Re: [CBQ] Merry Christmas from Rapido

["William Hirt via groups.io" <whirt=fastmail.com@groups.io>]

Let me add a note of caution to Leo's message.

Another railroad historical society has been commissioning and buying model overstock from model manufacturers. This is because they have the feeling that model manufacturers are overlooking their railroad. This is not working out too well for them. They bought the remaining stock of one manufacturer's freight car project. That was 400 freight cars. The last I heard from my contact was they still had over 300 left and are having to resort to selling them at near their cost to try to move them and recover their investment. They are also sitting on stock of other models they have commissioned. A former hobby shop owner, who also models that railroad, said the problem is that putting that railroad's name on models does not sell product.

The New Haven society has worked with Rapido on several passenger car projects. They are now selling those at 20-30% off their original asking price to move them out of their inventory (you can check their website - they have also advertised in RMC stating the same).

I used to do the website of a hobby shop owner where I live. His rule of thumb was that a new product will sell 30-60 days after it is released/displayed at the shop. If it is there 6 months, you better start discounting it to near cost to move it. And this was a shop that 20% daily discount on products was pretty normal. There are also always an initial surge in sales that then drops off pretty quickly.

These are large monetary commitments. I have seen model manufacturers now say that research and tooling costs for a new freight car is now at least $75,000. A new locomotive is $200,000 unless you can reuse say the mechanism from another already completed project (see the new Rapido E7 project which can use their E8 mechanism).  Attending Spring and Annual meets, I have the impression that many BRHS members are not modelers (unlike many of this list), but just have a interest in the CB&Q history and legacy. So you have to justify what could be a large expenditure to those members.

Dave Lotz and Bryan Howell have told me that manufacturers tell them CB&Q models sell. I think we see that with the regular announcements of CB&Q-related models from Athearn, Rapido, ScaleTrains and Walthers.

Rapido had said when the visited our area 18 months ago that doing an E5 along the NZ set at IRM was on their radar. And that was an unprompted response by them to me. They said then they would be doing an E6 and E7 because the E8 project for them had been a large financial success. Now they have an announced an E7 (4 CB&Q numbers).

So to me doing a society project would be one that no manufacturer would consider without a firm outside financial commitment. And as Leo mentioned, there needs to be someone who is willing to become the V.P.  of Projects to pursue and investigate such projects. That position has been vacant for a long time.

I would love to see a plastic HT-5 2-Bay steel open hopper. The Q had a couple thousand of those they built and they were different than other railroads 2-Bay steel open hopper. However, I am realistic. To me, the best hope for such a model is a resin or 3D printed car that would be a kit. Rich Gortowski has been pestering Frank Hodina at Resin Car Works for years to produce such a car. Maybe the BRHS offering some funding could make it happen? And then how many members would actually be interested in buying and building such a kit if such a car was commissioned? That is something that a V.P. of Projects could research and evaluate.

Bill Hirt

On 12/25/2025 5:32 PM, Leo Phillipp via groups.io wrote:

Tim,

The Burlington Route Historical Society has in the past promoted and offered custom runs of Q models. We have not done so in several years for a few reasons. First and foremost we lack a V.P. projects to do the research,legwork and marketing to get a project to fruition. The position is open. The next need is enough buyers to commit to ordering to garner a return on a project.

From comments earlier in this thread Im thinking there may be another entity thinking about this project or assisting the manufacturer with research.

Thanks,

Leo Phillipp

BRHS Board member and VP Education & Outreach

On Dec 25, 2025, at 5:16 PM, timrwells via groups.io <trwells=comcast.net@groups.io> wrote:



Rapido seems to offer special runs such that a historical society or (maybe) a group of modelers could underwrite. That could speed up getting CB&Q E units with black noses and silver painted sides. If the SP&SRHS can have a special run of late 1960s one-of-kind FA1 unit, it would seem the CB&Q transition era modelers would be a bigger pool and should have a necessary minimum interest.

Tim Wells

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