PS 2 upgrade kits, When?

Don't know where you are located but, MTH has been shipping the newest PS2 "steam" up-grade kits since mid February.  I received the one kit I ordered just last week.

thanks, Hot Water, I've only read older threads about the kits arrival. A little out of touch with  MTH to say the least. I'm a post war guy who recently came into some MTH engines in need of major repair, boards missing, most in kit form. Working on a early UP Challenger, 1996 I think, had only whistle sounds and DCRU, when I get it working will be a great addition. Thanks again for your reply.

Regards,

Joe Geiser

Joe,  If you don't have them on order from MTH, then your best bet is finding them on the secondary market.  The steam should be done, and MTH is probably finishing up diesels.  The word is, no more until probably AUG.  G

GGG,

     Thanks for the update. Outside of this  forum and Ebay, any ideas where I might pick up a steam unit?

Regards,

Joe Geiser

In the past week one each steam and diesel upgrade kits arrived, that were on order since February. The diesel slave kit arrived late Feb.

Rod

Rod,

      thanks for the info, MTH site says, "Upgrades kits are currently on back order. A deposit of $25.00 will be charged at the time of order.". 

I was wondering if anyone new when they would be shipping again?

Regards,

Joe Geiser

This is going to sound like a real stupid query, but here goes...

What's the differences between a diesel upgrade kit and a steam upgrade kit?  Could a diesel kit be installed in a steam engine (simply download your favorite steam sound file) or is there something that would prevent doing this?

I can see where different wiring harnesses for lights would be needed, depending on which kit and which engine you put it in, but couldn't all the kits be supplied with the same components, discard or resell the components not used?

Bob;

The main difference is the wiring harnesses as you mention.

The steam kit uses a tender tether, and the diesel does not of course.

The boards, bracket, battery, speaker, etc are all the same.

By the time you ordered all the necessary steam harnesses (in order to use a diesel kit), it would add substantial cost.

Some of the bigger harnesses are $15 a pop.

You could certainly sell the surplus components to recoup some cost.

Rod

Rod,

DOH!  Forgot about the tether.

I wonder if the old tether from a Locosound engine would still work with it plugged into a PS2 kit?  Probably not, but being diesel kits seem easier to come by, getting the diesel kit and a separate harness sounds like a plan.

I wonder if MTH would save money in the long run if they combined both into a single kit?

I do not know how adding several parts and harnesses would save MTH and/or us consumers any money.

First you need to start with the Diesel kit since it has two couplers.  For Steam you would need added the Tender Harness, the Locomotive harness, the Tender marker LED harness, an Inductor, Loco harness spacer, and a Pittman motor tach reader bracket as minimum.  My guess this would add 40/50 dollars cost or more to each kit.

Ron

Ron, you're most likely correct.

So, why not separate the uncommon parts from the common parts and sell them separately: A) box of common parts, B) box of steam engine parts, C) box of diesel parts?

Just trying to think of a better way to utilize what's out there now.  Diesel kits are available, steam kits don't seem to be.  I thought it was due to electronic components not being available, but I'm beginning to think it's the harnesses or other "uncommon" parts not being available.

Hopefully the PS3 kits will be available soon and can be used to backfit older locos, like my 2-8-0 and RS3 with locosounds.

Last night at the DCS meeting MTH said that once the PS2 upgrade kits are exhausted from inventory the PS3 upgrade kits will be available.Expect this fall.

Ricky

Thanks Ricky!

I'll wait for the PS3 kits.  My 3 conventional engines have been basically shelf queens since I got DCS back last September anyway.  My 3 PS2 engines stay busy on my small 11.5x12 layout and I really have no more space or requirement to run more than 3 at a time.

Can always do like I do and buy cheap PS2 engines and gut the boards. Then I make up my own harnesses.

That's what I did when I got an Atlas GP9 dummy.  I won a RK F3 w/PS2 off Ebay for a little more than $100 and used the electronics out of it (and other parts I had to buy, like gears) and now have a nice looking, scale GP9 with PS2

Bob,  you can go to MTH website and down load the instructions for each kit and see the components, or stop by and I can show you the differences.

I also have spare harnesses from upgrades and I purchased several as spares.

Who at MTH said the PS-3 kits would be available?  Marketing or Service?  :-)  First it was going to be this summer, now fall.  Service, didn't really know when.  Latest news was more PS-2 upgrade kits "prtobably" in  Aug.  If so, I wouldn't hold my breath for a PS-3 kit in the fall.  G