With the eventual demise of the MP Mike inventory soon to be depleted who is the next possibility of seeing that wheel arrangement issue from. My money is on the Bmann. They once had a old wide firebox, Wooten version I believe common to Eastern roads, that hasn't been in production now for a long time. However they do have several eight drivered mechanisms to start from such as the heavy and light Mountains and the smaller Consolidation. On the two former it is a matter of tweaking the front end to accommodate a two wheeled pilot truck rather than the current four wheel. With the Consolidation mechanism it becomes a matter of a slight lengthening the back of the mechanism to accept a two wheel trailing truck. And unless I am mistaken they have the resources to undertake such projects without breaking a sweat and a lot of the current components can be used in the new wheel arrangement which saves money. So I would not be surprised to see both heavy and light versions show up in a few years like they did with the Mountains. Kato is the only other player for this wheel arrangement in my book at this time and the only one who could fill the gap within the next year. As far as the Pacific goes all bets are off as to who might fill the gap. Kato would be the best bet as they have that wheel arrangement but not in an American prototype. And again maybe the Bmann but they have never produced that wheel arrangement. However they do have the Graham Farish line and there are some six drivered arrangements, although all in European formats. About the only other player that could step into the ring with one or the other wheel arrangement could be Atlas if they decide the market is there. But that again would be several years away.
I think the question will be answered by whoever buys the tooling from Model Power or it's lender. I cannot imagine that the tooling will go away
Big issue as to whether MP owns the tooling or Anjin, and if it is MP whether they have the resources to get it back from them with the not so good relations between the two as had been noted elsewhere. Wouldn't be the first time that tooling has lain on the dusty shelf somewhere because of various issues including who owns the patent.
Personally, I think we will all have to wait for quite some time. I don't think anyone will be picking up any of the tooling for their steam. Which is unfortunate. I still smell a rat somewhere in this mess. We are now all going to have to start hoarding these steamers when we get a chance. I don't believe Kato has any more interest in American steam. Unless its currently on the rails now. Bachman, maybe, just as long as it is not a repeat of the original. Athearn? Thats a stretch. How cant Con Cor? Would be nice. But they are very slow.. Given this economy, and current political under pinnings. It maybe a while before things come back round. Sent from my Commando
I run Mikes as the largest steamers on my layout and had a hard time finding one that was not MP. I have a few older ones, in brass, but the only thing I came across was an Athearn Genisis on ebay. Scarfed it up for $50.
All, I seem to remember the ATLAS / RIVAROSSI MIKADO's of which I have three that I have repowered with a MABUCHI Motor, one of my three ATLAS / RIVAROSSI 2-8-2's has a tri axle DP -DELPRADO- tender. Tom
Here is a little clip out of an article on the WWW that may shed some more light on things that may happen. Model Power is working to fulfill any previously placed orders and settle any previously stated customer service concerns, he said. The company is also exploring licensing options for its product lines and the possibility of selling off any of its tooling that might be readily available, Tager said. He said he expects the entire Model Power operation to end within a week or two. “We thank everybody for all of their support over the years, and we apologize for any inconveniences,” Tager said. “It was never our intention to have this kind of event occur.” As a side note for the HO folks that also includes the long time brand of Mantua.
I have an Atlas/RR 2-8-2 on Ebay now. Mebbe I should pull it back and wait? Hmmmm. When I sell my last 0-8-0 and 4-6-2 I will be out of the old RR steamers. Still have my Bachmann 0-4-0 from 1971 with the gray plastic valve gear. Remotored with a 5 pole and it runs as good as new. Pulls 4 log cars up a 5% 10" radius curve to the woods. Al
I hope that is the case John. But I am not keeping my fingers crossed. If it happens, great! But with all the bad rap the steamers get from everyone, I doubt they will find a buyer. And if they do, it will still be quite some time before they get back out there. I see lots of folks complain about the steam. But i have never had issues with pickup, and my track work ain't that great. And now that the bare drivers are worked in good, they pull well. It was a trick to convert to dcc. Thats for sure. But it got done... Sent from my Commando
Delprado makes/made a tri-axle tender? No, really... Del Prado makes/made a tri-axle tender? I assume that you are referring to the Crescent Ltd. model???
I place my "vote" for KATO to offer their Mikado again with KOBO dcc as an option. I have five of them and none have had decoders installed. I have had z decoders installed in Model Power pacifics and 4-4-0 locomotives, so I feel that space for a decoder in the tender should not be a limitation.
