Con Cor Locomotives

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

Anyone have a rating or review on Con Cor Ho locomotives for example GP38 or a GP40.

I have never owned one or seen one run.

How is the detailing also?

Thanks,

Mark in Texas

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

Anyone have a rating or review on Con Cor Ho locomotives for example GP38 or a GP40.

I have never owned one or seen one run.

How is the detailing also?

Thanks,

Mark in Texas

[wp8thsub]

If they're the models I'm thinking of they're based on 30 year old tooling and are nowhere near the quality of newer models. They're overpriced at $75 US retail and Walthers lists them as discontinued when sold out. Atlas makes both GP38 and GP40 locos that are far superior in both appearance and operation. The Atlas models cost more but are worth it if you want the quality. The Con-Cor MP15 is reportedly a decent runner but still has heavy details.

Basically Con-Cor doesn't have a reputation for targeting its products at "discerning consumers." Just my opinion of course.

[wp8thsub]

If they're the models I'm thinking of they're based on 30 year old tooling and are nowhere near the quality of newer models. They're overpriced at $75 US retail and Walthers lists them as discontinued when sold out. Atlas makes both GP38 and GP40 locos that are far superior in both appearance and operation. The Atlas models cost more but are worth it if you want the quality. The Con-Cor MP15 is reportedly a decent runner but still has heavy details.

Basically Con-Cor doesn't have a reputation for targeting its products at "discerning consumers." Just my opinion of course.

[cacole]

Con Cor are the worst locomotives made. Three years ago, I purchased two Missouri Pacific MP-15 Diesel switchers that Con Cor hyped as being DCC ready -- BULL!!!! Con Cor still uses antiquated open frame motors screwed to the frame, and they run terribly! They are far from being DCC ready or even modifiable. The Con Cor Route 66 HO scale vehicle models are OK, but their locomotives are real junky. Even Model Power, which I think are the cheapest locomotives made, run better than Con Cor.

[cacole]

Con Cor are the worst locomotives made. Three years ago, I purchased two Missouri Pacific MP-15 Diesel switchers that Con Cor hyped as being DCC ready -- BULL!!!! Con Cor still uses antiquated open frame motors screwed to the frame, and they run terribly! They are far from being DCC ready or even modifiable. The Con Cor Route 66 HO scale vehicle models are OK, but their locomotives are real junky. Even Model Power, which I think are the cheapest locomotives made, run better than Con Cor.

[Martin4]

I agree with the previous comments about ConCor locos ; I have a pair of SD24s in Union Pacific colors (I discovered later that UP didn't have high hood SD24s...) that are the worst runners of all my roster. Both of them stall almost every time they change direction and their detail level is nothing near what is available today.
Go for Atlas ; their GP40 is fantastic and is worth every penny you put into it.

Martin
Québec City

[Martin4]

I agree with the previous comments about ConCor locos ; I have a pair of SD24s in Union Pacific colors (I discovered later that UP didn't have high hood SD24s...) that are the worst runners of all my roster. Both of them stall almost every time they change direction and their detail level is nothing near what is available today.
Go for Atlas ; their GP40 is fantastic and is worth every penny you put into it.

Martin
Québec City

[Anonymous]

I'm relatively new in the hobby, and I model in N-scale, but here's my 2 cents: the 2 Con-Cor locos I have have their weights placed directly INSIDE the cab space, so that instead of WINDOWS, you get a nice view of a lead weight! (I know this can be remedied, but why not get it right the first time?). Also, when I turn my power pack on, sometimes they start up, sometimes they don't! My Kato, Bachmann and Life-Like locos are much more predictable, performance-wise, especially the Katos.

[Anonymous]

I'm relatively new in the hobby, and I model in N-scale, but here's my 2 cents: the 2 Con-Cor locos I have have their weights placed directly INSIDE the cab space, so that instead of WINDOWS, you get a nice view of a lead weight! (I know this can be remedied, but why not get it right the first time?). Also, when I turn my power pack on, sometimes they start up, sometimes they don't! My Kato, Bachmann and Life-Like locos are much more predictable, performance-wise, especially the Katos.

[CP5415]

Wierd! My dad bought me a ConCor GP38-2 several years ago. Yes the detailing is not what it could be, but mine seems to be a decent runner. It can haul the same number of cars any Athearn locomotive I have. The only problem I have is fitting KD's to it.

But would I turn around & buy one, probably not.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[CP5415]

Wierd! My dad bought me a ConCor GP38-2 several years ago. Yes the detailing is not what it could be, but mine seems to be a decent runner. It can haul the same number of cars any Athearn locomotive I have. The only problem I have is fitting KD's to it.

But would I turn around & buy one, probably not.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[Wdlgln005]

It's sad to see Con-Cor become a model maker of the past. In Nscale, about the only thing they are good for are the Budd passenger cars. Everything else is getting old. Their PA may have been state-of-the-art when introduced in 1970's but Kato-Atlas and new Lifelike has blown them out of the water. Their freight cars are ok but difficult to find. They haven't had a new model structure kit in years. I doubt if their HO production is any different.

Another problem they have had in moving to Arizona is in getting control of the old dies that make up the cars. A lot of them were wrecked or damaged in the factory. To many dealers, they became the home of vaporware, product that may be advertised one place or another but never produced. Maybe it's time for new money & new blood to take over & run this company.

[Wdlgln005]

It's sad to see Con-Cor become a model maker of the past. In Nscale, about the only thing they are good for are the Budd passenger cars. Everything else is getting old. Their PA may have been state-of-the-art when introduced in 1970's but Kato-Atlas and new Lifelike has blown them out of the water. Their freight cars are ok but difficult to find. They haven't had a new model structure kit in years. I doubt if their HO production is any different.

Another problem they have had in moving to Arizona is in getting control of the old dies that make up the cars. A lot of them were wrecked or damaged in the factory. To many dealers, they became the home of vaporware, product that may be advertised one place or another but never produced. Maybe it's time for new money & new blood to take over & run this company.

[cacole]

Addendum to my comments about the Con Cor MP-15, above: I noticed that Con Cor's latest advertisements for their N-scale PA-1 model ($89.98 MSRP) indicates that they use a dual flywheel drive and a "DCC-friendly" PC board, and that the HO-scale Galloping Goose model ($169.98 MSRP) just mentions that you "can install the DCC decoder of your choice." To me, this indicates that the decoder still must be soldered in; otherwise, they should say "DCC ready." There's no mention of what type of motor or drive train is used in the Galloping Goose, so I still would not consider purchasing one until I could see what is inside, and see it run.

[cacole]

Addendum to my comments about the Con Cor MP-15, above: I noticed that Con Cor's latest advertisements for their N-scale PA-1 model ($89.98 MSRP) indicates that they use a dual flywheel drive and a "DCC-friendly" PC board, and that the HO-scale Galloping Goose model ($169.98 MSRP) just mentions that you "can install the DCC decoder of your choice." To me, this indicates that the decoder still must be soldered in; otherwise, they should say "DCC ready." There's no mention of what type of motor or drive train is used in the Galloping Goose, so I still would not consider purchasing one until I could see what is inside, and see it run.