Future of ScaleTrax

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

Originally Posted by PSU1980:

...

My frustration is now to the point that I will go back to GarGraves and Ross with my list and see what they can offer. ...

That's actually an EXCELLENT strategy!  Have you seen the ad Ross is running in OGR?  I don't subscribe to OGR magazine anymore, so I don't know how long the ad has been running.  I just saw it yesterday when I previewed the first few pages of the digital copy of the December issue.  The Ross ad was a couple of pages in.  And while I'm not always a big fan of direct product comparisons for ad purposes, I thought the Ross ad hit a home run and was effective with no exaggerations as far as I could see.

 

The "Made in the USA" theme was well executed, because it emphasized the reliable nature of product availability in the States as well as overall price competitiveness.  My next layout -- which will be a combination of Standard Gauge and O-Gauge in a hi-rail setting will use Ross turnouts and Gargraves track.  And possibly USA Track LLC for the Standard Gauge.  Bottom line... All track will be made right here in the USA.

 

The other systems were fine when supply was reliable, but those days appear to be history.  When did waiting YEARS for track components become business as usual?    Bad enough that happens with locos and rolling stock... but the sparseness of track product with some of these systems on such a regular basis now is unforgivable. 

 

As the old Lee Iacocca commercials emphasized years ago... Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.  Right now, the track systems from Atlas-O and MTH are a distraction and can't be taken seriously until product availability improves dramatically.  So until that can realistically happen -- and if you don't already have mucho dollars invested in them, why even consider them -- especially for a new layout? 

 

In short, Ross/Gargraves is the definitive choice for O-Gauge, and Ross/Gargraves/USA Track LLC are the key players for Standard Gauge today... IMHO, of course.

 

David

Dave:

     The "exaggeration" in the Ross ad is that he compares his Ross "one and only price" to Atlas' MSRP!  (When was the last time you paid MSRP for ANYTHING, like a new car, for example.)

    When you compare Ross' "one and only prices" to what Trainworld and Charles RO are selling Atlas for, Ross' price is lower than Atlas on only 4-5 items. It's truly an "Apples and Oranges" comparison and is misleading. Example: Ross' 031 Remote Switch is $89.95 in Ross ad. But Atlas' 036 Remote is selling for only $79.99 at Trainworld/Charles Ro. Not $104.95 as the Ross ad implies.

   I do understand that Ross makes a quality product (made in U.S.A.) and that their customer service is "bar none," but to compare their "one price" to any other manufacturer's MSRP is just not a fair comparison.

Why doesn't Ross step up to the plate and make a track that has the lower profile rails and greater scale appearance?  I know, easier said than done. That would, however solve an issue/fill a void for a lot of train enthusiasts that err on the side of scale appearance.......to a degree of course.  One of the reasons I've been holding out for Scaletrax for a future large layout is that both 3 rail and 2 rail (scale wheel) run flawlessly on Scaletrax.  I've tried multiple times to run scale wheel engines and rolling stock on Atlas, Ross and Gargraves O scale 3 rail track with limited performance especially over turnouts.  I'd go two rail tomorrow, but I don't want to give up the Lionel Legacy engines I have.  Another answer would be for Lionel to produce 2 rail O scale engines.  Then I would most certainly go 2 rail.  

One last idea, how about MTH dropping their HO, S and One Gauge lines and concentrate on producing top notch O scale Premier,  Railking engines, rolling stock and  freakin' TRACK! 

jonnyspeed posted:

I recently asked MTH about the #4s and #6s on Facebook and they said that they expected shipment in Nov.

...

Interesting to hear all these dates thrown about.  November, then December.  Now that it's Feb 25th, we're hearing March/April.  And I just heard these turnouts aren't even on the water yet -- with production dates always subject to change.  So that could very likely be the most honest answer right now.

I really wish the importers would come to grips with the fact that we're not gullible consumers.  We can all connect the dots.  Stuff is arriving today that has manufacturing dates of early December 2015 stamped on shipping cartons.  So when somebody tells you something is "due" next month, the next question should be, "When did the container ship from China?"  Because if they can't tell you that information (and the stuff might not even be in production yet), then it's likely gonna be at least 3 months out -- probably longer if the importers don't have a firm manufacturing date.

