MTH HO scale

Might someone please share your opinion, observations, and/or personal experience with MTH HO scale engines.

I am inquiring from other modelers how the Southern Pacific CAB FORWARD compares between Broadway Limited, Intermountain, and MTH.

Many Thanks! Matt

Reply to
mc_brennan
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I like their models in general (no experience of the cab forward).

A warning - I am no expert, I'm still at the train set stage.

I find them free running, their DCC control is good at both slow and higher speeds. They seem to pull a reasonable load. They not only have loco sounds but also crew chat (some of which cannot be switched off as far as I can see) and announcements (controlled by F4). One warning; to access their full DCC functionality you need a 28 function controller. And I have one quibble; they produced a Little Joe (electric); the major user of that loco in the US was Milwaukee but 3 ended up with South Shore. The Milwaukee machines were modified to work in multiple with diesel units and a set of connectors added. To the best of my knowledge the South Shore never did that mod but the South Shore painted models still have the connectors. Two out of the box machines ran at the same speed (I consisted them but failed to couple them so when I opened the throttle they both moved and stayed the same distance apart).

Reply to
Graham Harrison

Thank you!!!

I stepped away from the hobby for a few years as other needs, interests, and financial commitments steered my attention elsewhere. I must say that I am stunned/baffled by the changes that have taken place since my leave of absence from the hobby. Most of the inventory listed on the Walthers website is unavailable from many of the major manufacturers. Roundhhouse is gone. Proto 2000 appears to be gone. BLI, Intermountain, and Bachmann have quite a few items no longer appearing on their websites.

Reply to
mc_brennan

We have a couple of each in our club, and the consensus seems to be that the BLI flat-face AC4 and AC5 have an edge over the other two.

They pull very well despite not having traction tires (circa 25 40' reefers on a 2 1/2% grade), they're as reliable as a brick, the DCC and sound systems are very good, the low speed performance is superb, and after a little weathering to take off that "plastic shine" they look quite nice as well.

The only downsides are that BLI hasn't yet come out with an AC12 version for those who prefer the more modern-looking locos (it wouldn't be hard to do so as they could use essentially the same chassies) and the BLI Cab Forwards have a top speed of only about

40-45 scale MPH.

The only real-life Cab-Forward engineer I ever knew claimed that the prototypes would beat the engine crew to death at speeds over about 40 MPH anyway, so you can look upon that latter fact as being very authentic...

~Pete

Reply to
Twibil

Thanks for your input Pete. Very much appreciated!!!

Reply to
mc_brennan

Thank you!!!

I stepped away from the hobby for a few years as other needs, interests, and financial commitments steered my attention elsewhere. I must say that I am stunned/baffled by the changes that have taken place since my leave of absence from the hobby. Most of the inventory listed on the Walthers website is unavailable from many of the major manufacturers. Roundhhouse is gone. Proto 2000 appears to be gone. BLI, Intermountain, and Bachmann have quite a few items no longer appearing on their websites.

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Pleasure. It seems to me that many manufacturers announce a new model, take orders, manufacture enough to meet the orders plus a very small number of extras so once they've sold the inventory what's the point of showing it on the web site. I recently discovered that Atlas made a South Shore caboose about 4 years ago I googled, searched websites and came up blank until one website appeared to have inventory. When I contacted them and asked if they actually had it their reply was that Atlas have ONE (and only one) so I've ordered it; we'll see what arrives!

Reply to
Graham Harrison

.

That's a great find on your part. I have been combing all of my known online sources attempting to put together a wish list of rolling stock and engines. It does appear that your assessment of the situation is spot on. And, it makes sense for them to base their production on preorders. I guess we were spoiled years back when inventories were excessive.

I wish they would be more accurate on whether an item will be re- offered with a new run of numbers. The Walthers website just drops the image. In some cases, an "advanced order" notice appears, but far more often you are left without an image or any indication if you can expect another run of that item.

Bottom line opinion ... is this hobby (an HO scale in particular) going to survive this difficult economy?

Reply to
mc_brennan

I'd think so. Model railroad kits/parts/loco prices are up on Ebay despite the economy, and that's a sign that the demand is still there. A better question might be the hobby's long-term survival chances in the face of a generation who are being reared expecting everything interesting to appear on a computer screen.

In our active club of circa 30 members we have exactly *one* guy who's under 40, and everyone else is 50 or above.

Not a good sign.

~Pete

Reply to
Twibil

Good point. Your measuring stick is a lot more telling/concerning. I have seen a number of youngsters at recent train shows. Whether their attention will be diverted by computer games and the like is unknown. We can only hope they will catch a life long interest in model railroading as a hobby interest.

Reply to
mc_brennan

One requirement is the space to build one. Hard when you're young and living in an apartment or starter home. Also, hard if your young wife brings home a cat.

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None

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