MTH gauge one info on Trainworld Facebook this morning

Mike W owner of MTH trains also stated some more G scale info on the TCA video from York. He stated that it's really expensive to make anything in G scale because the molds are so big and expensive. He did state that he has drawings for a new diesel and it's timing would be slow to move forward as it's a smaller niche market.

 So someday we may get a new diesel and maybe even another new steamer. I won't exactly hold my breath, but I do expect to see them someday. I think it will be great to have a second modern diesel in the lineup from MTH one gauge. I'd like to get at least three of them to start. In the meantime I will work the first gens and the dash 8s to the max.

 He also states the reason for the delay of the newest dash 8s. They had to get a new supplier for the motors.

go to about 15:30 minutes into the video.

MTH Gauge One, I have asked, for about 15 years or so it seems, any MTH representative I could, Please make the BAGGAGE and DOME add ons for all the Passenger car sets, as it is the 4 coach's  and an Observation are such an incomplete set.

Thanks RWDeano 

I hope they eventually release a more generic steam engine like a Baldwin Northern, Mikado, or Pacific. Their current steam line-up is VERY road specific - 2 UP (Challenger, Big Boy), 1 SP (GS4), 1 Erie (Triplex), and 1 NYC (Hudson).   At least on the Diesel end they've done some relatively generic units like the F3, F7, and Dash-8.   

RWDeano posted:

MTH Gauge One, I have asked, for about 15 years or so it seems, any MTH representative I could, Please make the BAGGAGE and DOME add ons for all the Passenger car sets, as it is the 4 coach's  and an Observation are such an incomplete set.

Thanks RWDeano 

I agree. I have obtained a spare set of trucks and thought about making my own baggage. I have too much else to do on my list. They finally added LEDs to the cars. Unfortunately all of mine have to be modified. That is taking longer than I thought it would. Of course, it would have been better if I had bought sitting passengers before taking each car apart. So now each has to come back apart for inside detailing. I hate the yellowish plastic.

 I may also swap each car over to battery so they roll better. I was amazed at how much drag a big consist of them have. It can stall an underpowered train on a decent hill.

MTH Gauge 1 BAGGAGE and DOMES would be a "GREAT" big step, details, LED's all would be great in time also.

Say what about MTH Gauge 1 53' stand alone "HUSKY STACKS" with 53' containers for all those  D-8's  wouldn't those would be a great addition also.

Investment in dies, to return, would surely be there, I know I would pre order.

If I live long enough, maybe we will see these. HA

RWDeano

I think MTH dabbled in modern with the MTH gauge one dash 8s. I believe those and the Challengers were the first made. I could only guess they felt the market preferred older era stuff. So every gauge one engine after that was targeting the older eras.

 So did the dash 8s not sell well? Did the dealers decide to tell MTH something about this? Was it some verbal response at train shows?

I was told that the later release of the triplex did not sell well. So any modern releases were abandoned after that? Maybe they felt that VO1000s and F series were the tell all for more modern stuff?

 I have constantly asked for modern in gauge one without much help publicly from others. Maybe three or four at the most. So even I gave up. Just look at what Aristo dash 9s are selling for right now. All plastic and not strong plastic either.

PS. I had no interest in a triplex whatsoever. I stumbled on one that was broken for a great price. After fixing it and modifying it's weak points, the thing is a beast. I throw everything I have at it trying to see it's limits. I still don't desire it much but I respect the effort to bring it to market ......     

and I'm going to bet that it outlasts me!

At 16:25 into the TCA video he states that he is hesitant to start a new diesel project. He has the drawings for it. He also has the prototype!

MIKE W.!

Sell me the prototype!!!! 

I might even consider rooting for the fish! ???

Engineer-Joe posted:

I think MTH dabbled in modern with the MTH gauge one dash 8s. I believe those and the Challengers were the first made. I could only guess they felt the market preferred older era stuff. So every gauge one engine after that was targeting the older eras.

 So did the dash 8s not sell well? Did the dealers decide to tell MTH something about this? Was it some verbal response at train shows?

I was told that the later release of the triplex did not sell well. So any modern releases were abandoned after that? Maybe they felt that VO1000s and F series were the tell all for more modern stuff?

