MTH ScaleKing Diesel vs Premier Diesel

Detail, size and some light features.  RK scale is really nice.  Premier is the holy grail...”Scale”.

Some of the RailKing diesels are older Premier diesels. The newer Premier diesels have much more detail: grab irons, better hand rails, classification lights, and such.

When MTH makes a better Premier diesel, sometimes they take the old one and put it in the RailKing scale line.

I would agree that details and some features might differentiate RK scale and Premiere engines.  However, since both are "scale," there should be no dimensional differences.  In fact, I remember hearing that RK scale engines are made from older versions of Premiere tooling.

Chuck

rk has those inside flangeless wheels on the trucks.......boy I hate those things

This last December I saw someone posted the incredible detail of a MTH RailKing Family Lines EMD MP15. I immediately searched and found one to add to fleet. The detail is excellent IMO. It is difficult for me to imagine that the Premier version would be better. Disclaimer: my diesels don’t smoke (especially EMD)

TM Terry...for the record...I don't care if they smoke or not...so, likely, all of mine are turned off or way down.  The smoke unit is just something else that won't work properly a little later on.  However, I realize as long as some guys can lay on the smoke and the horn...they are in train heaven.

@SD60M posted:

Maybe, trying to compare apples and oranges...but, wondering what the primary differences between an "MTH Scale King Diesel" and a Premier diesel of virtually the same model??  Each seems to have PS3. The price is considerably more for the Premier diesel...that I am pretty sure has the same guts as the Scale King.

For example comparing MTH 30-20649-1 an Atlantic Coast Line GP7 in the "Scale King" line vs MTH 20-20550 a Seaboard Airline GP9 in the Premier Line.

Is the big discriminator the smoke unit in the Premier diesel...that is not in the Scale King diesel?

How about the fuel tanks...are the fuel tanks on the Premier model...beefed up...larger...close to scale-sized?

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

In the case of the GP 7/9,

the Scale King has molded grab irons, non operating marker lights (only headlights operate) and no see through grills and fans, molded in wipers, no separate lift ring detail on the roof just like premier ps1 models!

The Premier will have operating marker lights, see through fans/ grills, and separate grab irons and cab window wipers and lift ring detail on the roof.

For SD units the ScaleKing will have undersized (and/or squat) fuel tanks, non operating marker lights, no see through grills/ fans, and molded in wipers, lift rings, and grab rails.

On Premier models you have full scale fuel tanks, operating marker/class lights, see through fans and grills, and separate detail add ons like cab wipers, lift rings and grab rails.

@TM Terry posted:

This last December I saw someone posted the incredible detail of a MTH RailKing Family Lines EMD MP15. I immediately searched and found one to add to fleet. The detail is excellent IMO. It is difficult for me to imagine that the Premier version would be better. Disclaimer: my diesels don’t smoke (especially EMD)

but dont get the PS3 Conrail MP15... you might be dissapointed.

I agree with TM Terry. I have the Reading MP15 from the Railking line. The detail and add on parts are outstanding. 

@Jim Berger posted:

rk has those inside flangeless wheels on the trucks.......boy I hate those things

Amen. i have a couple of MTH DL-109 Alcos (never offered on the RK line) and they are so nice - except for those "blind #3 axle" trucks. Even on my 072 curves they are ugly as they jut out; I can only imagine them on smaller diameters.

MTH and Lionel both used this truck architecture on their Alco PA's (and others?), too, as I recall. Strangely, pre-WbB Williams had a much nicer PA (A1A) truck than either MTH or Lionel - the center wheels are blind, so they look just fine going around a curve. Their EMD E7 Blombergs are built the same way. No "jutting" side frames there. The side frames have a nicer detail texture than the MTH, too, at least on the Alco versions.

Larry (SD60M) - I think you should order one of the RailKing GP7 engines, do a full review with pictures, and post the results here. The one you are looking at is currently available at several dealers. We (the forum members) would appreciate your efforts and when you post the results, we would "LIKE" your post. 

Besides it is only money which you can't take with you, well also you can't takes engines with you either, oh well spend the money anyway!

DG (Dudley) - I think that is a good idea...and definitely what I am looking at.  However, that purple and silver livery was not my era...so, I am holding off.  Looks like I'll never get that black and yellow scheme ordered by W. Thomas Rice...since MTH is going away.  I like the Scale King MP15 in SCL...Family Lines...I figure I'd get the same thing in that GP7...as far as the guts go...but, those old Railking engines were pretty plain...might only be one pickup roller per truck..that's a game stopper right there.

Great to hear from you!

I 2-railed a pair of SDs for Jim Seacrest.  Only difference we could tell was the plating on the horn.  Of course all the smoke and electronics got yanked.

Don't know for sure about the RailKing GP7 engines, but I have 3 of the RailKing MP15 engines (CSX, SP, and KCS) and all 3 of them have two pickup rollers per truck which means they run extremely well thru switches and other track areas. The sounds are also great.

However I have one of the new ALCO C630 Railking Engines (C&O) which came out in May 2020 and it only has 1 pickup roller per truck, however it still runs well and sounds great. The trucks on the C630 are the old premier trucks with one pickup roller per truck and the blind wheels on the axle closest to the fuel tank. (What Jim Berger is referring to). That seems to be the trend on 6 axles RailKing units.