Making Model Trains at the Rapido LRC Factory

[@yellowstonethepony7769]

This proves not all factories in China are runned by slaves. An very educative video. I like it a lot.

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

I been in and out of China for 25years and never ever heard anything about slavery at all . I can Assure you that China has some of the hardest working people in the world and there is a lot of money in China and is the fastest growing country in the world .it must more updated then the United states . I don't know where Americans get some of this crapp Heck Vietnam Saigon is more updated than most of the cities in America stop with the Crazy propaganda

[@travelingtom923]

Thank you for this video. As someone who has worked in several factories (including plastic factories) this really was a first class factory despite some manual labor. We had some robots in one factory I worked at and although productive, they had to be monitored constantly and were high maintenance. They were eventually removed and replaced with people. I always wondered what kind of glue they used since I never seen any residue on the body.

[@rapidotrains]

The glue is CA or super glue, just like we use in our own workshops here. The workers are just very good at using it!

[@mikelight]

A fascinating insight into how much effort goes into our hobby. Please keep these videos coming as it is a testament to the quality you instill in all your models. Keep up the great work Jason, and ignore the guys that keep moaning at you regarding the humour in your adverts and videos. The majority of us appreciate all you do. It's because of your great models that I became a Canadian modeller in the first place.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks, Mike - we will keep it up!

[@akroto]

I love it. It's so great to see the people assembling the models we buy. Sometimes I think people forget that other humans have assembled their models and not some robot and it is human to somtimes err.

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

Amazing how patient those workers are in assembling those locomotives. The details on them are very impressive

[@MaxSupercars]

Amazing how many work is behind every single model.

[@jugalsharma2793]

Max Supercar

[@2Hot2Furious]

This is really cool. Following your dreams and making it unimaginably cool for us. While overseas. Thank you sir.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@ovationpdh]

Rapido makes incredible models. I look forward to getting all their new offerings.

[@TheAbderaman]

respect for all those who make train models they desserve the price ,really hard work i make building models

[@Sohave]

Actually they represent a fraction of the price for the actual train, when you buy a train, unless it is a popular one sold in several hundred thousand units. most of the price goes to the tooling, cutting the mold and paying off the equipment. if you removed that from the equation a locomotive would be about 10 bucks and the rail cars even less. ( Source, I have been in contact with independent model train factories about a model train I tried to release some years ago )

[@rapidotrains]

No model trains sell several hundred thousand units, except maybe Thomas & Friends. Our raw cost, not including tooling, is far higher than $10, even for a freight car. Your friend is either mistaken or his information is very out of date. But you are right that the amortized tooling cost is a large portion of the overall product cost.

[@Sohave]

It was around 2009. I have forgotten the exact cost in the quote but remembered it to be somewhere around that, I could be off by a few dollars. My hundreds of thousand units example was hypothetical to illustrate a large number of units to split the cost on. I know that around 4000 to 1000 units is a more realistic run for model trains. My model in N scale was a passenger multiple unit with fairly few external details to be mounted, 3 colors on the body and only one color to be stamped on in the pad printing. I remember that the price difference between the tooling and Assembly blew me away. I did not intend to bullshit you guys but since I could not find the quote (I deleted my old emails to save space) I have lost my proof and can only rely on my memory. And you are out in the fields of this industry so If you say so, I stand corrected :-)

[@rapidotrains]

No worries - as I said, you got a big part of it right. -Jason

[@jamfieldcentral372]

I live in the uk and slowly getting back into model railways. Found the video where you visited rails of sheffield and i've never laughed so hard with what you got up to. Had to subscribe as you guys humour was a breathe of fresh air. Keep up the exceptional work on your models and look forward to your next video and its nice to see how much detail goes into your models.

[@AlexTrain5249]

I feel you have so much untapped potential for your models. They look amazing. I'm determined to get one of your LRC's that I've finally found at a hobby store close to were I live.

[@themidlandcompoundarchive9430]

You've got you're work cut out there, this stuff is just brilliant!

[@trainsofaustralia9081]

Midland Compound 1000 I know they do

[@kimjongoof5000]

Midland Compound 1000 10h/day for around 200$/month

[@richardcarnegie777]

Jason, well done! This insight into the technology and skills involved increases my pride of ownership of Rapido models.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks and my pleasure, Richard! -Jason

[@davidchristensen6908]

Absolutely an incredible amount of work goes into these models. Thanks for the tour.