If there is a market for what Model Power was making, someone will fill that market. We have a number of manufacturers who have done excellent steam models in N scale: Athearn; Kato; Fox Valley (the Milwaukee 4-4-0); and of course Bachmann, whose recent releases really are quite amazing. I would think that some manufacturer would view MP's exit as their opportunity, particularly for something like the USRA Light Mike, which nearly every railroad used, often right up until the end of steam in the 1950's. We should remember that the world has shifted dramatically in terms of expectations for models. They need to be DCC-ready (easily convertible) and for steam, probably need to be sound-ready, if not an option for sound already installed. I never owned an MP steamer, but the designs are no where near what modern expectations would call for. I can't believe I'm saying this, but my hope would be for Bachmann to do a Spectrum version of the light Mike with a dual-mode decoder already installed and an easy conversion to sound. I think it would sell. And remember, there are still major holes in steam production. Where is the 4-6-4 Hudson? The ConCor version was OK, but just like MP's steam, the design has long since been surpassed by expectations. A generic Atlantic and Pacific; and maybe a 2-10-4, in both the Santa Fe and C&O versions. And let's not get started on the need for a good lineup of Pennsy steam . . . John C.
In truth, the MP designs were oh-so-close to 'what modern expectations would call for'. While the initial releases of the Pacific and Mikado were quite lacking, MP did alter quickly the spring pick-ups on the tenders and did add the traction tyres to the last issues of the Pacifics and Mikados (although I have never seen any of them with the tyres, I have had enough people tell me that they do exist. They listened to their public when, on the mogul and eight wheeler, they offered separately applied handrailing and other details. They added traction tyres to the mogul. They did state that they would leave the traction tyres off the eight wheeler so as not to compromise the electrical contact. The only thing that was lacking on the MP steam was the all wheels live needlepoint axle tender pick up. Had MP blown off what the manufacturer was telling it and compelled it to add these types of tenders, these things would have been real winners. A tender that was up to 'what modern expectations would call for' was the ONE thing that kept down the MP steam. Sure, we tinkerers bought these things and swapped out the stock tender for Kato or B-mann SPECTRUM tenders, but there were many who felt that doing the swap was beyond their capabilities. The MP steam will creep nicely and run smoothly, as long as they maintain proper contact. Yes, they are a bit noisy, but I will accept noise for a good runner. With the traction tyres combined with metal boiler, they are good pullers. The mogul will pull fifteen loaded MT gondolas and a wood MT caboose up a one per cent grade at TEN SMPH and do it smoothly with no sign of a slip. I did not try more than fifteen loaded cars, but, as it showed no sign of slip, I am sure that it will do more. Had MP done with its tenders what Kato and Bachpersonn did with its, they would have been in the same league.
I agree with Brokemoto's comments. I'd rather have someone re-issue the MP Mikado with improved tender pickup than Kato rerun theirs as is.
Not to worry. I have 1 of each MP steamer, except the 4-4-0. I just really like the metal body. I was hoping MP would redo them. It must go back to starting with a metal steamer in O... Anyway, I just bought the last 4-4-0 my favorite retailer had listed. I'm sure that means they will all be bought, retooled with metal bodies, better pickup and better details, by next year. You can all thank me now and I will consider it a small sacrifice. You can't make me stop dreaming! Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Over the years I have purchased seven steam locomotives (n-scale) made by Model Power. These include two of the 4-4-0s, three of the 4-6-2 and most recently after the announcement one 2-8-2. I have hired dcc decoder installs in the first five and the 2-8-2 is now out for the installation. I would like for one of the surviving companies to purchase this line from Model Power and continue to built on the line with dcc installed and dcc sound in mind. I have five Kato 2-8-2s from various runs, none of dcc so far, and two Kato GS-4s both with dcc and sound installed. I have several Bachmann dual-mode decoder steam locomotives and am delighted with them. More recently, I sent the two Atlas Americans 4-4-0s for dcc decoder install and am pleased with them.
This thread convinced me.....I ebayed a(NIB) MP Mike last night....UP or SP.... either way it'll be redone to fit my road. 75.00 +5.00 ....
I have the two NYC releases from the 1990's. I just completed a comprehensive list of all 30 available Kato Mikado's. I used information from Kato Customer service as a source. Kato 2-8-2 Mikado List For any who are interested. I counted both versions of 126-0211 (CB&Q) since it appears to be available in road numbers 5502 and 5510. This list counts 126-0200 twice since it was re-released in 2007 with a higher list price ($175). The list also includes the Kato 20th anniversary edition (126-2006). Enjoy.
