MTH Townhouse on Fire

I hope you get responses to this. I'm interested in learning about this accessory too.

 

Bill

I too am interested. I'd like to see one in action

Just cut the wire that powers the water pump.

 

I have this but never used the water feature.  I tried it once on a test bench thought it was cool but no way was I going to put it on the layout with water!!!  Not enough protections designed to keep the water away from danger.

 

Jim

Jim, 

 

Thanks. Have you had a good experience overall with yours? Would like to hear your thoughts/experiences with it. 

 

I guess MTH is using a special pump that won't burn out when not submerged. Most water pumps have to be fully submerged to work. 

I repaired one once.  Neat accessory.  Go on line and read the instructions.  Or read the one from the shop.  Water is recycled if I remember right and the pump can run dry.  G

Thanks G. Have you found them to be reliable units or troublesome overall? I'll check out the instructions. I imagine outside of the pump it is just a smoke unit and red/white LEDs

As noted above just disable the pump by cutting the power.

 

I have the MTH House on Fire from back in the day that I circulated water from basin to hydrant to [through]pumper to attack line on ladder back into the basin. [A water line from under the house to under the hydrant supplies the pumper]. If the Fireman ain't got the nozzle aimed accurately through the window back into the basin it can get messy.

 

Photo below of circulation "loop". [Aerial ladder hose is dry]. Eventually found more scale size fire hose at Pet Smart but never changed it and put the operation on a layout. The intake/discharge ports on the Midship Pumper are drilled out and connected within the pumper via Trico washer fittings.

I have the IRS burning building. I asked Ron (then owner of Engine House Hobbies) to recontrol the building so that I have individual control for each function. It will be functional in my rebuilt layout; however, I will place a 2nd containment basin around it.

I would use distilled water for the application. Does not conduct electricity. 

 

Dale H

SJC,

 

Smokes well and the lighting effects are nice.  I like Winrose idea of putting a separate switch for the smoke & the water.  I just cut the wire on the pump to mine and could wire a switch in some day if I dared try it.

 

Dale H - We have hard water here in Utah and I wouldn't use anything but distilled water due to particulates.  Either way I preferred to go without the water.

Sorry for not getting back here sooner. Thanks to those that have replied. 

 

Gene - good to hear from you. Hope all is well with the solar panel installation. Really enjoyed seeing your now former layout several years ago, would love to see the new model when it is ready. I like the idea of a separate control. I vividly remember Ron telling me he wouldn't see me one after past issues. That may have been some time after you got yours. 

 

Dale - Good suggestions. Didn't think of that. May do that should I opt to go for water. 

 

Dewey - Thanks for the photo. Would love to know where you got the fire trucks. 

 

Jim - Glad you are happy...

 

...I think I'll ask Ken @ Engine House Hobbies to put my name on it. 

SJC

Corgi Fire Trucks. Really the reason I bought the House-a-Fire--so I could use the engines in a sorta realistic setting. You can set it up by attacking through the lower window right over the tank so there is zero spillage but do not put water from the aerial ladder thru the roof burn out or spillage is likely.

 

Whether as a static display operation or using water you can find near scale hose at Pet Smart that is used in fish tanks. Windshield washer parts and hose is also useful.