Model Power seems to have a complete website, with a bunch of models, yet no one seems to carry theem and the stuff I would want, is out of stock. When I was there, they said they were working on releases, but no time table. Anyone have any info?
They are too busy keeping up with their Postage Stamp aircraft line. It seems like we sell a dozzen a week at the shop I work at. They are keeping their buildings pretty much in stock and available. We had a bulk pack of their N and HO rolling stock for the Christmas season. Most are gone now. Steam loco's I won't order because it seems everytime we order one, we are still getting old stock without the traction tires. When I know I am getting the new stock, I will keep quite a few of them in.
Marty, What cars are you looking for? I am selling some of the items that I don't need. I have listed some on GATCO's auction site: Hotoz.net Auction<P><font color=" 0000cc" font size="+"> a GATCO Company
Am I missing something? I thought their rolling stock was not very good. (lack of detail, not great paint or lettering) Is there something rare or unique?
Their steam locos, (4-4-0, 2-6-0, 4-6-2 and 2-8-2), were not too bad and could really be something if they put a bit more effort into them.
I personally would like to see Model Power get their steam locomotive designs into the 21st Century *Aka All wheel friction free pickups on the tender, with all wheel pickup on the locomotives. I can live with the lack of standoff details, but the operational side of their steam engines (electrically speaking) is where they need to upgrade. I would purchase a few more mikes, pacifics, and get a few 440's and 260's in Central garb but I'm not going to buy separate tenders (Bachmann?) everytime I buy a model power steam engine just to get reliable all wheel pickup. Until that happens they are on the very bottom of my buy list! (and believe me that list is very large!) Rob
I agree with Rob. One other thing, they don't pull worth squat. I have put Bullfrog Snot on both my 2-8-2's but have not had a chance to test them at our club layout.
With the factory TT, both the Pacific and Mikado are very respectible pullers. Both will handle 30-40 cars on level without an issue. The tires are still available, direct from MP but they are a bear to install. Newer releases have the TT installed already.
Model Power had a special run of their freight cars a couple of years back, and I found them to be crispily molded, fine painted models. Zero complaints, to me, at the time, better than the LifeLike and Atlas (now Trainman) and certainly the Bachmann counterparts. The only complaint I ever had with Model Power rolling stock is in 2002 I attended the National Train Show connected with the NMRA National Meet there. As a matter of fact, I was a member of the host club, and when I browsed through the aisles, a vendor had Model Power assorted freight cars, brand new for $2 each. I knew which ones were used by several manufacturers at one time or another, and picked up about 10 of those great side cupola cabooses. When I got them home, they did not have the pin that inserts the truck into the frame - instead they had a press fit truck which wasn't compatible with any Atlas or MT replacement truck. I am now converting the frames to accept the pins and new trucks, and I am not pitching a hissy fit, heck for $2? But those caboose shells and frames painted with my livery are nothing short of terrific. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
upguy They had completely fake container cars for fed ex and a coffin company. My son wants another fed ex and I thought BFS. THe TT driver was more trouble than it was worth. If you never see the inside of MP steam, you'll be OK. That said, I sure like a metal shell... I mean it would seem that a metal shell in diesel could leave more room for cab detail as you would need less weight etc. Ive heard concerns about grounding, but they should be surmountable.
YUCK!!! with the cool Atlas , Athearn , Micro-train , and Intermountain.....who wants Model Power?!?!?
I have a 4-4-0. I like it VERY much. Small steam in N is very few and far between, and this is a good stand in for some B&M equiptment. I added traction tires to the 4-4-0, 2-8-2 and 4-6-2 without opening the model. How did I do it? Check this month's issue of N-Scale Magazine with that B&M 4-4-0 on the cover.
The Mikado that Life Like put out is a good little locomotive. I'm happy with the four I own despite the lack of traction tires. They pull 9 to 10 car freights up my 2% grades with minimal effort. And, that works for me. I wouldn't be afraid to purchase one of these beauties...minus the traction tires. Should I feel I can improve the tractive effort I won't add traction tires. I would apply the Bullfrog Snot. No confounded traction tires for this kid.
I don't like Model Power rolling stock. The paint work is lousy. I have bought stock in the past as an impulse (you know, your at a show and you have to buy something) and then once I get them up on the layout they just have to go. Model Power models on the other hand are comparable to Vollmer.
A lot of the Model Power freight cars look suspiciously (because thats what they are) like the old Lima stuff that wasn't worth what you paid for it back in the early 70's when we'd buy anything and weren't worried about accurate details or paint schemes or even whether the car was a model of an actual prototype. Other manufacturers have looked at MTL for freight cars and Kato for locos and said "This is what we have to do to compete" and they have, or better. Model Power on the other hand have done nothing and their sales and reputation, if they ever had one, has suffered, maybe its because trains are only a part of their business and the guys in charge are not model railroaders, as Vicky infers other models on their website dont look too bad, but go to the train section and its like a history lesson on n scale's past. Which is a pity because the steam locos show what they could produce if they put their mind to it. Will the same thing happen in the future with a freight car manufacturer who doesn't take notice of Atlas, Athearn, Trainworx, Intermountain and other's latest offerings with finescale wheels, stand alone details, etched roof walks, magnificent paint and lettering and even bodies that ride prototypically low on the trucks. Will Trainboard posts in the future be asking "Why don't Micro Trains make freight cars anymore?" In any business you've got to keep up with the competition, Life-Like were once producers of 'cheap and nasty' stuff the same as Model Power, but they saw what they had to do and made improvements, then they got taken over by Walthers but that's another thread. When I'm at a train show these days I don't even bother looking at the piles of Model Power boxes sellers are trying to get rid of.
They may not be super detailed, or accurate, but we sell a whole heck of a lot more of the Model Power and Bachmann cars than anything else on nothing more than price point. 80% of the people out there don't know or care about prototype details, they buy a car because it appeals to them and the price is right. Model Power and Bachmann fill this need. With a little weathering they can even make nice filler cars for those wishing longer trains on budget. Many people are just happy to have a couple cars pulled behind their favorite choo choo. They are still having fun, don't knock them. They are another component of the industry that creates income for the manufactures.
Cheap entry level equipment doesn't have to be low quality, unrealistic and look like it belongs in the 70's, look at Atlas Trainman, if a newcomer to N scale was asking me for advice I'd steer them in that direction rather than Model Power.