[@9501599]

How much has changed in China 🇨🇳 since this video was made?? These folks seem very diligent in their work, very impressed with the team there.

[@fakenoobyup5492]

Wow ! much more complicated then i thought! Many thanx for this Professional Reporting

[@drdiesel9821]

What a fascinating look behind the curtain! I wonder if any of the Chinese workers are personally interested in model trains?

[@rapidotrains]

Very few. Their money goes to the same things western young people spend money on. Fancier mobile phones, travel, hairstyles, etc.

[@alainaarrhodge5413]

@@rapidotrains are they paid equitably? Is Rapido a Fair Trade company? I love the products and would be even more proud to run them if I knew every employee was paid equitably for their work.

[@joelvale3887]

A big thanks to all those hands that build my models.

[@jackforde4883]

Respect to the people who put so much attention and detail into the models we hold dear to our hearts

[@LibertyRailfan]

Thank you for sharing Jason pretty interesting on how everything is done.

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

I'm not into railroading, but always interested in how things are built before I have that something in my hands. Thanks for the video.

[@maxsmodels]

The labor intensiveness behind this explains the cost.

[@rapidotrains]

It's a lot of work.

[@ionteszter6840]

These people are amazing! Hat off!

[@RWSBaden]

Jason, What an awesome video, thank you for sharing this factory tour.

[@UniqueChannel654654]

I think your videos are great. It dispels some of the ideas about "cheap Chinese junk". It is the hard working Chinese that provides the attention to detail on the finished product. They work just as hard as any American but their situation has meant they get paid a lot less. I am curious though why trains still cost so much when "Hot Wheels" are a dollar per car. I know there is a significant difference between the two but an N scale box car still costs 30 times the price of a Hot Wheels, or 3-6 times the price of an action figure. can you shed some light on this? Thanks.

[@rapidotrains]

There are many reasons. A toy car is produced in hundreds of thousands. A model train is produced in hundreds OR thousands. And low thousands at that. A toy car has a handful of parts. Even an N scale boxcar could have more than 50 parts. The quality control for a toy car is a quick glance. On a model train it is easy to spend 20 minutes doing QC on one car, including cleaning up the printing and painting to make it perfect.

[@GandZscale]

Fascinating, look forward to the next visit.

[@scottm101]

Remarkable ! i dont train but i want one just remember all those workers efforts

[@uncinarynin]

So you guys aren't working with Maytex any more? It seems like every company is now going through Chinese manufacturers, all of which have their advantages and shortcomings. Testing the parts at every stage and sorting out the bad pieces before assembly is essential.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

This factory is owned by Rapido

[@kentcourtney5535]

This is a fascinating insight into the manufacturing process of model railroad equipment.

[@MrLuvOldies]

Thanks. Very interesting how the model trains are made.

[@davidhoffman1278]

I expected a much more automated process. Interesting to see how much work may not be able to be automated.

[@erikdevries9208]

Everything they do can be automated. It may not be cost effective, but it can easily be done. Look at how cellphones are now made, automated from start to finish.

[@zedman6516]

Wow... you would never see a manufacturing and assembly process like this in Canada that's for sure. There would be literally no hands allowed in any vicinity of any moving manufacturing machine centre tooling or exposed moving parts of an assembly system. Everything would be required to be guarded with light curtains to the 9th degree to pass a safety in Canada, I know because I work in the automation industry. We could never compete for this work, it would cost 5 times more just for a HO locomotive! Very nice production system though, reminds me of the way things used to be here. Rapido is quality driven that's for sure.😎

[@lakeshoremodelrr]

Nothing for me on a personal level yet. Several club members have your products and they are very nice and run well!

[@cefnonn]

AS you say near the end of the video, let's hope that China will try to preserve its beautiful landscapes. Does it have much of an urban planning system? They've gone from Communism to unbridled Capitalism in a generation. One wonders how this has changed the way they see the natural environment. Lovely LRC locos! From a UK HO scale modeller.

[@cup_and_cone]

It's more cultural than anything. They will skin a living dog on the street and not think anything of it. Or they'll see someone dumping toxic waste into a stream and no one will say a word. My guess it will take a couple generations before they start to make significant change...once their families and loved ones start feeling the long-term effects. Be it not being able to swim in a polluted river or beach, lung cancer from the smog, ridiculous high food prices on over harvested and diminishing supply, etc.

