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[unbuiltnautilus]

Bad news from the supplier front. I have been attempting to contact MFA by phone for a few days to place an order. Emailed them this afternoon and received a response from them. They are entering voluntary insolvency and winding up the company.
Due to a big downturn in international sales (we all know why that is..), and a general reduction in sales across the board, they are calling it a day.
Very sad to hear and I am sure we all wish them well in the future.
I am still processing how big a hole this will leave in our hobby, so far low drain 540 motors, 385 motors, decent metal motor mounts, geared motors of all types, even the much maligned Torpedo 850!
I am sure we can source most things via the local manufacturers in China, but it will not be a one stop source for our marine drive requirements.


Still, we can always fit a 4000Kv inrunner in our latest tug boat, and just not use all of the throttle....

[Andyn]

Surprised to be honest they lasted as long as they did, as nearly all of their products were completely obsolete 

[Colin Bishop]

Not all of us want brushless motors etc. etc. when conventional brushed motors and NiMH cells propel so many scale models more than adequately. Whichever way you look at it, it is a big loss to our hobby, so to say their products were obsolete is just plain wrong. We aren't all speed freaks!

Colin

[unbuiltnautilus]

Not all of us want brushless motors etc. etc. when conventional brushed motors and NiMH cells propel so many scale models more than adequately. Whichever way you look at it, it is a big loss to our hobby, so to say their products were obsolete is just plain wrong. We aren't all speed freaks!

Colin

I agree completely. Easy to go fast, not so easy to go slow.
Also, the amount of bits an pieces they supplied that were used by school and uni projects. This will help with the slow decent of future generations into a state of general stupidity!

[Colin Bishop]

Absolutely! My recent paddler was dependent on their geared motors. It's difficult to see what the alternative would have been.

I hope some way is found to keep production going as there will still be a significant demand.

Colin

[Andyn]

It’s extremely easy to go slow if you fit the correct power for your application. Anyone who fits a “4000Kv inrunner in our latest tug boat” is just a victim of their own lack of research.

The alternative in a paddle tug would simply be a brushless outrunner with a timing pulley setup. Not exactly rocket science

[Andyn]

I hope some way is found to keep production going as there will still be a significant demand.

If that were true, would they have gone out of business?

[unbuiltnautilus]

It’s extremely easy to go slow if you fit the correct power for your application. Anyone who fits a “4000Kv inrunner in our latest tug boat” is just a victim of their own lack of research.

The alternative in a paddle tug would simply be a brushless outrunner with a timing pulley setup. Not exactly rocket science

Still, getting an outrunner down to an output of about 190 rpm will take a very big pulley on the paddle axle and a really small one on the motor pinion. Not rocket science, but also not practical! Geared DC motors are still the most practical and economic option available for a large number of projects on these pages.

[Colin Bishop]

Don't patronise me Andy, I've been this hobby 60 years and do keep up to date. Show me your working paddler and I might even listen. There is a bit more to it that you don't perhaps understand.

A lot of people do actually appreciate the MFA products and produce very effective models with them, so be a bit circumspect with your throwaway criticism please! They may actually know more than you do in their particular niche of the hobby.

Colin

[Andyn]

Now who’s being patronising?

[Colin Bishop]

Just saying!

Colin

[Ralph]

That is such a shame, their stuff might be "basic" but it's rocksolid reliable and simple to set up.  Expect a run on whatever stock the model shops have left.  I'm so glad I ordered a geared motor for my Mountfleet Osprey before the kit had arrived


Ralph

[Colin Bishop]

Absolutely Ralph, something we had all appreciated and used and now no longer available.

A shame that Andy doesn't seem to understand how much the products are valued.

Colin

[tassie48]

Real shame I have their mini drill set well worth the price and years of great fault less service,  their range of motors,  gearboxes, pulleys and belts was good for many modelers great service too sad to see many good companies going by the by makes it hard to find good parts , I have an old Singer sewing motor belt driven on a tug boat well over 50 years old and still going strong built to last not to throw away like today's rubbish tassie48

[NickelBelter]

Still haven't found a brushless controller that can get down to double-digit revs with typical outrunners the way you can with a 555 and the Dimension Engineering units.

[Mike S]

Sad to hear the news about MFA, and I absolutely agree with Colin. MFA products are simple and reliable, I've always used their Torpedo 800 / 850 direct drive motors as they have plenty of low down grunt for my scale boats. A nice touch is that the drive shaft exits from both ends of the motor casing, and there is a flat on the shaft for the coupling grub screw to 'bite' on. Also, I have been happily using an SLA 2/6/12v MFA charger for the last 20 years, good solid kit. I always make a point of trying to source my modelling stuff from UK companies/supplies, so this news shortens the list.




Mike

[Colin Bishop]

I always make a point of trying to source my modelling stuff from UK companies/supplies, so this news shortens the list.

Me too, couldn't agree more. It's a sad day.

Technobots is a good source of alternative supplies but they also depend on MFA products.

https://www.technobotsonline.com/

Colin

[Tug Fanatic]

MFA Como were just one of those suppliers who you could rely on. There might have been better products for a particular application but their range was always a good starting point and often the end point as well.

Others came & went but MFA Como were a bedrock supplier.

A very sad day and another nail in the coffin of the hobby (and some other hobbies as well).

[Stan]

Well one word sums this for many model builders SHAME.

[Dreadnought]

Very sad indeed 3 out of 4 of my boats are powered with MFA motors/gearboxes.
And I've always found them very reliable and good on current.
Dave:)

[grendel]

it is the spreadsheets of data on each of their products I always found useful, I have however managed to pick up one of their drill kits at the local boot fair this morning for £10 plus a spare drill for £1 from another stall.

[Colin Bishop]

Component Shop still seem to have plenty of motors on sale - worth stocking up perhaps?

Colin

[Colin Bishop]

Just ordered two RE385s, excellent little motors.

Colin

[Damien Mac]

The loss of any trader to the modelling community is bad and so sad at the same time. As each one disappears, so does an element of our wonderful hobby..RIP MFA...