MTH's S scale SW8s...where did they go, and what are they like?

@SIRT posted:

Picked up this SW-9 with DCS PS2 hardly used.  The battery was missing so I found my bag of super caps (BCR) and silicone one in along with a cab figure. Seems to be a shortage of 8's & 9's. You can find plenty of cheap QSI diesels than make good dummies that no one wants. I might make it an SCL #168 or sell it ? Waiting on MTH for a reply. I think MTH still has the molds for both units?

Never bought an SW because its not detailed like a Premier. Nice specific PA area brewery chatter by the crew!

That is indeed a good-looking model, MTH did a great job with the PBC stuff, and folks loved it whenever the resident reseller brought some into Imperial to sell.

That said, I'm interested in MTH's S-scale SW8, which I haven't seen much about (I've got video of the O scale Montour SW9s that came out in PS2 over ten years ago).

@pittsburghrailfan posted:

Good day folks,

I know that a big advantage of S is that one can operate scale equipment without it looking silly, but the availability of only R20 curves and larger from the manufacturers means that I am unsure whether that is the "true" minimum radius or not. Knowing a "true" radius would be helpful for layout planning; i.e. can I make more interesting scheme than the standard industrial park and allow a little bit of mainline running?

Any comments are appreciated, and I hope y'all won't mind me once again making a post based on a premise that might or might not come to pass (me building a layout).

The original S Helper Service SW's (all of them, as were the F's and 2-8-0) were designed to go easily around R20.  R20 is about O27 in O gauge speak, which is pretty darned tight no matter how you slice it.

I don't recall anyone has tried them a tighter radius like those on the Gilbert "All Aboard" panels (which would be about R15.)  There would probably be issues with the coupler bracket hitting the sides of the pilot opening.

Rusty

pittsburghrailfan

I have an all Gilbert track layout and I do have one of the S Helper SW12s, as it is, it navigates my Gilbert curves well. I will concur with Rusty a radius tighter than the 20" may well cause the coupler contacting the pilot opening. I do own a pair of AM GP35s and have actually had to shave some material from the side of the coupler shaft for the Gilbert curves.

I have an original SHS SW1 and SW9. The SW1, SW8 & SW9 all used the same chassis length. I got out the SW1, some PikeMaster track and looked for some MTH 20”R curves. Unfortunately all I had handy was a turnout. I included the PikeMaster in one picture even though the engine could not be placed on the curve rails.

Both of the SHS engines run ok on Gilbert track and on SHS 20”R track. That radius is as measured to the outside of the track, not the centerline. On this track the coupler body just about touches the pilot opening. The 15”R PikeMaster is a no go. It would require significant cutting of the pilot and then there could be other underbody interferences with the truck. Comparing these pictures to the MTH Catalog there are no apparent external changes between the MTH and SHS parts to make the SW8. It looks like all the changes are “under the hood.”

If the coupler was removed and body mounted Kadee’s used the coupler interference would be eliminated. This is just an estimate based only on the SHS engine, it looks like with body mounts the engine would run on at least a 2” smaller radius than the SHS track.

@AmFlyer posted:

If the coupler was removed and body mounted Kadee’s used the coupler interference would be eliminated. This is just an estimate based only on the SHS engine, it looks like with body mounts the engine would run on at least a 2” smaller radius than the SHS track.

Bear in mind that with body mounts on the locomotive and anything less than R20 you'll run the risk of derailing the coupled car because of the limited swing of the Kadee coupler.

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

Bear in mind that with body mounts on the locomotive and anything less than R20 you'll run the risk of derailing the coupled car because of the limited swing of the Kadee coupler.

Rusty

And that is what will happen, "derailing the coupled car", on any track radius smaller than the Gilbert track using the (lobster claw) truck mounted couplers.

Ray