Model Railroading > Rapido U30CG windshield

Hello TOers and I hope Rapido Jordan;

I see that the 3D printed model of the U30CG has a small but significant error.   I have not seen this talked about so please let me know if this issue is already settled.   On the test model the windshield is vertical.   On the real loco it is slanted backwards at the top similar to an EMD F unit.   I would like to pre order a couple of units but not if this is uncorrected.
Richard Harris.

I pre-ordered mine, but if the windshield is wrong then a one-way trip to the next GATS show will be the end of it!

Well, that windshield is definitely slanted ever so slightly. It's definitely not 90°. But it's not slanted as much as an F unit. And it's not vertical like an EMD front.

Thank you for the reply and finding these nice near side shots.   I looked around Google and could not find a nice side shot that really showed it like these.    Now I think I can reserve the units and sell my Hallmark ones.

Richard.

Looks ok to me - I'm not cancelling my pre-order.

---

This is something that should be corrected before the final molds are made.  There is a slight slant.  The test shot more resembles the verticality of a U50.  Its not a deal breaker, but it is an important visual "feel" issue.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/26 08:07 by g-spotter1.

It also appears that the joint between the nose and side sheets is angled slightly:
https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/2506433



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/26 12:13 by CPR_4000.

I guess the disclaimer Rapido has the U30CG page means nothing to you guys.

Printed Samples

Please note that these are preliminary 3D-printed samples and are subject to design revisions.

g-spotter1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is something that should be corrected before
> the final molds are made.  There is a slight
> slant.  The test shot more resembles the
> verticality of a U50.  Its not a deal breaker,
> but it is an important visual "feel" issue.  

It's Dan's project so I can't comment as to whether it's finished, but have a look at the headlight.

You can see clearly that the windshield area is angled.

-Jason
 

Now that I look at it more closely, it looks like our angle may be off by 1 to 2 degrees.

We will see if this can be fixed without breaking the bank. As this model is not a very big seller, we may not be able to afford to fix it.

-Jason
 

Jason, 

If you are still monitoring, I want to reserve a Rapido CB&Q E-7, but your web site is not clear if the Burlington units with have painted side panels or simulated stainless steel, like most of the E-7 units had (but not all) .

I wrote an inquiry to Rapido in early June asking this question, but to date, no response. Do you have a quick answer, hopefully?

BTW I just may have to get a U30CG as well, they were unique.

Thank you for any information you can share.

Hu.

Thanks, Rick.

Here's a comparison of a Kevin EuDaly collection photo and our first test shot. If we're out, it's by 1 degree or less. Dan and Michael say it's bang on. I think we're a tad off. But either of us may be right! 😄

-Jason


4thDistrict Wrote:
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> Jason, I met you at the TrainShop in April and
> asked when these locos would be available. I
> already had mine reserved before your visit - the
> two weathered units. As far as I am concerned, the
> error, if there is one, would be so miniscule that
> I am fine with how they appear on the test shell.
> Most people have zero idea that these six locos
> even existed, so most will never recognize if the
> angle is off or not. In otherwords - I will be
> happy with them as is. Just you doing them is a
> huge thumbs up from me. 
>
> Rick
>
> rapidotrains Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Now that I look at it more closely, it looks
> like
> > our angle may be off by 1 to 2 degrees.
> >
> > We will see if this can be fixed without
> breaking
> > the bank. As this model is not a very big
> seller,
> > we may not be able to afford to fix it.
> >
> > -Jason
> >  

---

OK - I think we actually got it even closer than I thought.

I pulled the sample from Dan's desk and tried to get as close a photo as I could to a Jim Boyd photo from the Kevin EuDaly collection that Dan pointed me to.

Have a look.

I think it's pretty much bang on, though it is impossible to get the exact same angle on my iPhone with the model as Jim got from a 35mm camera on the real thing.

If anything, the headlight base is about 0.1mm or 0.2mm too thick, but that is not worth the cost of fixing.

-Jason
 

---

It's obvious that the bottom of the windshield is kicked out a few inches. Compare the verticals on the side windows to the windshield. Yes, it's only a few degrees, but it's also quite noticeable. 

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's obvious that the bottom of the windshield is
> kicked out a few inches. Compare the verticals on
> the side windows to the windshield. Yes, it's only
> a few degrees, but it's also quite noticeable. 

Look at the angle on the front of the cab side window, which very closely matches the prototype photo. The front of the cab lines up with that.

I agree the real photo looks more slanted. I'm not sure if it's an optical illusion or what. I spoke with Dan today and he and Michael spent a month going back and forth on this issue, and this is the closest they could get it. We have 2D drawings that show the front of the cab slightly more angled, but when they pushed out the bottom of the cab face to match the 2D drawings, it threw everything else off completely. Those 2D drawings aren't builder's drawings - they were done by a railfan many years ago. There were other issues in the drawings they had to correct as well.

It's probably the best we can do. We couldn't 3D scan the real thing.

-Jason
 

rapidotrains Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

. As this model is not a very big seller,
> we may not be able to afford to fix it.
>
> -Jason
>  
I bet you'll sell more than you think (1 degree or not) and have to do another run.

Tell you what - if we actually sell enough to make money on this and we can adjust the windshield angle without wiping out all our profit, we will do it.

You heard it here first! 😁

Right now we're only 1/3 of the way to profitability in terms of sales, so we've got a ways to go.

-Jason


KMB886 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rapidotrains Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> . As this model is not a very big seller,
> > we may not be able to afford to fix it.
> >
> > -Jason
> >  
> I bet you'll sell more than you think (1 degree or
> not) and have to do another run.

OMG!! The world is coming to an end. The windshield on the Rapido U30CG is THE WRONG ANGLE. Jason, how could you do this to us?? What will I do, Where will I get my angle corrected?? Awww, the hell with it. Put me down for 6. (already pre-ordered through my "Pusher")