I bought an MTH F-7 AB set a couple of years ago. Running on DCC the B unit randomly stopped running after several weeks and then would not run at all. Taking off the shell and jiggling the connectors got it working again but I found out that if either of the locos briefly lost power I would have to bring them to a full stop in order to get lights and sound to work again. I ended up buying replacement decoders.
Does anyone know if this is still the case with MTH locos with their DCC/DCS decoders? I wanted to buy one of their Dreyfuss Hudsons but if they still work the same way it's just not worth it. It would be nice if they offered a DC version that was DCC ready. I like the F-7s but was more than a bit angry about having to replace the decoders.
Thanks
Our hobby is sometimes plagued with 'bad runs'. MTH had a bad run with their latest batch of UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO. On a couple of sites quite a few people reported problems, both with the loco and with service. That was two years ago, maybe closer to three already. My go-to company is BLI, but I watched them get raked over the coals between 2009-2011. I think they still have complaints about both their smoke units and their chuff sensor on their steamers, and it doesn't seem to matter which steamer.
I can't be sure, but Bachmann seems to be slinking away from steam. Yes, they have produced a new steamer, the B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 in the past 30 months or so, but they have ceased production of their bread 'n butter smaller stuff that did so well in their Spectrum series. Too bad, too. Even so, they had their plugs. Their Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 was a noted example. The drive train had problems, and so did the tender coupling. In my example, and in my only Mountain Class C&O 4-8-2, the pilot's lower edge is too close to the rails on level track. Much of a vertical curve into a grade gets grooves worn into that lower edge or a derailment, or the drivers spin.
As a general rule, with lots of variation, you are sure to eventually get what you want if you identify a locomotive currently offered or in stock somewhere, even if you have to send it in, with permission, to get it serviced. That has been my experience so far.
Nothing about this hobby comes quickly, easily, cheaply, and of good quality. Sometimes you can manage one or two of those four qualities, but NEVER three or more at the same time.
Definitely agree with you about manufacturers having a bad run now and again and nothing is perfect in our hobby.
I'm still wondering if newer MTH DCC locos lose their settings when they lose power for a split second - maybe going over a turnout? The F-7s I had would do this. I had to bring them to a full stop to get the sound and lights working again. Will the MTH Dreyfuss Hudson work the same way?
Rob,
The MTH Dreyfuss Hudsons run very well but aren't quite as nicely detailed as the BLI versions. You should be able to pick one up off eBay for $350-$450.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have about 9 MTH steam engines and am very happy with them. They have gotten better as time goes on plus they got the best sound, very important to me. The newest big boy will be coming my way at the end of the year if it is on time, should be great.
I agree with the poster that all mfgs have had problems and believe me it is mostly China's fault.
Dealing with them for years they are lying S.O.B's when it comes to anything.
selector Our hobby is sometimes plagued with 'bad runs'. MTH had a bad run with their latest batch of UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO. On a couple of sites quite a few people reported problems, both with the loco and with service. That was two years ago, maybe closer to three already. My go-to company is BLI, but I watched them get raked over the coals between 2009-2011. I think they still have complaints about both their smoke units and their chuff sensor on their steamers, and it doesn't seem to matter which steamer. I can't be sure, but Bachmann seems to be slinking away from steam. Yes, they have produced a new steamer, the B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 in the past 30 months or so, but they have ceased production of their bread 'n butter smaller stuff that did so well in their Spectrum series. Too bad, too. Even so, they had their plugs. Their Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 was a noted example. The drive train had problems, and so did the tender coupling. In my example, and in my only Mountain Class C&O 4-8-2, the pilot's lower edge is too close to the rails on level track. Much of a vertical curve into a grade gets grooves worn into that lower edge or a derailment, or the drivers spin. As a general rule, with lots of variation, you are sure to eventually get what you want if you identify a locomotive currently offered or in stock somewhere, even if you have to send it in, with permission, to get it serviced. That has been my experience so far. Nothing about this hobby comes quickly, easily, cheaply, and of good quality. Sometimes you can manage one or two of those four qualities, but NEVER three or more at the same time.
You have identfied my single biggest gripe about this hobby. While there are exceptions, quality control with most manufacturers is pretty pathetic. I don't mind paying top dollar if I get quality in return but when I pay for high end merchandise and get junk in return that gets my chili hot. I have already crossed a number of makers of high end products off my list of companies I will do business with because they don't give me my money's worth.
