MTH Production Schedule

I think they re-issue from time to time. When they choose to do so seems to be random.

One that immediately comes to mind is the re-issue of the BNSF (a fantasy road for sure ) SD70ACe. That was done with the initial run of the SD70ACe locomotives in the "Swoosh" scheme and was re-issued in the 2015v1 catalog.

The GP35's have been done in Santa Fe at least twice, albeit in varied paint schemes -- Phase 2 (blue/yellow warbonnet) and Phase 1 (Blue with yellow "Patch/Bookend" Scheme w/black trucks). I can assure you that Phase 1a (Patch with silver trucks) will be done shortly because I'm redecorating two of mine to this scheme.

I don't know who you spoke with, but that is incorrect. They are always releasing, and you'll see plenty of complaints on here about it, additional runs of older items/molds years down the road. Sometimes we are lucky and get updated versions, but more often than not it is just a change in paint scheme/number.  There must have been some miscommunication over time period between runs or something along those lines.

A shining example was the recently reissued NYO&W 4-8-2 in faux mountaineer paint scheme... same locomotive as the first issue, just a different (and incorrect for the prototype) number and with the updated PS3 electronics.

This could very well be the case for MTH in 2 rail, that's a bit of a different beast. But, in 3 rail I think they produce the same models every so many years. They may not always make the same road names and the road numbers will be different. Tooling might be upgraded slightly so they may not have the 'exact' same model a second time.

They have had multiple runs in multiple paint schemes of the GEVO's with the flashing lights, all in the last 2-3 years. Still talking 3 rail here, but the RailKing Scale engines they offer now are made with old tooling from earlier Premier models. Maybe all this only applies to 3 rail though?

Originally posted by Alan H.

I just talked to MTH. I was told after the initial production run of any item,that's usually the 1st&only run made. Is that correct?

YEs and NO. IT appears that MTH's reruns are done when "newer"" electronics come out. MAny Ps2 reissues have PS3 electronics. Certain paint schemes seeem to only have been run once or possibly "skipped OVer" til the next latest electronics package comes out. Case in Point are the some demo models. While VERY popular, the MTH F3 demo have not been reissued in Ps2 or Ps3 at this time but time will tell. OTher demo models such as the EMD GP30 & EMD SD24 have been reissued with PS3

Originally posted by AGHRMatt:

I think they re-issue from time to time. When they choose to do so seems to be random.

IMHO don't think it's random but sales #'s have a lot to do with it. IF a paint scheme is popular and people want it thanks to On Line forums, letters, Distributor comments, reported lack of "New Old Stock" languishing in warehouses, and e-mails, it can be done.

Thanks to all here,didn't think that sounded right about the MTH production.

I know popularity plays a big roll in releases,but figured in a few years CSX might come back this time with the blue/gold scheme & boxcar logo.

Atlas had mentioned a GP40 a year ago,but again,time will tell.

Thanks again to all this is encouraging.

Al Hummel

The last catalog advertised that they were re-running the UP D&RGW Heritage SD70ACe in 2-rail PS3, even though this loco has already been done in PS3 2-rail.

We shall see if they get enough pre-orders to actually go ahead and make it again.

I've noticed,BNSF seems to be more popular than CSX,when it comes to models being produced. I know it covers a vast area,even runs coal&ethanol trains on the CSX tracks in Bremen,IN.

Al Hummel

My experience with Atlas was they on occasions would re run a model a few months out but I always jumped on the first release as not to miss out. this seemed especially true with cars. Still waiting for Atlas to release the 8-40CW now for seems 5 years. Talk about a sore point with Atlas. 

Just go to mthtrains.com and do a search for something like “decapod” or “GP38” and you see that they definitely reissue some models.  There may be some variations like different color schemes and you may have to wait 5 or 10 years, but that’s a lot less time than never.

MTH is busy reissuing their PS2 models in PS3 these days.

Just because they made a -2 scale wheel version the first time around doesn't mean they will make it a second time unless they get the pre-orders though. Example: I owned the scale wheel Chessie SD50's with PS2 but sold them due to the PS2 polarity issue. When they cataloged the PS3 Chessie SD50 I was excited to get them, but they were canceled due to lack of orders.

So to answer the original posters question, what they told you is accurate from a certain perspective. If something was made before you might see it again, but it could take quite a while and even if it hits the catalog there is no guarantee it will be made. I have a PRR A5 and H10 with scale wheels on order currently. The last time these engines were made - 2005 and 2006 respectively.

This is actually one of the reasons why I am modeling the PRR instead of other favorite RRs... I figure that the PRR models stand the best chance of being made. I highly doubt we will see much new tooling so I figure they will continue to upgrade the old PS2 engines to PS3. So I pretty much know what I will be ordering for the next few years.

Your approach with the PRR is akin to the old days in N scale when the sure thing to be produced was Union Pacific.

I had a lot of yellow things but no real affinity for them... If there were eastern things being done on the same scale of production (like NYC or PRR) I would have been a happier modeler.

So the solution to this production schedule is disheartening at best.

I've been carefully watching these posts & basically see 3 options.

1st,if you can find a model,strip whatever paint scheme is on the diesel & repaint it. That's not an attractive option to a modeler that's never done a good job in painting & lettering. Where does 1 find decals at reasonable prices to outfit 1 or 2 diesels? All major decal co's quit making O Scale decals?

2nd option:wait for a possible rerun or update in the railroad you want which at best may never happen.

3rd option:switch railroads modeled.

With the lack of cooperation between the 3 major manufacturers in O Scale in trying to work together to make this scale attractive to modelers as well as profitable for themselves,the picture painted here,is get out of O Scale or love the situation as is.

