MRC 2015 USRA 2-8-2 MIKADO w/Vandy Tender

[jdcolombo]

Spookshow has reviewed the revised model and given it high marks (an "A").

http://www.spookshow.net/mp282.html

I'm going to order one and see . . .

John C.

[Kisatchie]

Spookshow has reviewed the revised model and given it high marks (an "A").

I'll never own steam, but it's a refreshing change that a new steam loco is high quality.


Hmm... no comment...

[peteski]

Now it is Max's turn to be tough crowd.    No all-wheel tender pickup - he won't be buying it.  Personally I also am surprised that they again didn't get it right this time (even Bachmann's stem locos have all-wheel low-friction tender pickup)     The rear coupler also looks ridiculous!  What were they thinking (um, I know, how to save a buck by reusing some long-shank coupler). Plus the coupler box loos really ill-fitting.  At least they keyed the driver axles.

[Chris333]

They did run nice when they ran.

[mmagliaro]

I am tough, Peteski.   
Well, I just expect manufacturers to use what is available to them.

I am judging the ConCor Hudson against the technological standards and capabilities that were available
in its day, which means circa 1979 when the "improved" version came out.  So I think it was an A+.

And I do the same for this new MP loco.
It's 2015.
Wipers... Driver wipers and axle wipers.  Really???

They keyed the drivers and it has traction tires.   MP steam is geared low, and when the
pickups work and nothing jams, they do run nicely.

I believe Mark when he says it runs great.   

What I don't believe is that those wipers won't become a major headache.   

One could wire Bachmann or Kato trucks into the tender easily enough,
which would bullet-proof this thing. So I suppose if the street price gets down around the $100 mark,
it's a pretty good buy.

 

[jdcolombo]

Agree that the tender pickup is a disappointment.  But if you need a USRA light Mike, this is the only game in town.  The NKP had tons of them, based on the NYC design, and several survived until the end of steam in 1958.   The heavy version (Kato) was inherited by the NKP from its acquisition of the WLE, but those didn't last as long on the roster and weren't "NKP native" units.   If this thing really does run as well as Mark's review sample (including the excellent pulling power), I could use a half-dozen of them for when I run all-steam ops on the NKP.  I could paint one up as the 587, currently being shopped at the Indiana Transportation Museum.  Plus they look to be pretty easy to convert to DCC sound with the new wiring (that now includes the headlight!).

Keeping fingers crossed.

John C.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Spookshow has reviewed the revised model and given it high marks (an "A").

Spookshow reviewed the previous model...

"Note - MRC also announced DCC-Sound equipped versions of these models. However, at least as of this June 2015 writing, they have yet to hit the shelves."

[Chris333]

Spookshow reviewed the previous model...

"Note - MRC also announced DCC-Sound equipped versions of these models. However, at least as of this June 2015 writing, they have yet to hit the shelves."

I was wondering where the speaker holes were.

[peteski]

While I (and nobody as of yet) haven't mentioned the fact that each tender truck is only picking up power on one side - it is not all-wheel pickup.    At least the loco does pick up power on all drivers.

[victor miranda]

about that pick-up....
are the first two drivers still the only ones powering the headlamp?

a tough crowd is part of the problem.

the direct competition of the Kato Mike may well be tougher.

the driver pick-ups are clever and for very little effort much better systems exist.

so while they may run well enough, when new...
when one has to clean one things can go very wrong... quite quickly.

think of it as buying a sound system.
with any luck you can move it to a good mechanism.

victor

[sumfred]

Just heard from MRC/Model Power that the 2-8-2 with DCC & sound should arrive mid August.
Fred

[SandyEggoJake]

Sounds like the explanation was either created out to thin air by some marketing type clueless about model design, or it was poorly translated from some (probably valid) explanation offered by a Chinese factory making the models.

My comments at the start of this thread were a paraphrase of a phone conversation with one of the MRC's principal repair guys right after he inquired as to the reason for the hold up.  A short time after my post, MRC confirmed a repair was made to the release in a personal email from one who has long been associated with this series. 

To quote him, "The wiring had been originally changed to a 36 gauge for the 4 main wires through the draw-bar…it was reverted back to the original 32 gauge, which is featured on all the older locomotives.  So it was fixed, and improved.  The LED lighting as it draws so little, was able to stay at the flexible 36 gauge.  This problem has been resolved." 

He also reported the DCC+sound version uses MRC's new #0001961 decoder. 

On all wheel pickup; "We’ve still got the axle pick-up (4 of .  But the material/clipping design is improved.  I’m quite familiar with the axle tip pick-up, it’s something we considered, but passed in the end."

Since I love watching some of you twist as you seek deeper meaning, I was told (not by MRC, but by their repair guy) that there is a salty "Korean" connection to these models...  but that's all I'm saying!   

In the end, this release is proving to be great runners, and I'm very glad to see MRC carrying the Model Power / Mantua flag forward.  Bravo! 

[peteski]

The Model Power locos had labels on the motor stating Aijin Korea so I suspect these are also from the same manufacturer.  Spookshow's website does mentions that (after I showed Mark the label on the motor).  The delicate (and fairly well-made) mechanism with photoetched rods and valve gear also seems to have Aijin flavor.

I also fail to understand why manufacturers pass on the pointy-axle-end pickups for tender trucks.  That is a no brainer ans the parts count is not any higher than using other methods (so the cost should be similar).  for goodness sakes, even bachmann jumped on this bandwagon.

[SandyEggoJake]

I also fail to understand why manufacturers pass on the pointy-axle-end pickups for tender trucks.  That is a no brainer ans the parts count is not any higher than using other methods (so the cost should be similar).  for goodness sakes, even bachmann jumped on this bandwagon.

Right there with you.  In fact I'm working on a 3DP and photo etch replacement truck for the MP vandies in an alternative Espee prototypical tender truck type (archbars with 3 leaf spings), designed with axle point pickup.