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

Hmm... but they also know what communism was/is like... so they wont want to go back to that either...

[@David-ci1vn]

Invest in Chinese models, the price will only go one way just as Japanese brass did.

[@jroar123]

I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could afford one.

[@rapidotrains]

Maybe one day!

[@WestCoastRails]

Jason, Thank for the factory tour. What a great way to see the process you go through to produce gorgeous models. At 6:52, you mention the final cleaning and removing any finger prints. (yours lol) What would the factory use for the final cleaning without damaging the model or paint? Thanks Greg M

[@rapidotrains]

Usually it's just a soft cloth. That does the trick.

[@Consolidation1282]

What steam loco was that guy making at 5:56?

[@telus6429]

Jason that looks cool. Can I go with you next time...

[@bernardchristensen787]

Well done, congratulations, after lots of bumps in the road, future looks good. B

[@1dogeez]

we need more like you nice vid thank you

[@thesailjunkie]

What a mind-numbing job.

[@cup_and_cone]

Perspective... Just 25 years ago most of these kids parents were living in mud huts and farming. Now they're working in factories, living in buildings with modern plumbing, and playing on smartphones.

[@macnavi]

Thanks for sharing that view into the work that goes into a model. What liquid (?) are you using for final clean up, to remove the finger prints?

[@rapidotrains]

We use a hexane-based solvent. This is used in most factories as a cleaning agent, and not just in China. If there is small printing that may risk being damaged by the diluted solvent, we simply use water.

[@macnavi]

Thanks!

[@swiv99]

wow great video, looks like a decent shop with all the right tools, lighting etc. Many patient hours adding parts and running machinery. Ironic to see them assembling old american diesel locos, then at 7:52 a highspeed train whizzes by at 200mph, and the U.S hasn't even implemented that form of travel yet...

[@rapidotrains]

One day we'll get high speed trains on this side of the pond!

[@lakeshoremodelrr]

Looking good so far! :-)

[@BlackWolfessUSCM]

THata moment wher I realized that I Have more Rapido Products ready for painting for my freelance railroad than the average American. Btw, any word on the Well Cars/COntainers? Looking forwards to adding the CN Cargo Pool Drybox container into my mix.

[@delta8173]

Very cool.

[@bosgandhoz5678]

I beg you to build a model train in Indonesia. or you can set up a model train shop here. you have nothing to lose, Indonesia is a good market share with a large population and a large number of model train fans. I'm sure you will be surprised.

[@rapidotrains]

We aren't very knowledgeable on Indonesian trains, but who knows, maybe one day!

[@bosgandhoz5678]

I hope rapido train can make it happen. thank you very much for the comment. Greetings from Indonesia.

[@sharkhunt9476]

The employees need more comfortable chairs to sit on. Some nice plush cushions would be so much better than hard plastic. Love the video. 👍 🚂 🚞 🚞🚞🚞🚞

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

Very informative

[@CheTrain]

My dream is create Thai Railway model , but is dream TT

[@groundhog7652]

Need to do a separate video called "The Girls of the Rapido LRC Factory".

[@michaelglass4701]

Looooooove your video, I have a Amtrak F40PH, I Love it.

[@bryanwhat2268]

cool place nice views

[@1978garfield]

Jason do you ever have contact with any of the other train factories in China? Back when there was all the hubbub over MTH's design possibly being used on Lionel products it was revealed at the time that many of the sub contractors worked for most of the same customers. I know things changed with the Kader-Bachman-Sanda Kan acquisition.

[@rapidotrains]

We occasionally visit other factories, and we see everyone's products being made! Sometimes other people come visit our factories. It's OK by us if they want to make models at our factories as long as they can pay their bills on time! -Jason

[@SoneRevMy]

Awesome

[@Blacktopmafia660]

Just amazes me everything it takes to make a model. Next time someone complains about pricing, show them this video. I collect Lionel vision and legacy. So paying $200-300 for a ho model that has much better scale fidelity is fine by me. But the logistics and planning has to be a nightmare.

[@มาเเล้วครับ-ห5ษ]

train familial want to go filming

[@rapidotrains]

👍

[@Caesaurus]

*_They terk err jeeerrrrbs!!_*

[@jo6520]

Why don't you make them in America?

[@LucasGresham610]

You would not be able to afford them..

[@istillusezune82]

Also it is a Canadian brand.