Welcome to the less glamorous side of having stuff made half way around the world today.   And no importer is immune from it.  They're all just trying to manage to it. Some better than others.

David

I am building a new layout, and after seeing Rich Battista's videos where he demonstrates the use of Scale Trax, I checked it out and the lack of available switch choices and simply the lack of product being made led me to abandon the idea of using it.  I then turned to Atlas, and while I finally have all the turnouts and the other stuff I need, now I am waiting for the straight track to come in, and I have been waiting for several months now.  Very frustrating.  The big advantage Ross has is that they make the stuff right here in the USA and they have plenty of product available. 

When I planned to build my new layout I looked at the various tracks available, had some Gargraves, and after checking their prices and  reading about the availability issues I went with tubular. Wait months for track to complete a layout ?? No way !!   What a way to market your product. Hard to believe they are serious about the business.  I would really like to see oe of these manufacturing plants that make this stuff. I am betting the train products are a small slice of their business unless it is done in a small building somewhere.

I was gonna comment again, but "Marc C" said it in his first sentence above.  Ross, or SOMEBODY!  (and I would think a major maker of trains would have a vested interest in it), needs to make a solid rail, rustless, low profile track with vertically  thin wooden ties, and the heck with it matching the height of old Lionel track from the forties.  If people want to combine them, they can step/ramp up the new track.  Of course, this track needs all the supporting switches, wide radius choices, etc., that have been promised but not delivered.  Tubular track on high, sparse, funny looking metal ties is  not getting it.  In the 1950's, if not sooner, they were advertising bags of wooden ties  with which you could make such track better looking.  Expecting the customer to wait months to finish a layout on which to run $ two grand locos, and to buy such locos with no good track,  is nuts!

Scaletrax has no future as long as there is Atlas track . . . oh, wait!

Pete

What I don't understand is why Mike Wolf (or one of his managers) won't address these well-documented ScaleTrax issues/concerns publicly, either here on the Forum or via an "official" statement/press release from MTH.

I'm confident there are many of us truly interested in knowing his REAL intentions with the ScaleTrax product line.  We deserve better than having to rely on "I spoke to Mike about ScaleTrax at such and such a train show last year and he said..." as our source of information.  That's crazy!

Put the info out there "officially" so those of us planning to build a layout--and trying to make a decision on what track system to use (a significant financial decision by the way!)--can plan accordingly!

A strange way to do business  and further your customer base.  I don't understand how some of these people treat customers.

Three or four years ago when I started looking into Scaletrax it was impossible to find.  MTH wasn't stocking it and the only way to find it was piecemeal from various vendors that had just a few pieces left of each item.  

If you look at MTH's website, they have all pieces in stock now (minus the #4 and #6 switches- I admit that I didn't check for the crossover pieces) So that to me is an indication that things have improved from where they once were. What I find interesting is that MTH stock levels finally improved almost at the same time that Atlas started advertising that they had replenished stock levels of their track. With this sign of progress, I have bought all the pieces I needed, minus the the #4 switches, and will wait for a few months to see if they come in.  If not, then I'll cross that bridge down the road when I have to do so. 

I do admit that, like everyone else here, I wish that every LHS stocked all pieces of Scaletrax and that it could be purchased without having to do any web searches. I will say that all I had to do was call one of the forum Sponsors, Stockyard Express, and he told me exactly when he could ship out everything I needed.  He did the legwork for me (#4 switches pending arrival of course).  

Well, when we visit MTH's website, smack in the middle of the home page grid is a square promoting ScaleTrax.  That's a pretty high-profile location.  So it's not like MTH is trying to sweep ScaleTrax under the rug.  I guess the devil is in the details though.  

Hopefully, we can get past the #'d turnout availability glitch soon.

David

enginEErjon posted:

... I do admit that, like everyone else here, I wish that every LHS stocked all pieces of Scaletrax and that it could be purchased without having to do any web searches. ...

At this point, I'd be happy to see MTH have a healthy inventory in-stock.  Getting LHS's to stock it is going to be a slow process at best -- at least until they're convinced there is consumer demand for it.   And that sure isn't gonna happen overnight.

