Is this track still being produced? (formerly S-Helper line). Seems the last s-gauge catalog was 2013??
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MTH/SHS track is much quieter than Lionel Fastrack.
banjoflyer posted:RoyBoy posted:MTH/SHS track is much quieter than Lionel Fastrack.
Well I guess sound comparisons are subjective but the two types of track are virtually the same. Same molded base, height, width, construction, rail... etc.
I have both types on my rubber backed carpeted layout and neither make any sound that I can hear.
How do you arrive at your statement?
Just curious.
Mark
I would say that would be a result of the fact that the ties are a separate piece (except at the ends) from the ballast on the SHS/MTH track whereas the ties are molded into the ballast on the Lionel track.
So the rail "floats" ever so slightly on the S-Trax.
Rusty
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On our club layout we had to use some FasTrack as SHS was hard to come by and MTH had not yet started production. We had three loops. One with original Flyer track with rubber roadbed. Two with SHS curves, but a mixture of SHS and FasTrack straight pieces. The difference in sound level was VERY noticeable, the FasTrack being extremely loud compared to either SHS or original flyer with rubber roadbed. Track was layed on homosote and fastened down with screws.
Missing from the MTH site are turnouts, uncouplers and the 25"R track. I wonder if they are low on inventory and not currently in production.
I have a lot of this track, it is totally silent when running trains on it. I think it looks better that the FasTrack. The weak point is the turnouts. Most of mine have experienced failure of the sliding internal contacts. They can be repaired but it is a nuisance. If I were using this sectional track for a layout now I would use the FasTrack turnouts mated to the MTH track. A new alternative are the Fox Valley turnouts. My permanent layout was built with the MTH flextrack. It was readily available last year, we bought 750' of it with no problem.
banjoflyer posted:RoyBoy posted:MTH/SHS track is much quieter than Lionel Fastrack.
Well I guess sound comparisons are subjective but the two types of track are virtually the same. Same molded base, height, width, construction, rail... etc.
I have both types on my rubber backed carpeted layout and neither make any sound that I can hear.
How do you arrive at your statement?
Just curious.
Mark
The Lionel track roadbed and ties are one piece, making a reverberation sound board. On the SHS track, the ties are a separate piece from the ballast. That breaks up the vibrating surfaces.
We had a layout at the mall with all three types of track, Gilbert, Lionel, and SHS/MTH. You could hear the difference when the train ran between Lionel and SHS/MTH.
I see there is yet another s-gauge track option from Fox Models. For several years, there was also
American "S" gauge 2-rail track, but is no longer.
