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Model Power HO scale 0-4-0 steam locomotive
A simple no frills affordable loco is just what this economy and kids need. Open backhead is great for motor cooling. No applied parts to break off or collect dirt. No tires to wear out. No electronics to be fussy or burn out. Nice going Model Power. Brings back the post war fun and reliability.
Nothing on difficulty to convert to DCC?
I received this locomotive as a present, lettered for Canadian Pacific. I must admit that I was somewhat taken aback by it as it was a long way from rural Canadian Pacific branchline that I am attempting to model. Then, I began to look at some possibilities and I realized that a number of easy and simple modifications can be made to make it more presentable, especially in the Canadian context. I well realize that Canadian Pacific had no 0-4-0s but I had to allow for some poetic license in that this “unit” was part of the package when CP acquired the line from its original builder.
I began by painting the cab roof flat black as it was previously a shade of boxcar car and not typical of Canadian practice. Next, the silver smoke box front was changed to flat black. Canadian locomotives never sported silver smoke boxes. Dealing with the excessive speed was accomplished by adding extra resistance to slow down the locomotive motor in the form of a more visible better front headlight and by adding a working back up light to the tender. The latter was changed as well - the original is much too large for an 0-4-0. The solution was to use a tender from a long-since defunct AHM 0-4-0 “Shifter”. It makes for a much smaller “unit” and thus makes the locomotive more practical where track space is important .
Traction was improved through the addition of extra weight in the boiler and, on level track, this thing is gutsy. The cab window sashes were painted in red - again a Canadian feature. I opted not to remove the rear wall of the cab as that area is not really visible and I was worried about structural integrity. Finally, Kadee No. 5 couplers were added to the pilot and the tender.
A lot more could have been done with then engine in terms of adding piping and related details including a better looking bell and dynamo, water pump, air compressor, reservoir, etc. Quite clearly, there are issues with the valve gear and the wheels could also be out
I agree with Anthony. We need more affordable reliable, reasonably detailed, fun locomotives. The price of both HO and N gauge trains is exceeding the current upswing in gasoline prices. To keep modelers - other than the top shelf (whom I admire) - getting involved in model railroading, price is more important than sound, DCC and minute details. Railroads today, though I certainly admire current locomotives (I love my Athearn P42 - which I got on sale for $70), the whole current railroading scene offers less than it did, say, before Amtrak. Discretionary income generally isn’t what it used to be…therefore, value for dollare spent is more important than ever. Sure, run with the top end, where, like a “loaded” car, the profits are - but, remember, tomorrow’s model railroader may not be able to lay down the big bucks for all the bells and whistles.
Dealing with junk like this and the people who bought it when I worked in a hobby shop was a constant problem. Had I owned the shop I would never had had the stuff on the shelves to begin with. I always recommended people purchase better quality or find another hobby to become involved in. A used first generation Atlas RS-1 diesel engine purchased at a swap meet is ten times the model that this thing will ever be. If you wish to watch something run at more than 100 smph, then I suggest buying model road racing sets or rubber band powered balsa airplanes. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money!
This looks like the descendent of an old Mantua 0-4-0 “shifter” that I got in the mid "60’s and was my first HO engine. It still runs today with performance similar to what is described in the review. Despite having a number of much newer and better enginered model engines and the fact that it does not match any engines used by the prototype I model (Erie RR), it is still one of my favorite engines.
Maybe the cosmetics are not all that great, but it could be the basis for an On30 kit bash if the mechanism is satisfactory.
Ah, the review. Third paragraph under “The Model” notes there is no ‘blackhead’… Indeed, I hope not!
It´s only for kids. Same model, with straigth tender, was built from LIMA (Italy) many years ago.
Your best feature: its cheap.
Nice review Tate,very detailed and complete. My road is all DC and will likely stay that way,(fixed income) nice to see a steam loco I can afford,this will be for my grandson who is 7 and a little rough on toys and such. Keep up the good work!
Thanks , Giggy (Dave)
I have a Nodel Power 4-6-2 -N- scale and it is great. Pulls 7 passenger cars on straight level track and does not quite make it to the top of a 2% grade with the 7 cars. All in all a nice running loco, creeps nice, almost silent running and does not derail on some of my not so good track. All for the $49.95 that I paid for it.
FOR BRIAN DEL MONTE: Actually, I have no experience with DCC, but I think you could have the decoder in the tender, and have the wires attach right to the motor and headlights. There s no PC board or anything like on some DC engines, so nothing to worry about. I am planning to convert to DCC soon, and I’ll write a post in the forums for you.
My Grandson is looking to add to his layout. He is going to 11 now if the model powers and others want to be here in the future they better start marketing to him not me, because right now he has God willing 65+ years of buying time. Model Power contact him and see what he wants? I just got a Model Power 2-6-0 for him to work with his birthday is in April perhaps he will write a review.
model power train sets come with this engine. and for the money you can’t expect the thing to perform like a broadway model. if this engine gets just 5 or 10 people interested in the hobby then i say well done. somebody needs to make sets for kids in the 8 to 12 year old range. these would be small sets with sturdy parts. try to get them young and their more likely to get involved. i take my cubscout pack on a tour each year to visit at 3 different layouts and now i have 3 scout and 5 parents wanting to build layouts.
i like model powers steam locomotives.im expecting one similar to this 0-4-0 by model power but it is the “old time fat boy” THANK
I do not own this model! I take offense with those who talk down to a simple model. At it’s price , it is OK!
The Model Power low cost locomotives make a great starting place for those that like to tinker and to add detail to locomotives. MR has the occasional article where a cheap plastic locomotive has been rebuilt into a very detailed and prototypically correct model. For those that like to rebuild cheap locomotives; to create something they cannot find in their price range in the marketplace, cheap locomotives like the reviewed 0-4-0 provide a good starting point and can be operated while the work on them is being planned and executed. Rebuilding turns me on; I’d rather fix up a cheap locomotive than spend a small fortune on a high end ready to run model.
why would you waist your $ looking at the same model from bachmann with dcc
It is perfect for a kid. These models are not intended for serious model railroads. It goes fast and can’t be broken very easily… what more could a kid want? This could well be my grand-boy’s first HO steam engine.