Hi guys.
Are the Mantua classics of the mid 90s a quality product? I am looking at an 0-4-0 online with a decent price. I understand Model Power is the owner of Mantua and all the Model Power stuff I have seen has not been a truly quality product.
Thanks a bunch.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
From what I know the old Mantua/Tyco 0-4-0 did not enjoy a good reputation. if your are looking to get a good performer, it may be better to stay away from it.
I'd like to know that same question about "Model Power/Mantua", for I just recently received a HO "Mantua" 4-6-2 Pacific ( undec ) that is DCC ready with a 9 pin plug in the tender.
I also purchased a #1823 HO Steam, 24 chuff MRC sound decoder ( 9 pin ) to go with it.
Engine looks fair and with a little weathering should look a lot better. ( no guaranties though )
I put the loco back in the box and decoder still in its package as I'm a little disappointed in the engine, still have 30 days to return both.
Look forward to your responses.
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.
I can't comment on the Model Power iteration, but the old all-metal Tyco/Mantua version was a solid and decent running loco for its time. Both of mine were kits (both are Mikados, but used the same superstructure as the Pacific and a similar motor and mechanism.
This one, with its original open-frame motor and exposed gears was a smooth runner and very good puller, too. I made a few cosmetic modifications, and replaced the cab and tender with ones from Model Die Casting:
This one, also built from an older kit, got a new can motor and a NWSL gearbox. It's a very smooth runner and good puller, too. I added a few details, and scratchbuilt the all-weather cab right over the stock Mantua cab, using sheet styrene:
Wayne
One has to keep in mind, that the Mantua engines come from a different era in model railroading, where the modeler would do the final detailing and fine tune the drive to run to his/her satisfaction. This could included a different motor, gear box or just some basic thrust washers and a proper lubrication of the gears. I have seen Mantuas that looked as good as a imported brass engine and ran just as good as they looked. The side rods are stamped from metal, so some time spent with a few jewelers files cleaning them up. Then with the motor removed, one would roll the chassis complete with side rods/valve gear across a piece of glass. If there was any binding, this is the time to make it go away. Sould like alot of work?? It is! But in the end the modeler would be rewarded with a fine running steam locomotive that cost less than the brass import of the day. Current day Mantua is made in China for Model Power and as such, is a crap shot on whether it will run well or not right out of the box. Unfortuantly with a 0-4-0 there isnt much else out there other than old AHM/Rivarossi with deep flanges, Bowser kit which is a PRR prototype, brass imports or older USA produced Mantua. Proto 2000 has done nice 0-8-0 and 0-6-0 switchers with and without sound however. Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
I have one of the new Mantua Classics 2-6-6-2's.
http://store.modelpower.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1245
The engine is one of the models with the tender and I am quite satisfied with it.
I bought this engine as soon as I saw it, it is somewhat similar to the the Great Northern L2 mallets that used to run into Southern British Columbia serving the coal and silver mines. With the exception of very expensive brass there is very little available to the modeler. Northern Pacific also had a number of similar mallets..
Great Northern had a substantial presence in the Southern portion of British Columbia and what was advertised by GN as their third rail line to the coast. In addition to these smaller mallets the L2's GN also ran some 4-8-0's into BC as well. A great book showing pictures of these engines is the book "Steam Along the Boundary" A lot of information on the Kettle Valley Railroad, CPR and GN.
The 2-6-6-2 engine is somewhat plain but can by updated very easily. I have added a decoder to the engine and it runs quite well, with excellent slow speed control. It comes with a can motor with flywheel.
I also have a Mantua from 1994, it is the tank model but strangely it also came with a oil tender. It is the Rayonier #111 model. It also came with a can motor, but is not as smooth a runner as the new model. It is also not a DCC ready engine.
http://loggingmallets.railfan.net/models/mantua/m-rayon111.jpg
If Mantua CLassics offered a 0-6-0, other than their Goat version I would purchase a few of these as well.
The old die cast Mantua steamers from way back when were good models. Smooth running drive mechanism, lots of weight. Detailing was a little plain but this can be improved with some Cal Scale castings. The new, revived, Mantua production is kinda pricey and I never bought any of it. I have a couple of Mantua's that I picked up used at train shows. With a bit of tender loving care this turned into fine runners on my layout.
Was I looking to expand my fleet I would surely look for used models at train shows. I would also insist on test running them before parting with serious cash.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
The above replies seem to reflect a positive attitude toward older Mantua locos, I remember the old ones and loved them as there were some really bad locos at the time, were the old locos good? or was I dreaming?
I have one of the orginal Mantua Pacifics form the 1960's (paid $19.95 from AHC in NYC). I built it from a kit and was only a teenaqer at the time. I still run it and it is absolutely one of the smoothest locos I have. Being all metal it is heavy and pulls anything you want it to. I recently bought some detailing kits and parts to make it look as good as it runs. I haven't converted it to DCC yet but don't know if I will. I don't know how the newer ones are but there are a lot of the old ones out there and still running great. Yardbird Classics makes a lot of replacement and detail parts for most of the Mantua steams.
Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Thanks guys.
If I can get it cheap enough then it may be worth adding details and making a good runner out of it.
The problem is that Mantua circa 1959 is not the same as circa 1967 and so on. And "good running" meant different things before can motors. The amperage required by the old open frame motors would likely surprise many modelers today.
At their BEST a Mantua engine circa 1960 had generic detail but decent proportions, excellent pulling power, a quiet mechanism if well assembled, and motors that had quite a bit of torque. They were among the better options for kit built steam at a decent price, and best of all, good availability of replacement parts.
Dave Nelson
I also thank you guys very much for the replies as I'm going to start using the NMRA standards gauge on the pacific then install the decoder.
Again thanks.
Pete, if the 0-4-0 you're looking at is from the 90's it was made when Mantua was still in business, before Model Power took over. They were smooth runners with can motors, and very durable. In fact, they were the only steamers we could keep running in the less than ideal conditions (i.e. tons of abrasive construction and scenicking grit) at Northlandz back then. We had a Prairie running around that you just couldn't kill (having replaceable axle bearings really helped). The Model Power offerings are the same engines with some upgrades, and everything I've heard about them is positive.
I think the 90's 0-4-0 had a plastic boiler shell with better detail than the old zamac. The motor in it should be similar to the Mabuchi can that Dan at Yardbird sells today. As other have said, you couldn't beat them for value and reliability, so if the price is right I'd go for it.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
rockislandnut I'd like to know that same question about "Model Power/Mantua", for I just recently received a HO "Mantua" 4-6-2 Pacific ( undec ) that is DCC ready with a 9 pin plug in the tender. I also purchased a #1823 HO Steam, 24 chuff MRC sound decoder ( 9 pin ) to go with it. Engine looks fair and with a little weathering should look a lot better. ( no guaranties though ) I put the loco back in the box and decoder still in its package as I'm a little disappointed in the engine, still have 30 days to return both. Look forward to your responses.
Do yourself a favor and while you still have time return both, The Mantua series is train set quality at best, poor detail and equally poor performers as well. They also have marketed many locomotives that never existed to particular road names but thats just something a lot of manufactures did back in the day just to sell products. For example they market their 2-6-6-2 articulated in both Western Maryland and N&W and it's not even remotely correct to anything either railroad ever ran. Not saying you should go out and spend top dollar on another locomotive to get something that is stereotypically correct and runs like a Swiss watch, but you would be much better off with lets say a Bachmann Spectrum locomotive which is in a comparative price range.
As far as that poor excuse for a sound decoder unless you need something to scrape off the bottoms of your shoes after you walk the dog sent it back as well. If you make your way on over to the electronics and dcc section of the board, you will see a title-wave of anti MRC postings. One has to ask himself why so many negative postings, answer because MRC is Jersey speak for pure junk. Your money would be much better spent on lets say one of the new Digitrax sound decoders for around $50 if your looking to spend around the same. You know the old saying "you get what you pay for" well not even close with an MRC sound decoder.
I've never worked with the new Mantua steam engines (post 1970s), but I have fixed up two of the older ones.
First is a Big Six 0-6-0 with tender. After a good cleaning and a new magnet for the old motor, the thing runs very well. It has a bit of a wobble from some light slop in the drive wheels, but it's a nice runner overall.
The other was their 4-6-2 Pacific. All it needed was a good cleaning and oiling, and that thing ran so smooth and quiet that it was nearly comparable to a Spectrum steam engine! Keep in mind, this was with the original open-frame motor and stock nylon gears.
Sure, the stock detail quality is poor next to a BLI, Spectrum, etc. But with a few lost wax detail parts, they can easily look as good as a modern steam engine. And from what I can see, they're still using the same drive wheels and smooth mechanism that they've been using for decades. The addition of a can motor can only make it that much better. If you're OK with all that, I say by all means keep it and run it.
_________________________________________________________________
I just purchased a Mantua pacifc with dcc and sound. It ran well several times for about 45 minutes. Then I tried to run it today, it crackled and I smelled a burnt electrical smell and the ECZ Commander flashed on and off several times.
I am going to try to return it to Walthers since it is only 2 months old. Can anyone offer advice to what they think has happened and if Walthers will take it back. The loco was on the track correctly the whole time.
I have not had any problems with the Bachman locos that I purchased for a lower price than the Model Power Pacific loco.
I do not understand why the poster picked up an old posting to spread the news that his new engine died.
I thought Walthers had a 30 day warranty, is that correct or is it longer?
I had thought the same thing...But what do I know?? I thought it was longer than that..In .any event,,back it would go. Plus I would not waste my time wondering why..
Cheers,
Frank