@Frank Mulligan posted:I know MPC used the postwar tooling, but I was wondering if MPC engine shells were made in plastic as opposed to their original postwar metal shells?
My experience with MPC is generally unfavorable. Extremely light-weight rolling stock, and plastic-bodied engines that sat high on their trucks. I compare it to my postwar GG-1, which I abused the **** out of as a child and never flinched! Then again, I had the lower-end stuff.
For the most part MPC followed Postwar practice. All of the high-end steam engines and GG-1s were die cast. Among smaller steam engines only the Generals and basic starter set steam engines were plastic. The higher-end set steam engines, like the steam switcher and 4-4-2, were die-cast.
Among diesels the Alcos, switchers and Trainmasters are near-exact copies of the last Postwar models, minus the horn. Same with the GG-1, MPC models have dual motors, magnetraction, etc.
One issue with MPC locomotives is that they do tend to be a little stiff when first put on the track. I’m not sure what it is, but the tolerances seem a smidge too tight in the drive trains (also sitting on a box for 30 years doesn’t help). The big steam engines are particularly susceptible to this, and they tend to be noisy at first. After breaking in they run fine.
