MTH Railware DVD

I got two different versions one 2012 and one 2013... The old DVDs had many years of Catalogs and Video on them, these don`t, unless I`m not finding them... 

I put one of the DVDs in my Player and everything on the Disc says 'no content'... It works in My computer alright, but all the whole Disc appears to be are Links to the MTH Webpages, what took them 3 years to do that .?...

Agreed. The promise of a "Track Planning DVD" when you join the MTHRR Club is not what they delivered.

Even the old SHS catalogs offered a variety of completed S gauge track plans.

The least MTH could have done was to include those plans since they show the exact same track components in their 2013 catalog.

At best MTH should have provided a "Starter" version of RRTrack software including an S gauge "Library" that showed their own track.

The inclusion of 4 small "O" gauge plans for an MTHRR Club S Gauger  is stupid.

Yes...stupid.

The offer to let you access more of the RR Track software for an additional $69.00 is I guess a slight bargain as you can order it direct from the company for $10.00 more:

MTH's first steps into S gauge are kinda tepid at this point.

I'll wait and see what future brings. If they produce high quality trains with PS3 built in I'll probably add DCS to my current TMCC system.

Mark

Actually by the 2005 catalog, SHS stopped including track plans in their catalogs.

We're in the "chicken and egg" zone with MTH.  I've heard from a very reliable source that the reason MTH pushed back the release of S is because they haven't gotten the response they though they would.

Of course, there would be better response if there was product on the shelf and MTH is waiting for a better response.

Chicken and Egg...  Sooner or later, someone's got to make a chicken omelet...

Many S Gaugers are in culture shock with MTH.  Particularly those that haven't paid attention to what goes on in the other scales.  SHS was probably the most consumer friendly train manufacturer and MTH is well, MTH.

That's why I believe that MTH (and Lionel) need to venture out from the "York Bubble" and begin to make appearances at some of the S venues, not just send samples to an NASG rep for display.

Rusty

Rusty you are correct about the catalog track plans. But they did offer a booklet that showed a variety of plans and I think it's still available from Hoquat Hobbies?:

"Check out the S-Trax Track Planning book below. It is full of layout plans and tips for contruction of S gauge pikes using the S-Trax System. There are 11 layout diagrams from 4'x6' to 6'x16' with detailed listings of the track required. A step-by-step construction guide detailing exactly how SHS built their show layout is also included. There are also sections on cutting S-Trax to special lengths and joining S-Trax to Flyer track. A complete listing of the SHS S-Trax range is included. S-Trax Track is fully compatible with Classic AC Gilbert American Flyer trains."

S-Trax System Sectional Track

Picture (Click to see full size)	Stock#	Description	Status	Price	Purchase
	01122	SHS S-Trax Planning Book	Available	$7.95

It would seem MTH would have bought all the SHS assets but maybe that booklet wasn't included. If they hope to sell their track so customers can build an S gauge 

layout small or large they should get with the program.

It is gratifying to see the pre-production MTH samples of engines on another thread. The date on one side of one of the cars shows "approval" in April of 2013 (I think) so the actual arrival of finished product might be nearing.

I plan to order several of the proposed reefers but like your "Chicken and Egg" analogy I'm going to wait and see the product before I order.

One other thing about MTH...their "Online Store" offers the same product as the S catalog but at a 18% discount from MSRP. Have they always done this?

Online vendors such as Charles Ro offer the same product at 25% off MSRP.

I guess if MTH can sell direct they make a little more $$.

Mark

I think MTH started doing direct sales a year or so after starting the Lionel Corporation Tinplate line.  I heard they were going the same route with S, but I have the Santa Fe F's on order with my LHS.  The discount is less, but seeing he put up with me loitering there on Friday nights, it's the least I can do.

Rusty