I was in the LHS and came across a box car labeled Metal Train made by Model Power.
To say the least the car is heavy being of all metal construction. I am informed there are F7A units as well as an assortment of freight cars as well.
What are these like as far as quality and detail. Being all metal construction I would imagine that the weight would be problematic as to layouts with inclines/grades.
I have two of these cars, on is a single dome tanker and the other a BNSF ballast hopper. Both run good, are at the correct height for a KD #5 and atleast mine came with metal wheels. The detail however lacks quite a bit, they are a couple steps below an athearn BB in detail. They are also very heavy but I haven’t had any problems with them, but I have no grade more than .5% so I couldnt really say for sure.
Joe
I have a CP Rail caboose. It does lack detail, as all the grabs and such are molded on, but with a little weathering I can live with it. It is one of the best running pieces of rolling stock I have.
The Metal Train cars have OK detailing but they’re very heavy and they’re good runners.
If the Metal Train F7 has the same mechanism as the other Model Power F units (ex Marx tooling); you’ll have an OK runner but definitely not a Kato or Atlas. But the weight should make it a stump puller.
A friend of mine had an old metal engine if I recall, can’t remember what it was but it was always interesting. I would guess these are collectible now.
Which is collectable?
We are talking about new stock items.
I purchased a Metal Train Christmas set this past December and while it was alright initialy it is becoming quite a nuisance as time wears on. A couple of the cars need new wheel sets, one needs a truck replacement, but the most annoying thing is the F7 that came with it. It constantly derails at the same spots around the layout. Nothing else I run derails at those spots. I’m thinking it must be flange height as the wheels and track are in gauge. I am really disappointed with it since it is DCC ready, thought I could easily make it run on my Christmas layout!!
I picked up some of the 53’ flat cars when a LHS was going out of business. The weight was a ‘plus’ for an empty HO flat car. I did get a reefer and a hopper as well - way too heavy!
Jim
Yes, the flat car is nice. Everything else is way to heavy! the F7 is a nightmare.
I bought a few of these to use at the club. They’re pretty much indestructible. Not terribly detailed, but for this purpose that’s not a real problem.
Metaltrain F next to Genesis:
MetaiTrain F’s upgrade with 50 cars:
Seems to me one of the biggest disadvantages of the metal trains, the F-units in particular, is the difficulty in superdetailing or modifying the shell for prototype-specific details. Case in point, check out the side-by-side F-unit photo posted above. Consider the effort required to replace the “grab iron” on the side of the nose door with a piece of wire. I don’t want to even think about the effort involved with something more substantial like blanking off dynamic brake fans or replacing the pilots [xx(]
On the other hand, the truck sideframes do seem reasonably detailed. At least they appear to pass the 3-foot rule.
The metal shell seems to be kind of a gimmick. Yeah, it weighs more than plastic and helps tractive effort for locos, but you can add weight inside a plastic shell (or even brass shell). Ultimately it’s a tradeoff between performance and appearance. Personally, I’m willing to compromise a little on weight (performance) in order to have more accurate detail. To each his own, though.
That’s a great looking layout you have started!! So you have no problems running the metal F7? Mine would have jumped the track long before the end of the video!
I purchased a F7 metal train and had the opposite result. Found where some of my loco"s derailed the F7 went over the track with no problems. Very good puller of freight wagons. The only complant is that it is abit noisy at times.
I’ve never been too impressed with the looks of the Metaltrain F7. It looked alright in the pictures, but I’ve seen them up close, and even the old Tyco F7 looks quite a bit better to me.
Model Power diesel drives are hit and miss. They can be very smooth runners, or terrible runners.
But what will the ultimate metal F unit always be? A Cary body with a Hobbytown chassis! Good looking, super heavy, smooth running, and indestructible![:D]
Hi,
For myself, being into model railroads, means just that. These are toys, I play with them. The Model Power metal F7 is perfect for me, because it looks good from a distance, and is made with the stuff they made toys of years ago - metal. Yes molded on hand rails are old fashioned, but from 3 feet, you don’t notice. Model Power have used modern CAD technology to design these. Combined with Chinese manufacture, at around $50, they represent great value, and run smoothly.
regards
Kimball
I have 2 of the metal cars. an ATSF Tanker and a Hopper which I believe is also ATSF. have not used the hopper much except as a basin for small parts, but the tanker runs well especially after I changed the couplers to kadee #5’s
I think the hopper model, is one designed for carrying and discharging track ballast. Rarely modeled by anyone.
Model Power are attempting unusual stuff. In Europe, only the high end manufacturers use metal (think Marklin and HAG), and even Liliput (a Bachmann brand) has a go with some models. Regards, Kimball…
Model Power also has one of the most unique service policy’s in the hobby. If it breaks, simply send it back and Michael [xx(] in service will make sure it gets fixed lost.