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RETRO
Switcher
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offline
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 Posted - July 01 2011 : 01:01:30 AM
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what new products to stay away from
Friday, July 01, 2011
Athearn has a great name in engines in the states ,
I have a beautiful SD 45-2 with DCC sound,just love it
but have heard a few gripes just of late about the railings not fitting very well,I think it's a bit trivial
Is there other makers out there that you really should stay well away from
?
RETRO.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, WHATS NEXT !
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Posted - July 01 2011 : 01:13:26 AM
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Cheapie ol' model power. I guess there F7 metal train is decent.There "new cars" really suck becuase the couplers are still talgo mounted not body mounted and the knuckle couplers are cheap ol' ez mark 1's.LL trainset engines are junk too! MP's Mantua Classics are fine.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - July 01 2011 : 01:16:15 AM
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I tend to stick to older items, but in general, Life-Like products are not that great. I'm a fan of the older stuff if the price is right, but if you're buying new I'd stay away. They still make some starter sets that have cheap locos that don't run well.
I've also never been a big fan of the basic Bachmann stuff. The diesels seem to be underweight and run too fast. The rolling stock is fair.
Model Power items are hit and miss. Seems like their rolling stock has gone for less detail recently, even less detail than I care for.
Other than that, like I said...I stick with mostly older items. The quality was just better. As for other new products, I can't give you any advice. The price alone is enough to scare me away.
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Posted - July 01 2011 : 02:24:02 AM
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Me, Rivarossi, Athearn RTR/Bluebox Kits, Walthers Trainline, and Mantua are great runners for a fair price. Bachmann's Spectrum Line and the newer diesels and steamers are great runners and great prices. The older Kader ones (70's) are junk!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - July 01 2011 : 02:28:09 AM
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Don't Forget Atlas Trainman Line. I have there N scale GP38-2 and its a great runner.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - July 01 2011 : 1:00:58 PM
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| I have that same engine, the Atlas Trainman GP38-2 in HO and it runs like a dream.
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Posted - July 03 2011 : 12:02:38 PM
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I'd have to agree that as far as currently-sold stuff goes, the basic Life-Like trainset line is pretty terrible. I don't think they've invested a dime on improvements since the 70's. Newer Bachmann sets are amazing, considering what trash they were in the 90's. I don't think anyone has ever gone wrong with Atlas or Athearn either.
As for individual items... the Model Power line can be hit and miss; they don't really develop much of their own tooling as far as I can tell but re-use and re-sell stuff from other factories. They have rights to the old Marx freight car line which mostly looks extremely clunky and dated by today's standards, but that's a subjective opinion. Not sure how they perform. I've personally not had much trouble with anything new from a typical hobby-line manufacturer in the last decade or so.
I will say the value equation is harder to justify these days. $20+ for Athearn's entry-level RTR line, featuring fragile details, is a tough argument for almost anyone, let alone somebody starting out.
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Posted - July 03 2011 : 12:24:44 PM
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When I listen to what is being said here on this thread. All I can say is shame on you. This is a Tyco train forum. Tyco lived with talgo styled trucks. Only Marx figured out how to make them work well. Maybe because of a patten Tyco didn't use the idea. Still tyco used talgo styled trucks to keep cost down, and life like did the same. This is why there train sets were less expensive and your parents were able to get them. As a modler you can always body mount your couplers. If you know how.
Model Power also does what it can to conrtol costs. Making things less expensive. Look for the old Marx cars that Model Power has released in the past. These will run better than pure talgo style cars. Unless you track work is bad.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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Posted - September 23 2011 : 9:49:24 PM
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In N Scale, Its A GP15-1(For my Road-CONRAIL!!!-), Not GP38.
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Posted - September 24 2011 : 09:14:53 AM
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quote:Cheapie ol' model power. I guess there F7 metal train is decent.There "new cars" really suck becuase the couplers are still talgo mounted not body mounted and the knuckle couplers are cheap ol' ez mark 1's.LL trainset engines are junk too! MP's Mantua Classics are fine.
Originally posted by Redneck Justin - July 01 2011 : 01:13:26 AM
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* It depends on which Model Power. Standard or Marx style.
* Talgo trucks cause problems because when pushed in reverse the trucks pivot, putting excessive pressure at a angle against the railside. The truck wheel flanges catch any imperfection and climb the rail, derailing. also hit into switch and cross over frogs, derailing. Two thing can help this. Good wheel sets, and restricting the motion of the truck to turn. MARX figured this out years ago. No one paid attention. Marx restricted the motion to allow the trucks to roll on 15" curves. If, like I do My layout, I uses only #6 turnouts. The curve thro the turnout is 18". My track work is good. Not perfect. I can push restricted Marx style talgo equipped cars in reverse from my yard lead in track, to and thro the switch ladder, to any of 4 yard tracks. Tyco, Mantua, old Life Like, and Bachmann Talgos dont make it. Marks cars do.
* Model Power uses both talgo types. The old marx cars run fine in reverse with good track. You can further restrict truck motion, with physical restrictive devices that you can install. I do this on problem cars.
Frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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Posted - September 24 2011 : 2:13:12 PM
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quote:
* Talgo trucks cause problems because when pushed in reverse the trucks pivot, putting excessive pressure at a angle against the rail side. MARX figured this out years ago. Marx restricted the motion to allow the trucks to roll on 15" curves. The old marx cars run fine in reverse with good track.
Frank
Originally posted by toptrain - September 24 2011 : 09:14:53 AM
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Yes, I noticed the "restrictor plate" on the trucks when I was fixing some of my old Marx HO cars with new Model Power parts last year. Didn't really cross my mind about the reverse thing until you said it. It IS another piece they have to make ( and adds cost ), but the results, as you point out, Frank, are well worth the extra cents you will pay to operate it. There's also not much jiggle in the truck, as the push-pin style mounting gives it a nice firm pivot point. Those plastic fingers that Tyco , Bachmann, and others used are of way lower quality than the Marx design. Maybe another dollar in price, but what you get is of far better operational quality out of the box than the other low-cost train makers offered. I'm glad MP offers the parts for sale, so I can fix the Marx cars I find at shows missing the parts. I should probably buy 10-20 sets for future use, when I get the money.
Jerry.
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - September 24 2011 : 4:13:14 PM
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Let's not forget that Tyco was junk too  My only gripe on Tycos is the cheapo motors they used  But thanks to THIS site we know how to repair or replace the motors hehe Also I still buy Tyco locos & cars Just that the accesories & buildings are hard to get
Oh I'd say on stuff to buy NOW is the cheap stuff Life-Like & Bachmann makes
Edited by - microbusss on September 24 2011 4:14:29 PM
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Posted - October 15 2011 : 11:29:53 AM
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Athearn Genisis=TRASH! Ive Heard People Gripe About The Quality Of Athearn. I Have A Boxcar, And It Fell Apart In My Hand!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0DAj5Ll3I
Dont Buy Them! MPs Are Fine, I Sold MB A Model Power Hopper, Fantastic!
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