Micro-Trains Engine Quality? EMD FT

CharlieWolf Apr 8, 2010

  1. CharlieWolf

    CharlieWolf TrainBoard Member

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    I've seen a lot of opinions expressed on the running characteristics of engines from some manufacturers, but can't recall anything being said about Micro-Trains engines. Does anybody have experience with these?
     
  2. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent quality. I have an FT set that I run with both IM and Kato. They are comparable.

    IIRC, this is the only N scale engine type made by MT. MT does make Z scale engines. I don't own any of those.
     
  3. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

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    I have a few FT sets from MT. I like mine.
     
  4. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    me too!:thumbs_up:
     
  5. Glenn Woodle

    Glenn Woodle TrainBoard Member

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    Their new Zscale GP35/9 & SD70's are very good. The GP35/9's share the same split frame mech with a different carbody. Hoods are too wide to fit the 8mm motor. Performance with a good throttle is very good. The older F7 is now OOP but a pair of motors will pull a Zscale house. It is too bad the old model molds are worn out. It may be possible to shorten a GP35/9 to fit the F7 carbody.

    I'd compare the MTL models with the Atlas/Kato 1980's models. Split frame holds a good motor & flywheel drive. Plastic gears/trucks. Couplers are truck mounted but can be converted for frame mount with added details. MTL does a very good paint/lettering for the small size. Sharp shoppers can get deals at the LHS or *bay so you don't have to pay the MSRP.

    I have a Nscale FT set. An ABBA powered set will pull a Nscale house. The main problem was in having Intermountain release FT's at the same time. No MTL bashers here, please.
     
  6. traintodd

    traintodd TrainBoard Member

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    I own both N and Z MTL locomotives and they all run great. The Z GP's may even run better than the N FT's, but all of them are top tier. They are also easy to DCC with drop in decoders.

    Todd
     
  7. christoph

    christoph TrainBoard Member

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    I have 3 FT A-B sets and like them. I bought one NYC FT set on preorder when the were released, and later got very good deals on two other sets. The NYC sets were the first engines released, they ran a bit rough and I tried to match the A and B sets, with good results. The MILW set is of newer production and runs very smoothly.
    I think these engines can be recommended, and it is a pity that MTL did not do other locomotives afterwards.
     
  8. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    It was an unfortunate bit of bad timing that IM did their FT at the same time, whether either manufacturer knew what the other was doing I guess we'll never know. If MTL ever wants to get back into N scale locomotives they could pick something no one else seems to want to do, like a SD40/40-2 in roadnames other than Kato's two or three, or Alco switchers, they have the experience with small mechanisms.

    The other thing I would like to see more of on the MTL locomotive scene is more Nn3 engines, they make the excellent freight cars but they are a bit of a dead end product line without anything to pull them.
     
  9. FloridaBoy

    FloridaBoy TrainBoard Member

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    My MT FTA/B set is as good as any of my Kato F's. I also have Z scale F units from the late eighties on my Z layout which still run perfectly, but if not run for awhile, have to be treated with TLC and some Labelle 108 to get them running good. All are very powerful.
    To me, MT is one company that has been very consistent with high quality N and Z products over the years--and they are a US company!!!! BAM!!! Take that China!!!

    Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
     
  10. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Aren't the locomotive mechanisms at least, made in China? I know their Z scale track is.
     
  11. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    My MT FT's run extremely well and the four unit consist (ABBA) will easily pull over sixty cars on the 2% grades of the "original" JJJ&E and the 1 1/2% grades of the "new" JJJ&E. I've had the MT FT's since they first were released.
     
  12. Tinhare

    Tinhare TrainBoard Member

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    I own an A-B-B-A set in NP. They are wonderful pullers. Their slow speed performance is excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. I also like the fact that they came with optional draw bars included in the pack. I use these between the A and B units, it gives closer and fail safe coupling.

    Conversion to DCC is a simple drop in decoder. Although you have to remove the LED for the B unit.

    :thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

    Cheers,
    Alan.
     
  13. Tudor

    Tudor TrainBoard Member

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    As far as I know, the only ones that are truly MTL are the FTs. The others in collector sets are only built for MTL, ussally by Life Like. I have 4 sets of the MTL FTs and they are my best diesel runners. Very smooth, quiet, and very good quality. Detail is very good on them too. Very close if not equal to IM FT units..
     
  14. EricB

    EricB TrainBoard Member

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    Why did they stop releasing them? Seems like more runs would help them realize more profit from the tooling investment.

    Eric
     
  15. Glenn Woodle

    Glenn Woodle TrainBoard Member

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    They do get released from time to time in a fantasy paint scheme. Lately MTL is into a military remember WW2 mode. They did a Pearl Harbor set, Navy ship sets, Army remember DDay sets, etc. The Smokey Bear sets may be 3-4 years old now.
    Please no MTL bashing here.
     
  16. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    I own a AB set of MTL FTs, they look great, and run good. They are how ever noisy. They make about the same amount of noise that a old Atlas/Kato does.
     
  17. christoph

    christoph TrainBoard Member

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    My NYC engines are quite noisy, too. I wonder whether someone has performed the "Bearden modification" on these engines (i.e. removal of the inner bearings of the worms).
    This grinding noise can also happen with other engines (most of these split-frame drives are very similar in their design), but I have not yet found out what is the cause of this noise.
     
  18. Mike Kmetz

    Mike Kmetz TrainBoard Member

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    They come from the factory "beardenized" if I recall - that is they have no inner bearings.
    The noise on early units was due to the flywheel being positioned incorrectly on the motor shaft so it rubbed on another component.
     
  19. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    I just looked at my MT FT sets and found that they have American Limited diaphragms in them. If installed, the engines would no longer fit in the box. I had never noticed that these were included. Number board decals are included also.
     
  20. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    I have had no worries with any of the Micro-Trains FT sets that I own.

    I do not think we'll see any more FT sets in other than "Special Edition" schemes from Micro-Trains. The release of what turned out to be (in my estimation) a relatively unpopular locomotive by two different competitors resulted (again in my estimation) in a bloodbath from which neither has completely recovered. The fact that you can get FTs from either manufacturer at a fraction of the original retail speaks to the market interest in these diesels.

    As far as future N Scale diesels from MTL, I think you'll be seeing more Z Scale diesels from MTL.
     

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