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
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.
trainfan1221 wrote: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!!
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
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
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
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:
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
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
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.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
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!
_________________________________________________________________
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
Joe Staten Island West
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 in service will make sure it gets fixed lost.
Jim,
He's no longer,in the service Dept., He's in charge of, ''Lost-N-Found....
Cheers,
Frank
Darth Santa Fe ... 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!
...
Couldn't agree more, Darth! I've had 125 cars behind mine. Could have put more, but I ran out of cars at the show.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
Hi all
I read this with interest.
There was a time when a RTR die cast metal body and a few polished brass pretty bits was a sign of a High quality loco.
I think Hornby Dublo when I think of these.
I am sure the US had its equivalent Highly regarded and respected brand for HO.
In the early days that would have been the product of choice inspite of what would have been the Very high price for the time.
I see these kind of modern products as a nostalgia thing and often not as good as the real deal was.
On the other hand if you can get a yard switcher of the time in good working order live with the lack by modern standards of detail and no DCC it won't let you down as far as switching the yard goes.
You won't be able to overload a main line loco using modern freight stock either
regards John
zstripe Jim, He's no longer,in the service Dept., He's in charge of, ''Lost-N-Found.... Cheers, Frank
Good, maybe Model power can tell him to get "lost."
Then a good service guy can be "found,"
John Busby Hi all I read this with interest. There was a time when a RTR die cast metal body and a few polished brass pretty bits was a sign of a High quality loco. I think Hornby Dublo when I think of these. I am sure the US had its equivalent Highly regarded and respected brand for HO. In the early days that would have been the product of choice inspite of what would have been the Very high price for the time. I see these kind of modern products as a nostalgia thing ....... regards John
I see these kind of modern products as a nostalgia thing .......
Hi John, and Darth Santa Fe,
I agree with you both. Yes Cary bodies were great, but you are unable to get one now. And same with the Hobbytime chassis. Hornby Dublo are common and easily purchased, I have 9 of them. I could not afford them when I was young.
Unfortunately for the Model Power brand name, the "Metal Train" are now heavily discounted, which goes to show that salesmen are no longer salesmen. That loco could be promoted, but the hobby is obsessed with small clip-on details that fall off, or you don't notice from a distance.