NEW PRODUCTS

QUOTE FROM LATEST NEWSLETTER:

Ever since I started Rapido Trains Inc. I've had requests for N scale. I never thought we could bring the same level of detail to N scale as we had to HO. A few months ago I had a chat with my chief engineer and he thought we could do it... so we've done it.

Our N scale line is called Panorama, after the CN train of the same name which ran during the "golden years" of CN passenger services, the 1960s. While North American passenger train services experienced an unprecedented decline during that decade, CN was growing its passenger business by leaps and bounds. It leased cars from the States and bought sleepers, dome cars and lounge cars from several railroads - including Milwaukee Road, Florida East Coast and Erie-Lackawanna - to bolster its customer-focused motto of "Traveliving."

Just as CN invested in better passenger trains in the 1960s, we've invested in a better N scale passenger car for 2009. The Panorama Line passenger cars present an unprecedented level of detail for N scalers.

The first two car styles are the Lightweight Coach and Duplex Sleeper. All Panorama Line passenger cars feature:

• Super-detailed underbody
• Body-mounted Micro-Trains® couplers
• Stunning trucks molded on all four sides
• Fixed steps or partial skirts, as appropriate
• All air, steam and electrical lines represented
• Insulated 36" metal wheelsets (no pizza cutters!)
• "Easy-Peasy" battery-powered interior lighting operated by magnetic wand (included)
• Flush windows with painted gaskets and shades
• Full interior detail including armrests and headrests
• Diaphragms with etched brass end gates (not shown)
• Painted metal roof grab irons applied at the factory
• Multiple car names and/or numbers per paint scheme
• Will operate smoothly on curves down to 11" radius

New to N scale

I am an HO scale modeller, so I have relied on the advice and input of some N scale friends to determine what should and should not be included on the model. If you are an avid N scale passenger operator, please get in touch and share your experiences. I can't guarantee I'll be able to follow every suggestion I receive, but I will certainly read them and take them into account as we finalize the tooling corrections for these cars.

The first paint schemes for The Panorama Line N scale Lightweight Coach and Duplex Sleeper are:

• Amtrak (Phase 1)
• Baltimore & Ohio
• Canadian National (1954 Scheme)
• Canadian National (Wet Noodle)
• Chicago & North Western
• Erie-Lackawanna
• Great Northern
• Milwaukee Road (1950 scheme)
• New York Central
• Northern Pacific
• Pennsylvania
• Southern Pacific
• Union Pacific
• VIA Rail Canada
• Undecorated

Car names/numbers will be announced on our web site within the next month. The MSRP will be $47.95 each. I'm not making the official announcement for at least a couple of weeks, so you can't reserve these cars yet. Check our web site to see when the car numbers and product numbers are put online. The cars can be reserved with your dealer at that time.
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