[@bartonbauers5028]

Notice how many of the machines do NOT have guards or fail-safe switches to keep hands away while cycling? In the US, OSHA would double or triple the cost adding such devices, not to mention labor costs.

[@cn22willamette]

Where do you get that estimate?

[@CvmwUS]

Canada is part of North America. (the North American Continent)

[@floridian2023]

W.O.W.

[@rapidotrains]

Thank you!

[@user-wh1fz4rj5e]

Китайцы молодцы!

[@choochoo3985]

Why you not build China QJ locomotives? Maybe IAIS model? You bet!

[@rapidotrains]

There are lots of manufacturers making Chinese models in China. We don't really know that market, unfortunately.

[@1oldmariner]

all that grinding and spraying and nobody wears eye protection and/or breathing masks.

[@yellowstonethepony7769]

It Depands how you spray it. ofcourse. having breathing/eye protection is Always better. But these people know what they do.

[@David-nl1zt]

I have a 1950's Marx Train layout. Everything is stamped made in USA.

[@somezodiac8845]

Huh so that's where's my Bachmann H0 great northern F7 came from.....cool

[@kyaing9047]

similar, not the same. probably worse at the bachmann factory tbh lol

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Maybe they can make an Eric Clapton Fender Stratocaster copy

[@ALL-bj7mj]

looks like my garage and work bench in my basement....

[@rapidotrains]

Awesome!

[@ALL-bj7mj]

@@rapidotrains I hope you guys keep up the great work...I used to be primary athearn….im starting to fall into Rapido....

[@plainwhitets03]

Even with chinese production i still dont see the operating model but none the less....it must work

[@arbjful]

I see some the paint guys don't wear work gloves..

[@robh1908]

6:18-6:20 That would be my worst nightmare. I can't stand mine more than 4hrs a day.

[@Salty_reviews]

Are any Chinese employees model railroaders? Could even afford Rapido products?

[@rapidotrains]

If you built model trains all day for your job, you would not want to look at them in your off hours...

[@illinoisrailwayvideos9508]

In the words of Michael Rosen "click" noice

[@MrNice1966]

I am surprised they let a foreign camera crew in there to film, notice how they didn't interview anyone? (I didn't see the whole vid tbh - but guessing they didn't) probably none can speak English, working conditions there don't seem ideal, the painters aren't all wearing masks, the ones sitting look like their sitting on stools - not comfortable. I mention all this because those who buy these products - contribute to that, as long as their sold - who cares how their built. intricate work tho.

[@yellowstonethepony7769]

Well. If we take all these points into consideration we should stop buying. Tablets, iphones. (Apple is known for Child labor) TV's Laptops, Shoes, Pants, underwear, Shirts, glasses, cars, soap, toys, glue, And the list goes goes on and on. Basicly don't buy anything. Because somehow it COULD be harmfull to somebody. Also. Please Watch the whole video. Not all factories in Asia are pits off hell you know. Working coditions could be better in this factory, Ofcourse. Bit its a lot better then working in an iPhone factory.

[@mech4un1ty36]

Can l have 45

[@SuperCastl]

Китайцы...кругом

[@carolinarailfanning]

“Made in china” as always... can they be made locally?!

[@ONEFUNFONE]

So much for made proudly in america, by americans. Now I know another company NOT to buy from

[@rapidotrains]

Who made your computer?

[@LAPnumber4]

Love the behind the scenes view. The workers are doing nice work.

[@varejaobateriasdefabrica-p8618]

I am 53 years old and I am totally in love with railroading modeling. I have three HO scale locomotives, some freight cars and a few feet of track. Too bad it's a little expensive hobby. It is certainly very interesting to work in this field. Congratulations to the whole team. Hugs, Geraldo - Pindamonhangaba - SP - Brazil.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks!

[@thehobbyistden3720]

That is impressive. Now that is impressive work. Machinery needed for the fine fine stuff is not cheap either. Hope the farm neighbors dont get kicked out for more building construction, farmers feed people!

[@Rammstein45]

Who cares what nationality these workers are. The amount of skill they have in assembling these models is amazing!

[@waynes9275]

skill yes but probly paid less then the usa min wange.

[@philthycat1408]

Up until I read your comment, I never thought about it . Why would you ?

[@nicksadventures4362]

Remember when model trains were made in America and the U.K?

[@cup_and_cone]

Yes, and models back then were a lot less detailed/realistic. People want better without having to pay for it.