What we're seeing here is a bit of a perfect-storm of sorts in the whole overseas-manufacturing business model.  Couple that with lightning fast information exchange on the internet (i.e., this forum), and these scenarios take on a life of their own very quickly.

David

I guess I'll throw in my two cents for the nth time...  I made a large purchase of ScaleTrax for my new layout a little over a year ago.  I received roughly 90% of my order missing only the #4 switches for a double crossover.  After being given several shipping dates by the hobby shop and talking to MTH several times (and getting the standard "It will be here next month!" response), I finally got the hobby shop owner to call around to other shops to see if he could find the #4 switches (which he did).  No I have to say... the hobby shops owners are in the same boat as us end users.  They are given the same line from MTH that we get.  I know that the owner I dealt with felt bad that he had to give me several ship dates over a years period because that is what he got from MTH.  As others have noted, the ScaleTrax is featured prominently is EVERY new catalog MTH puts out and it is also featured on their website.  I find it outrageous that they push it so hard, yet put little emphasis on the actual production.  Mike needs to take a personal interest in ScaleTrax to find out what the problem is, correct it and/or find another source.  They want to sell the expensive trains, accessories, DCS, but none of it is worth much without a track system.  Well, I guess I went over my two cent limit, but I felt the need to vent.

It wasn't that long ago where Lionel couldn't deliver a Legacy 990 kit.  Talk about selling $2K Vision Line locomotives with no ability to get the most out of your purchase!!!    Now the 180-watt bricks are playing hide-and-seek.  But there sure are plenty of ZW-L's out there!!!  

Like I said earlier, none of the importers has been immune from the overseas manufacturing/supply issues.  The tail is now officially wagging the dog.  Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  

But hey, it's still the golden era of O-Gauge railroading.  

David

PaulG posted:

...the hobby shops owners are in the same boat as us end users.  They are given the same line from MTH that we get.  I know that the owner I dealt with felt bad that he had to give me several ship dates over a years period because that is what he got from MTH.  As others have noted, the ScaleTrax is featured prominently is EVERY new catalog MTH puts out and it is also featured on their website.  I find it outrageous that they push it so hard, yet put little emphasis on the actual production.  Mike needs to take a personal interest in ScaleTrax to find out what the problem is, correct it and/or find another source.  They want to sell the expensive trains, accessories, DCS, but none of it is worth much without a track system.

And then take it one step further by actually sharing publicly what his future plans are for the ScaleTrax product line-up!

CNJ #1601 posted:

...  sharing publicly what his future plans are for the ScaleTrax product line-up!

Although it wasn't in the "official" form we might have liked to see, Rich Battista's commentary on Mike's position about some of the more exotic pieces that could be added to ScaleTrax should tell us all we need to know.  There was a hint that EXISTING turnouts could be enhanced in future production runs, and perhaps an additional curved sectional track in the O-63/O-64 area.  Aside from that, I think we have what we're gonna have. 

Certainly no indication that Mike wants to fill out ScaleTrax with fancier turnout pieces that exist in the Atlas-O and RCS lines.  He just doesn't want to make that kind of investment.  On one hand, I can understand this thinking.  When Atlas-O produced the double-slip switch, there were lots of operational glitches with it.  It looked REAL cool, but the devil was in the details.  The whole center-rail power-gap issue surfaces in the fancier and longer turnouts.  And that can be a real can of worms, since there are no standards per say when it comes to power roller spacing on O-Gauge locomotives.  So in that sense, I can see Mike wanting to keep ScaleTrax "simple".

OTOH, the product line would "look" more appealing -- read that: enthusiasts might take it more seriously -- if the line were filled out further.  The more exotic pieces would definitely send the message that MTH is SERIOUS about making a strong statement in the 3-rail track market.  So it's all a delicate balance.  Not making excuses for MTH -- just trying to look at the situation from various viewpoints.

Mike has commented publicly that the O-Gauge market is "flat" (from a revenue perspective).  That's not to say it isn't viable -- just that it's not on any significant growth curve... which likely explains  MTH tapping into the European market.  And then of course there's the MTH venture into the HO-scale scene too.  I guess it all boils down to priorities.

