MTH News Flash

Wow... stepping up to Lionel right away with the SD70!  Everything I have is TMCC/Legacy so I will stick with Lionel on that one, but the F7...

 

Just my opinion here...but if MTH gets a series of RTR sets with their track out there before Lionel/Flyer does, the new blood could go with and possibly develop brand loyalty to MTH.  

 

I have only been in S gauge (and trains in general) for 5 years, but I sure got into S at a good time!

 

Ben 

Good news for S

 

FWIW you can run TMCC locos from MTH DCS by connecting the TMCC Command Base to the DCS base.  I don't know how much TMCC funtionality there is when using the DCS remote but if memory serves you can run locos. 

As I suspected... Something old, something new...

 

Good news all around.

 

The real question is: Will MTH continue the SHS "tradition" of building in hirail and including scale wheels?

 

Rusty

That's an interesting question.  From what I understand their current production 'O' gauge product can run 2-rail or 3-rail at the flip of a switch.  This saves them the trouble of having to build 2 separate SKUs and do a crapshoot as to how many of each the market actually wants.

 

Don's approach to including scale wheels with the SHS product accomplished the same thing.  I would think that continuing this would make more sense and even be cheaper than building separate SKUs, as us S-gaugers seem to be more than happy to do our conversions in the field.

 

One nice SHS tradition that I suspect won't continue is the Christmas cars.  These required a fair amount of attention to execute and I don't know if MTH will do these or focus on expanding the line.  It would be nice if they would produce the 2010 fishbelly Christmas car that Sanda Kan committed to produce before reneging.  

 

Nick C.

As Don Thompson pointed out on Yahoo, MTH shows the fishbelly hopper in their press release.

 

Also, MTH is known for doing all sorts of "festive" cars in O and HO.

 

In O, MTH offers a choice of scale or hirail wheels with 2 different SKU's on SOME products.  I think the switch just ties the insulated wheels together and the third rail pick-up needs to be removed.

 

I agree it would be preferable to just include scale wheels like SHS had done.

 

I'm sure we'll find out more as time rolls on.

 

Rusty

 

That's exactly it. I've suggested to MTH and Atlas that they package the pilots and wheels for scale and hi-rail and eliminate multiple SKU's The likely added cost would be about $20-$30, but this would be somewhat offset by inventory/production savings. Steam is an entirely different issue because of how the axles are set into the locomotives. Changing them to removable wheelsets would involve tooling modifications.

As long as there's a frame with a cover plate, like old Bowser or Mantua HO steam locomotive kits, changing wheels on steam isn't an issue. The SHS 2-8-0 and AM steam are built this way.

 

But...  The problem arises if the customer boogers up the side rods, valve gear or loses the rod screws.

 

Rusty

You get the basic TMCC functions, but none of the Legacy features using the DCS hand held

I would prefer MTH maintain the offerings divided between scale and hirail, especially for steam.

 

Most customers cannot be bothered to swap wheels on steam.

 

The reason I feel this way is because the switches I use in the old Real  Trax will not accommodate scale wheels without a massive "Bump down" and pressure on the opposite guard plate rail at the frog.

 

Course I can always replace switches for those that can do scale...

 

Maybe one day.

 

3/2 engines have a few settings on them that will need to be changed one way or the other and the middle pickups will need removing when two rail is established.

 

I will say that making the Pad for the kadee couplers is a step in the right direction.

MTH replied to my inquiry regarding scale wheels, especially for steam. They will be offering both scale wheels as well as hi rail wheels in the future. Good news.

That is good news....

 

Mark in Oregon