Respectfully,
I have three of those Bachmann Spectrum C&O 4-8-2 locos - all of my pilots are fine. I suspect yours is an easy fix......and I have eight more of the non C&O versions of that loco (with a different pilot), they are some of my best locos.......
True enough, we say the same kind of thing in the construction business - you can have it fast, you can have it at the best price, you can have the highest quality - pick two, you can't have all three.
Fact still remains, made in China or made in USA, this hobby was once about building models, and the manufacturers did, to some degree, take advantage of the fact that many of their customers could and would fix minor problems themselves.
And in fact, many of the customers were only looking for an "afordable" starting point for their modeling.
Not so in todays model railroad market - problem is, what is a "fair" price for these models if they need to be:
A-prototypically perfect
B-highly detailed
C-RTR and mechanically superior
D-loaded wih high tech electronics
E-perfectly tuned, lubed and adjusted right out of the box
I suspect that price is more than many can or will pay. I know the current $300 to $500 prices have chilled my interest in any "new releases". But, admittedly the current selection, and paying for DCC/sound I will not use, adds to my dis-interest.
Everybody on here knows by now I'm not a fan of MTH - but I will not knock their build "quality" - they are equal to or better than most everything out there.
They are in my view too expensive, and I don't like their 18 volt motors or their DCS, or the lack of DC compatability, or their lack of DCC ready models, or their sometimes "toy like" oversized or lacking detail - but quality, again they are as good or better than the next guy.....
Once again, happy I have most of the models I want.......
As for Bachmann moving away from steam, I'm not sure that s a fair or correct read on the situation.
They have finally after some 25 years, phased out a number of models that they had produced for decades running - guess what - you can't have your cake and eat it too - everyone who comes on this forum and says the "preorder" thing is "necessary" in the current market should not dare say a word about Bachmann stopping production of locos that were readily available for decades.....production run, after production run, after production run....
And who knows what they have in the works, or wha they may "bring back"? - unlike cash strapped BLI, Bachmann still builds trains first, then sells them.
After years of being out of production they have brought back improved versions of their passenger cars........
And BLI has backed away from "prototype accuracy" with their generic Pacifics, Mikados and Consolidations - and still want some pretty high prices.
But what do I know.......
Sheldon
jecorbett selector Our hobby is sometimes plagued with 'bad runs'. MTH had a bad run with their latest batch of UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO. On a couple of sites quite a few people reported problems, both with the loco and with service. That was two years ago, maybe closer to three already. My go-to company is BLI, but I watched them get raked over the coals between 2009-2011. I think they still have complaints about both their smoke units and their chuff sensor on their steamers, and it doesn't seem to matter which steamer. I can't be sure, but Bachmann seems to be slinking away from steam. Yes, they have produced a new steamer, the B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 in the past 30 months or so, but they have ceased production of their bread 'n butter smaller stuff that did so well in their Spectrum series. Too bad, too. Even so, they had their plugs. Their Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 was a noted example. The drive train had problems, and so did the tender coupling. In my example, and in my only Mountain Class C&O 4-8-2, the pilot's lower edge is too close to the rails on level track. Much of a vertical curve into a grade gets grooves worn into that lower edge or a derailment, or the drivers spin. As a general rule, with lots of variation, you are sure to eventually get what you want if you identify a locomotive currently offered or in stock somewhere, even if you have to send it in, with permission, to get it serviced. That has been my experience so far. Nothing about this hobby comes quickly, easily, cheaply, and of good quality. Sometimes you can manage one or two of those four qualities, but NEVER three or more at the same time. You have identfied my single biggest gripe about this hobby. While there are exceptions, quality control with most manufacturers is pretty pathetic. I don't mind paying top dollar if I get quality in return but when I pay for high end merchandise and get junk in return that gets my chili hot. I have already crossed a number of makers of high end products off my list of companies I will do business with because they don't give me my money's worth.
Again, respectfully, what is top dollar? What "should" the "perfect" model cost?
Do you know what the cost of production is?
If the hudson is similar to the J, there's power pickup on the tender and engine, and what appears to be a connection between them, so you would have to lose power on all wheels on the tender, as well as the loco, before it lost power. At that point, it's basically flying.
Having said that, my J would, at times, lose power, but it would be brief enough where it would pick back up where it left off. Other times, it would stall and lose sound. Usually that was accompanied by a derailment that would trip my DCC system. In practice, it hardly ever happened.