David

I think you can still get, somebody makes, those test cradles.  Put your Big Boy in one, on its back, run a wire from a transformer positive pole, and one from a negative, hold a wire in each hand, touch one wire to a collector, the other to a wheel, and watch it run and run and run.....  (what's to complain about?)

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

CNJ #1601 posted:

...  sharing publicly what his future plans are for the ScaleTrax product line-up!

Although it wasn't in the "official" form we might have liked to see, Rich Battista's commentary on Mike's position about some of the more exotic pieces that could be added to ScaleTrax should tell us all we need to know.  There was a hint that EXISTING turnouts could be enhanced in future production runs, and perhaps an additional curved sectional track in the O-63/O-64 area.  Aside from that, I think we have what we're gonna have. 

Certainly no indication that Mike wants to fill out ScaleTrax with fancier turnout pieces that exist in the Atlas-O and RCS lines.  He just doesn't want to make that kind of investment.  On one hand, I can understand this thinking.  When Atlas-O produced the double-slip switch, there were lots of operational glitches with it.  It looked REAL cool, but the devil was in the details.  The whole center-rail power-gap issue surfaces in the fancier and longer turnouts.  And that can be a real can of worms, since there are no standards per say when it comes to power roller spacing on O-Gauge locomotives.  So in that sense, I can see Mike wanting to keep ScaleTrax "simple".

OTOH, the product line would "look" more appealing -- read that: enthusiasts might take it more seriously -- if the line were filled out further.  The more exotic pieces would definitely send the message that MTH is SERIOUS about making a strong statement in the 3-rail track market.  So it's all a delicate balance.  Not making excuses for MTH -- just trying to look at the situation from various viewpoints.

Mike has commented publicly that the O-Gauge market is "flat" (from a revenue perspective).  That's not to say it isn't viable -- just that it's not on any significant growth curve... which likely explains  MTH tapping into the European market.  And then of course there's the MTH venture into the HO-scale scene too.  I guess it all boils down to priorities.

David

David, although I truly respect Rich B, love his videos and layout, and appreciate his "connection" to MW and MTH, we should not have to rely on him to be our source of information on the future of the ScaleTrax product line-up!  That's the point I was trying to make.

Don't get me wrong here.  I'll gladly take any and all info Rich would like to share with us!  My point is that it shouldn't be coming from him.  MW should be the one to speak about this subject.  Period.  

In my opinion, everything stated by anyone outside of MTH regarding ScaleTrax--no matter how likely it is to be true--is mere speculation until the day that MW (or someone else from MTH) confirms it.

Like you, I'm going to be building a new layout (my first good-sized one) in the near future, and have a major decision to make regarding which track to use.  Is it too much to ask MTH to clearly state their intentions with the ScaleTrax line-up?  I'm a big boy and can handle whatever they say about the product's future.  

In the meantime, MTH's silence on this subject is deafening to someone like me getting ready to potentially spend thousands of $$ on track products!!  Atlas track and Ross switches is looking better and better...and I'm a big MTH fan.

I think part of the problem with scaletrax, besides the obvious supply chain issues MTH is having, is that as nice as that track is (and it is, it is very prototypical looking other than the third rail), it is also a niche within a niche. For many people in this hobby, that kind of protypical track isn't that important, they are happy with Atlas (which is nice track), and a lot are happy with Fasttrack or with Gargraves, and Ross, and they don't necessarily care about the faults of these track systems.

For MTH, Scale Trax is probably a minor player in terms of sales, so it isn't a big priority. If a lot of people in the O world were clamoring for it, they would not be able to get away with the current situation, but with relatively low demand, it isn't a priority. One poster suggested that MTH drop their foray into HO and such, to focus on this, which sounds reasonable, but they likely will make a lot more money in the non O space, given how big HO for example is. 

