Unpacking

With excitement, I got out a pair of scissors and began the unpacking process.  Once the outer shell was off, the actual Rapido shipping box revealed itself:

After slipping it out of the main packing box, this is what I see first:

On the other side of the box is the flap, which I think looks pretty classy:

Opening the Flap...

So I flipped open the front flap (which is velcroed down) to reveal this:

I wanted to rip it open, but of course, I didn't because I want to maintain this lovely packaging.  Next I pulled out the foam cradle shell where all the locos and cars are contained, plus a few extras...

Surprise!  OK, I knew they were there, but still, it was neat to finally see the CP replica napkins, swizzle sticks and shot glass up close and personal.  I didn't photograph the manuals, but you can see the FP9A manual (of which I already have three from my VIA locos), and under that was The Canadian manual and all the blow up diagrams of each car.  If you've never owned a Rapido product and you buy one, be sure to read the manuals as they are written as much to entertain as they are to assist.  So here are the extras up close and personal:

Not having a layout

sucks.  You get a beautiful train like this and you have no place to run it.  So, I got out a couple pieces of foam and put it on top of some extra wood, then took three pieces of my new Peco Code 83 track and joined them up across it.  Here is the first shot:

Since I didn't have great support under the foam, I was careful not to dump my new Canadian on the concrete, keeping it back from the edge.  Doing this, I could only fit the three locos and 6 cars behind it on the foam:

And here it is from the front - almost 8 feet of Canadian and still four cars left in the box:

Had To Try the Lights and Sound

I didn't do a video of this, but I did hook up the Zephyr and play around a bit with the sound and lights.  I can't show you the sound, but I can show you the lights:

And some loco lights:

And with the strobe light (though its hard to see in the photo):

And the fabulous Park Car:

And the drumhead - such a great detail:

A Little Scenery

Finally, before putting it all back in the box, I put the locos onto my daughter's diorama for a bit of a photo shoot, though they didn't turn out very well.  Too rushed as I only have tonight to get these on before a very busy day tomorrow before heading back to work.  Here is a blurry, through-the-trees look:

From the front:

And a hillside view:

And suddenly, out of nowhere, a giant monster appears!!!

One of our little Poodles was curious as to what I was up to and came sniffing around.

A Good Day

It was a long time coming, and in fact, I canceled my order for a Canadian at one point thinking that I was in N scale I shouldn't spend that kind of money on an HO train and then having to put a deposit down, I decided I wouldn't do it.  Over a year passed and I saw more samples and I had a sinking feeling I made a mistake.  I checked around and thankfully PWRS had ordered a few extras and I was able to claim one about a year ago.  I'm very glad I did, not just because I've since switched to HO scale, but because this is so perfectly aligned with my interests.  It will almost never run on my soon-to-be layout in its entirety, but it will be a focal point and play a prominent role in whatever my layout turns out to be.  

Rapido put a tremendous amount of effort into making this as fabulous as possible and they did an amazing job.  There are over 4000 parts in this set and even after making the trek from China to Toronto to Vancouver and back to Saskatoon, not one part appears to be damaged or fallen off, and there are some pretty tiny parts.  And the details, from the seeming random blind positions on the windows (different in each car) to the interior detail, including etchings on the "glass" in the dining car, this thing definitely gets the "Yes, its a model" treatment.  

Beautiful Set!

Thanks for sharing Dave. That really is a beautiful product!

Gee...

....I wonder why you would be so excited about receiving this?!

Glad it came and you are finding enjoyment, even without a layout yet.

Ken L.

How about an Amroad set?

Maybe if we give Jason and company some time to recover from this epic project, in a few years we could convince him to do an "Amroad" version of the set, as seen in Silver Streak?

It'd only need to be seven or eight cars long, and a little less pricey than the Canadian. 

I have to imagine that someone's already suggested this to him.

Thanks, Dave

Now if only they would do it

Now if only they would do it in N scale.  I'm convinced they'd sell out just as fast if not faster in N; and I'd be one of the first to purchase them.

But to be truthful, I'd rather have them in contemporary Via paint scheme.

N Scale

I was hopeful to get it in N scale before I switched back to HO, but I'm not sure the reality is there for it.  Jason has talked about sluggish orders for N scale passenger cars and that the FP9 would almost certainly not be done in N scale now.  Unlikely to have a Canadian if the FP9 isn't going to be done, unfortunately.

Thanks for the look...

That's a nice package!  Really a beautiful set of cars and extras.  Now, go explain to the wife how you need to run a line around the rec room cause you can't get the broad curves you need to make the Canadian look smashing in the space you have been granted. [wink]

The Canadian in N scale...I feel your 1:160 scale pain, but talk about a niche within a niche within a niche...

Your new train

I think we all share your enthusiasm! We all look forward to the progress on your layout.  Now quit smiling and get to work!

big boxes

I had two of those packages arrive at my door a couple weeks ago as I had ordered one each of the narrow stripe and wide stripe Action Red sets on behalf of several club members who banded together buy them to run on the Sudbury Division.  They were on display at the club during our recent open house, but we couldn't run them because they need some modification before they will be road worthy.  They are very nice models, but we found there is a lot of detail that gets in the way for smooth tracking and we will have to trim some of it off the cars.  It won't be noticeable, since most of it is up above the trucks and is only visible if the car rolls onto its roof, which is what we are trying to prevent with the modifications in the first place.

They were very well packaged and nothing was damaged.  The only thing amiss was that one ditch light had fallen off one unit, but it was only pressed in place and easy to put back.

I've heard that

from other that some details need to be trimmed.  I'll wait and see what comes of the new layout to determine what I need to modify before I dive in.  

a few pics

We have a few pictures Ted took on our Facebook page, if anyone is interested:

The Canadian Arrives in Sudbury

I may take some more and post them here later.

Fabulous Model

Congrats Dave on getting The Canadian. Way to go.

In my opinion It is  the best that Rapido has ever made and I do not believe they can surpass this great achievement in the realm of HO Passenger Modeling. Either from Rapido or anyone else. 

I saw the model and chatted with Jason when he did the tour, and also admire one at my local hobby shop a few weeks ago.  VIA or CN would look great on my layout. I don't have one yet. - will see -

Thanks for sharing

Syl

Way to go, Dave

Dave,

Thanks for posting the play-by-play; you had me drooling, also, by the end.  What a beautiful consist.

I agree with Kevin, that would be a beautiful addition to the rec. room; negotiations must begin soon.