MTH 2015 Vol 2 Catalog and Cover

This is probably my favorite catalog cover on an MTH catalog so far. Reason being it has two of my favorite steam engines on it (N&W 611 and NKP 765). I can't wait to take a look at it when it hits the street. 

Guess it will be interesting to compare the two companies Big Boys side by side

I am really hoping MTH doesn't have anything in it that I want this time, I am still licking my wounds from the last several MTH catalogs that really got to me big time. Their last one cleaned me out completely. They seem to have my number. I hope it's all steam this time as I only have diesels in one road name. OTOH, Lionel makes very little in that road name, so I'm usually good there. Nothing in their recent catalog except a few accessories I'd like to have.

Well if the production model from MTH matches the photo on the front catalog cover, then the model will actually LOOK just like 4014 does today.

What will be interesting is if MTH takes a leap of faith and does 4014 "As Restored" in advance of UP's completion of the project. I had suggested this for their catalog corresponding with when 4014 hits the rails under its own power. They have all the components necessary to produce it that way.

 

On the BB comparison post, above (I do not have a BB of any kind), it's interesting in that the lengths are noticeably different - it's also interesting that we live in a model RR era where we can have 2 models of an impressive loco (not my articulated of choice, but still)

that can be purchased and compared so. They are not cheap, but many of us can make it happen. I wouldn't criticize either of them.

 

BB experts: which BB model is the correct length - or, is -either- of them reasonably correct?

 

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The catalogue cover...naw. Same old, same old (again, we're spoiled!).

Let's chant: "new steam tooling...new steam tooling...new steam tooling....correct L&N Berkshire..." (and I'm looking at L and M, for sure).  

Wikipedia list the big boy at total length 132 ft 9 1/4"

That makes a scale one 33.187" long.

Problem is the cab to tender gap is always bigger making the length longer.

If you run on Really wide curves (far greater than the O-72 min required) you can reduce that gap and get the length right.

What I noticed about the cover is that the 611 has the wrong running gear and pilot truck wheels...

I wonder how much pennsy stuff will be offered!

Years ago I had Williams and MTH Big Boy engines without tenders side by side and I measured them for scale. I posted then to the OGR forum that the MTH Big Boy engine was stretched out in length. The discrepancy had nothing to do with the gap between the cab and tender.