Likewise, the reason Ross and Gargraves haven't tapped into the scale track market is likely the same reason, that the number of people who would buy the product is too small for them to sink costs of production into it. Among other things, Gargraves and Ross (whose rail is the same thing, the rail profile) with that high rail size can run anything, so it captures a wide variety of people, scale size track would eliminate a number of kinds of users, since there are a lot of rolling stock that might have problems on scale profile rail. Gargraves and Ross are kind of what they call satisfice products, they may not please everyone, but they please enough to be a viable business. 

As far as why MTH hasn't been clear about the situation with the track, why they haven't come out and said something, I can only speculate, FWIW, that they themselves don't really know what the future will hold, if their manufacturing is as chaotic as it seems, they may simply not have much to say. I'll be honest, I suspect you won't see much improvement with scale trax, they have been having problems for several years now, and if they were going to make a push with it, they would likely have done it by now. So what it boils down to from my vantage point, with no dog in the fight, is if you are willing to be patient, scale trax will be around for the foreseeable future, but you might have to wait to get stuff you need, I doubt very much it will be like other track that you can pick any vendor and get what you need on demand. 

I think you are right !!

Its good to hear that MTH seems to have some inventory in now less the #ed switches. Hopefully, they will be in sometime this year?

Our layout used primarily the #6s with only one #4 and a handful of 072's. The #4 seemed pretty abrupt and I only used it as it was part of a bulk purchase I made. The #6s were terrific and #8s would have been better as would some 'larger than'072s.  At the time I didn't realize that I could have used some Ross switches with the Scaletrax easily.

Don't forget that Ted and Dave Hikel hand-laid several larger MTH switches using Ross templates with great success so that is always an option.

I bought some MTH RealTracks as part of a box of trains at a yard sale.  I used it around the Christmas tree and was not impressed, other than the fact that it was solid rail. Joining tracks was difficult.   IMO, MTH would have been better served in sinking their development into ScaleTrax.  I would start to upgrade to ScaleTrax, if I knew that it would be there when I needed it. 

Everyone agrees that you can't run a railroad without track.  You have to have it!  However, it isn't glamourous and sexy like a new scaled Hudson or a nice ABA diesel set.  Additionally, once you have your layout in place, you usually do not buy more track.  It usually becomes an afterthought.  So dealers (LHS and internet) can end up holding lots of inventory that they can’t move (and we know inventory is money).  If they do carry ScaleTrax, it is usually odds and ends.  I’ve not run across anyone who carries the complete offering.  So we know that everyone (operators) needs track, but few (dealers) carry it.

So here is a thought (probably one of the early Saturday off-the-cuff thoughts I get while having that first cup of coffee while my thought process is still in the pre-caffeine fog)…  Why not have MTH maintain a complete inventory of ScaleTrax.  They make the track available to dealers (at the dealer price) and the dealers offer at whatever markup they want to the public.  When an order comes in, they contact MTH and have it shipped directly to the buyer.  MTH now can proclaim that they have the ScaleTrax system in place to support those nice big expensive engines, dealers don’t have to maintain inventory and users can be assured of the availability of a complete offering of track.  Of course, you won’t be able to run down to the LHS on a Saturday morning for a six pack of 10” straights, but with a few days wait, they will show up on your doorstep.

Well, I finished my first cup of coffee, my head is only in a semi-fog and I’m NOT going back through this to rethink my thoughts.  They seem reasonable, but what do you think?

Paul

FWIW... with ScaleTrax included in MTH's new RTR 2016 Catalog that went online today (Thursday, March 3rd), I had the following dialogue exchange with MTH on Facebook this morning:

• My first post:  Glad to see ScaleTrax included in pages 76-83 of the catalog. Any guidance as to when #4 and #6 turnouts will be shipping so folks can build some of the layouts featured in page 78-83, as well as their own custom-designed layouts? These turnouts are absolutely critical for the target audience that is most drawn to ScaleTrax. Thanks, in advance, for making this happen soon.

• MTH's response (presumably by the person who communicates to consumers on Facebook):  I have no control over when something is produced. I have asked several times about these switches and continue to get an answer that I share here on facebook and then they do not come in when I was told. So I am at a loss and as frustrated about this as you are, and you make a good point about the track layouts in the book. I really have no answer David. I have been told they are being built, but I have not seen them.

