John, between you and Marty Fitzhenry (he did my first conversion, which probably ended up being one of his last
), I have learned that the older equipment, when placed in the right hands, can be upgraded to perform very well. The MTH Hudson you converted for me a few years ago was an old Pittman-equipped PS1 loco, and it's a great performer. Marty always advised me to stick with the older equipment and convert it as opposed to buying brand-new.
It's a shame that the new equipment seems to be so unreliable. For those who don't mind tinkering with it, there are some nice new offerings out there, but if an item is brand-new, there should not be a need for tinkering or swapping motors. That, in my opinion, is extreme.
