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 Posted - October 16 2014 : 12:19:58 PM
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Mantua tooled Model Power GP-20, I purchased one of these just before Model Power company went out of business. I was considering a Tyco GP-20 shell switch, this unit has 8 wheel drive, knuckle couplers and led lights. I ran it little bit on a test track but wasn't impressed with the speed at full throttle compared to a good running Tyco MU-2 motored loco. Does anyone know who made the motor for these? How long does break-in normally take? It's just a DC model but was considering adding a DCC decoder for motor control and sound. it acts a lot like my Bachman DCC locos. Are Bachman and Model Power considered more junk?
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 12:56:33 PM
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quote:Mantua tooled Model Power GP-20, I purchased one of these just before Model Power company went out of business. I was considering a Tyco GP-20 shell switch, this unit has 8 wheel drive, knuckle couplers and led lights. I ran it little bit on a test track but wasn't impressed with the speed at full throttle compared to a good running Tyco MU-2 motored loco. Does anyone know who made the motor for these? How long does break-in normally take? It's just a DC model but was considering adding a DCC decoder for motor control and sound. it acts a lot like my Bachman DCC locos. Are Bachman and Model Power considered more junk?
Originally posted by khendri - October 16 2014 : 12:19:58 PM
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Going strictly from memory here, so keep that in mind 
I have a Model Power GP7 bought about 5 years ago with the low nose. Wouldn't imagine that the drivetrain would be radically different. It has a Mabuchi motor. Runs well, other than being a little under-weighted and noisy.
As far as Model Power/Bachmann being considered "junk" - depends on what time frame they were built and the specific models as well....and your own perspective as to what junk is.
I have some excellent Bachmanns (under the Plus and Spectrum line) with can motors and AWD. But they also put some awful pancake drives out too - which I would call junk (although they convert into excellent free-rolling dummys).
Model Power much the same - they have marketed some excellent E7s, which are essentially identical to the Roco/Con-Cor models. 12-wheel drive, a huge motor and well weighted.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 1:10:14 PM
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| I don't think the drive in the Mantua GP20 bears any relation to that in the Model Power GP7, which is now sold by Walthers.
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 1:22:56 PM
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| Thanks for the reply Big Boy. I'm currently not able to see how the model power is constructed but I don't remember this unit having much weight to it, just like the Mantua / Tyco GP-20. The Model Power GP-20 does have AWD (8 wheels).
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 4:09:13 PM
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quote:I don't think the drive in the Mantua GP20 bears any relation to that in the Model Power GP7, which is now sold by Walthers.
Originally posted by lvrr325Â -Â October 16 2014Â :Â 1:10:14 PM
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True... however the Model Power GP7 drivetrain is not the same as the current Walthers GP7 either.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 4:51:43 PM
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Actually I've had both Walthers and Model Power, and the only difference is some added weight to the frame, and on later runs of the Walthers it got flywheels. Motor, trucks, drive cups and spline interchangeable.
Edited by - lvrr325 on October 16 2014 4:53:46 PM
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Posted - October 16 2014 : 5:48:38 PM
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quote:Actually I've had both Walthers and Model Power, and the only difference is some added weight to the frame, and on later runs of the Walthers it got flywheels. Motor, trucks, drive cups and spline interchangeable.
Originally posted by lvrr325Â -Â October 16 2014Â :Â 4:51:43 PM
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I defer to your superior knowledge, lvrr. And add that my memory sucks 
I do recall that the added weight was a much-needed change, as the Model Power is very much under-weighted. Flywheels would certainly help too.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - October 25 2014 : 7:57:39 PM
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The motor is a Mabuchi. Inexpensive, but generally very quiet and smooth. The drive and chassis were Mehano.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - January 27 2015 : 7:05:55 PM
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The Model Power E-7/8, RF-16 & FA&B were made by Roco. Model Power boxed them in their own boxes. At the time, (early 80's) Model Power had an idea of trying to stop producing their own engines and move their brand into a more upper echelon brand by purchasing product by the so called better companies. If you look at their boxes from that timeframe, you will see "Made In" listings such as "Austria" (Roco), "Yugoslavia" (Mehano), Hong Kong (Kadar - although I wouldn't consider Kader as a high end line), Lima (Italy & Macao), Germany (Trix) and China (Model Power owned). They produced very little of their own items. They even helped to startup "Powerline" in Australia, although they did not import any items from them as they produced Australian only trains. Around the early 90's, leadership started to change in their facilities in China - the new leaders convinced Michael Tager (the owner of Model Power) that they could make everything either equal or better than the other companies. They started ending their contracts with the other companies, and focused on producing their own. But thats a story for another day...
I have a tremendous knowledge of inside information - My wife worked for Model Power form 1990 until they sold the company last year.
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Posted - January 27 2015 : 7:11:53 PM
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quote:The Model Power E-7/8, RF-16 & FA&B were made by Roco. Model Power boxed them in their own boxes. At the time, (early 80's) Model Power had an idea of trying to stop producing their own engines and move their brand into a more upper echelon brand by purchasing product by the so called better companies. If you look at their boxes from that timeframe, you will see "Made In" listings such as "Austria" (Roco), "Yugoslavia" (Mehano), Hong Kong (Kadar - although I wouldn't consider Kader as a high end line), Lima (Italy & Macao), Germany (Trix) and China (Model Power owned). They produced very little of their own items. They even helped to startup "Powerline" in Australia, although they did not import any items from them as they produced Australian only trains. Around the early 90's, leadership started to change in their facilities in China - the new leaders convinced Michael Tager (the owner of Model Power) that they could make everything either equal or better than the other companies. They started ending their contracts with the other companies, and focused on producing their own. But thats a story for another day...
I have a tremendous knowledge of inside information - My wife worked for Model Power form 1990 until they sold the company last year.
Originally posted by Knights89Â -Â January 27 2015Â :Â 7:05:55 PM
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Absolutely fascinating stuff! Looking forward to hearing more 
http://tycodepot.com/
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