New MTH catalog on line: some stuff for traditional operators

[brianel027]

The new MTH catalog is on line, for those who are curious.

I want folks to know in light of some the recent events, I'm not down on MTH stuff. It's just their product has always been on the large side as far as a tradtionally sized operator goes. I ran many of the early locos on my layout and was very impressed with their quality and smooth running: except for their size, especially height and width. Then Railking started going scale, with all the extra electronics as standard fare. I know many like those features, but I can live without them.

The last catalog did though, have the first new roadname additions to the Rugged Rails rolling stock line since it's introduction (outside of cars in train sets).

Needless to say, I didn't go through much of the new catalog, but a couple of items did jump out and grab my attention. One was the new Operating Aquarium Car in SpongeBob livery - very cool! What better choice for an aquarium car? There's several other aquarium cars too.

The other item that pleases me is the re-issue of the smaller former (14-1/2 inch length, 3-1/2 inch height) Railking SD90-MAC this time under the Rugged Rails banner with just horn and bell in several contemporary roadnames: UP, CSX (current scheme) and NS (current logo). Bravo! I thought that SD90-MAC was one of the best proportioned scaled down RK locos.

Some links are below (SD90-MAC followed by SpongeBob)
http://www.mth-railking.com/search.asp?item=33-2023-0
http://www.mth-railking.com/search.asp?item=30-79112

[Jumijo]

I run 027 trains exclusively, partly because they are more affordable, but mostly because they are what I like. MTH has a lot of great products, I own some. But I have to agree that they all seem to be a bit too large for traditional 027 consists. I applaud MTH's decision to offer whislte/horn and bell lower priced versions of some locos. That leads me into my next subject.

As my interest in the hobby has broadened, I have learned that several manufactures, like Williams and MTH produce great replicas of the more famous Lionel trains of the past. To be honest, I don't like to see MTH on the side of a Repro Blue Comet loco where the Lionel L should be.

What I'd love to see in the very near future is Lionel expanding its Postwar Celebration Series to include re-issues of some 027 locos from the 40's and 50's, but without the fancy electronics that get jammed into their current re-issues like the F3s or the large 773 Hudson. Basically to do what Williams is doing with their Golden Memory Series. Lionel produced a lot of great mid-level 2-6-2, 2-6-4 steam engines like the 2025, 2026, 2037, 2056, ect. that I feel would be guaranteed gold mines if Lionel re-issued them. A whistle and bell version for under $200 would be music to my ears. It would fall in line with Lionel's new focus of making affordable product and satisfy a lot of post war fans who want mint condition trains. Why should other companies be making money off of Lionel's great trains of the past? Am I alone in my thinking on this?

Jim

[FJ and G]

I've pretty much narrowed all of my purchases to MTH and Williams. MTH's GP-9 Dummy costs $129. Interestingly, I purchased a Williams GP-9 with 2 motors for less than that. Granted, it doesn't have scale handrails.

The point I guess I'm trying to make, is that I go where the bargains are and Williams has the best bargains for basic diesels without the gizmos and MTH has the most exciting electronic gizmos that I enjoy as well.

Lionel probably has the best bargains for steam locomotives without the fancy electronics.

[brianel027]

As I looked though the new MTH catalog I also noticed there are a few of the "Scaleking" Railking locos now being offered with horn and bell versions: the Genesis and the GP-9.

Years ago, I was running one of the MTH Railking Dash-8's. I was noticing how big it was. So I found some scale drawings of one in a Model Railroader magazine. I took those and scanned them into a computer and then proceeded to try and design my own scaled down version with what I considered to be better proportions - and I did it.

Of course, as the hobby is moved towards this more accurate "scale proportion" trend, the idea of selective shrinking is not popular with many. It would not be feasable to expect to see lots of this kind of smaller loco made, but as jaabat makes reference to, it would be nice to once in a while see something put out. I have long hoped for a more modern size-wise equal to the Lionel Alco FA of the 1950's.

