MRC acquires Model Power

[brokemoto]

I will consider this good news.

MRC understands the ol' electricidad.  Power supplies was their original product.  When it comes to steam, I would hope that they understand Miranda's Maxim as explained by ke, as electricity is the focus of the aforementioned maxim.  Thus, I would hope that the steam would re-appear with upgraded electrical contact.  Most of us are not unwilling to pay for steam that operates well.  Look how well Athearn's big steam sells as does the B-mann EM-1.  Those are expensive creatures.  They pull well, run well, operate well and look good.

Some of MP's other offerings were not bad.  The FP-7 is not a bad locomotive.  In fact, the 'trainset' version may have been that elusive N scale 'entry-level' F-unit of song and story.  All that would be required is that MRC correct the backward wiring.

The buildings made  good bashing fodder.  The kits took well to combining multiples of the same kit to render a larger structure.  The people were inexpensive and acceptable quality.

I never did much with the freight cars, but the passenger cars make good bashing donors.  The HWs also work for PRR modellers..  The corrugateds make good trailer cars for Bachpersonn doodlebugs.

Yes, the MP line has its place in the N scale universe.  I do hope that MRC will keep most of it.

[garethashenden]

Leave us not forget that MRC has already totally bailed on N scale once (circa 1972). I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'...

Cheers,
-Mark

That was 40 years ago. Things may have changed in the company since then. They certainly have in the hobby.

[Spikre]

 
  the MRC Imported NKP Berkshires were considered very highly back about 1970.
  didnt they bring in some runs of the Rowa N&W Y6Bs also ?
  and several Kato 50' boxcars ?
   we'll try to forget the Yugo stuff they also brought in.
  but MRC has been mostly MISS in Locos and Rolling stock since then.
   maybe they will Up-Grade the MP N items ?
    Spikre
       

[mmagliaro]

Quick.... everybody run out and order Delta trailing trucks from MRC while you can! 

Seriously, I'm glad the line gets a reprieve, and hopefully it won't be short.

[nkalanaga]

Yes, MRC imported the Rowa Y6b, and I have one.  Once the tender contacts are working right, it runs as well as, or better than, any of the newer steam locos I've bought.  The only problem is that it's missing one of the valve gear cranks, and looks a little odd on that side.  Of course, it doesn't run much, as the 1974 BN doesn't use steam, and it won't fit my narrow gauge!

And several of Con-Cors freight cars were originally MRC, made by Kato.  Their 50 ft plug door box has an odd roof, but was a very good (for its day) model of an X58.  The body casting doesn't look bad even today, although ESM's X58 is much more accurate.   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I plan on upgrading my MRC X58 fleet with Exactrail diagonal pattern roof and ESM floors. It will be interesting just how close they come to the ESM cars.

[nkalanaga]

Here's a picture I posted some time back comparing the two:



The "MRC" car is actually one of the later Con-Cor versions, but the body is the same.  I have no idea where CC got that lettering placement. 

[Teditor]

Hope they don't get the Felicitites mixed up with the Smartalicktites in the electronics, not only will the scale and fidelity be suspect, but the DCC ability may be compromised.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman
From the Land Down Under.

[Baronjutter]

I just bought some MRC flower bushes.  Good deal compared to all the other brands of similar products.  Guy at the hobby shop said they'e going to be getting in a whole big display of MRC scenery materials.

[bbussey]

Here's a picture I posted some time back comparing the two:



The "MRC" car is actually one of the later Con-Cor versions, but the body is the same.  I have no idea where CC got that lettering placement.

Given that this was a Kato-tooled model, and that all the other Kato-tooled models from the time period were much more faithful to the prototype, I'm beginning to wonder if this model was based on a prototype other than the X58.  I understand that the overall body height is suspect.  But what was the purpose of widening the door?  Given that there have been a number of private company schemes on this model, it seems as if it may have been based on a mid/late 1960s outside-post boxcar other than the X58.  And the body height can be explained by the decision to have the sides integrate with the existing roof/ends tooling, rather than tooling an entirely new model.