I bought one online for a Gn15 project , got it and discovered it only has power to one axle. Needless to say I was a bit surprised that something so sixties was still in production. Its a nice model for a low price even has directional lighting. My issue is how to improve its pulling power. As is it spins its wheels with 2 dinky 0n30 ore cars in forward but is sort of ok in reverse. Is there a better or upgrade drive for this or did I buy a nicely painted Yugo. Thanks
I think you got a ‘Yugo’! The Athearn ‘Hustler’ had both axles powered, and there have been so many ‘clones’ through the years. Myself, I really do not trust anything Model Power brings out. They seem to pick up old models and try to ‘re-invent’ them. They currently have what looks like old Tyco designs available. I saw one of their new DCC Ready 2-6-6-2 engines - pretty much the same as Tyco…
The last Model Power engine I bought was a USRA light 4-6-2 back in the 80’s - I used a Mellnor re-power kit in it - Nice running, but could only pull a couple of passenger cars up a grade!
Jim
That 2-6-6-2 started life in the Mantua line then Tyco/Mantua and finally back to Mantua.
http://hoseeker.net/mantuainformation/mantuacatalog1989pg05.jpg
I recently picked up a few “newer” Bachmanns in a group of “non running” locomotives I bought. While they weren’t bad looking models, when I opened them up I found the same slot car motor inside that they’ve been using forever. It pulls alright with it’s rubber tires on the drive axles but the electrical pickup isn’t nearly as good as some of the more expensive locos.
Those old Athearn Hustlers had their own quirks. I remember that rubber band drive being far from bulletproof in its own right. You guys are not filling me with confidence as I also have on the way an older Mantua 0-4-0 on the way for sacrifice to the gods of Kitbashing. 
Model Power does not have a good rep. I have no experience with there locos but their rolling stock is midling in quality. One exection is their real metal rolling stock wich though heavy runs well.
Michael,The newer DCC on board and Spectrums have can motors and are extremely smooth runners.
My Bachmann Alco S4 and GE 7O tonner does not have rubber tires.
I do have a Spectrum in the fleet & it does perform very nicely. As far as I can tell though, they still make the cheap single axle drive locos that have plenty to be desired.
I bought an entire box of locomotives from a guy for $50.00 because he couldn’t get any of them to run. After cleaning the crud off of the wheels only 3 Athearns required more extensive repairs to get them to run. The single axle drive Bachmanns, while they run as they should, are just that…cheap locos. The Spectrum is really a nice performer and I think it will fetch a nice price on E-Bay since it’s too long to navigate the curves on my small layout.
Wow…People still buy those things? I agree those are pure crap.
A shocker to me is I never thought I would buy Bachmann anything–until I seen the newer Bachmann run at the club…I simply love my DCC/Sound S4 and the price? $99.00 plus $5.95 shipping.
The only Model Power locomotive I ever owned was a Alco RS11 my wife got me for Christmas the first year we was married.Surprisingly its a smooth runner.I still have it in its original box as a memento.
Those pancake motor / single axle equipped Bachmann, Tyco, Life Like and Model Power locomotives have plagued the hobby for a long time.
They got many people into the hobby and probably drove many out of the hobby as well.[xx(]
I fully agree those cheap train set engines and cars was and remains a curse in the hobby…That RS11 was probably a fluke since it has 8 wheel drive…
I remember those Larry, I think they were called Dual Drive. They were definitely a step above the pan cakes.
Jim,The MP E unit and Sharknoses wasn’t to bad either…Not the best and the MP Shark was light years above the Tyco shark…I never owned either one but,recall seeing them at the club years ago.
Hello Vsmith I’am not sure how big the Gn15 project will be? But here is a link to a project Darth Santa Fe did on a Athearn Hustler. I don’t know anything about hustler’s so this may or may not help.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/173909.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=1
He does a great job on it. And few more guys show there projects. Wolfgang did a project on one to here is a link to his site.
http://www.westportterminal.de/
http://www.westportterminal.de/grandtline_25ton.html
He has some great stuff on there. Hope this helps Frank
Back on the origional post…
What I would do is first add power to the 2nd axle. This could be accomplished with a “rubber band drive”, that apparently is indestructible (see earlier posts.)[(-D] Then add a pair of brass pickup wipers between the two wheels - the side skirting/frame should hide these… Finally add Bullfrog Snot to the powered axle. Not the one driven by the band, if you put it on that axle the band will slip and wear and you won’t get much power out of it. With Snot on the powered axle, the locomotive will now be able to climb walls (not really, but Bullfrog not works REALLY well.)
These modifications may require some cutting and filing of the frams, but once they are finished the loco will run better and will be able to pull A LOT more (from past experience with Bullfrog Snot, I would guess in the neighborhood of 10-15 freight cars.)
In my book, Yugos are fine once you rework them a bit. I have a Model Power 0-4-0T that I reainted and weathered waiting on a shelf for a decoder. A little careful painting makes Model Power “junk” look a lot better, and the mechanism in it is great, though a little fast.
Hope your Gn15 project goes well.
S&S
The Bachmann Sound Value locos are a good buy and a cut above their standard line I think because of the Soundtraxx decorders.
Thanks unfortunately the MP drive is totally different than the Athearn original, it has 4 wheel power pickup, directional lights but still retains a single axle drive and is missing the metal sideframes so the NWSL kit wouldnt be applicable to the MP version.
BTW here is the Gn15 critter, the cab looks tall but its only 6’ in 1:24, lots of feldbahn (field railroad) equipment had this kind of “standing room only” cabs:
I have one (in the same SP colors) and use it for switching on a “Timesaver” style micro. I added a bunch of weight where I could inside and use a PWM throttle. Works fine. If you remade the cab and air cylinder from brass, solid in the case of the cylinder, you’d have all the traction you could use. The motor will handle it just fine, at least it does for me. Have fun.
Lou
Thanks Lou, I’ll try to add some more lead wts to the inside of the cab. The motor takes up the whole bottom of the cab (hence the doors) so anything I add will be hidden under the driver (when I find just the right one)
Painted
next up, that little something in the background
[;)]