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Model Power HO scale 40-foot boxcar
Let’s see; plastic wheels (RP-25? Probably not) mounted in trucks which also hold the couplers, as any low-price trainset car would have; Molded-on roofwalk and other details; two holes in each side for tabs to hold the floor in place, rather than tabs on the interior which would avoid non-prototypical holes; have we heard about the weight of the car, compared to NMRA recommended practice? Sounds like an adequate beginners’ car priced at $3.95. Wait, what? It’s Nine Ninety-Five? Oh. Never mind.
Good description.
Doesn’t seem like a good buy to me. There are too many superior products on the market now days.
Every model railroad manufacturer should do away with truck mounted couplers: besides not being prototypical, they operate terribly ( derailments ).
Great things about our hobby is that there are items in almost everyone’s price range & also the level of detail desired.
Seems like a great car for a beginner with opportunity for added detail later on.
I am glad to hear of the improvements, but who uses plastic wheels any more? Everyone will probably replace them. And what is with the truck-attached couplers? I don’t think that I have seen that before. I think that I will continue to stay away from Model Power. Thanks for the warning.
The plastic wheels are a turn off. I would be happy to pay a little more for steel wheels. Although this is a very nicely detailed car.
Much improved MP car, kudos to the company!
Nicely done review! Good to see Model Power taking their products to the next level.
I guess this thing’s OK for a train set quality car, especially with the knuckle couplers. Most of the detail is poorly rendered, and the attachment points for the carbody to the frame really detract, along with whatever that blob is under the door track. The cast-on running board and brakewheel make it a difficult subject for further upgrading too.
It is good to see that Model Power product is a decent price rrange. I always think of the lack of kits, everyone sells ready to run at $30 to $40 a pop. What young modeler can afford this. It has become an adult hobby. No more MDC or Athearn $3.00 kits as was in the 60s and 70s. Good Job model power for at least improving thier products.
while the improvements to the pad painting & working doors is OK, I thought truck mounted couplers in HO went out in the 90s and plastic wheels, I’ll stick with IMRC & Athearn, thanks for the heads-up.
Model Power will still have to go further to entice me to purchase a car of this quality at their MSRP of $10.00 when I can obtain a new Athearn car kit at Train Shows for $3.00 to $5.00 or used ones for a similiar amount. The molded on details, talgo trucks, plastic wheels and non scale couplers are definitly out of date details as well. The real turn off is the huge non prototypical tabs to hold the floor and body together…very crude way to accomplish a simple task. I’ve never seen such a poor system, even on vintage 1940/1950’s models! Model Power still needs HELP to join the 21 century!
I believe that this and a number of other Model Power cars and locomotives are made from the same dies used for the Marx HO line in the late 1950’s. In that context, they can be viewed as real period pieces. Old tooling never dies - it just resurfaces under a different brand name. Just look at some of the Revell HO buildings still being made after 50 years (but under other brand names)!
At the same price, why not buy Accurail instead?