Model Power Going Out of Business

[randgust]

Who actually MANUFACTURED their steam?    In this case I'm guessing another Chinese contractor, maybe even in the Kader/Bachmann empire.   At least not manufactured in Farmingdale.

I hadn't been out on their website in ages.   There's other odd stuff they had, like hookup wire in weird color sets, that I used a lot of.   I think they'll be missed more than you think, particularly because the distribution chain extended down into the beginning and 'soft retail' markets instead of hard-core train stores and suppliers. 

But then again, I've accused everybody that ever sold a Roco-built GP40/C420 mechanism of doing more damage to N scale than possibly anything else I know of.

I too, hacked up a lot of plastic buildings to make other things entirely; it was simply cheaper to buy a building for parts than order brick walls out of Vollmer materials (another DOA now!)

[ChristianJDavis1]

I believe the packaging states that they were made by Ajin of Korea. I am not sure whether or not they still hold the tooling.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I wonder how many kids out there received a MP train set and ended up getting frustrated because it just didn't work right.

That's actually a really good question. It's the problem with making the "cheap" entry level stuff also shitty.

I think companies have finally realized this (look at the newer Bachmann and Atlas sets), but I can only imagine the people who might've gotten involved in the hobby but who gave up in frustration because "this stuff is junk and won't run right".

[SkipGear]

Well, on the bright side, no other manufacturer now has the excuse, "We don't need to make a Pacific/Mikado, Model Power has that covered."

Sorry to see them go. I actually like their steamers. I have a handful of them, may stash away some more while they are still available. The Mikado is my only option to bash a B&O Q4.

Most of the kits were Faller anyhow so maybe they will come back in those lines. The abundance of house kits will be missed.

[mcjaco]

I've got a Pacific ready for the shop.  The detailing isn't great, but it runs like a watch.  Hope someone picks up the steamer line and possibly reworks the molds.

[peteski]

Very interesting to read the range of comments in this thread.

To me Model Power became a very useful company since they started selling their steam loco models. From what I can tell, they were made by Aijin in Korea (which is a recognised name).  While they featured a bit unconventional construction and had some oddball not-very-well-tought-out features, overall they were pretty good models, and they didn't cost an arm and a leg.  I was able to pick up bunch of them at really good discounts few years back.

MP was also one of the few companies out there offering a full parts service to the modelers. The prices were also really reasonable.  I will miss that dearly!  Mike was a really nice guy to talk to - he would chew your ear off, but was also very knowledgeable.

Their building kits were mostly made by Pola of Germany. Many had a European flavor, bur weren't bad at all.  They provided a variety, which is always needed in N scale.  Sure, we now have lots of laser-kit manufacturers, but for certain buildings, injection-molded plastic just works better than a laser-cut wooden puzzle.  Also, IMO, most laser kits are way overpriced for that they are. MP kits were IMO priced more reasonably.

MP accessories were a bit dated. Back in the 70s and 80s, their oversize street lamps and signals were acceptable for most layouts - nowadays, not so much.  Speaking of that, I wonder how the Atlas line of streetlamps is doing. They are so pricey and IMO, fiber optics aren't really up to the task of providing N scale street illumination.

I will miss MP - another decent source of N scale models and parts bites the dust.

[Philip H]

I'm most worried by the part about being squeezed by the bank in 2007 - when finances were running strong - because they kept inventory.  I know MR has moved to more pre-orders as an industry, and I know that many industries rely on "just in time" manufacturing as a way to contain costs.  But if Model Power is being truthful and was profitable in that business model - and was a good customer for the bank - the only reason I can see to turn then down is pure naked greed for short term profits.  Perhaps the bank already has paying customers to replace those deposits and loans, but where's the sense in biting off your toe just because you can?

[Nato]

     If my senior memory is correct I believe Samhongsa did their steam drives. Someone correct me if I 'am wrong. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[MichaelWinicki]

But if Model Power is being truthful and was profitable in that business model - and was a good customer for the bank - the only reason I can see to turn then down is pure naked greed for short term profits.  Perhaps the bank already has paying customers to replace those deposits and loans, but where's the sense in biting off your toe just because you can?

Would anyone be shocked if there was actually more to the story?

My guess is that the bank's version would be different.

But look at the market... It seems like all manufacturers are "upping their games" or trying to at least (Is adding a jewel case upping one's game?   ).  They're improving their rolling stock (Atlas PS1's) or their loco's (Bachmann) or their structures (Woodland Scenics Pre-fabs). 

MP wasn't part of that.

[peteski]

    If my senior memory is correct I believe Samhongsa did their steam drives. Someone correct me if I 'am wrong. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

All the recent MP steam locos I have taken apart have motors with an Ajin labels on them. While that doesn't guarantee that the entire model was made by Ajin, the probability is quite high.

[Chris333]

When the steamers first came out I e-mailed them many times telling them what was wrong and sharing photos to show how they could be better. I even offered to send them a Kato Mikado to look at. They would always come back with something like, we had the builder look into it and they told us it is fine the way it is... Something so simple as axle end pick-ups on the tender could have made these fly of the shelf. Every one I bought had problems and needed parts to make it work. As a result I searched for deals and never paid more that $60-70 for one. All that money invested and no return sounds more like a way to get a bank to cut you off. They did have plans for more steamers, but I'm sure with all the problems they had everything was canceled.

[Chris333]

Yes Ajin built them, with the same technology they used in the 1970's.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

To answer a previous question, MP stated they were working on a metal bodied SW1500 years ago. Nothing ever came of this and now we have the MTL unit right around the corner. I was curious how far along in the tooling they got before shelving the idea.

Pola has been out of business for some time, and I think that may have affected MP's inventory of buildings. Not all of their buildings were made by Pola; their residential structures came from a different supplier. I believe they may have originated from the Lima/PMI days.

Their recent engines were made by Ajin. I actually wrote an article on how to improve the steam engines. Once tweaked, these were some of the best running engines you could buy. My traction tire equipped 4-4-0 has to be one of the finest running engines I have ever owned. It has none of the stiffness that plague Bachmann's engines and I would put the performance even above Kato's Mike. What a gem!

I think a good example of how MP was run in latter days is the FP7. They produced TWO completely different versions. Everything from the body to chassis to drive train was slightly different. They spent twice as much capital without any benefit at all. I can not see any potential cost savings between the "hobby" and "train set" versions. Sad.

One the bright side, we may finally see the last of the incredible shrunken X58. This Lima based model is a squished 5/8ths version of an X58. When put next to the ESM or even Con-Cor/Kato version, it looks comical.

Best wishes to the Taggart family and I hope they all find success in their next chapter.

[peteski]

Yes Ajin built them, with the same technology they used in the 1970's.

Still, the driver and valve gear details was much finer than even the current Bachmann models.  drivers had see-through spokes - something that Bachmann has not yet produced.  The drive train was also well made.  The overall design (including the metal shell) is not well-suited to kitbashing, but then model companies do not design models with that in mind.

[Chris333]

Still, the driver and valve gear details was much finer than even the current Bachmann models.  drivers had see-through spokes - something that Bachmann has not yet produced.  The drive train was also well made.  The overall design (including the metal shell) is not well-suited to kitbashing, but then model companies do not design models with that in mind.

True, but that is like tooling a crisply molded part and covering it with 2" thick paint. The drivetrain is nice, but it's hard to get power to it.