I bought a box of MP flectrack because it was $5 cheaper than Atlas. The ties are a bit smaller than Atlas, which is slightly noticable. The track I have now it Atlas. It doesn’t look too bad next to Atlas. But It’s a bit harder to work with.
I was wondering if anybody here has mixed Atlas and MP wilh good results?
I might use MP alongside Atlas, just to save a few $$. what do y’all think?
Thanks[:)]
Digi,
From what I gather, they are pretty much the same. The nickel silver should be fine to run with each other. Things I have heard is the MP is a bit stiffer and little harder to work with but, the ties on the MP Flex are much closer to scale than the Atlas. I would think you should be fine.
I’m interested also since I am mixing Model Power Flex with Atlas turnouts. I got a lot of MP Flex when Hobby Lobby had their 1/2 price sale along with the turnouts.
Stay away from it…I used it to save a few bucks and regret it…I will probably pull it up and replace all but my yards with Atlas code 100. I have to clean the MP stuff even to get trains to run…and this is straight out of the box!
I have not had to clean my branchline’s Atlas track once…except from getting plaster off and painting the rails…
I built a large HO scale club layout using both Atlas and Model Power flex track and after ballasting you can’t tell the difference between the two without looking very carefully at it. MP track’s rail is stiffer and harder to bend than Atlas, but they perform exactly the same. I think MP’s crossties are actually a more accurate size than Atlas.
We have noticed no difference at all in keeping the track clean between the two brands. We clean track twice a year using the TTX CMX Clean Machine with lacquer thinner because there are several tunnels and other areas that can’t be reached to clean with metal polish.
I have a mixture of both flextracks, with mostly Atlas turnouts and a few Peco. I did notice the stiffness of the MP track. With Atlas it is much easier to get a smooth curve and for that reason I would select Atlas over MP unless there is a significant saving. I have not noticed anything different in terms of cleanliness or operability. The MP track often has a rough cut at the end. When joining pieces that don’t need cutting to fit, the ends usually need filing.
Just another opinion - of which there are plenty on a forum!
George V.
So, does Model Power make code 83 and code 100? I have always used Atlas simply because
it’s what my LHS stocks. Dave
dave9999,
Model Power flex track comes only in code 100. From the pictures I have seen of Model Power turnouts, I would never consider using one of them, but the flex track is just as good as Atlas.
I have used both.As stated above,The atlas is easier to curve.With either brand I have to do a bit of fidgiting and filing to get them to match up with Shinohara or Peco turnouts because of the different brands cross sections…Other than that,they perform the same as far as I can tell.
I was thinking of doing the same. But I didn’t know what code Model Power would be in N scale. Is Model Power code 83 at N scale?
Also, could someone take a picture of the two together? I havn’t seen Model Power in stores around me, so I would be oredering online.
Thanks
Dan
I used Model Power flex track for my staging level only, and Atlas Code 83 for the remainder of the scenicked levels of the layout. I chose Model Power because of the price in areas where looks don’t matter, although the ties are pretty close cosmetically to Atlas. The turnouts on my staging level are Atlas Code 100 #6’s and they matched the MP track perfectly.
To make the transitions from Code 100 to 83, I used the Walthers transitional track sections which work great, but are pricey. For my money, Code 83 looks so much more realistic than Code 100…and Atlas track has always proven to be bullet-proof for me. My past experiences with Walthers and Shinohara track were disappointing. Micro-Engineering “flex” track looks great but is stiff as a board - I found smooth curves to be nearly impossible to achieve.
Maybe one day I’ll try my hand at hand laying…but I am very pleased with the Atlas Code 83 in the meantime! [:)]
Code 80.
Code 100 and code 83 are HO scale. Code 80 is the big stuff in N scale.
I guess I will buy MP from now on because a box of MP at Hobby Lobby (and at internet stores, for that matter) is $10, when the same amount of Atlas Code 100 is $15. MP is a bit harder to work with, but I laid a curve pretty good. Only trouble was if 2 pieces had to join on the curve but I think it will work fine. I might hook up a power-pack to this track I laid (it will be the main eventually) and see if anything derails. The ties are a more realisitc size.
BTW, my turnouts will be Atlas snap-switches and the tie difference isn’t too noticable because you can’t see much of the ties on turnouts anyway.
Thanks so much for all these replies[swg]
Wow so Model Power has proven theirself to be just as good as Atlas. The price difference is pretty important since the recent hike of Atlas track. I will definitely look into purchasing a few pieces to check out. But you see right now there is a “hobby shop/sports card store” that is close to me that does not sell track much at all so when I went to the shop that I usually never go to because they do not have much train stuff. I saw the price is $2.00 a piece for flextrack. He has 1 1/2 boxes left so I am slowly buying out all the track for future plans when I move someday and build a whole new layout because in 5 years from now the track will probably cost $6 a piece.
I do agree MP looks more realistic. I’m saving $5 over every 15’ as compared to Atlas and that nearly pays for the cork roadbed[swg].