Preorder MTH fixed pilot 2/3 rail

I'm not 2 rail, but yes, preorders do help get the products made no matter how many rails you use. I think it is Nov 30th for the 2015 v1 catalog. Order early, order often! 

You don't have to be a 2R guy to buy them, just someone who wants the fixed pilots

Exactly!   Laidoff has it right...numbers talk.  So if the pre-orders are there then hopefully that will encourage MTH to expand their offerings.

Good morning

 

Maybe I should have posted this on the 3rail scale forum?

 

Clem k 

I pre-ordered one (to ship Dec14?) from the previous catalog, but didn't see anything I liked in scale wheels/fixed pilot from the catalog just released.  Pretty slim 2-rail offerings in that one.

I will start to preorder when mth fixes their handrails and better scale/accurate details.

Right now mth is at the bottom of the heap in 2-rail compared to other manufactures. If they were to stop producing 2-rail I would not miss them. I have purchased from them before was very dissapointed. Never again.

Wish it was just my opinion, but its just the facts. Stephen

As I understand the fixed pilots you need large radius curves. O-63 diameter in my maximum on only one loop, the rest are all O-54 and so are the switches, So I think that leaves me out of the fixed pilot ordering?

 

I don't think the tubular track is the problem, you can put hi rail wheels on them, with just a screwdriver. The longer locomotives might have to much swing of the pilots on curves with Kadee couplers. Not sure about that, I have all large curves. But I do run the Hi rail wheels. 

 

Clem 

I only have modern diesels and was planning to only have equipment requiring O-54 maximum curves, the O-63 loop just kind of happened and was a bonus. Have also only been back in the hobby for about 3 years (after missing 35+ years) and still have a lot to learn about the 2 rail, 3 rail, fixed pilots, Kadee's and all that stuff so I will probably stick with the 3 rail for a while. I didn't even know there was 2 rail O gauge or fixed pilots until I found this forum when I got back in the hobby.

 

I do pre-order 95% of my 3 rail stuff though, and I would also definitely encourage anyone that really wants a specific item (or any item for that matter) to pre-order it. I do believe we are going to more of a 'build to order' only system and are getting closer to it with each new catalog. If the manufacturers don't get the orders, they will not build the item. I think this will be especially true in the future for anything new requiring all new tooling.

Yes you need bigger curves for fixed pilots and Kadees for sure, but there are a few things you can do to get more side to side swing to help.

I'm going to do a video or series of videos on the O Scale Kadee coupler, with some basics and how to's. The 2 rail guys are already knee deep in the Kadee world, but the 3R guys may find the videos useful.

That sounds good, will be looking forward to the videos. Would that also include something on the actual conversion to Kadee's?

Yes definitely I will talk about and show some of the conversions and the steps I take. It's one of those things that has so many different ways and materials you can use. There is no real right or wrong way to do it... whatever works and is easy for the individual based on your skill level and tools on hand.

It sounds like 2 rail fixed pilots engines will become desiredable if MTH doesn't keep offering them.

 

Phil  

Just like the non powered units!

Laidoffsick, I've watched many of your videos and enjoyed seeing them. You've got a great layout. If you do any how-to video what would really interest me is how you fixed the pilots on some diesels. You really did an outstanding job on fixing the pilots.

 

I couldn't make it to York so I don't have a catalog yet. I'm on the MTH mailing list. My catalog should be coming in soon.

 

For as long as MTH has been making these (since about 2008) they always have been made in very small quantities. The talk has been that it may be as few as maybe two dozen models per run. And that's also why the ones that make it to dealers' shelves or to the MTH on-line locator don't hang around long.

 

That's why it's important to "pre-order" them if you want one, and it always has been. It's possible one might find a model available for sale within a few weeks of release, and I've picked up a few "nice to haves" that way. But anything that was a "must have" (i.e., Santa Fe), I pre-ordered.

 

After cancellations of some two-rail diesels a few months ago, I noticed speculation here about MTH not being committed to two-rail, and so on. I don't think it was that. The models that were cancelled were PS3 re-issues of things that had been offered in fixed pilot models before (albeit in PS2), in some cases as many as two and three times before. I suspect the orders for those particular models simply weren't there.

 

The good news is it doesn't take very many orders for the fixed pilot versions to be made. But the lesson is, it is far more important to pre-order one of these than it is the three-rail counterpart.

 

RM

 

Isn't what you're talking about part of the mission for one of the new forum sponsors?  Certainly we still need to pre-order...

 

http://www.proto-locos.com/

 

 Our Mission:

 

I totally agree.

 

Originally, I ordered one of of the scale wheel locomotives back in '08 and '09 for a total of two. I stopped buying MTH locomotives because I much prefer running my trains with DCC over DCS. [No offense to any DCS fans] I am not saying DCC is better just that I like it better. A few years later I had no problem selling one of those two original scale wheel PS 2.0 models. Albeit at a small loss on eBay. I'm waiting for PS 3 kits for the other one.

 

Anyway, when MTH came out with PS 3.0 one of the first locomotives was the NYC 4-4-0 Empire State Express. When it came out it had PS 3.0 but in the catalog the previous year it said it would have PS 2.0 which is why I didn't pre-order it. When I found this out just after it's release I quickly called my LHS and they called MTH. MTH actually had one scale wheels version left and she got it for me!

