Does anyone have any information on the “New Mantua Classics” that are being manufactured by Model Power?? How would you rate Model Power’s quality compaired to the "good ole Mantuas, especially for the power units???
According to the July 00 Mantua catalog their retail steam
prices were excessively over priced for a non-dcc unit.
You could have picked them up for half their suggested retail price thru a mail order firm.
The new releases, when they come, will be dcc and half the old suggested price according to www.modelpower.com
We are all waiting for a release date.
Thanks for the info. Sorry it took me so long to answer. Been busy.
They must be busy too. No forthcoming announcement in Aug 03 MR
I haven’t seen any of these new Mantua steamers anywhere yet. Up until last winter, I was planning on their SP 4-6-2. Are all Manuta locomotive projects pushed back even further?
Give them a call tomorrow. 1-800-628-2803
STILL nothing? ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
If I’m not mistaken, the Mantua 0-4-0 saddletank switcher has been re-issued by Model Power and has been available for at least several months now. As I recall, the owner of my LHS showed me an example from his stock late last winter. He was quite excited about it but I found it, at least outwardly, no different in appearance in any way from the Mantua original (remember that MP hype about increased detail?). I don’t recall the exact price now but think it was somewhat less than Mantua was charging at the end.
CNJ831
Unless major changes are made to the previous marketed locomotives, they are not in the same class or standards for mostof the models offered today.
I was planning on fixing up a Mantua 4-6-2 to closely resemble one of the later Southern Pacific P classes.
At $75 (Trainworld price) it seems worth it.
I recently picked up one of the new 0-6-0 switchers in PRR. For the price, $35, its not bad. It is DCC ready with a nine pin plug. Reversing lights. The decoder fit easily into the cab area, but it does take up just about all of the cab. A little black tape makes it fairly well hidden. The wiring connections are just twisted and covered with heat shrink. Pull apart easily while monkeying with fitting in the decoder. Easy fix as I took the preventative measure of soldering the three connections. If you stay on DC power dont worry about it.
The details are slightly better than the old ones but if you are really concerned about rivits this one will not satisfy. They did add weight and it pulls well for its intended switcher use. The motor was surprisingly smooth and kicks at a lower voltage level than the original. After playing with the speed curve just a bit under DCC it became very smooth and a low end puller. No exploded parts list or instructions in the box. Short time to figure out to remove the screw under the front of the boiler to open the shell. No big deal.
I’m happy with the product.
Surprised to find a plastic ramp in the box to make placing the engine or cars on the track very easily. Neat little tool.
I have several of the old Mantua steam locos and these are still great pulling engines. I never repowered them, so they’re all running the old 5 pole open frame motor with the worm directly mounted. They do have a higher starting voltage, but it’s something I’ve gotten used to. Since I never double head these with other brand engines, this isn’t a problem. I’ve always liked them better than the plastic steamers from companies like Rivarossi and such, because they pulled better. Adding detail to a good runner is much easier than making a well detailed engine run and pull better.