MTH OCEM FRENCH CARS SHIPPING

Because the MTH shipping schedule says some [ of the six variations ] of the sets are shipping in May, the remainder in July ?  Maybe MTH just forgot to move the dates back yet again.  I wish I'd kept a record of all the "Ship Dates" they've shown for the 0019's  -- I think only the original "Orient Express" sets had as many push backs.

Best, SZ

Gardner, I don't think you will see Railking European offerings. Given the popularity in Europe of finescale and the clear delineation from coarse scale/tinplate, this is where their market lies. You are either a scale guy or a coarse scale guy there.

I do know that MTH is working on a 2-RAIL Starter Set with a German Steamer and German Freight Cars it is a Starter Set, but I`m only assuming it`ll be of RAILKING quality.. I`ve asked about it a few times on MTH`s Facebook page and he said that he had heard of the Project, but didn`t know how far in development it was.. I think one thing that might be holding it up is production of the new MTH 2-Rail Scaletrax.. I was just listening today to Mike showing his samples of 2-Rail track and mentioning this set.. He also mentioned a new Chip to plug into any makers Engine and give it the DCS System, DCC and MOTOROLA 1 & 2 Command Control..

Hi

I really can't see the possibility of MTH re-igniting the O scale starter sets which were abandoned in the 50s in favour of HO and OO .

The O scale market in Europe and in particular Britain is for fine scale 2 rail DCC with a large number of club members scratch building.

There are some members buying MTH Premier stuff in 2 rail, I cant see any large market for the Railking quality of loco at all over here.

Fine scale 2 rail rules, there are a handful of us running 3 rail O scale stuff but we are as rare as hens teeth and looked down upon by the fine scale folks, our local club have been promising a 3 rail loop for the past 10 years but we are still waiting

In my opinion there is a very limited market to a few nuts like Mike W and me and although I am not a marketing expert I would think MTH would be better forgetting European O scale and concentrating on HO DCC

I have heard that that the Premier 231E Chapelon Steamer was MTH`s biggest selling Steam Engine..

Quite possibly, I have one and very nice it is too, but this is a Premier model not Railking and it clearly tempted a lot of sales worldwide, not just in Europe

As I said there are interests in Premier 2 rail stuff

My point is that I cant see a Railking starter market at all

If this is the case, regarding a new board, then it will give MTH a big kick along. I mentioned elsewhere today, following Lionel's move into S gauge with Legacy, that if they make a Legacy upgrade kit available that works on DC, then the market place becomes very interesting. Both Legacy and DCS will challenge DCC.

The new LIONCHIEF Engines Jerry Calabrese said will work on AC or DC and He mentioned them being better suited to sell in foreign markets.. The mention Mike Wolf gives the 2-Rail Starter Set is in the TCA NETVISION OPEN HOUSE SPRING 2012 MTH Video on Youtube about 9 or 10 minutes in and He also mentions Swinging Bells and Smoking Whistles and the desire to include them though out the Premier, Railking, Starter Sets and HO Lines.. I wonder how well Smoking Whistles and Swinging Bells in their European Engines will sell in Europe..

The reason I believe the French OCEM Cars will actually be shipping soon is that MTH put out their list of items shipping to dealers by May 15th and they are listed and pictured on that schedule..

Well, that IS good news.  I see the sets that are shipping are the pre-56 sets in 2 and 3 rail, and the 3 rail 1960's set;  the other three kinds will hopefully follow "soon", assuming MTH has enough orders for the PLM version by now.

Best, SZ [ who has three sets on order ]