Revised Model Power 4-4-0?

[spookshow]

I was recently clued in to the fact that the Model Power 4-4-0 that Micro-Trains sold as part of their 2012 "Santa Fe Vintage 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive and Caboose" set (99321121) has a number of differences over the original MP 4-4-0. Namely - traction tires, pilot truck pickup and revised tender pickup.

Anybody know anything about any of this? Is this revised version only available in this one particular set?

Thanks,
-Mark

[Chris333]

I have heard they were going to start putting the traction tires on them at he factory, but I don't think there has been a release since then. I would be interested in any changes made.

[spookshow]

I ordered one of ATSF sets just to see what's the what. Was just wondering if that particular set was the only way to get one of these.

-Mark

[SkipGear]

Mark,
 Check your mail...

The updates you mentioned are all there. The tender pickup is still only half axle but they use PB wires for wipers instead of the flat sheet.

[spookshow]

Thanks, Tony. Kind of an interesting turn of events. I wonder if it was Micro-Trains that mandated these changes or if MP/Ajin made them independantly?

-Mark

[brokemoto]

PILOT truck pick up, but still MP can not go to needle point axle pick up on an all wheels live tender?  Yes, the pilot truck pick up is a GRAND idea.  I assume that MP did this to compensate for the lost contact on the tyred driver.  Phosphor bronze is also a good idea-fewer oxidation problems.   MP did all the hard stuff, but would not do the simplest, an all wheels live tender.

Still, I can work with this.  I have the SPECTRUM tenders.  I have done more than one swap out.  I can do this one.  In fact, I would expect the performance of the newer version with the tender upgrade to be better.  If the construction methods on this are allright, the weight on the pilots should render good contact.

Just keep in mind Miranda's Maxim as explicated by ke:  The poor performance of many N scale steam locomotives is often directly attributable to poor electrical contact. 

[SkipGear]

My 4-4-0 runs like a swiss watch. With the traction tires it pulls the 7 B&O hoppers + caboose around my son's little 3' over under with 4% + grades without a struggle. I don't have any complaints at all with the updates.

The trucks and tender floor are new tooling, so yes, they took the time to redesign them but didn't go the final step. For MP to go to needle point, they would need to tool new wheels, axles, axle coupler, end cup pickup, truck, tender floor, truck pickup and possibly a drawbar. For this update they needed a new floor, tender truck and a bent piece of wire. Everything else they already had. I think it is simply a factor of economics.

[spookshow]

Put Bachmann or Kato tender trucks on one of those new ones and it should be a monster puller. I replaced the trucks on my old one and even without traction tires it pulls about three times as many cars as it did with the friction-o-rama stock trucks.

-Mark

[strummer]

friction-o-rama stock trucks.

-Mark

Must be an industry term...

Mark in Oregon

[Lemosteam]

Haven't looked yet, but does anybody know if a replacement driver axle with TT is available from MP?

[SkipGear]

John,
 The last I checked, no, but shoot me an e-mail.

[Chris333]

Wow I'm surprised they re-tooled anything. I remember offering to send them a Kato Mikado in one e-mail...

[mmagliaro]

John,
 The last I checked, no, but shoot me an e-mail.

Doesn't the 4-4-0 use the same driver set as the 4-6-2 (and would that work for a TT driver replacement?)

[mmagliaro]

Tony, are you at liberty to share any photos of the underside of the MTL version of the this 4-4-0?
I'd like to see what they did under there.

[peteski]

Doesn't the 4-4-0 use the same driver set as the 4-6-2 (and would that work for a TT driver replacement?)

IIRC, that is correct.  But the diameter of the gear is different.  I bought couple of those TT drivers to retrofit my older 4-4-0s.  I converted one so far (but that was a while ago so I don't remember the details).