Worst Model Railroad Company?

[BRAKIE]

To my mind Model Power followed by the cheap Life Like and Bachmanns..Still these where the train sets that many modelers started with...

[cwclark]

I have to say it's a toss up between model power and life-like..seems like ever since i've modeled both companies produce trash i can't use...I still remember the life like ballast they used to sell at toys r us...if you really thought it was to scale than you would also have believed that ballast rock was the size of softballs....and don't even get me started of model power..that's rubbish in a box....i never knew of anyone that could make cheap plastic look so cheap...but like what was mentioned before..the stuff is for kids and not serious modelers...Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

hey 'FJand G' -- FYI - Tyco model trains is not the same company as the Tyco that has had its hands slapped and their butt kicked for Wall Street fraud, etc. This was well covered in a fairly recent Forum discussion, if you're interested.

My first HO set was a mix of a used Mantua (kit version of Tyco rtr) 0-4-0 and Tyco cars many years ago, when there was little else avail, and Athearn HO was still Globe and had rubber brand drives. This HO looked so much better than my fairly clunky American Flyer S and Marx 0-27 stamped steel cars converted to S gauge, even to my five year old eyes. I was forever hooked on HO, so perhaps it was the best mfgr, at least for me.

I have seven Model Power Sharks, and w/ a bit of detailing and fine tuning, are good luggers, just like the prototypes. They share the same huge Roco motors as in Antonio FP45's F7s. I intend to convert mine to DCC also. Since I only paid an average of $15. each for the powered ones, I think I got a lot for very little money.

I think some of the early Athearn diesels (ex-Globe) w/ rubber band drive were some of the worst operating engines at the time, although they looked good. Problem was that Athearn stayed w/ that drive system for far too long. Their 'Hustler' had two speeds - off and 180mph. (I have three of them anyway ! )

My vote for the worst HO ever was A.C.Gilbert's American Flyer HO. Close behind are Lionel's first efforts at HO. Worst value for the money had to be Marklin HO models of North American prototypes. Ran well if the three rail didn't bother you but they looked like cartoon versions of the real thing. And like most things German, cost a ton.

[vsmith]

TYCO

without a doubt was bad, they just never worked right, two speeds-either stop or flat out.

My first HO was a Tyco GP9 set that NEVER ran smooth. I HATED that set after a while and saved up and bought an AHM Dockside 0-4-0. That became my best engine and always ran great and later a 4-6-0.
The Geep became a bottom feeder in my trainbox.

[FJ and G]

I purchased a Tyco figure 8 CB&Q (geep) set about 1970. It ran like a charm; still have it and it looked fairly prototypical. The figure 8 came with a piling and bridge set as well.

I understand that Tyco, along with Enron and WorldCom, are in a scam. Maybe they'll just change their name so people won't remember that they did bad things.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by philnrunt

I remember some really sad Tyco trash, from the 70's, but I would have to agree that Model Power puts out some horrible stuff. We used to run M P on a friends 4x8 layout(he wasnt serious about Model RRing, just liked fast trains) and he had a switch that led off the plywood to mid-air, we ran an M P Alco off at full speed onto the cement floor. The X2F broke off, but the unit ran fine. After that, the switch seemed to be set more for the Floor Division than the loop track! I think after about the 15th time the motor ripped loose and we laid it to rest.

The thing you have to remember about Tyco and the old Life Like stuff is that they never were really model trains they were toys......but those were the round the Christmas tree sets that got alot of folks started....My first set was a Tyco psuedo Plymouth switcher and three cars on an oval....which led to a couple of turnouts and a operating piggy back terminal and then a unloading boxcar........it was a little while later that a trip to the hobby shop (and not the well Tyco/LL stocked Sears) that opened the eyes to a whole new world...and the coolest thing I ever saw...an Athearn FP45.....that I eventually mowed enough lawns to buy. It's easy to tra***he toy companies....but they really were not model trains.

[FJ and G]

If you liked the huge flanges Lionel and MTH made for HO trains, just wait until they introduce their exploding boxcar, searchlight car, mickey mouse handcars, and giraffe boxcars. TMCC and DCS. No standards here!

HO will never again be quite the same. :-))))

[simon1966]

This is an interesting question, because the answers will give an indication as to what we find important. There are manufacturers like LifeLike who offer ranges of products aimed at different types of customer. The fact that most serious modellers would not purchase or use anything from the toy train line of LifeLike does not make this part of the company a bad model railroad company, since the product is aimed at the kids toy train market. There are several companies that fall into the toy train rather than the model train market.
One company that intrigues me is Bachmann. One of the first locomotives I purchased was a Bachmann Northern. It never ran very well. I was on the Atlas forum at the time and the consensus of response to my problem was "It's Bachmann, what do you expect?" I never purchased another Bachmann product. However, I read lots of posts on this forum from folks that swear by the Bachmann line. Time for me to give them another chance I think.

Products that fail to offer value, regardless of the price.
Companies that do not back their product.
Companies that simply seem to be in it for the money and don't care about their customer satisfaction.

These are the "qualities" by which I would choose the worst model RR Co. I have not personally experienced this from any company.

My BLI Mike was dead out of the box, but they replaced it. Failure to respond to the problem would have gotten them my vote, but they responded well.

[ndbprr]

Wel I won't name names but anybody who makes a plaastic rip off of a KAdee coupler is right up there in my estimation.

[tomwatkins]

Lupo,
Good question, nicely put. I specifically decline to volunteer to participate in that test.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[AntonioFP45]

Gentlemen,

If I may point out: While Model Power did make some "junk" they also made HO scale E-Units that could out pull any Atlas locomotive at the time. The Roco motor was HUGE! To top it off, the E-units' bulldog nose and windsheild were more accurately countoured than the Athearn or Atlas units. I own two E7s that I'm preparing for DCC.

Just a little info.

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by philnrunt

I remember some really sad Tyco trash, from the 70's, but I would have to agree that Model Power puts out some horrible stuff. We used to run M P on a friends 4x8 layout(he wasnt serious about Model RRing, just liked fast trains) and he had a switch that led off the plywood to mid-air, we ran an M P Alco off at full speed onto the cement floor. The X2F broke off, but the unit ran fine. After that, the switch seemed to be set more for the Floor Division than the loop track! I think after about the 15th time the motor ripped loose and we laid it to rest.

ROFL!
[:p][:p] 15 times to the floor? That's model POWER
and you call that the Worst Model Railroad Company? [:p][:p]
who is volunteering to test his " high-end '' equipment to top this achievement ?[swg][swg][:-^]

[philnrunt]

I remember some really sad Tyco trash, from the 70's, but I would have to agree that Model Power puts out some horrible stuff. We used to run M P on a friends 4x8 layout(he wasnt serious about Model RRing, just liked fast trains) and he had a switch that led off the plywood to mid-air, we ran an M P Alco off at full speed onto the cement floor. The X2F broke off, but the unit ran fine. After that, the switch seemed to be set more for the Floor Division than the loop track! I think after about the 15th time the motor ripped loose and we laid it to rest.

[METRO]

We have the worst real designer so, such inspired, I lay down the question: Who was/is the worst model railroad company?

I would personally think that it was Model Power, because their toy-like trains have so few redeeming qualities that whenever I aquire one (never through my own purchase, but i have received them for various reasons in the past) I send them directly to my scrap bin.

While Life-Like's basic line has many of the same qualities as the Model Power line, the company much more than makes up for it in their Proto lines, and as such I would list them among the best companies