I'm a newcomer to O Scale. I'm 57,I love the size,but the odds just keep pointing in another direction. This situation used to be common in HO but now it presents itself once again in O Scale.

So this is "The future of O Scale," as quoted by an O Scale magazine editor; sadly it rings true. Love it, leave it,or deal with it. Where's the "bright side" to this picture?

Respectfully,

Al Hummel

The solution here is easy - back to HO, where the things you want are readily available.  One of the attractions of O Scale for me is I get to have things nobody else has, and things that will never ever be available.

Our market is simply not big enough to support all the things that are available in HO.

Bob2:

It looks more like that sorry to say. My eyes are getting worse O would've been a great help,but like we both know,O just isn't a large enough market to keep everything in decent supply.

Things are what they are,regardless. I think if the "Big 3" co's in O would work together more,as I mentioned,things would be better for all,but that's like trying to move mountains with a kid's toy shovel.

Have a good one.

Al Hummel

I have to laugh because when we have open houses, we get a lot of people whose only exposure to model railroads was H.O. or N. scale (with a few outdoor G gauge).

The reaction is total surprise as they'd never seen anything like O scale before -- sound, smoke, scenery detail you can actually see, animated buildings, working block signals you can actually see from a distance, grade crossing signals with sound, etc.

We kid some of the N scale guys as we run "Trains you can actually see" and tell them eventually they'll be running with us when the eyes can no longer handle N scale.

There's another up side to O scale. Even shorter trains (15 cars and a couple of Geeps) are impressive because of their sheer size, even if they're running through a scene with large trees and cliff faces. Even with proper proportions, that in-your-face size doesn't come across in the smaller scales.

      Al,

        On the bright side a lot of the rolling stock in O scale is easily convertible

    between 2 and 3 rail. Locomotives are obviously a little tougher. Weaver models

    makes a decent GP38-2. I don't know if they've made a CSX version or not but

    they did have an undecorated  model. Like you my eyes are not as young as

    they used to be and O scale really helps in that area.

     Geoff 

     I know you mentioned wanting an MTH model but I couldn't resist showing 

   you this nice Weaver GP38-2 even though it's a CSX predecessor. Cheers.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weaver...O-4814/111678242845?

What does this mean? How should they work together?

TRW

Allan wants some very specific items that are not currently available in O Scale.  He is trying to get manufacturers to make them for him.

So far, the manufacturers have not been cooperating.  Hard to believe, but true.

HO has everything he wants but the size.  That is a serious dilemma.  I feel badly for him, since he cannot enjoy the hobby the way most of us can.

Jerry Kimble mentioned after the York forum that this project was looking at 1QTR 2016, I see the current A to Z shipping schedule was just updated to reflect this.  It is officially 5 years since first announced. Due to the big response to the F7 project I see this model will be produced along with 2 others ahead of the GE diesel.JMO

I had this same problem with S as well as O. It's frustrating to not be able to get models you really want in the scale you prefer. I had to make a choice between a lesser liked RR in the scale I want or downsize to HO or N. To make matters worse, Lionel brings out nice models in roads I want, but they REFUSE to acknowledge 2-railers. I've said it before and I 'll say it again... There is NO technical reason in 2015 to have 3 rail track. The only reason is the 100+ yrs. of history, nostalgia, and collections. Why they don't introduce a line of 2 rail hi-rail track and switchable electronics like MTH has is beyond me. They don't have to throw out 3 rail , but why not offer an alternative for people that don't want 3R? My unscientific straw poll of younger people interested in trains tells me that the vast majority of them are looking at HO and N and not O. The #1 reason why when asked? Unrealistic "toy" track.

Jonathan,

Not to bash 3 rail or high rail either,but I totally agree. I'm happy for all groups of O ''Gauge" but as long as 2 rl is looked on as the ugly duckling here,& O gauge trains are seen with "cookie cutter," large flange wheels,&"lobster claw" oversize couplers,this scale,will be regarded as "toyish" not Prototype enough to consider for modeling.

This is a smaller market with naturally higher prices because of the size,so getting into it is challenging. But when you look at the availability of products & finally learn the mindset of manufacturers such as Atlas, that once a run of a model is sold out once it's gone it's gone for good,why would anyone come up here except for the size advantage? If products were rerun with different car numbers after a couple years,that'd be ok. But once it's gone,it's gone,gone,gone forever? Not a good situation.

If Lionel.Atlas&MTH,what I call the "Big 3," would get their heads together & adapt their products to at least make them convertible for 2 rail,& keep products rolling,meaning 1 company make a 2bay cement hopper,for instance,while another co.,makes open top hoppers or a 3bay cvd hopper,that would in my eyes,lighten the load on all 3 companies to make different models plus keep them in stock better & this scale would grow. I'm gonna get feedback here,but it's my opinion,if we have  things like shelf couplers for modern era 1975 to today freight,plus operating ground throws that work off the same principle as the prototype railroads,derails,etc.,the list should go on,this gives older modelers in other scales as well as 1st timers looking at scales,incentive to come to O. O is larger permitting more  Prototypical operation than the same products in smaller scales. Do you see modern factory buildings out on ebay or older '50s-'60s models& few at that?

30 years ago HO was the same way. But I watched the evolution & has it changed & is ever growing. O scale or guage,is about,in many areas,40-65 years behind,I'm sorry to say,&seems content there with no disrespect meant to those moderers in any way they do a fantastic job,my hat is off to them in respect. But there has to be more,for us younger modelers,if you call 57 as I am,"young".

I can't change manufacturer's minds no matter how hard I respectfully suggest. It has to be a large group of modelers that can "move mountains" with their combined voices,not just a few "lone wolves" crying in the darkness.

My 2 cents for what it's worth,which I guess isn't much.

Al Hummel