Atlas' Acquisition of MTH Tooling

There is a BIG question.  MTH says Atlas will produce PS3 locos.  Who will produce the PS3 hardware?

Great news.

I hope the 2//3 rail option is there .

Great news!
I hope they keep the 2/3 rail option as well.

Potentially great news as long as Atlas can actually bring something to market.  I use both DCS & Legacy so I don't really care which they produce as long as they make something.

Maybe now we will get an E8 with fixed pilots and 2/3 rail trucks instead of that blind dummy axle on the end of the trucks.

great news to me!

One thing that sits in limbo is the track tooling. While ScaleTrax and RiteTrax may have their issues, they both had their benefits -- ScaleTrax being the rail profile and ease of flexing (down side is turnout and fixed curve offerings).

Atlas did acquire some of the building/structure tooling as well, so we'll probably be seeing those again.

@RJR posted:

There is a BIG question.  MTH says Atlas will produce PS3 locos.  Who will produce the PS3 hardware?

I'm guessing they will figure it out since the components of PS 3 and DCS system is part of the license Atlas acquired.

"

Atlas has also acquired a license for the MTH Proto-Sound 3 Sound & Control Electronics Boards, which adds realistic sounds to locomotives and also allows control via DCS (Digital Command System). Part of the license will give Atlas the option to sell DCS components as well."

Great news

Very interesting

So will Atlas O FINALLY announce a new locomotive?

@clem k posted:

Maybe now we will get an E8 with fixed pilots and 2/3 rail trucks instead of that blind dummy axle on the end of the trucks.

And maybe in Penn Central white worm paint scheme.!

David, we don't know if the license gives the power to produce, or only to use, DCS.  If the former, Atlas probably doesn;t have an in-house electronics department and thus will need to team up with both an electronics engineering firm and a production company.  Hopefully, they'll keep this in USA.  If the latter, the future of DCS is still up in the air.  Certainly, if Atlas becomes the source for DCS components and parts, I'll become a customer

I wish Atlas the very best of luck with their purchase - I hope the contacts in the factories comes with the purchase!!! There seems to be a lot missing from the wide range MTH has offered recently (steamers leaps to mind). I don’t use DCS, but I am wondering if Atlas will use the MTH tooling with the TMCC boards they currently license...

Hopefully Atlas also "acquired" Andy,Rich and Midge.  I am all for Atlas doing MTH stuff but doesn't Atlas take years and years to get diesels out to the dealers?

Next York meet should be interesting

PS3 electronics, wonder if we’ll be seeing it in all there product lines?  As others have stated, hope the 2/3 conversion continues

as info atlas has purchased many other companies in the past in the HO world and has been very slow to produce them and some have never appeared. not trying to jinx things but I have watched this before. I was hopping more for the steam and electric locos as I am not a diesel fan . but the DCS licensing will be a big help for all the MTH fans out there.