Originally Posted by Bob Bubeck:
Well…
- A great number (a plurality) S gauge layouts are established Gilbert or hi-rail layouts. DCC (and DCS) will not readily handshake with many of these without a good deal of effort. TMCC and Legacy work with existing layouts of this type with a simple connection. With its track-born signal quality issues, DCS is not likely to happily coexist with layouts built with traditional Gilbert-style track.
- TMCC is simple and robust in a way that DCS is not.
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Neither company will stand still and both shall coexist by servicing the wishes of various S gauge enthusiasts just as L-AF, AM, and SHS did in the past. The competition will be a good thing.
Bob
I have to agree with Bob, particularly on the first two points.
I have read with amusement all the buzz and hype that somehow MTH's entrance into S "legitimizes" the scale.
I think not.
I think MTH's movement into S is simply another step in their business model:
- Jump into a market niche and quickly flood it with product (however acquired or whatever its quality)
- When saturated or sales slow down or product quality issues start to erode profits, slow-roll new product releases and look for another niche, e.g. HO scale, European trains, S scale.
- Repeat Steps 1 & 2.
I also think the competition will be good for S, but don't expect Lionel to be blown away by MTH.
George
