Did Model Railroader or RMC ever run a review of these engines. Does anyone have any opinions of them. I am used to the old Model Power stuff, (and there is no need to bad-mouth them on this thread) but are these new engines worth their price? And how do they compare to the quality of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 or the MDC/Athearn steam engines? Thanks.
Benjamin Maggi, Law Student
Nobody has any opinions on this locomotive, or experience with it?
Hi Benjamin,
See “N scale USRA light Pacific,” by David Popp, in “Model Railroader,” April 2003 page 20.
I remembered that we had run the review, and I found it by going to the Index of Magazines on this Web site and doing a keyword search on Model Power 4-6-2 in “Model Railroader.”
So long,
Andy
I hesitated to answer because I don’t own one myself (although I am still considering getting one).
If you go to the N scale specific forums at either Trainboard.com or Atlasrr.com, and do a search on some combination of MP or Model Power + Pacific or 4-6-2, you’ll find a large number of posts talking about these engines. Since most of the discussion happened soon after the release, and since Atlas made a number of changes to their forum software last year, you might have to search in ‘archived posts’ over there.
The condensed version is that they have great detail, but when they came out there were a number of mechanical problems with the first release. MP went and made some changes before making a second release and, if I recall correctly, the locos from the second release were generally well regarded. There is a way to distinguish whether a loco is from the first release or second, but I don’t remember the details. But it is discussed in those threads.
Regards
Ed
Thanks for the replies!
scoobster28 (Benjamin)
Okay smart guy… (I say that because you’d have to be smart to be a law student…)
I own one of the engines in question, and as far as my opinion of it goes, I’d have to say that it lacks detail and can’t pull more than ten cars at best. The body is diecast, which of course makes it heavy and takes away from it’s pulling power. I was warned before I bought it, but wouldn’t listen. That said, I also wouldn’t take anything for it because I’ve grown use to its short comings… ([:)])
Tracklayer
Hmmm. Tracklayer, maybe I have thought about this issue the wrong way all this time, but I thought that a heavier version of a given engine would have MORE pulling power because it had more bite on the rails. For example, my little P2K Heritage 0-6-0 just spins if I make it pull too much, but that spinning suggests that its weight is the limiting factor (or the friction that the weight on the drivers imparts to the rail surface), and not the power. Otherwise, the motor would stall if the loco was too heavy…right? So, until the weight added to a loco stops the wheels from spinning, AND the motor also to stall, the spinning suggests that a heavier loco, that would get even more bite, would pull even more if the extra bite stopped the spinning while allowing the motor to continue to move the entire train.
Of course, gradient would have a bearing on this problem, but you could argue that a heavier 0-6-0 that got more bite should pull better up that gradient, and pull more, until the combined weight of the loco, and everything it was dragging, caused it to stall…not just to spin.
The tip to take this question over to Trainboard or Atlas Nscale forum is a good one. You will find more stramers there.
In the initial release, Model Power had problems with the engine. The second runs have been better. Traction has been improved by using traction tires, but you do that yourself. Searching the abovforums for directions.
Out of the box, the MDC/Athearn Consolidation may be the best of the bunch, if you don’t mind the 1880 era time. I expect Athearn to do the Mogul shortly, along with Overland cars. They have improved on the MDC model with new Accumate couplers & paint schemes.
Both Bachmann and Model Power may have quality problems. Go down to your LHS and test run each one. Both need some break in time.
Another model to consider is the Atlas Shay & little 2-6-0 Mogul. Be careful to run the shay slowly. Run it fast & you may find small parts on the roadbed. The little Mogul is a good replacement for Bachmann’s old 4-4-0 American. High on the cute factor pulling a set of Athearn/MDC Overton coaches or old timer freights.
Thanks again. I am not a real smart guy, I only say that because when some other board members heard I was a “student” they went after me. I might just keep checking ebay for a cheap MP Pacific. I like the Athearn/MDC ones, but the huge smoke box extending in front of the snokestack makes it look tacky to me. Maybe I could shorten the smoke box. Hum… [:)]
“Hey selector”.
Yea. I’ve got an N scale Model Power 4-6-2 (Southern Pacific), and like I said, it will only pull about ten cars on a flat track. It’s not a race car either, and rates about equal to a Spectrum as far as its speed goes. As for the weight, I’ve got a Kato Mikado that weighs half of what it does and can pull twice as many cars. Go figure…
Tracklayer