Model Railroading > Rapido SF 36-7 Stratolite Color?

I just received my SF B36-7 with LokSound 5 from Rapido and have an observation - the Stratolite flashes Red - I thought SF Stratolites were Yellow?  Rapidotrains showcased a video on TrainOrders on Sept 18, 2019 of the operating Stratolite on SF 7494 at the factory in China.  It was flashing Yellow.

Hmmm - is there an "extended CV" setting that can change the color?

I will post a separate message about Rapido's choice of LokSound decoders.  Its a more general topic that discusses Function Mapping and the use of extended CVs by the different DCC Sound manufactures.  I just noticed that Rapido will use a TCS sound decoder in the new PA units.

Jason - I like your Rapido products - keep up the good work.  Hmmm a set of DRGW PAs would be nice, ya think?

Joe in Castle Rock, CO on the Joint Line. 

EDIT #1 -  I attached a video below of the Stratolite in operation.



 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/19 18:12 by jsnoy.

As I have mentioned previosly - The Rapido Stratolite is a let down.   The lense is way too tall, and the effect is in the lower portion of it only.   The color should be a mild orange.  

We have had good Stratolite castings as detail parts for many, many years.  There is a zillion photos of them, video, and many in collector hands.  

 

---

The latest Rapido video shows yellow. Perphaps the factory installed the red SP leds by mistake? I think the stratolite looks good. Looking forward to receiving my SP units soon.

Well show us your better one. For having gone years without an operating one to Rapido's, you should be lucky Jason and crew made this. Again, don't like it, don't buy it.

sixaxlecentury Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As I have mentioned previosly - The Rapido
> Stratolite is a let down.   The lense is way too
> tall, and the effect is in the lower portion of it
> only.   The color should be a mild orange.  
>
> We have had good Stratolite castings as detail
> parts for many, many years.  There is a zillion
> photos of them, video, and many in collector
> hands.  
>
>  

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well show us your better one. For having gone
> years without an operating one to Rapido's, you
> should be lucky Jason and crew made this. Again,
> don't like it, don't buy it.
>
> sixaxlecentury Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As I have mentioned previosly - The Rapido
> > Stratolite is a let down.   The lense is way
> too
> > tall, and the effect is in the lower portion of
> it
> > only.   The color should be a mild
> orange.  
> >
> > We have had good Stratolite castings as detail
> > parts for many, many years.  There is a
> zillion
> > photos of them, video, and many in collector
> > hands.  
> >
> >  

Aaron Heine Electronics.   He came out with it first before Rapido did, and it looks better.  
https://www.facebook.com/Aaron-Heine-Electronics-1492943984356131/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/19 16:15 by sixaxlecentury.

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See my original post at the top of this thread.  

Here is a short iPhone video of the Stratolite on my SF 7492.  The iPhone does not capture the correct color rendition if I record "straight-on" - the strobing flash is almost pure "white".   I had to trick the iPhone by turning the room lights OFF and recording the reflected strobe light off a white card to show the true color of the strobing.

I hope the video comes through TO correctly. 

Joe 

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SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well show us your better one. For having gone
> years without an operating one to Rapido's, you
> should be lucky Jason and crew made this. Again,
> don't like it, don't buy it.

Yes! Lets be thankful we have have a poorly done stratolite flashing the wrong color.

I just messaged my dealer about the issue. He won’t get his allotment until Tuesday. I asked him to test it. To me that would be a factory defect. I have used the Aaron Heine RB-1s in some installs I’ve done. Very nice product.

Dave Dane

Posted from iPhone

You guys are too much.  You would bitch about a free lunch!

But this is not a free lunch.  Its a $300 engine that the manufacturer touts as being the best.   

What is it about Rapido and Scaletrains that the fanboys want to give them a free pass?
They are willing to accept errors in paint and details and dish out hunderds of dollars for models that will have to have details corrected.
Amazing!

Posted from Android

The GE style nose on the Rapido B36's is off as well.  Proto 2000 had it near perfect, Atlas too squared off, and Rapido's too rounded at the corners --even a tad too much space under the windshields.  Perfection anyone?  Not on this planet.  There are are going to be compromises; these are just models after all, and for most, these inaccuracies are just nitpicking.  If you have been in this hobby as long as I have,  you've seen some real bummers released with all the grandiose hype professing the "most accurate" this or that; still we endure.   What is the "true modeler" do?  Fix what offends you, and make that "perfect" model from an available approximation, or gather the resources and expertise to manufacture your own.  Part of the reason for these errors we see are rooted in the fact that everyone has an opinion--including the design teams of manufacturers.   Someone has to make the call as to whats good enough for the price point. (A Rapid hallmark) The quest for the perfect model continues--we are lucky to have the choices we have at this point.