[@Steamer96]

And they were strong and built to last.

[@BananaBug]

and they were cheeper too XD ill bet they dont cost a quarter the price to make them than they sell them for

[@phucdatbich1990]

@@cup_and_cone Have a look at the Roco's European factory. Better quality without exorbitant pricing kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYCvY5R-f8d1d68

[@mchagnon7]

@@BananaBug Toys for kids are less detailed, stronger and cheaper. The models for adults are more detailed, expensive and fragile.

[@randomrazr]

of course there made in china LOL

[@SMTMainline]

I believe that they wanted to make them in canada however there wasn't a plastics manufacturer that was fine enough to produce them with the detail that they do.

[@davidurban6813]

randomrazr naturally where else?

[@gmcnewlook]

Scrumptious Model Trains Scrumptious Model Trains Jason shron has they couldn’t afford to make them here and would if they could, and hey randomrazr! Didn’t know you were into model trains

[@hamiltonfixedrider]

Naturally made in a China.... cheap labour , cheap costs for the manufacturing, but BIG profit for the owners bank account.

[@1978garfield]

If you think Jason is in this business to get rich you are mistaken. You know how to make a small fortune selling super detailed model trains? Start with a large fortune.

[@raygxr8582]

I never knew all the intense detail going into those toy trains.

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

Man this is my dream job to work in China been in the hobby for over 45years and now a retired railroad engineer. I would love to move to China one day

[@user-sh9du2nv5y]

I notice some people leaving comments about the trains being made in china where the labor is cheap, and inferior and the owner making big profits, What I see in this video is a lot of dedicated people of all ages who are skilled to make a beautiful product, If are laws and codes were not so strict and costly in the USA I bet you would see a model train factory like this in the states, I also believe the owner is probably passionate about trains and model railroading and that's why he is going to the trouble to be in this line of work and I doubt the profits are so great . Hats off to these dedicated people and Thank you for this interesting video.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks for your insightful comments. Many of the people making the comments see a Chinese factory and the blinkers go on - they can't see beyond their own expectations and/or prejudices. We've had to delete almost half of the messages because they were either overtly political or just downright racist.

[@keithmontgomery6802]

p

[@wesolint]

LRC=Livingston Rebuild Center? Are we going to see MRL SD45s soon?? 😂

[@chadmartin2170]

Loved the whole video. This is an awesome company with a future. Thanks for the trains.

[@trmn311]

Absolutely awesome! Jason; I’ll bet people would pay more for a model with your authentic fingerprints on it! 🤲😂

[@rapidotrains]

Thankfully our models are wiped down before they are shipped. But the occasional fingerprint gets through! 😄

[@thebrantfordrailfan]

How much longer before you show an actual pre production model of the Royal Hudson? And what month is the order deadline?

[@ADPeguero]

Great work reporting this. I wasn’t aware so much labor went into each model.

[@rapidotrains]

Thanks!

[@ozzyd9001]

very nice. but how about a lot at some of your uk models now and again please.

[@rapidotrains]

See my comments on a previous comment. I have footage of UK models in the painting and tampo rooms, but nothing in assembly so the visuals are limited.

[@nr120]

Speaking of LRC, how's the real one going, do you do trips with it or does it just sit around?

[@bruce_adams]

I love these behind-the-scenes videos, and those models are beautiful! Great job to Rapido and your production staff!

[@frankjonathan8043]

Very interesting to see the work being done on the models. I can't wait to get a hold of an A-B set of Lehigh Valley FA2s.

[@rottenroads1982]

Knowing that it takes Allot of time, and allot of Labor to make the Models. It’s understandable why Models are SO SO Expensive. Even then, it’s unfortunate that people, Like I, don’t have the Time, Space, or Resources to model trains. And we don’t have the Money to buy the models either.

[@LaneMphoto09]

That looks fun

[@rapidotrains]

👍

[@jurigelato4366]

Thanks for the insight. It looks very laid back. I am surprized by the amount of manual labor.

[@rapidotrains]

Our factory employees are very skilled at what they do.

[@loucosmotivaferromodelismo6560]

Muito legal

[@rapidotrains]

👍

[@sparky107107]

Jason,, first off it was great to meet you. You have brought me over to the Rapido side, just because of that . You take the time to meet with us modelers, and you tubers. and this video is just one of them times,, showing us what really happens to get these models made