TCA museum S Gauge news

Ya riiight IS right.... However, if MTH actually cataloged SW9s and F3s in one of my railroads I would probably order 8-10. Might even get me to cancel my 3rd Rail orders. I'll believe it when I see it.

Actually I WON'T believe it until the products are in my hands. MTH has canceled products on me many times over the years. Lionel too with the recent Legacy Berks.

Disclaimer: I'm an O-gauger, and too old now to start over in another scale.  I always thought American Models and S-Helper Service were great products.  Their 2000-era offerings made me jealous (and still do!)  I get where you're coming from, and share your lament for the lack of new product.  But I love steam, and I stand in awe of some of the amazing upgrades Ed Goldin, Carl Tuveson, SnS Trains, and others have come up with for postwar Flyer.  Can motor retrofits!  Single-cut worm gears with scale gear ratios!  And that guy in the silver hall at York who builds the large-stack motors.  We don't have ANY of this for postwar Lionel.  The thrill of fast running wears off in adulthood.  So now these venerable toy trains are being dumped onto the trading tables and sold by the pound like so much irrelevant scrap metal.

O gauge experienced a schism beginning around 1990.  Yes there were many new products.  But many of these so-called "scale" models rely on failure-prone electronic gimmicks to achieve smooth operation.  Parts supply is hit-or-miss.  And probably 2/3rds of this scale stuff languishes in boxes, because it takes a lot more than a spare room to do it justice.  Meanwhile... your trains are scale-proportioned, and exactly the right size for Plasticville and Hot Wheels.  Decent size, operation, and credible appearance in a modest space!

Please don't hate me for saying so.  But from the outside looking in, your glass is more than half full.  Holding out for the last couple of drops wouldn't seem to make so much difference.

Ted S: you make some really valid points.

I know that whenever S scale comes up in conversation on other scales' forums, the general opinion is that 1:64 is indeed probably the "best" all-around size, and that a fair number of modelers would have gone that route if there had been enough stuff available to do so.

I think that S may always be that "if only..." scale.

Mark in Oregon

At least S got a mention in both presentations.  But if it hadn't been from questions from the audience, there wouldn't have been any mention at all.

Based on the last couple of catalogs, I'll credit Lionel for at least appearing to finally settle on a direction, it may not be the direction I personally would like to see, but there is definitely a commitment to the Flyer lineup.  With the corrected bolster on the roller bearing trucks, maybe Lionel would be kind enough to throw us scale guys a crumb with a new freight car (and not recycled/cloned O27) along the lines of the cylindrical hopper and aborted 57' mechanical reefer...

As to MTH, if and when a new Showcase Line catalog finally appears, (sorry MTH, but you have squandered your reputation regarding the Showcase Line) I expect there to be four new roadnames for the F3's and perhaps six for the SW9's.  MTH really needs to get on the stick and re-release the remaining SHS freight cars (5 versions of the twin hopper, 2 more versions of the flat car, 2 more versions of the box car, 3-bay PS2 hopper, EV caboose.)  It's been 6 years already since the first releases.  I once expected MTH to provide some serious competition to Lionel/Flyer, but that hasn't been the case. 

Rusty

Strummer posted:

 

I think that S may always be that "if only..." scale.

Mark in Oregon

I agee. If only some ready made buildings (not Plasticville, please), and a wider selection of figures beyond the few $$$ Arttista.

One "if" that came true for me was the very nice 1950's car models by M2 at only $7. each (small size travel trailers also).

Rusty Traque posted:

At least S got a mention in both presentations.  But if it hadn't been from questions from the audience, there wouldn't have been any mention at all.

Based on the last couple of catalogs, I'll credit Lionel for at least appearing to finally settle on a direction, it may not be the direction I personally would like to see, but there is definitely a commitment to the Flyer lineup.  With the corrected bolster on the roller bearing trucks, maybe Lionel would be kind enough to throw us scale guys a crumb with a new freight car (and not recycled/cloned O27) along the lines of the cylindrical hopper and aborted 57' mechanical reefer...

As to MTH, if and when a new Showcase Line catalog finally appears, (sorry MTH, but you have squandered your reputation regarding the Showcase Line) I expect there to be four new roadnames for the F3's and perhaps six for the SW9's.  MTH really needs to get on the stick and re-release the remaining SHS freight cars (5 versions of the twin hopper, 2 more versions of the flat car, 2 more versions of the box car, 3-bay PS2 hopper, EV caboose.)  It's been 6 years already since the first releases.  I once expected MTH to provide some serious competition to Lionel/Flyer, but that hasn't been the case. 

Rusty

Sometimes I hate being right... I know people got mad at me but we are where I feared we would be.

Having said that, it wouldn't take much from MTH or Lionel to get me back onboard. I have 12 engines on pre-order in O scale at this time. IF MTH actually brings out a catalog with Fs and switchers I would most likely cancel my O scale orders and replace them with S pre-orders. Nothing against the O scale models, but I still prefer S as it is the perfect size. If Lionel makes anything that is scale worthy (especially new passenger cars) I would grab those as well. I'm still irritated by the cancelation of the Scale Legacy Berks. I had two on order and wanted to pickup 2 more... PLEASE Lionel, bring us a small/medium Legacy steam engine. I'm likely freelancing so I don't even car which prototype it is. Literally, "shut up, and take my money!"

Perhaps there is still a sliver of hope? We shall see.

I'm happy that it appears MTH is going to continue in S, rather than just fade away.

The MTH display area seemed a bit smaller than in the past at the spring 2019 York Meet, but it was always very busy when I stopped by.

One thing I hadn't seen before at York, MTH was selling S gauge product in their area(same items as eBay sale), a little table in the back. Mike Wolf happened to be there and I asked him if they were clearing inventory because they were dropping S gauge. His reply: 'Absolutely Not! Just clearing in anticipation of future product'.

I'm optimistic, but have to wait and see.

Mike

Flyer 52 posted:

I asked him if they were clearing inventory because they were dropping S gauge. His reply: 'Absolutely Not! Just clearing in anticipation of future product'.

I'm optimistic, but have to wait and see.

Mike

He didn't specify S gauge product

Brendan

Almost a month later... Any word?

Nearly 2 months later... Anyone heard an update?

2 months is nothing in "MTH" time

Brendan

jonnyspeed posted:

Nearly 2 months later... Anyone heard an update?

"We're working on a catalogue"

Same statement they have made at many events over the last several years. I heard it in person from them in 2017.  There is nothing coming.