• My follow-up comment:  Thanks so much for the quick response. I really do appreciate your candidness and honesty. I don't doubt that this can be frustrating on your end as well. I have probably called over 3 dozen MTH dealers looking for these in the past week or so, and I've located a couple but still looking for one or two more to complete my list of track components needed. If folks were building a huge layout that required many of these turnouts, they'd be forced to choose a different track system. And that can't be something MTH wants to hear. If you can't address the situation, please pass these comments along to someone at MTH -- including Mike himself -- who can hopefully give this situation a higher priority with your overseas production facilities. Thank you very much from a huge MTH enthusiast.

I guess only time will tell how and when this situation will improve.  As a dealer told me yesterday -- and I agree largely with these sentiments...  This is all a big numbers game.  MTH publishes new catalogs periodically.  And when dealers place orders for newly catalog'd products, the production of those products competes with the limited production facilities in China that actually manufacture this stuff.  So when the powers-at-be see larger revenues and profits to be made with a new order of product, that resets the production priorities of everything.  And track production gets pushed further out.  It's now early March -- almost 3 months AFTER the December date which folks at October 2015 York were told by Mike Wolf these components would be here in the States.  Although a different class of product, the unavailability of these track components is grossly similar to Lionel not being able to get their Legacy 990 / Cab-2 kits produced for over 12-18 months a couple of years ago.  Unfortunately, this has become standard operating procedure in what is otherwise considered a "golden age" of O-Gauge model railroading.

David

If your not going make it don't show it!

Unfortunately, this has become standard operating procedure in what is otherwise considered a "golden age" of O-Gauge model railroading.

David

Funny how you can still consider this the "golden Age" of O gauge model railroading when in the past five years us O gaugers have lost two big mfg's on what was once a playing field of 6 mfg's/importers of O gauge trains:

• Lionel
• K-line-RIP
• Weaver Models- RIP
• Williams [Now WBB]
• Atlas O
• 3rd rail/Golden Gate Depot

I'm far from a brand zealot since I own O-scale trains made by Atlas, Weaver, MTH, Lionel, Williams, 3rd Rail, Intermountain, K-Line, All Nation, Red Caboose and others.  Still, I can't help but smile when I read threads like this.  I still remember a published interview several years ago where Mike Wolf rather smugly stated that MTH product delays would soon be a thing of the past since MTH now owned their own factory in China.  Nice try.

I use Gargraves track and Ross switches.  Newer track systems from Atlas and MTH might look a little better (not that much to me, especially once ballasted and weathered) but Gargraves and Ross are always available and made here in the USA.  I recently did an expansion that required over 20 new switches of different types including O72, O96, #4, 11 degree wye, O72/O96 curved and O96/0120 curved.  One order placed and the switches all arrived within a couple of weeks, easy-peasy.  Paying for them was not quite so easy-peasy though. 

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Unfortunately, this has become standard operating procedure in what is otherwise considered a "golden age" of O-Gauge model railroading.

David

Funny how you can still consider this the "golden Age" of O gauge model railroading when in the past five years us O gaugers have lost two big mfg's on what was once a playing field of 6 mfg's/importers of O gauge trains:

• Lionel
• K-line-RIP
• Weaver Models- RIP
• Williams [Now WBB]
• Atlas O
• 3rd rail/Golden Gate Depot

 

 

Uh oh. That means  we r all over the hill. 

Bob posted:

...

I use Gargraves track and Ross switches.  Newer track systems from Atlas and MTH might look a little better (not that much to me, especially once ballasted and weathered) but Gargraves and Ross are always available and made here in the USA.  I recently did an expansion that required over 20 new switches of different types including O72, O96, #4, 11 degree wye, O72/O96 curved and O96/0120 curved.  One order placed and the switches all arrived within a couple of weeks, easy-peasy.  ...

Bob, I'll be real honest with everyone here.  I was all set to go with Gargraves/Ross for my next O-Gauge layout.  And then, BAM!!!  I happened to browse SideTrack Hobbies website, and saw they were literally blowing out their ScaleTrax stuff for next-to-nothing prices.  I gather Al and Libby are re-focusing their business toward O-Gauge and Standard Gauge TINPLATE offerings.  So they're clearing out lots of their former O-Gauge inventories right now.   They'll continue to order Lionel and MTH O-Gauge offerings for folks who pre-order them, but I don't think they want to stock anything other than Tinplate trains nowadays.

