I wonder what is going to be special with these models ?
Do you have a link to these models?
https://rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/model-vehicles/ho-scale-chevrolet-caprice-impala
Far too modern for me but they look just fine.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
You mean other than the $25/each price? I only mention that because I’m sure there will be the “price is too high and the $3.45 item I can get at Walmart are good enough for me” debate will start shortly.
Other than that, they do look really nice, there are multiple flavors of them, they are common prototypes, and they are 1980 vintage which I don’t think are made by anyone else.
Some parts of it, like the front turn signals and the wheel covers are amazing. The woodgrain sides also look effectively well reproduced.
However, that luggage rack looks terrible to me.
-Rapido Image
-Kevin
Looks like you already started it. [swg]
Rich
I’m not going to debate the price, largely because I have no interest - way outside my era.
I had it’s Buick cousin back in the day, a Buick LaSabre wagon, even hod rodded it a bit with a hotter camshaft and bigger carb in the Buick 350 V8. and beefed up the suspension with nylon bushings and heavy duty shocks.
Not as good as the Checker, but it was an ok car for its time.
But the good news is my Rapido flat cars are actually on the way.
Sheldon
And I will continue it.
$25 for a car $70 for their bus, a box of Preisser figures for $10, a $100 for a new caboose.
I am 70 years old and I am not going to drop $1,000 to populate my railroad with vehicles and people. Yeah I know I could cast extra people like Mel does and I could cast cars like Mike Budde but that part of the hobby doesn’t provide any enjoyment for me.
If this becomes a hobby for just Rod Stewart and Jeff Bezos, there will be less not more.
I am happy right now that my Railroad predates these vehicals.
No I Did Not! But some things are just predictable, like death and taxes.
Like many others they are out of my era as well as my range of affordability. My newest vehicle is 1957 (Chevy).
I set a limit on cars and trucks at $10 and rarely exceed it, I rarely go over $6. At last count I have just over 100 vehicles on my layout, most have operating lights. That’s scattered over30 years.
I raise my limit on specialty vehicles.
I do think that the detail of the Rapido Chevy is outstanding but then so is the price.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
I applaud them for making a nice model from that era. I also think it’s too high a price point. It’s out of my era anyway.
I do have one of the Oxford Edsels.
They are too new for my era as well.
I had a '77 2 door Caprice (same car, fancy name). It was a good car except for the suspension which tended to play games with you on uneven roads or if you were towing a trailer.
I agree that the roof rack on the wagons is awful!
Dave
I would have rather had them come out with the 65-67 Impala
If he didn’t somebody else would. It never fails. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west and model railroaders will still whine about how the hobby’s dyin’ because prices aren’t what they would have been back in the mythical good ol’ days.
Even though they are, once you adjust for, well, everything.
The Rapido Chevys fit a broad time frame, there’s a couple in my neighborhood that appear to be daily drivers. Right up my mid-80s era layout alley. The wagon not having a finer roof rack is kinda disappointing.
Wish Neo would re-run their 1:87 north American vehicles, as they have become as Mike Lehman says; ‘unobtainium’.
Regards, Peter
They are too new for me, but look great. I would have no issues paying what they want for them if they fit my modeled time frame.
Well, the CMW 1978 Chevy Impala seems to be going on eBay for around 20.00 or so (several sellers, shipping not included). Don’t recall their original pricing. I have one , weathered and rusted up a bit, to denote a “daily driver” (for my c. late 2010s modules), of the sort you’d find on Regular Car Reviews. Not quite Rapidio level but it looks good enough for my purposes.
I see where Athrean is doing another run of their C series Ford cab overs with 28’ wedge trailers. Nice models BUT the SRP is $54.95 for a plastic truck they have already done before. And the UPS version is $59.95. I wonder where the next low labor country will be for all these toys of ours ? First Japan, then South Korea, then China who is next ? Mexico or South America or Africa ?