I realise that this is perhaps not the most obvious news for Western Thunder, but some of you might be interested!
The N Gauge Pendolino project has reached agreement with Rapido trains of Canada to produce their planned model of the Virgin Class 390 Pendolino electric multiple unit in British N scale 1:148.
Tilt-shift Pendolinos at Euston - courtesy of Stuart Axe
The model will be built in Rapido's factory in China. Rapido are a highly respected name in North American model railroading and are no strangers to Briitsh modellers, having recently launched their first British model, the APT-E.
The specifications will include power cars at both ends, directional lighting, illuminated table lamps in first class coaches, pick-ups on all wheels and power-conducting couplers to ensure good running. If the funding targets are reached it is hoped that a prototype can be laser-scanned by February 2015, with the production cycle taking approxmately 12 months.
To be financially viable, at least 1000 models have to be produced. Rapido will fund the production of 200 units, to be sold internationally at a retail price TBA, while British modellers are asked to support the project via a Kickstarter crowd funding scheme to produce the remaining 800. The Kickstarter page will be going live very shortly.
The model will incorporate powered driving cars at each end, with a full and correct 9-car train as the basic model at a pledge price of £255. Ten different numbersets will be on offer. A shorter 5-car variant will also be available, comprising each of the basic vehicle types, for a pledge of £195 along with a set of two trailer cars (£30 pledge)to create a prototypical "strengthened" 11-car train. In a first for British N all powered versions will also be available with DCC sound factory-fitted in both power cars, for an extra £95 pledged, if demand is sufficient.
Project organiser Ben Ando said: "We are delighted to be working with with Rapido, who've certainly created a stir with their OO model of the APT-E. It's great that they are keen to get into the British N Gauge market, and we would urge anyone interested in a model of this iconic train, at an amazingly low price for the specification on offer, to support us."
Mike Hale, the other project organiser, added: "It's taken a fair amount of work to reach this stage and we are very excited that our Kickstarter page will be going live soon. I believe Rapido's entry into the UK market - with the option of factory-fitted sound, which is a first for British N - is not just good news for those of us who want an N-Gauge Pendolino but good news for British N Gauge modellers as a whole."
Jason Shron, managing director of Rapido Trains, said: "The APT-E is an iconic and amazing train, and we're really excited about our OO model. Given the shared tilt technology the Pendolino is, almost literally, the APT-E's grandchild so producing an N-scale model of this train makes perfect sense.
"It also falls into line with Rapido's desire to increase our N gauge output on both sides of the Atlantic. So yes we're excited/thrilled/delighted (insert your happy word here) to be involved," he added.
For more information go to http://www.ngaugependolino.com or http://www.rapidotrains.com
Cheers, Mike
The N Gauge Pendolino project has reached agreement with Rapido trains of Canada to produce their planned model of the Virgin Class 390 Pendolino electric multiple unit in British N scale 1:148.
Tilt-shift Pendolinos at Euston - courtesy of Stuart Axe
The model will be built in Rapido's factory in China. Rapido are a highly respected name in North American model railroading and are no strangers to Briitsh modellers, having recently launched their first British model, the APT-E.
The specifications will include power cars at both ends, directional lighting, illuminated table lamps in first class coaches, pick-ups on all wheels and power-conducting couplers to ensure good running. If the funding targets are reached it is hoped that a prototype can be laser-scanned by February 2015, with the production cycle taking approxmately 12 months.
To be financially viable, at least 1000 models have to be produced. Rapido will fund the production of 200 units, to be sold internationally at a retail price TBA, while British modellers are asked to support the project via a Kickstarter crowd funding scheme to produce the remaining 800. The Kickstarter page will be going live very shortly.
The model will incorporate powered driving cars at each end, with a full and correct 9-car train as the basic model at a pledge price of £255. Ten different numbersets will be on offer. A shorter 5-car variant will also be available, comprising each of the basic vehicle types, for a pledge of £195 along with a set of two trailer cars (£30 pledge)to create a prototypical "strengthened" 11-car train. In a first for British N all powered versions will also be available with DCC sound factory-fitted in both power cars, for an extra £95 pledged, if demand is sufficient.
Project organiser Ben Ando said: "We are delighted to be working with with Rapido, who've certainly created a stir with their OO model of the APT-E. It's great that they are keen to get into the British N Gauge market, and we would urge anyone interested in a model of this iconic train, at an amazingly low price for the specification on offer, to support us."
Mike Hale, the other project organiser, added: "It's taken a fair amount of work to reach this stage and we are very excited that our Kickstarter page will be going live soon. I believe Rapido's entry into the UK market - with the option of factory-fitted sound, which is a first for British N - is not just good news for those of us who want an N-Gauge Pendolino but good news for British N Gauge modellers as a whole."
Jason Shron, managing director of Rapido Trains, said: "The APT-E is an iconic and amazing train, and we're really excited about our OO model. Given the shared tilt technology the Pendolino is, almost literally, the APT-E's grandchild so producing an N-scale model of this train makes perfect sense.
"It also falls into line with Rapido's desire to increase our N gauge output on both sides of the Atlantic. So yes we're excited/thrilled/delighted (insert your happy word here) to be involved," he added.
For more information go to http://www.ngaugependolino.com or http://www.rapidotrains.com
Cheers, Mike
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and the platform edges look very detailed, having said that, I've never seen Euston so clean! nor Pendolino fronts, yet the subtle weathering and trespass/suicide cameras are all little detail touches that lead to it probably being 1:1 scale fake.
. in fact 
