Mike Bartel started his hobby product business in 1993 as "The Imperial Navy," focused on 1:700 scale cast metal waterline ship models. In 1995 he changed the name to Imperial Hobby Productions and began to add U.S. commuter rail, rapid transit and trolley products. He offered cast HO scale carbody shells in resin and subsequently added some 1:48 O-scale items. In 2000 IHP began producing N scale shells, including trolleys. A few HO scale IHP railway products have been offered fully built and decorated, even powered. More recently, this Wynnewood, Pennsylvania "cottage" business has transitioned to 3D design and 3D printing of railway products instead of resin casting, before cutting back these offerings significantly at the end of 2021, leaving just a few N scale models, including an Amtrak AEM7 electric locomotive. More recently, a further business transition has been made to injection-molded styrene models. - R. D. Kerr
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Product: | IHP 16001 1949 Pittsburgh 1700-Series PCC Shell |
| Year Made: | 2000 | |
| City/System: | Pittsburgh Railways | |
| Colors: | White resin | |
| Vehicle No.: | None | |
| Route/Line: | None | |
| Writing: | None | |
| Notes: | Unpainted cast resin body shell; scaled to fit Bachmann PCC chassis; listed originally as product 16006. | |
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Product: | IHP 16002 1946 KCPS PCC Shell |
| Year Made: | 2002 | |
| City/System: | Kansas City Public Service | |
| Colors: | White resin | |
| Vehicle No.: | None | |
| Route/Line: | None | |
| Writing: | None | |
| Notes: | Unpainted cast resin body shell; scaled to fit Bachmann PCC chassis. | |
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Product: | IHP 16011 West Penn Railways 700-Series Interurban Shell |
| Year Made: | 2007 | |
| City/System: | West Penn Railways | |
| Colors: | White resin | |
| Vehicle No.: | None | |
| Route/Line: | None | |
| Writing: | None | |
| Notes: | Unpainted cast resin body shell. | |
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Product: | IHP 16011A West Penn Railways 700-Series Interurban Kit |
| Year Made: | 2007 | |
| City/System: | West Penn Railways | |
| Colors: | White resin | |
| Vehicle No.: | None | |
| Route/Line: | None | |
| Writing: | None | |
| Notes: | Unpainted cast resin body and interior plus white metal trucks and pilots. | |
