Hey fellas,
For those of you who didn't get one of the Vision Line Centipedes, here's my review of it...inside and out. It's 50 minutes long, so grab some popcorn and enjoy.
Thanks,
Eric Siegel
Original Post
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Eric,
I have no idea how you find the time for the $$$ for what you do, but I appreciate the efforts and enjoy the videos. You really do a helluva job on these, I don't believe I could even come close to yours.
Jim
Thanks for posting Eric. I follow your Facebook page closely and greatly enjoy your posts both here and on Facebook. Keep it up. I've learned a tremendous amount from your pages.
Thanks 
Very well done as usual, find your posts most interesting, learn a lot.
Eric, awesome!!! I really enjoy your videos and am at your web page frequently. Keep up the excellent work. You are definitely one of the best at this. Thanks
Wow, that was quite a show. Nice fans . . heck, nice locos. I like them alot but they are just too big and long to look good on my layout's curves.
Great engine, great review Eric!
I also thank you! if your job ever brings you to san diego look us up.
Eric, Thanks for the review. Have you had any issues with derailment on O-72 curve? My trailing unit derails when going in reverse on O-72 curve. It happens when running independently from the lead unit so it is not an issue of the diaphragms catching. The lead unit has no issue.
Thanks
Thanks
Timely review... as the MTH units (Pennsy single-stripe and 5-stripe) are now shipping as well. Very likely will be an apples to oranges comparison -- just like the GE Hybrid and Genset switcher scenarios. But in this economy, how can you NOT consider giving the MTH units a second look when there's a $1,400 price difference in MSRP alone! 
Very nice video review, as always, though.
David
Awesome review as always. I wish I could fit these but they are way too big for me as well! Sounds are first rate!
Originally Posted by RockyMountaineer:
Timely review... as the MTH units (Pennsy single-stripe and 5-stripe) are now shipping as well. Very likely will be an apples to oranges comparison -- just like the GE Hybrid and Genset switcher scenarios. But in this economy, how can you NOT consider giving the MTH units a second look when there's a $1,400 price difference in MSRP alone!
Very nice video review, as always, though.
David
Agree 100%.
I have 2 sets of the earlier issues of the MTH Centipedes (Seaboard and PRR 5-Stripe). I was thinking about "upgrading" to the Lionel version but could not justify the huge price difference...especially since the detail seems more accurate on the MTH units.
I am not sure how MTH can make them for so much less $$$ (or perhaps the better question is why can't Lionel sell them for closer to the MTH price). Maybe the tooling costs were much less when MTH produced them years ago...
Fabulous review! Way to go Eric!
I have a Lionel Pennsy single stripe and I love it!
Great review! Interesting idea with the switch to control the fans. I have two FM Trainmasters with the fans and unplugged the motor leads to stop the fans and the noise. Yours is a more elegant solution. Fred
Originally Posted by Jtrain:
Originally Posted by RockyMountaineer:
Timely review... as the MTH units (Pennsy single-stripe and 5-stripe) are now shipping as well. Very likely will be an apples to oranges comparison -- just like the GE Hybrid and Genset switcher scenarios. But in this economy, how can you NOT consider giving the MTH units a second look when there's a $1,400 price difference in MSRP alone!
Very nice video review, as always, though.
David
Agree 100%.
...
I am not sure how MTH can make them for so much less $$$ (or perhaps the better question is why can't Lionel sell them for closer to the MTH price). Maybe the tooling costs were much less when MTH produced them years ago...
To be fair, the two models really are an apples vs. oranges comparison. Lionel's Centipedes are completely die cast including the shells, where as the MTH shells are ABS plastic. Very much like the Lionel GE EVO Hybrid vs. the MTH version. That's a big part of the production costs right there, I'm sure. However, I liked MTH's implementation of the GE EVO so much, I plan to double-head two of them for the price of one Lionel unit.
Lionel also really did a fabulous job on the subtle echo effects on their Centipede sound system, and I don't (yet) know how the MTH units sound in comparison. But Legacy typically is the reference standard for locomotive sounds these days.
But those points not withstanding... you gotta ask yourself MTH at $800 MSRP vs. Lionel at $2200 MSRP!!! I can buy two ZW-L's with the money I'm "saving" if I decide on the MTH offering.
David
OGR you need to hire Eric to do video rewiews. I have watched his reviews on You tube & they are always 1st rate. To be honest I do not know Eric from Adam. I must say, Eric you must have a very understanding wife !
Great review.
Originally Posted by RockyMountaineer:
Originally Posted by Jtrain:
Originally Posted by RockyMountaineer:
Timely review... as the MTH units (Pennsy single-stripe and 5-stripe) are now shipping as well. Very likely will be an apples to oranges comparison -- just like the GE Hybrid and Genset switcher scenarios. But in this economy, how can you NOT consider giving the MTH units a second look when there's a $1,400 price difference in MSRP alone!
Very nice video review, as always, though.
David
Agree 100%.
...
I am not sure how MTH can make them for so much less $$$ (or perhaps the better question is why can't Lionel sell them for closer to the MTH price). Maybe the tooling costs were much less when MTH produced them years ago...
To be fair, the two models really are an apples vs. oranges comparison. Lionel's Centipedes are completely die cast including the shells, where as the MTH shells are ABS plastic. Very much like the Lionel GE EVO Hybrid vs. the MTH version. That's a big part of the production costs right there, I'm sure. However, I liked MTH's implementation of the GE EVO so much, I plan to double-head two of them for the price of one Lionel unit.
Lionel also really did a fabulous job on the subtle echo effects on their Centipede sound system, and I don't (yet) know how the MTH units sound in comparison. But Legacy typically is the reference standard for locomotive sounds these days.
But those points not withstanding... you gotta ask yourself MTH at $800 MSRP vs. Lionel at $2200 MSRP!!! I can buy two ZW-L's with the money I'm "saving" if I decide on the MTH offering.
David
Excellent points David. I also have to believe that tooling costs (like everything else in China) must have gone up radically since MTH set up their tooling for the Centipede years ago. By using their "pre-existing" tooling, MTH must have a huge cost advantage on the Lionel version. Electronics aside, I do think that the MTH version has better detail, but that is probably due to the use of abs shells.
Really enjoyed the review. The layout update videos are top rate as well.
Eric, top rate. Really enjoy your reviews and updates.
