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Whose F40PH should I get?

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  • Member since
    June 2004
  • 240 posts
Whose F40PH should I get?
Posted by Amtrk14 on Monday, December 19, 2005 10:12 AM
Hello Again,

I'm thing about getting a new F40PH. It's either going to be a Newer K-Line model or a MTH Premier Model. Before I make my decision, I was hoping some of you could answer these questions:

1. Whose sound system is better? I already have a MTH Premier F59PHI w/ Proto-Sound 2.0 and I love it, but I've never heard the lionel system.

2. Whose locomotives are more detailed? Again, I already have a MTH Premier F59PHI and I think the detail level is great.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sean
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 19, 2005 11:12 AM
I was faced with a similar dilema a few years ago. I went with the K-Line model. It was just a little better than the MTH in detail. K-Line's model had the proper type of dichlights and strobes as well as comming equipped with a snow plow on the front end. MTH's model is not plow equipped (A must for F40 junkies), and while the piece does come with strobes and ditchlites, are a generic type rather than being Amtrak specific Llike the K-Line model. I have been very satisfied. The K-Line model pulls 6 MTH Premier Amfleet coaches with no problems at all.
My only complaint was the Sound card used. Lionel supplied K-Line with a non-turbocharged prime mover card with a single note horn - very F7 ish. A quick call to Ed Bender of Digital dynamics to swap cards for a turbo equipped, multi charged horn card was all it took. While swapping the cards, I had the chance to tinker with the sound board to have the prime mover stay in notch 8 ([:D]) all the time as the prototypes did to keep the HEP operating while hauling passenger cars.
Most of this is rivet counting stuff. Either model is good. My suggestion would be to go with whatever operating system is your primary choice. Either MTH for DCS or K-Line for TMCC.

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