 I have constantly asked for modern in gauge one without much help publicly from others. Maybe three or four at the most. So even I gave up. Just look at what Aristo dash 9s are selling for right now. All plastic and not strong plastic either.

PS. I had no interest in a triplex whatsoever. I stumbled on one that was broken for a great price. After fixing it and modifying it's weak points, the thing is a beast. I throw everything I have at it trying to see it's limits. I still don't desire it much but I respect the effort to bring it to market ......     

and I'm going to bet that it outlasts me!

I think MTH has a lot of competition for detailed Modern equipment between existing Aristo inventory and USA trains current modern market domination.  You know as well as anyone, the 1:29 adherents are dead aet against buying MTH and they are mostly modern.  As such, all their cash is going to USA or used Aristo.

 By comparison, the Aristo steam options were very poorly detailed  and the nicer USA / Accucraft options are very expensive.  This leaves MTH a market niche with their highly detailed plastic steam engines. 

My question for Mike would be why when they know the market is so small, do they keep producing steam locomotives which have an even smaller market?  Why not make some USRA Mikado's or Baldwin Northerns?  Hell, the current Hudson is basically a Pacific in scale.  Mountain, Berkshire, Prairie...any generic model would fly in G scale at this point cause nobody is making them.  

Good reply! I hadn't looked at it that way. Aristo's sales seemed like they had dropped so low, that everything was at blow out prices near the end. Now the market fights even over an old used piece with really high demand for them. I feel that the plastic used in the Aristo Dash 9s and the SD45s could have been better. I see many used ones with broken pilots and steps.

 As far as USA dominating the modern diesel market, you are probably correct. I think that buyers got used to paying lower prices for engines with plastic gears and that didn't help the market. I wish USA would offer their diesels with a high end option with better made trucks that will last under higher stress/working conditions.

 As far as the whole 1/29 scale crowd, it kills me that they won't look at a 1/32 scale product.  I understand until I see them run a LGB product next to the 1/29 that dwarfs it. I believe some are in the 1/25 range?? Than there's the giant scale ones (1/21??) that seem to be well liked on the same rails?

 G scale is a mess and I have never been sure of any proper cure. I look at USA owners who mount Aristo couplers in various ways on their equipment in an effort to have them get along with all the other brands. The LGB couplers on my Genesis won't couple to anything else I own? Forget about the size difference.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Good reply! I hadn't looked at it that way. Aristo's sales seemed like they had dropped so low, that everything was at blow out prices near the end. Now the market fights even over an old used piece with really high demand for them. I feel that the plastic used in the Aristo Dash 9s and the SD45s could have been better. I see many used ones with broken pilots and steps.

 As far as USA dominating the modern diesel market, you are probably correct. I think that buyers got used to paying lower prices for engines with plastic gears and that didn't help the market. I wish USA would offer their diesels with a high end option with better made trucks that will last under higher stress/working conditions.

 As far as the whole 1/29 scale crowd, it kills me that they won't look at a 1/32 scale product.  I understand until I see them run a LGB product next to the 1/29 that dwarfs it. I believe some are in the 1/25 range?? Than there's the giant scale ones (1/21??) that seem to be well liked on the same rails?

 G scale is a mess and I have never been sure of any proper cure. I look at USA owners who mount Aristo couplers in various ways on their equipment in an effort to have them get along with all the other brands. The LGB couplers on my Genesis won't couple to anything else I own? Forget about the size difference.

I concur.  It's a big mess.  Just as you mention, I see tons of LGB product running with 1/29 - some of it works, but most of it looks off.   It's not unlike O prior to the 2000s scale moves by Lionel and MTH.  Lets line up some scale Weaver cars behind an O-27 engine on tin 3-rail track.   O has moved away from toys towards more scale equipment.  As costs rise, maybe one gauge / G scale will follow suit.  

I personally would like to see MTH make some progressive moves in their control system and I think One Gauge is a good place to testing such ground.  Most one gauge people want to run outside, they want Battery RC, and they will go to great lengths to make that happen. That's been one of the big anti-messages from the 1:29 group about MTH.  It'd be nice to see MTH bring to market a locomotive with built in wifi control or rc control with a built in plug for a trailing battery car.