Will MTH continue to make P32 Upgrade kits?

Might as well ask the Oracle at Delphi.  Seriously, no one who knows anything is talking.  The silence is all we have.

Those types of questions are posted here all the time about MTH future plans.  So far, all we hear are...

LOL, good one John.  It's now February and when was Mike supposed to retire?  Summer?  They keep coming out with last runs this, last runs that.  All these new product going to get delivered by Summer?  Time will tell.

One could hope that Mike's retirement will be something like Walter Matuch's of RMT.

@Lehigh74 posted:

One could hope that Mike's retirement will be something like Walter Matuch's of RMT.

Not likely...Mike sold the warehouse.

Based on the announcement made last June about DCS becoming it's own entity, my guess is at least for a while. If you have a crystal ball with a definitive answer, please send me next week's winning lotto numbers. The email address in my profile is good.

Any deals being made right now with regards to the sale of MTH are tight-lipped and won't be announced to the public for at least 6 to 12 months from now. (Refer to how the sale of the S & HO product lines occurred)

Well, while I can't send you next weeks winning lotto numbers, I can give you a good tip on a couple of stocks to invest in, GME and AMC. I heard this reliable info from a "Guy in the know" and he heard it  from a Guy who knows a guy. . .

I think every town has that oriental rug store that has been going out of business for three years and then suddenly does.

@rdj92807 posted:

Will MTH continue to make P32 upgrade kits?  I hope so.

Is production economically feasible?  Will demand support making/keeping alive the product?

Hard to tell.  But.  Don't bet on it.

For those doing upgrades this is a real issue.  For those who simply own the trains with the PS2 or 3 system, based on the good longevity with the early TMCC locos, it is not anything to worry about.  Make sure you use fast breakers and install TVS thingies in the locos themselves or on the layout.

@Ray Lombardo posted:

For those doing upgrades this is a real issue.  For those who simply own the trains with the PS2 or 3 system, based on the good longevity with the early TMCC locos, it is not anything to worry about.  Make sure you use fast breakers and install TVS thingies in the locos themselves or on the layout.

Not necessarily,....PS2 5V systems are pretty notorious for dying,.....and there’s no breathing life into them. The PS32 is really the least expensive option to make the repairs. They can be switched over to ERR or even Legacy, as witnessed by what Sid & Bruk can do, but saying all PS2 will be fine is a little misleading,....this is a known issue Ray, which I’m sure you’re plenty aware of,...

Pat

I sure hope there are going to be kits, parts and some kind of support for DCS. A lot of us have invested a lot in DCS and Mikes products in general almost my whole fleet is MTH. I hope we’re not all left out in the cold 🥶   We’ll have to wait and see I guess.

@harmonyards posted:

Not necessarily,....PS2 5V systems are pretty notorious for dying,.....and there’s no breathing life into them. The PS32 is really the least expensive option to make the repairs. They can be switched over to ERR or even Legacy, as witnessed by what Sid & Bruk can do, but saying all PS2 will be fine is a little misleading,....this is a known issue Ray, which I’m sure you’re plenty aware of,...

Pat

That is a fair point.  However, those 5 volt boards have been out of use for a while now - probably 10+ years at least?  I am fortunate in that I read the advice here from the late Marty Fitzhenry to avoid "fleabay queens" and so the stuff I have is either the improved ps2 or ps3.  Those locos have been as solid as anything.  But you point is well taken If you have early ps2 - conversion to tmcc could be expensive.  But overall, I think the issue is not much different than what to do with early tmcc equipment when it fails, although my stuff has also been very solid.

@Ray Lombardo posted:

That is a fair point.  However, those 5 volt boards have been out of use for a while now - probably 10+ years at least?  I am fortunate in that I read the advice here from the late Marty Fitzhenry to avoid "fleabay queens" and so the stuff I have is either the improved ps2 or ps3.  Those locos have been as solid as anything.  But you point is well taken If you have early ps2 - conversion to tmcc could be expensive.  But overall, I think the issue is not much different than what to do with early tmcc equipment when it fails, although my stuff has also been very solid.

And I’d drink to that Ray, .....the best part of the PS32 board set is, aside from swapping the 5V connectors, and fabbing a quick mount for the heat sink, it’s a drop in deal,...not a lot of fuss or muss,...it’s a good viable fix for the 5V system .....and there’s still plenty of aged 5V locos out there,....if guys like you & I know the PS32 repair kit is still going to be available, that makes dead 5V locos an attractive purchase,....

Pat

@rthomps posted:

Is production economically feasible?  Will demand support making/keeping alive the product?

Hard to tell.  But.  Don't bet on it.

I certainly agree.  Why would anyone want to invest in making a handful of replacement kits?

I wouldn't worry about PS2 3V, PS32 or PS3 locomotives. They should run a good, long, while. I've got a couple PS2 3V steam locomotives that are 17 years old. Replaced the batteries in them with a BCRs. Other than that no issues.

PS2 5V is basically a time bomb. It's gonna die.