Get ready! The well - known Rapido 3800 cu.ft. Cylindrical Hoppers are back for the third time, sporting new road numbers and fresh paint schemes. This HO scale model, Rapido 127024 NSC, represents CN Canadian National #369504 (note: the picture might show a different road number). Rapido is on a mission to replace the inaccurate 4550 cu.ft. covered hopper car models on layouts and displays with this true Canuck classic. It retains all the excellent features from the previous run, like sharp lettering and laser - straight etched roofwalks. The real - life prototype cars were built to carry bulk goods such as powdered minerals, industrial chemicals, cement, and potash. With a 100 - ton capacity and four hopper compartments adding up to 3800 - 3850 cubic feet, they have either 4 round or continuous trough hatches. Major Canadian car builders - Marine Industries, Hawker - Siddeley, and National Steel Car - all constructed these hoppers, which have traveled across Canada and the contiguous US. Besides main carriers like Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, which got over 4,500 cars between 1965 and 1975, around a thousand were made for leasing companies. Many of these cars are still in service today. The Rapido model is scaled from manufacturer drawings and comes with alternative parts to show the differences between Marine Industries (MIL) and National Steel Car (NSC) constructed cars. The Rapido Trains HO scale Canadian 3800 cu.ft. Covered Hoppers come with features like round - hatch or trough - hatch design, correct Dofasco S - 2 100 - ton trucks, two body variations, three brake equipment variations, etched running boards, factory - installed air pipes, finely moulded plastic walkway supports, and full separate air piping and brake equipment details.

Using your Rapido HO scale 3800 cu.ft. covered hopper is a breeze. Just place it on your model train track like you would with any other train car. When you're setting up your layout, you can choose between the round - hatch or trough - hatch design according to your preference. Be careful when handling it, as the etched running boards and other fine details are delicate. Avoid dropping it or applying too much pressure on these parts. To keep your model in top condition, clean it regularly with a soft, dry cloth. If there's a lot of dust, you can use a gentle brush to get into the small crevices. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent any damage to the paint or plastic parts. Also, when you're connecting it to other cars, make sure the couplers are properly aligned for a smooth ride.