 

As RM said if it is a must have you gotta pre-order it.

I placed orders yesterday for some items albeit steam engines.

 

I agree with Phil that the Proto 2 electronics were pretty useless to me. PS3 with DCC should be much more promising. Hopefully getting DCC in the mix for 2 railers will help sales in the future.

I have purchased about 7 of the MTH -2 series engines over the last 4 yrs with DSC and DC only because i wanted the more recent era engines. I was an Atlas fan but they are not into producing such modern engines so I jumped ship to MTH for the the fixed pilot superstructure update. Heck, Atlas is taking guidance from Overland models is delaying production of models I desired. I waited and waited, gave reservation for the GE Dash 8 40 CW and waited more only to have the program put into limbo. So the only option was for me to buy the MTH CW and hope MTH would come up with a plug in module to make it a DCC unit. I haven't seen many if any re releases of the UP -8 40CWs with DCC. so I got what I could when I could. SO MTH if you are reading this I hope you or someone can build a plug in DCC unit for us 2 railers.  

this was the last engined I pre-ordered, and it looks like it's getting made...

 

Biggest disappointment for me was the cancellation of the pacific harbor line genset, I really wanted that one. Will not order anything from the newest catalog, as I intend to put my money on some 3rd rail engines and atlas zephyr cars.

That said, I would love to own some euro steam, gensets and dash 8 40cw's from mth

You and I are on the same page with this one. I have the Cat demonstrator and the Bush 41 on order (sold my hi-rail Bush 41).

 

I had three PHL Gensets ordered (the club is in PHL's operating area) and was very disappointed when they were cancelled. The SD70ACe seems to be so popular (demonstrators in particular) that there were enough orders. PHL is VERY regional -- local to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That might be why we aren't seeing a CF7 since Santa Fe had them in regular operation, but after that they went into branch line service (too obscure for most modelers).

 

The C40-8w's were very well done (as were the C40-8 "narrow-nose") and I'm hoping they do some more.

Word is that the upgrade kits can retro-fit a PS2 engine and have the internal DCC hardware that the factory PS3 engines have. Even though I don't use DCC at this time I may upgrade by scale-wheeled PS2 engines for consistency with my new engines.

Good afternoon

 

I was surprised the last batch of 2 rail SD50's was cancelled.

 

Clem

Those Dash 8's were some of, if the not the best plastic modern diesels produced to date IMO. The Dash 9's weren't too shabby either.

 

We definitely need some CF7's. Might just have to lobby Scott Mann to do those?????

 

The new 44 tonner won't be a fixed pilot 2R version so I won't be buying it. Too bad too, cuz I would be in for a couple different Santa Fe paint schemes. I can't imagine the euro crap outselling Santa Fe fixed pilot 44 tonners or CF7's

Exactly....darn right we need to.

Did you pull the trigger on one of the J's??

I know John Albee (before he went into S) and I used to lobby for Atlas to do a CF7.

 

It seemed like a no-brainer but then again, It's not my capital investment. I would, however, invest some of my meager capital in buying one...

 

I agree. I was lucky to pick up a pair of the UP narrow nose units when first released and made sure to pre-order the wide cab Santa Fes. I have a soft spot for the Dash 8 series locomotives, and would be in for a pair of UP wide cabs in the as-delivered scheme. (Phil, if you want to lobby, I'll support you...).




RM

Great shots Rich!  I have the non-powered 8-40CW in both warbonnet and BNSF H3.  I'd like MTH to re-issue them so I can get some powered ones with PS3.

 

To answer the question as to why mth does not get enough preorders:

Let's be honest! Is it possible that mth does not get enough preorders is because most 2 railers are waiting for mth to fix issues like as the photo above clearly shows - "handrails on a wire". Also mth is notorious for having mistakes or oversized detail parts.  I go to O scale shows and the mth stuff just sits. Also modelers who have bought mth 2-rail have lost their shirts reselling the item as they do not get near what they paid for it. . They definitely do not hold their value from DAY-1 after purchase. That is why some of the forum members here talk about the great deals they got. Yes I can see why mth does not get enough preorders and models are cancelled. As for me I will do without a mth model as they are subpar in details to other brands on the same track. Stephen

 gotta have some boxcar in the fleet!

 Wish I would have got the scale wheeled version. I have the parts and she'll be on the bench. stay tuned...........

Joe: When you finish the upgrades, please post photos.

Stephen

I too have ordered one these beauties.  Hope they don't cancel.

I am not a rivet counter so I don't give some of non-prototype detail a second look.  I do enjoy the way MTH engines perform and sound.  Haven't sent one of them back yet.
I quit going to train shows in Missouri because I have yet to see 2 rail of anything, including MTH, at any of them. Just my thought...... 

 

Can't argue with your taste in locomotives, Rich.

 

 

 

I did order a 604 and 612. I posted information about the details on their facebook page and got a response that they thought the production models would have the details right. The photos in the catalogue are of what they had on hand. They were going to pass the info on about the details to the right people I hope. In the end I figured not too much could go wrong. The worst case for me would be if they came in with single rods. All other combinations would result in an engine with some form of correct detail. Depending on what details are on what engine might determine if I'd need to change a number but I hope not to have to do that.