Pacific MBTA Painted-Unlettered (in all versions) AVAILABLE CANADIAN PAINT SCHEMES:VIA Rail Canada VIA-CN CP Rail - Action Red Canadian Pacific - Maroon Dominion & Atlantic CN Noodle Canadian National - Delivery Pacific Great Eastern British Columbia Railway Painted, Unlettered
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Feb 5, 2015 18:50:38 GMT -5
The phase I Amtrak,NYC,and PC versions are spot on! Have attempted to do the end striping on an Athearn RDC body shell,thats not an easy paint scheme to pull off!
|
|
|
Post by rails4dmv on Feb 6, 2015 14:12:07 GMT -5
The phase I Amtrak,NYC,and PC versions are spot on! Have attempted to do the end striping on an Athearn RDC body shell,thats not an easy paint scheme to pull off! I tried the same thing on both P1K and an Athearn RDC...not an easy task. Now, I wish they were the same cost as the P1K models because I see as many as 8 different RDC roads I would like to get....
|
|
|
Post by fl9m2026 on Feb 10, 2015 15:09:53 GMT -5
My only complaint (and it is minor) is that on the B&M units, they're doing the Minuteman herald on the Phase 1's, and the McGinnis scheme on the phase 2's. Fact is, the Phase 1's spent more time in the McGinnis scheme than they ever did in the Minuteman scheme. I hope they will eventually (maybe on a second run) do the Phase 1's in McGinnis.
And for those unfamiliar, there were TWO McGinnis schemes used (on both phase 1 and 2): The original had the end sheets (from bottom all the way up to the roof seam) on either side of the center train door painted white with the B&M logo applied over the paint. The center door was painted black.
The second was when they were looking to save money as it came time for "freshening up" the fleet in the mid-sixties. The white and black paint were discarded and slightly modified logo's were applied on bare stainless steel. By this time, most if not all had a stainless plate boltod over the window in the center door and "ghetto grilles" over the cab windows.
|
|