|
|
 Posted - December 25 2009 : 3:35:41 PM
|
Click for info and images:
http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/modelpowergp20/
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 1658 ~
Member Since: December 03 2005 ~
Last Visit: February 07 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
 Posted - December 26 2009 : 3:56:30 PM
|
These are interesting...they are marked as "metal train" in the above link...does anybody know if they are metal like the F7s ???
BT
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 385 ~
Member Since: August 08 2007 ~
Last Visit: January 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 26 2009 : 4:17:54 PM
|
quote:These are interesting...they are marked as "metal train" in the above link...does anybody know if they are metal like the F7s ???
BT
Originally posted by taycotrains-December 26 2009: 3:56:30 PM
|
No, the Amazon seller has mistakenly listed the GP20 as part of the Model Power MetalTrain line. The new GP20 is NOT metal.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1658 ~
Member Since: December 03 2005 ~
Last Visit: February 07 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 26 2009 : 6:21:39 PM
|
Thank You for the clarification Tony...Nice engines non the less !
BT
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 385 ~
Member Since: August 08 2007 ~
Last Visit: January 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 26 2009 : 8:11:20 PM
|
At $35 pretty well the closest thing to a "starter" engine now!
Maybe some Dad's will get there kids started on these. that would be great. MRR-ing is a terrific hobby with so many facets, ones that are useful in so many ways in life.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 26 2009 : 9:32:47 PM
|
For $35 , that seems a real good way to repower an old Tyco GP20.
I have a Model Power GP9(same drive basicly) that I did the worm regear on and added the extra electrical pick ups on and it runs great.
Ray
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1285 ~
Member Since: December 14 2005 ~
Last Visit: May 16 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 27 2009 : 12:27:13 AM
|
I like the looks of this. It looks like a solid entry-level locomotive with a decent price point. A lot of people complain about model power, but I've had good experiences. Seems like as long as you take care of them, they work very well.
Now all we need is a hobby shop on every street so kids can get them. Speaking of which....I have no idea where I would go to buy one of these. I guess the internet, but what site? I suppose ebay. The very few shops I know of wouldn't have anything like this...they just sell R/C cars with a token selection of trains on the side. Sad times.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1166 ~
Member Since: October 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: December 23 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 27 2009 : 3:43:04 PM
|
This is a re-issue of the 90's Mantua GP20, but those had an extra diecast weight that sat over the motor, and located on the four pins coming up from the frame. This and the F7 weighed in at about a pound each, and could pull a surprising amount of rolling stock up steep grades. I got to know them well because that's pretty much all we had buzzing around Northlandz.
The Tyco Depot
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 30 2009 : 12:56:49 PM
|
Naturally, I fired-off an e-mail to Model Power's parts dept to see if any parts are available (since apparently the hand-rails, etc. will fit a Mantua/Tyco GP-20). The good news is that I got a positive reply - the bad news is, since they are a new product, it'll be about 6 months before they stock parts.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 39 ~
Member Since: November 03 2008 ~
Last Visit: February 15 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:09:15 PM
|
quote:Naturally, I fired-off an e-mail to Model Power's parts dept to see if any parts are available (since apparently the hand-rails, etc. will fit a Mantua/Tyco GP-20). The good news is that I got a positive reply - the bad news is, since they are a new product, it'll be about 6 months before they stock parts.
|
That's still good news. Think of how many Tyco engines could be fixed up if they started making parts again. I don't suppose the truck frames would be interchangeable Still though, I think handrails and horns would be pretty useful.
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 3448 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: March 11 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:30:13 PM
|
MP replacements would drive down the going rate for OEM railings... I'm sure Ray would suggest making your own railings which of course builds skill to be used elsewhere?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Angus
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - January 17 2010 : 09:56:59 AM
|
Just a head's up, guys. I ordered the UP unit via Amazon, and the seller shipped it in a box that had only a single packing air bladder in it - the unit had a ton of room to be bounced around. Consequently, what I received had broken handrails, broken couplers, broken pilot and cracked shell.
I'm in the midst of the return and replacement process - they were reasonably quick about mailing me a postage paid sticker to return the item. Went back into the mail with them last week. I'll let you know if the shipping department does better in the second round.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 27 ~
Member Since: December 28 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 21 2017
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 17 2010 : 4:34:28 PM
|
Just to be sure you all know: you CANNOT use the new (plastic) handrails on the old shells that were designed for the original metal ones.
When the plastic rails cam out, the GP20 shells were modified with larger stanchion holes, and the guards were spaced out (individually narrowed) accordingly.
Tobe sure, you could modify either the shells or the handrails to make them work... but chances are it won't be worth the effort. By the time you'd spend the money on an incorrect replacement part, then the time to either modify/destroy it or the shell to make it work, you'd have been better off buying the right part to begin with.
Ask me how I know this. Just trying to save someone from the same surprise.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2175 ~
Member Since: July 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 31 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
Angus
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - January 17 2010 : 9:38:45 PM
|
<snip>
Ask me how I know this. Just trying to save someone from the same surprise.
Originally posted by GoingInCirclez-January 17 2010: 4:34:28 PM
[/quote]
Tony, did you order one via the same Amazon seller? Just curious how their shipping and packing was for you - I hope I just had a bit of bad luck. Funnily enough, last night I got what appeared to be a standard form email from the seller asking if I was satisfied with the transaction! Don't get me wrong, I applaud them having the diligence to send that kind of follow up as a business practice - it makes me feel confident they'll fix my issue. My reply, however, was "Welll.........you may want to check the notes on the order". I didn't even take it out of the box, because I wanted to send it back just as I got it - so never even got to inspect the handrails beyond noting they were broken in several places.
Chris
Kansas City
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 27 ~
Member Since: December 28 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 21 2017
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 17 2010 : 9:56:06 PM
|
Sorry, but I don't have experience with the newest releases.
My situation came about because I actually had some spare plastic handrail sets from SF GP20's I had scrapped. Then I came across a pair of OEM defective Chattanooga GP20's in box, with sealed metal handrail kits... $10 for the pair. I didn't have a Chattanooga either, so it was worth it.
I donated the metal handrails to some older units that needed them; knowing that the 'nooger was available with either metal or plastic, I figured I'd use the spare plastic set on it. Whoops! I made that surprising discovery, then had to make some modifications as necessary. Not really worth it on a nicer engine, but there's tons of Chattanoogas out there and they're generally not worth much, so it was worth a shot. Turned out pretty nice, actually.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2175 ~
Member Since: July 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 31 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 16 2012 : 01:45:29 AM
|
it took me forever to get my mantua gp20 to run perfect, are the new ones good?
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1352 ~
Member Since: January 15 2012 ~
Last Visit: July 25 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 16 2012 : 07:40:00 AM
|
Model Power was good to me on parts, when I found out several pieces of rolling stock were Marx HO re-pops, and the trucks were JUST what I needed to fix some of mine missing trucks ( the metal pin in the chassis type ). I bought 6? trucks from them, they were courteous and kind, and at around $3 apiece, not a bad price. While I don't have much experience running MP engines, if any, I may have one or two vintage ones, they definitely are willing to serve the modeler in my opinion.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 16 2012 : 2:07:28 PM
|
thats good to hear, I plan on getting the rio grande gp20. I already have a 1962 mantua rio grande one but another wont hurt. 
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1352 ~
Member Since: January 15 2012 ~
Last Visit: July 25 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 17 2012 : 09:42:29 AM
|
Now if somebody would do a high hood C-630....
just me Ray... and just because I have Tyco doesn't mean I am not a model railroader
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 506 ~
Member Since: April 03 2011 ~
Last Visit: November 29 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
