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MTH K4

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Monday, July 24, 2006 1:32 PM
 gmfunk wrote:

it was the last one left at my LHS and went out the door.......he's sold out now.



The LHS had 1.......  and SOLD it!  Wow what great news!!!!!!  Yawn.

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,264 posts
Posted by CAZEPHYR on Monday, July 24, 2006 1:31 PM
 orsonroy wrote:

The MR review gave it high marks in gneral and I noticed the slow speed was .5 miles per hour.  Did you get to see it run slow??     I would like to know how smooth it ran at very slow speeds.

Reread the MR review; it was one of the most damning reviews they've published in over a decade. Top speed of 5 SMPH at 12 volts? Please; 12v has been the hobby standard since the 1950s, and MTH can't even get THAT right?

Performance was better on DCC and DCS, but so what? 99.9% of HO modelers do not use DCS, and only around 30% of HO modelers DO use DCC. MTH just wrote off fully 70% of the market.

 

Ray

I agree that it should run good on DC if the average buyer is going to purchase it and that is the reason I asked the question.  It did not start up until 9Volts was reached.  One of the forum reviews has said the MR was not correct in the top speed at 36mph with 16volts, but anything over 12 to 16 volts on HO DC is out of tolerance.   MR stated in the review that the MTH manual indicated this model was to operate on up to 24Volts.   Did anyone at MTH check the standard voltage for HO on DC??   I don't think so.

Most readers probably wrote off the DCS portion of the MR test and looked at the DC or DCC.  Running the model on DC is a failure for sure, but they did not actually say it, but left it up to us to look at the results.  

Most of us would not be able to use it with that limitations, but they did say it worked well when operated using DCC.  They also printed the DCC results first, the DCS results second, and the DC results third.  This order was probably done to pacify the advertising department.       

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Monday, July 24, 2006 12:58 PM

The MR review gave it high marks in gneral and I noticed the slow speed was .5 miles per hour.  Did you get to see it run slow??     I would like to know how smooth it ran at very slow speeds.

Reread the MR review; it was one of the most damning reviews they've published in over a decade. Top speed of 5 SMPH at 12 volts? Please; 12v has been the hobby standard since the 1950s, and MTH can't even get THAT right?

Performance was better on DCC and DCS, but so what? 99.9% of HO modelers do not use DCS, and only around 30% of HO modelers DO use DCC. MTH just wrote off fully 70% of the market.

 

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Monday, July 24, 2006 12:52 PM

What could possibly make me think that MTHrules has a new name?????????????

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 24, 2006 11:28 AM

You betcha'.

BTW, I also confirmed that these engines are still in stock at MTH.....so any LHS should be able to get them from MTH (if they're a dealer) or a supplier such as Walthers if they're not.

Cheers,

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 24, 2006 10:34 AM

The little bit I saw of slow running looked good......I'd expect that from MTH given that's one of their selling points for the O line.

Cheers,

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
MTH K4
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 24, 2006 9:56 AM

Well, I finally had a fleeting look at the new MTH K4 at my LHS.......looks great, runs great (should use 16v, though), smoke lives up to MTH's reputation, sounds are like nothing I've ever heard in HO, etc.

If you're not into branding, this is one great little HO addition and certainly raises a few bars.  It'll be interesting to see where MTH takes their HO line.

It was a fleeting look because it was the last one left at my LHS and went out the door.......he's sold out now.

Cheers,

Mike

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