Rapido Trains CP “Angus” Wide-Vision Caboose (Algoma Central)
Review by Thomas Blampied
Since my return to North American HO scale last year, I have come to expect that the level of detail (especially ladders and grab irons) has improved greatly. While detail on models is wonderful, this has also pushed the cost up significantly. As someone who once saved up for weeks to buy one Athearn boxcar kit costing $10, the new norm of $30 and up for a ready-to-run model still seems expensive. Often, these expensive models do not seem worth the money. This caboose is a shining exception.
For the last few years, Canadian company Rapido Trains Inc. has been releasing more and more products, all highly detailed and many are the first ready-to-run models of a particular prototype. Their first real success was with the complete Turbo Train, a model of North America’s fastest train which operated from the 1960s to the early 1980s for CN, VIA Rail and Amtrak. Canadian modellers have taken particular interest in Rapido’s products as the company places a particular emphasis on Canadian prototypes and railways. Rapido boasts that their products are “Museum Quality” and I would have to agree. However, quality does come at a price.
When Rapido announced that they would be producing a model of the CP “Angus” wide-vision caboose, I thought I might get one to see what Rapido quality was really like. The prototype was designed and built by CP until the early 1980s, less than a decade before cabooses were made obsolete by advances in signalling technology. As a life-long fan of Algoma Central, the choice of livery was also clear. I pre-ordered the model (Rapido just about requires pre-ordering to avoid excess stock) and a few weeks later, I collected my caboose and was immediately impressed.
Every detail seems to be present. There are brake hoses on the coupler, a fully-detailed interior, working interior and marker lights, the metal end platforms and steps are see-through and the cupola windows open. The parts list is a page long and shows that every brake pipe and handrail is an individual piece. The model is surprisingly heavy and runs smoothly on metal wheelsets. The printing is crisp and type less than 2mm high is perfectly legible. Prototype photos show that the model accurately captures the shape and the colours of the Algoma Central version.
The lighting is especially good. The minute marker lights glow a bright red (although not overly bright) and can be turned on or off using the Rapido “magic wand” to suit the direction of travel. The interior is lit with several bulbs and I cannot find see any light bleed. It is only when the model is lit that you can see the level of detail in the interior, including chairs and cabinets, even a textured floor! According to the instructions provided with the model, a capacitor is fitted so that the lights will not stutter over track joints. I found that this works quite well, but some stuttering still happened, especially over pointwork.
This is a delightful model and I believe that it will appeal to more than just the “rivet-counting” fraternity. Family members crowded around this model to marvel at the fine detail and all wished to have a full-sized one!
Detailed models have been around for ages and many modellers have done admirable jobs detailing their models to the same standard as this caboose. The genius of this product is to include that level of detail in a ready-to-run package.
In all, a very good model and a joy to behold. Even with all of the detail, this model is strong and surprisingly robust. Having said that, it is not a toy and mine is now residing in a display case. It truly is “museum quality”.
Product:
CP Angus Shops Wide-Vision Caboose
Manufacturer:
Rapido Trains Inc.
140 Applewood Crescent, Unit A
Concord, Ontario
Canada
L4K 4E2
http://www.rapidotrains.com
Reviewed Model:
Algoma Central number 9609 (Product ID 110016)
MSRP:
$59.95 CAD
