How scale is K-line MP-15?

[billbarman]

I was comparing it to some of my postwar steamers and diesels. Ive seen real MP-15s and real berks and the MP-15s not that big compared to one... Im acctually supprised it geared more towards the scale size! And wow, didnt know they were out to replace the GP series! 

[brianel027]

Bill, the trucks on the MP-15 are accurate - at least the truck sides. But the trucks also house the motors so they have some inner height to accomodate the motors. It's this and the way the trucks are mounted to the frame that cause the loco to ride a little higher than it actually should reaslistically.

What other locos do you have? I don't find the MP-15's to be to out of place with most locos, save for like the Alco FA, which also comes with the that K-Line Long Island Greenport set. It is taller too, than most traditional rolling stock like the 6464 type/size of box car. But then so are the Lionel Geeps.

In actuality, the cab of the MP-15 was a little taller to allow for greater visability for the crew members. The MP-15 was designed to be a replacement road switcher for the GP series, but never took off in popularity as it did not have an on-board toilet, which had recently been required for all locomotives going across state lines.

[billbarman]

Thanks for the reply. Those are great ideas and wow... so the shell it almost scale but the trucks arent? It dosnt bother my as I prefer traditional size. I just found it strange it was large compared to alot of my other stuff.

[brianel027]

Bill, as Sir James said the body shell itself is pretty darn close to full scale in proportion. Otherwise, the loco has the same characteristics that many other postwar and MPC Lionel locomotives: The shells themselves (such as the Lionel GP9) are very close to full scale size, but it is the way the trucks mount to the frames - and the design of the frames themselves - that make the locos ride high from the track.

On the K-Line MP-15 in particular, if you have ever removed the trucks, you'll see two downward dimples in the sheet metal frame. I suppose they are there for clearance, but they do make the locomotive ride higher than the typical recent scale model locomotive. It should be noted, that the Williams locos such as the GP9 do not have such a space between the top of the trucks and the bottom of the frame, thus the locos ride lower to the track and look better.

In one of my railroad books, there's a photo of a Conrail MP-15 with a Reading caboose. The height of the loco cab versus the caboose doesn't look too far off from a K-Line MP-15 with a typical K-Line caboose.

Personally I don't think the K-Line MP-15 is that bad a locomotive for what you pay. Remember when this loco was introduced around 1988-89. it wasn't too far off from other typical Lionel locos being produced at the time in the same price range. Sure, today you can do better. But remember the Atlas scale MP-15 is 3 to 4 times more expensive. And more so if you compare a used K-Line MP-15 to the Atlas. Used very good condition K-Line MP-15's are pretty common.

Minor modifications such as adding weight and removing a couple of the traction tires will make this and similar K-Line locos perform better. And if you really want to get ambitious, handrails can be added, the plastic bell and horn can be replaced with better looking Lionel ones, etc.

I don't yet have any recent pics of my MP-15's but here's an old photo of a redone K-Line S-2, which as is, has even less detail than the MP-15, yet can be modified to look much more detailed than it really is.

 

[sir james I]

for a three rail engine the body shell has always been considered scale size.

[billbarman]

I have a K-line MP-15 that came with the "Greenport set" I own. Even though its a set engine and not the best quality around, it looks pretty big compared to alot of semi scale diesels. it almost looks a bit oversized. anyone know how close to scale it is?