Three new products from Rapido Trains

CAD rendering of two red subway cars at a station

HO scale Electro-Motive Corp. FT diesels The Electro-Motive Corp. (EMC) FT is one of three new products from Rapido Trains. Road names include Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (freight and passenger schemes); Boston & Maine (maroon); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (gray); Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (gray and maroon); Great Northern (as-delivered scheme); Milwaukee Road (as-delivered […]

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News & Products for the week of December 25th 2023

A model freight car in a black paint scheme

News & Products for the week of December 25th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of December 25th […]

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Guide to HO metal wheelsets

Group photo of metal wheelsets from different manufacturers.

For many years, HO scale modelers debated whether to use plastic or metal wheelsets on freight cars. That discussion has quieted down over the past two decades, largely because most new models come with metal wheelsets. However, as evidenced by the number of offerings available today, there’s still a strong demand for aftermarket metal wheelsets. […]

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News & Products for the week of December 18th 2023

A model locomotive on model rail track

News & Products for the week of December 18th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of December 18th […]

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Rapido Trains UK Titfield Thunderbolt deluxe train pack

A train set and packaging

Available at www.rapidotrains.co.uk in 10 road numbers and several paint schemes. List price: £399.95 (approximately $496.00 as of this writing) Item no. 922001 Pluses Accurate models of the equipment used in the 1953 Ealing Studios film, DCC sound fitted locomotive, detailed interiors, free-rolling metal wheels, NEM coupler pockets, 3D printed figures representing the actors Minuses […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u

Title screen of Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u Product Review video

A sample of the Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u diesel locomotive recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor as he takes a closer look at CP Rail No. 1826. He’ll point out features on the model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and use the locomotive to power a short […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u

Title screen of Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u Product Review video

A sample of the Rapido Trains HO scale RS18u diesel locomotive recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor as he takes a closer look at CP Rail No. 1826. He’ll point out features on the model, demonstrate some of the sound and light functions, and use the locomotive to power a short […]

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Guide to N scale couplers

Color photo of freight car truck with a Mange-Matic coupler.

In the 60-plus years that N scale has been around, there has been a great deal of change in couplers. Rapido, an early manufacturer of N scale models (not to be confused with today’s Rapido Trains), let other companies use its coupler design. The wedge-front coupler, which was used on most N scale models (except […]

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Rapido HO scale Northeastern caboose review

A bright red center-cupola caboose with four windows.

Rapido HO scale Northeastern caboose review: After locomotives, the next most distinctive thing on a railroad was its cabooses, and the new Rapido HO scale Northeastern caboose is one of the best models of this classic and widely used rolling office.   Prototype history The Reading Co. started building steel eight-wheel cabooses in 1924 following, mostly, a […]

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Six new HO models from Rapido Trains

Color photo of room with display tables and people walking around.

Rapido Trains hosted a dealer open house at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Essex, Conn. During the event, the manufacturer unveiled several new HO scale products. Here’s a rundown of some of the items announced. Locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD7, SD9, and SD10 diesel locomotives were among the six […]

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Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B

Title screen from Product Review video featuring HO scale road locomotive painted blue and yellow.

Samples of the newly tooled Rapido Trains HO General Electric U25B diesel locomotive recently arrived at the Model Railroader offices. Join senior editor Cody Grivno as he points out features on the road units, demonstrates some of the sound and light functions, and operates a short freight train. We received samples decorated for Atchison, Topeka […]

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