Dear Rapido Customer,

We're running a bit behind schedule this month so here's a combined Telegraph and Timetable. Bill, Dan and I have lots of exciting news to share with you!

In this issue of the Telegraph and Timetable:

• FP9A locomotive first revised samples have arrived!
• FP9A sound and Rapido's first cheezy movie
• First HO scale cabooses arriving
• New caboose paint schemes announced
• LRC locomotive latest samples have arrived
• N scale second run passenger cars - what lives and what dies
• The (un)reality of order deadlines and delivery dates
• The Much Abbreviated Rapido Timetable

We've finally done it!
FP9A locomotive first revised samples have arrived!

When we showed the first sample of the FP9A at the National Train Show in July, we asked that it not be judged yet because it needed a lot of work. Well, now you can judge away. If I do say so myself, this is simply the best F-unit model I have ever seen.

Compare it for yourself:

Those of you who know me know that I am a rivet counter of the highest order. You can see it in our products.

I've applied this same philosophy to the FP9A. (By the way, I decided to call it the FP9A because that's what CN called it. GM called it the FP9. I occasionally call it the FP9, so I'm not unanimous in my decision...) Every road number will be delivered with specific details for that road number and paint scheme. That means we've tooled four different noses, two different roofs, two different fuel tanks, three different winterization hatches, two different steam generator vents, two different horns, three different cooling coils, two different rerailers, two different headlights, and countless extra grab irons and details. Check out the sun shades, the (not yet painted) engineer, and the dual-beam headlight:

And how about those end details:

I've always stated that the aim of Rapido is to recreate the whole railroad experience, and that's why we include so many details. If it is obvious when standing trackside that the real FP9A has a ton of detail below the frame, then I feel the model should reflect that. Did you spot the little glad hand holder grab iron below the coupler in the photo above? Or the steam generator separator blowdown valve behind the rear right step? If you like that kind of detail, have a look below:

Wait... there's more! Have a look at our etched metal Farr grills. These are not standard grills. They are designed to match the grills on the CN FP9A, and the details beneath match the prototype as well. We've developed a new method to attach these grills so that they will NEVER warp on the frame like they do on most F-unit models out there. You also won't see any glue or tape behind the grill openings. Note the vertical supports and the openings behind the grill. Also note the 5-pipe cooling coil on the roof, and how the pipes are not all the same diameter. We are now working on the CP FP9 for The Canadian and you can rest assured that they will have the same attention to detail.

We're now fine-tuning our drive system to ensure it runs beautifully, and we're finishing off the details and fixing the few small mistakes that we've found in the bodies. Eagle-eyed readers will notice we're missing a vent on the rear of the roof, as well as the marker supports and some other details. We've also retooled the end door frame but that tooling change wasn't finished when these samples were made.

The new order deadline for these locomotives is March-ish. We are only going to make these to order, so if you don't order with your dealer before we start production then you probably won't get one. You can read more about the FP9A, including road numbers and product numbers, by clicking here.

And now on to the sounds...

FP9A sound and Rapido's first cheezy movie

Kudos are definitely owed to Paul, Court and the whole team at the Conway Scenic Railroad. These guys went to amazing lengths to ensure that we got all the recordings we need to make the sound decoders for our model. We had those F-units running up and down the track about 20 times (literally).

They have an amazing railroad there, and it is well worth visiting. The views are breathtaking. And the landscape is pretty, too. Click here to visit the Conway Scenic web site.

Rather than read about our expedition to get the correct sounds for our FP9A model, why don't you watch our full-length feature movie? (Well, seven minutes is pretty full length for YouTube.) Click on the image below to watch The Really Cheap FP9 Movie. It's very silly. Make sure your sound is turned on!

Remember that order deadline - March something or other!

First HO Scale Cabooses Arriving

Our first run of cabooses is completely sold out and they haven't even arrived yet! The first seven paint schemes will be arriving in about two weeks. They are:

• Burlington Northern
• Chessie
• Cotton Belt
• Great Northern
• Santa Fe
• Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo
• Undecorated

The rest will be here in January. Have a look at the photos below. I think this may be the most detailed caboose model ever made, and it includes a full interior, see-though steps and platforms, interior lighting, and WORKING MARKER LIGHTS. Not bad for $59.95.

New HO Scale Caboose Paint Schemes

As the cabooses are now starting to show up, we've decided to announce the next run of paint schemes. You have plenty of time to order these. The order deadline is in February... well, Februaryish.

These new paint schemes feature the same level of detail as our first run of paint schemes. All of our first-run vans/cabins/crummies/hacks will be in stores before the order deadline for the second run, so you can wait until you hold them in your hands before placing your order for the next run.

We're trying something new with these cabooses. Rather than announce six car numbers, we're announcing three car numbers and a three-pack of three other car numbers. The three-pack saves you a couple of bucks over buying them individually. In the case of paint schemes where the prototype only had two cars, we're only selling them in a two-pack.

There is logic to this. It prevents us having to make, say, 200 of one number and 20 of another. This will help us keep our prices down. Dealers are welcome to split the three-packs and two-packs for customers as each caboose will be individually boxed.

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