Because there are no "modelers" anymore. They want it perfect when poured out of the box, no matter how much it costs. Most of the whiners couldn't  kitbash a correct model if the wanted to, so they bitch. There are a few on here that do fantastic work and I applaude them but unfortunately there are far more snivlers.

g-spotter1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The GE style nose on the Rapido B36's is off as
> well.  Proto 2000 had it near perfect, Atlas too
> squared off, and Rapido's too rounded at the
> corners --even a tad too much space under the
> windshields.  Perfection anyone?  Not on this
> planet.  There are are going to be compromises;
> these are just models after all, and for most,
> these inaccuracies are just nitpicking.  If you
> have been in this hobby as long as I have, 
> you've seen some real bummers released with all
> the grandiose hype professing the "most accurate"
> this or that; still we endure.   What is the
> "true modeler" do?  Fix what offends you, and
> make that "perfect" model from an available
> approximation, or gather the resources and
> expertise to manufacture your own.  Part of the
> reason for these errors we see are rooted in the
> fact that everyone has an opinion--including the
> design teams of manufacturers.   Someone has to
> make the call as to whats good enough for the
> price point. (A Rapid hallmark) The quest for the
> perfect model continues--we are lucky to have the
> choices we have at this point.

jejhnsn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You guys are too much.  You would bitch about a
> free lunch!

You are so right. If there is an issue I am sure Rapido will take care of it however I find it interesting that all the video's from Rapido clearly shows a nice yellow light. 

needles_sub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is it about Rapido and Scaletrains that the
> fanboys want to give them a free pass?
> They are willing to accept errors in paint and
> details and dish out hunderds of dollars for
> models that will have to have details corrected.
> Amazing!
>
> Posted from Android

Well perhaps we realize we do this because it is a HOBBY, not life or death. It is suppose to be FUN, RELAXING and ENJOYABLE, you remeber that don't you. And yes it is expensive but then agian we all knew that going in.  I really don't think you need to mow the lawns on your layout every few weeks because it grows, right?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/19 17:51 by Chad.

So you consider making comments on a public board to be feedback?  I consider contacting the vendor feedback. I don't consider venting on a public forum to be the correct method of letting the vendor know what the issues are.  If you want to say that you are warning the world about the problems, then call it that and take credit for letting us know, don't call it feedback.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/19 20:49 by jejhnsn.

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...  Or instead of taking
> the needed steps of correcting the issues, or even
> changing their web site information to
> admit/inform consumers of the compromises, did
> they instead set out to preemptively attempt to
> defame or discredit anybody who would dare mention
> the issues when the units arrive?

This is the single most galling thing about the B36-7, actually. Not the stepwells, or stratolites, or snubbers.

The horrendous damage control. Clown nose off.

It has to be the weirdest official response I have ever seen in this hobby.

Posted from Android

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chad Wrote:
> >. It is suppose to be FUN, RELAXING and
> ENJOYABLE...
>
> Which stops when the manufacturers make glaring
> errors on $330+ models... (which they had
> advertised were going to be 100% accurate)
>
> Every person who is upset about the errors on the
> unit(s) they ordered and/or purchased has the
> right to make factual comments about those
> errors... It is called product information,
> feedback or review.
> .
> NOBODY has the rights to personally insult them
> for making factual comments. (As such comments
> would be personal attacks made toward a person or
> persons, and not valid feedback on an
> item/object)
>
> If you don't like the comments about errors then
> prove that the error wasn't made and their
> observations are wrong - but don't attack the
> messenger doing their public duty to inform others
> of the issues.

Oh I am so sorry, I did not realize your entire life and every aspect has been nothing but pure perfection. You give your opinion and I will give mine. Now that sounds fair. 

So is there a replacement part, or change in CV, or change in LED bias, or maybe re-wiring the LED?

You will find all the bent noses on that birdy app.

Chad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSX602 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Chad Wrote:
> > >. It is suppose to be FUN, RELAXING and
> > ENJOYABLE...
> >
> > Which stops when the manufacturers make glaring
> > errors on $330+ models... (which they had
> > advertised were going to be 100% accurate)
> >
> > Every person who is upset about the errors on
> the
> > unit(s) they ordered and/or purchased has the
> > right to make factual comments about those
> > errors... It is called product information,
> > feedback or review.
> > .
> > NOBODY has the rights to personally insult them
> > for making factual comments. (As such comments
> > would be personal attacks made toward a person
> or
> > persons, and not valid feedback on an
> > item/object)
> >
> > If you don't like the comments about errors
> then
> > prove that the error wasn't made and their
> > observations are wrong - but don't attack the
> > messenger doing their public duty to inform
> others
> > of the issues.
>
> Oh I am so sorry, I did not realize your entire
> life and every aspect has been nothing but pure
> perfection. You give your opinion and I will give
> mine. Now that sounds fair.