The other elements that played into my decision to choose ScaleTrax were twofold:  One, I loved that it was dramatically close to Lionel's Super-O profile from the 1950's and 1960's.   And secondly, my new layout design consisted of ScaleTrax components that were currently in stock at a variety of MTH dealers -- EXCEPT for two pair of #4 switches where I had designed a double-crossover.    So I rolled the dice a bit -- thinking things would be fairly manageable.  And for me, they were -- and hopefully still are.  At this point, I have ONE #4RH turnout remaining to purchase.  That's it.  I'm not happy that MTH's inventory of these jewels is zip, zilch, ZERO.  But if I'm lucky, SOMEBODY out there will have what I need.

I was able to purchase 18 brand new O-72 ScaleTrax turnouts at SideTrack Hobbies for about $24/each.  Sectional curves for $1.75/each.  And 30-inch flex track for $7/each!!!      Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, selling ScaleTrax came close to those prices.  Normal street-prices for turnouts is $65-$79.  So you can do the math and see the savings are in the order-of-magnitude category!   

Unfortunately, I couldn't purchase everything  I needed from SideTrack Hobbies due to their low inventory levels on some items.  But they helped my cause TREMENDOUSLY.  And I was left to  purchase a handful of remaining items -- albeit at normal street-prices -- from a few other MTH dealerships.  Nobody currently stocks enough of ScaleTrax to be the one-stop supplier regardless of what you need.  But if you call around, you're likely to find almost everything at a few different dealerships.  I found the only real challenging spot right now in the ScaleTrax line-up appears to be the supply of #4 and #6 turnouts.  And that's a pretty big weakness considering the folks most likely drawn to using ScaleTrax are gonna want to design a layout with those turnouts.  So I view that as a HUGE gaping flaw that MTH would let their own warehouse inventory levels drop to ZERO for such strategic components in the product's line-up.  Really unacceptable.

Now is ScaleTrax this huge-selling item that is gonna make-or-break MTH?  Absolutely NOT!  And I accept that going into the game.  But the fact that MTH still included ScaleTrax in their 2016 RTR Catalog that was released today gives us "Super-O enthusiasts" some hope -- however small it may be -- that MTH is not abandoning the track system that serious O-Gauge hi-rail modelers would be drawn to if inventory were available.  I get the fact that lots of dealers are gonna stock Lionel's Fastrack and MTH's RealTrax over ScaleTrax -- largely due to the fact that those systems have built-in roadbed, and they're better suited to carpet railroads for guys looking to build, change, and tear down layouts quickly.  ScaleTrax, OTOH, is obviously geared toward an entirely different market.  And I hope MTH continues to offer it, so that enthusiasts don't need to waste time calling 2 or 3 dozen dealerships to see what's available.

David

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

I found the only real challenging spot right now in the ScaleTrax line-up appears to be the supply of #4 and #6 turnouts.

Since I'm interested in ScaleTrax too, have you tried the Product Locator on the MTH website to find the switches? I saw 2 places listed that supposedly had the #4 in stock, that's all I looked for.

Doubledaz,  oh yes... that was my first starting point.  The product locator isn't 100% accurate, because dealers need to update their inventories regularly.  MTH was very helpful too, and provided me a list of dealers who had ordered ScaleTrax in the past.  There are a couple of dealers who have one or two #4 LH's still in stock.  And I found 3 of the 4 turnouts I needed.  But right now that final #4RH is being a bit elusive. 

David

Those switches laid around for a while as people complained about stuff. There wasn't much demand that I saw. Like in the beginning, they're in demand again. They will come back I bet. 

I know the feeling of waiting for one elusive Scaletrax switch. My layout progress went on hold for over nine months waiting for one #4RH needed to complete a crossover. I'm still very happy with the decision to go with Scaletrax, but I'm glad I don't have a large layout or a significant expansion planned. David, I hope you find that #4RH soon!

Tony