When Lionel in past years created many of the smaller locos, I'm certain they did not use a scale ruler to create the smaller proportions. You have to throw the scale ruler out the window and go for "feel." You have to take some artistic license and go for "the right feel" or the "the right look." It can be done. Many of those smaller Lionel locos (like the Alco FA) while lacking the true scaled down proportions, do have the right feel to them, and do a good job at "representing" the locomotives they are modeled after. For the most part, the Lionel engineers did a good job at this.

One loco that could have been improved was the MPC era release of the U36B. I don't know the reason, and whatever it was - many of the Lionel diesels while being shorter in lenght always had a height that made them look a little like shoeboxes on wheels. The Lionel U36B is an excellent candidate for a do-it-yourself project of shortening the height of the shell. It might seem ironic, but shortening the height of the shell actually makes the engine look larger. It does!! Because even though you are getting away from the scale proportion of the height (because the engine is so much shorter than it should protypically be) by shortening the shell height, the engine looses the "shoebox" look and actually appears longer. This is especially true is you are running traditionally sized trains in a consist.

The shortening of the height of the shell works on many Lionel "scaled-down-length" locomotives. And again, it's a visual look - but when you are running smaller sized rolling stock, the engine looks much better if it doesn't tower 3/4 to 1-inch above your tallest car. I have shortened the height of many shells including the K-Line MP-15. But I have also made new "027" engines including using the frame of the MP-15 as a start including a GP-9, an RS-3 and a U36B. Those projects though also involved some serious chopping and cutting of the shells. Yes, they are all undersized. But I am also floored by the comments I get from other modelers saying how good they look on my layout given the types of cars I run... they do look exactly right at home! Even a couple of scale modelers have said things like "it's not what I would buy, but you've really done an excellent job at creating a new 027 diesel."

I think the 2 best diesels in this catagory from MTH are the smaller Railking SD-45 and the later Railking SD90-MAC, which the later is now being offered again under the Rugged Rails banner. And I applaud MTH for releasing this one - with some modern current roadnames - and with just the electronic basics. For others seeking the electronic frills, there is utterly no shortage of choices.

Yes jaabat, I too have had one Lionel loco in mind that I'd love to see out again. And that one is the #221 027 streamlined 2-6-4 steam engine. But I'd love to see someone use the premise of my ideas and create something new (with a modern look) for the 027 starter/affordable market.

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brianel027

. . . Of course, as the hobby is moved towards this more accurate "scale proportion" trend, the idea of selective shrinking is not popular with many. It would not be feasable to expect to see lots of this kind of smaller loco made, but as jaabat makes reference to, it would be nice to once in a while see something put out. I have long hoped for a more modern size-wise equal to the Lionel Alco FA of the 1950's. . .

. . . Yes jaabat, I too have had one Lionel loco in mind that I'd love to see out again. And that one is the #221 027 streamlined 2-6-4 steam engine. But I'd love to see someone use the premise of my ideas and create something new (with a modern look) for the 027 starter/affordable market.

I agree that there is a large and growing market for scale proportioned trains, but there is also a need and a market for more affordable locos. Lionel's new Dockside and Berkshire, K'Line's switchers, and RMT's Beep have proven to be huge successes. The Beep isn't even close to prototype and it sells like hotcakes.

Newly tooled locos are great. There's no denying that. But to re-issue some of the great post-war steamers and diesels, Lionel would need to spend very little (minimal) in the way of tooling, assuming the old molds are still usable. Just ship the molds to Asia and start cranking those timeless classics out.

If someone at Lionel is reading, I hope you will consider my suggestion. If others can do it, so can Lionel.

Since originally posting this, I've read that Nick Ladd of K-Line spoke at York this week and "has identified the low-cost locomotive arena as one where they see a bigger part of the future of K-Line and indicated more $99.95 locos are on the way".

This is great news, and I hope it continues across the industry. The $50 - $200 price range is an important one for people on a budget as well as beginners.

Jim

[tmcc man]

I saw the railking catalog at the East Coast Hobby Show when I was running a G Scale exhibit. I will only buy those starter sets even though I have tmcc. I might try DCS< but i will have to buy a PS2 engine. Any way i will probably only buy those starter sets.