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(erielack) Rapido enhancements: an update

With reference to this List entry, nothing that follows is to be construed
as a negative evaluation of the Rapido cars. They are a terrific
contribution to the hobby and a thanks is due to Jason at Rapido. Since the
Rapido cars are of necessity (tooling costs) generic, being given many paint
schemes, there will be some areas (as EL windows) where the cars do not
match the specific prototype. The Rapido cars still will make a great
looking train. 
 
On a previous List entry, I had noted three areas of potential improvement:
 
1. There were occasional eccentric wheelsets, barely noticeably, until speed
was slowed. But for me this detracted from the smoothness that is part of
the visual experience of a moving  passenger train. (More on the SOLUTION
later.)
 
2. The cars were a tad lower at one end, owing to the absence of a washer
under one truck (probably Rapido's way of havng one stable truck and one
floater). This height difference was barely perceptible until one noticed
that fine striping would not line up at the car ends. 
SOLUTION: put an equivalent size washer under the washerless truck: one can
still carefully adjust the screw to have one truck on pretty fixed planes
and one that floats. Update: my ACE Hardware had small brass washers that
were an almost perfect match (.312" ext diam, .145" hole, .030" thickness;
labelled BFW-XJ, at least in my local ACE).
 
3. The cars could be more closely coupled. 
SOLUTION: replace the stock couplers/draft gear with Kadee #58s/Kadee draft
gear. You just have to slice off the rear of the coupler pocket/cover to
make it fit. Use the same screw and hole. This change brings the cars over
2" prototype inches closer, visually a nice effect on a long train. Check
using two car ends for clearance on your own trackage. I run 48" min.
radius, but on a workbench test, it looked like this closer coupling would
still work for sure on 30" and probably on 24-26" radii.
 
Regarding the SOLUTION for #1, that is, replacing the wheelsets, my previous
List entry recommended the following. I had noted 

that the Rapido wheelsets have axles .982-.985" long. "These were replaced
with Reboxx 36-1-0.990 wheelsets. Their axles are significantly thinner than
Reboxx, so the axle-bearing holes in the truck frame have to be enlarged. I
used the Reboxx Exxact socket. It is a tight fit to get this tool in place
in both axle housings at the same time but you can do it with gentle and
firm pressure. Just use ONLY two full turns of the Exxact socket cutting
edge in each axle housing with no added pressure but that exerted by the
sideframes. A #11 blade will probably be needed to scrape off a shaving."
That will still work but...

 

UPDATE. These Rapido truck frames are tricky. Their stock wheels have the
bevel at the axle end but a round versus pointed tip. The journal holes in
the sideframes do not have the customary conical shape. And the plastic has
different qualities than the standard freight-truck frame. The frame is also
flexibly rigid in that it has the frame ends integral with the side frames,
so there is less play popping the wheels in and out and potential pressure
exerted by the sideframe. My fear with the above method is that sooner or
later one of us will snap a truck frame trying to force in the beveling
tool.

 

I have since found a far easier mode of replacement by experimenting with
progressively shorter Reboxx axles and doing NO reshaping of the journal
holes.

 

What finally worked was an axle of just .960", specifically Reboxx Item
36-1-0.960. Going to the next shorter axle (.950") did not improve roll but
added some undesirable side slack. The .970" axle binds under the side frame
pressure. So the .960" axle is a very SPECIFIC and CRITICAL fit 

 

The cars still do not roll quite so freely that they will start rolling down
my test grade on their own but they are still "GOOD ENOUGH" rollers and
coasters -- and none of the diesels any of us have will have any problem
hauling a dozen or more of these cars. It is their "smoothness" in rolling
now that can be most appreciated. They also just sound more solid and more
prototypical especially over joints than with the original wheelsets.

 

In sum, as of May 01, 2007, the following three changes can quickly improve
the visual operation of your Rapido passenger cars:

 

1. Replace the wheelsets with Reboxx Item 36-1-0.960

2. Add that little washer under the washerless truck.

3. Slice off the rear of a Kadee #58 coupler pocket/cover and replace the
stock coupler with the #58.

 

Joe Braun

 

 
 
 
 
 
 


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