We recently purchased our first steam engine. The smoke fluid in it doesn't seem to be as nasty as the MTH Proto fluid I use in my diesels. Any one have some good suggestions for a less irritating smoke fluid? Any help would be appreciated. NO BRAND WARS, LIKE SERGEANT JOE FRIDAY SAID "JUST THE FACTS:. 
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Many people here, myself included, use Mega-Steam. It comes in a variety of scents, including one that has no scent at all. My favourite is the Hickory wood scent, although at this time of year I use Cinnamon a fair bit. I can also recommend Lionel's Premium Smoke fluid, as that has quite a pleasant smell and produces good smoke.
I'm a convert to JT MegaSteam as well, I've been happy with it's performance.
MegaSteam all the way. I always have at least 8 flavors on hand. My all time favorite is the apple...Pine is great for the holidays
What brand of stem locomotive?-- makes a difference
Al W.
Discussion of alternatives to Megasteam is not allowed. Hobbyists are too uneducated to understand basic chemistry. 
We recently purchased our first steam engine. The smoke fluid in it doesn't seem to be as nasty as the MTH Proto fluid I use in my diesels.
The hobby shop you probably purchased your model from used J-T's Mega-steam fluid.
That brand is truly the best, and even has a "NADA" scent, meaning that it doesn't smell at all. Although I gave up using ANY smoke fluids some years ago, since it mess up the weathering on my steam locomotive models, as well as getting all over the scenery.
Discussion of alternatives to Megasteam is not allowed. Hobbyists are too uneducated to understand basic chemistry.
Troublemaker! 
Actually, I have never bought smoke fluid. It seems like every other locomotive I get has a tiny bottle of it enclosed. I must have two dozen of those tiny bottles in a box on my workbench and I use whatever I pick up on those occasions where I need it: might have been boxed with a Lionel but it works in an MTH or Williams, etc.
I only run smoke occasionally so I imagine the tiny bottles will continue to accumulate. I imagine I will never buy smoke fluid.
What brand of stem locomotive?-- makes a difference
Al W.
Al, MTH for the steam and diesels.
I agree with everyone above about JT's Megasteam, its not as much thats its better, as much is that its its tried and true. I believe its cheaper as well. Don't be afraid to add some to your diesels. I recommend the vanilla.
I sell JTs Megasteam, and I have only ever had good feedback for it. Needless to say, it's all I use.
JT's Mega Steam! Great, great stuff!
MTH and JT's work well for me. If you twisted my arm, I'd probably say that JT's is a little more prolific in terms of smoke quantity. I dont run smoke a lot, so it tends to last a long time for me regardless of brand.
Note: Does anyone really know what the MTH "X-moose" scent actually smells like? It actually does remind me of the holidays, but I can't peg what the actual "trigger" is. It almost seems like a bizarre mix of pine/incense/gingerbread that for some reason invokes a response in my autonomic nervous system, but I can't seem to pin it down. It's as if someone put Santa Clause, gingerbread cookies, and X-moose eve service in a blender and distilled it. 
Thanks Hot Water and everyone else. Thanks NJCJOE for the email address.
Lionel's premium smoke fluid has shown the best results for me. It produces excellent amounts of thick, white smoke.
Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid produces good, long-lasting smoke for me in my PW locomotives. The drawbacks are:
A: The smell isn't pleasant. In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, it stinks.
B: At nearly $10 a bottle, it's fairly expensive. Maybe it's cheaper elsewhere, but that's what it costs around here.
If I ever saw Mega Steam for sale over the counter, I'd happily try some. But no one stocks it in my area.
Megasteam Nada is as close to no odor as you can get. It does have some odor but not as annoying to the nostrils and eyes like most other scents. I always ask but nobody ever answers, what scent do the rivet counters use?//////LOL
Megasteam Nada is as close to no odor as you can get. It does have some odor but not as annoying to the nostrils and eyes like most other scents. I always ask but nobody ever answers, what scent do the rivet counters use?//////LOL
My guess would be that they must use the appropriate Coal or Oil fired steam, or Diesel scents in their locomotives. Any one of those three has the ability to crawl right up your nostrils and beat your sinuses senseless. 
If I ever saw Mega Steam for sale over the counter, I'd happily try some. But no one stocks it in my area.
go to their web site and see where there is a close dealer or get it from them direct.
As far as I'm concerned the conversation starts and ends with JT's Megasteam! 
--Greg
I just picked up a couple bottles of Mega-Steam (Chocolate and Candycane Express).The smoke output is great the scent was wonderful on my Great Nephews trains when we were in Virginia Beach last week. However when we returned home and I added some to the dog's Lionel Lines steam engine It smells like a burning circuit. I'm not sure if there's a conflict with the MTH proto smoke that was last used in the engine or something else. I did try to run out the proto smoke before I added the Mega-Steam.
I'm still a few days away from getting out the Christmas trains to see how they react to the new smoke fluid. I have to decorate outside before I get to play with my Christmas trains otherwise the outside would never get done.
17 different flavors of megasteam in my house.....
If I ever saw Mega Steam for sale over the counter, I'd happily try some. But no one stocks it in my area.
go to their web site and see where there is a close dealer or get it from them direct.
Thanks, I did. No dealers listed near me, and unless I'm much mistaken they only sell directly via PayPal, which I don't use.
If I ever saw Mega Steam for sale over the counter, I'd happily try some. But no one stocks it in my area.
go to their web site and see where there is a close dealer or get it from them direct.
Thanks, I did. No dealers listed near me, and unless I'm much mistaken they only sell directly via PayPal, which I don't use.
You can pay with your credit card via paypal, or you can phone order with your credit card direct. See NJCJOE's link above.
Ordering info:
VA RESIDENTS ADD 5% SALES TAX TO TOTAL OF MERCHANDISE. Payment by Money Order or Check, payable to MEGA-STEAM (for orders paid by check, the shipment is held until cleared). We also accept Visa/MC/Discover/Amex through PayPal.com direct from this site or Visa/MC/Discover by phone order. Pre-payment of all orders only- NO C.O.Ds.
Contact info for mail/phone orders/questions/inquiries:
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