MTH S Gauge Catalog Live Early and what do you think?

Are you sure it's the O-gauge 2020 V1 catalog?  I'm having problems finding it.

I don’t see it either?

As this is posted to the S scale forum, I believe he is talking about the S scale 2019-2020 catalog.

Good point.  The link came up in the right column of the forum, so I just clicked on it, assuming that since this is the OGR forum it would be O gauge.  Ok, back to sleeeep.

Well...

Im happy to see the cabooses are back, I still think the SHS extended vision caboose rivals anyone’s in any gauge (in plastic).  It’s nice to see the switchers in the catalog.  

I guess, given the 6 year void, I kinda expected a thicker catalog.  For them stickin with it, I hope there are some things in the catalog that work for you.

Ben

The catalogue offered more than I expected also. It was great to see the locomotives offered with both scale and high-rails wheels although the rolling stock, including cabooses, does not. One has to choose either scale or high-rail for those. The cabooses are enhanced with LED lighting, including LEDs for the marker lights--a nice touch. The 2-bay, fishbelly hopper is the newly tooled item mentioned by those who had heard about something new. Don Thompsen and Mike Ferraro had planned on introducing this model before the Sanda Kan disaster hit, and MTH is the one to finally bring it to market.

The choices of road names seems well thought out--some for East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast. It's impossible to please everyone, but there seems to be a number of "standard" names plus a few more unusual names to delight those who have been looking for them for many years.

It has been a long wait since 2013, and the choices are nowhere near as wide as O gauge; but it has always been that way. MTH did a nice job with these offerings--SHS quality, a new item, and very reasonable pricing.

I've only had a chance to go over it quickly, so my verdict: It's OK. After you get past the first 10 pages of the wonders of MTH.

A fair amount of "leftovers." 

Anybody notice the "Order Now" pricing?  Wonder if it applies to dealers, too.

Francine will be happy with the Reading F7's and hoppers.

Speaking of hoppers: Note the "New Tooling" caption.  This was one of the last cars SHS announced before Sanda Kan fired them, so I wonder if the tooling was already completed and just waiting to be used or if MTH did develop them from the drawings. 

Either way, it's nice to see them available.  If anything called out for 6-car sets, it's these hoppers.  But I guess MTH is feeling a little burned with the PS2 6-car sets.

NW2's and SW8's with 6 roadnames each:  Wow, that's a lot of switchers for one catalog.  As all my SHS switchers seldom see daylight, I'll pass.  Although the EMD Demo SW8 is worthy of consideration.

F7's: 6 roadnames.  Well, I expected another run of F3's.  Four years ago I would have jumped on the Burlington units, but I have to reluctantly pass.

EV Cabeese:  About time.  Should have been with the original release in 2013.

Rusty

I have to admit that there is more than I expected. While my favorite Erie wasn't represented, that's OK. I'm working on painting and decaling 4 diesels, so at least I can continue those projects. My layout theme allows me to run anything I like that ran in Ohio. Shockingly, I have a good selection. 

I'm probably looking at an ABA of C&O F7s, 2 B&O NW2s, 2 NKPs, 2 EL SW8s. I'd like to grab the GNs too just because but I'm running out of budget. Especially with the new hoppers and cabooses.

I REALLY wish theses were DCC ready so I could drop in an ESU Loksound. Both motor control and sound are superior to DCS, but what are you gonna do? At least they put up a catalog. I hope others decide to order enough to encourage MTH to increase the frequency and scope of S products. If this catalog flops who know what they may do.

More than expected but same old, same old. Think I'll be in for a few fishbellys but that's about it.

Rich

Wow - no smoke or electric operating couplers !     Art

Good to see a new catalogue, looks like an interesting selection

Colin

Rusty Traque posted:

Anybody notice the "Order Now" pricing?  Wonder if it applies to dealers, too.

Yes, but the links don't work. I haven't found a way to find any of these products on their webpage. Perhaps they will be up tomorrow which is when they said the catalogue would be posted.

katy409 posted:

Wow - no smoke or electric operating couplers !     Art

There simply isn't room inside for smoke units.  The cab bulkhead meets the inside of the roof:

There's even less room in the switchers.

As far as electric couplers, MTH blew about 2 years trying to develop them to fit on the former SHS models.

Rusty

Boring unless you haven’t been in S the last 10 years.

Otherwise S-Helper engines, rolling stock, and track all over again with MTH power supplies and DCS.  Once had so many NW, SW and F units (all three types done well by Don and Robin) that I sold several so I’d at least get around to running the others.  

S - starved for new, satisfied with old.  

Rusty Traque posted:

Francine will be happy with the Reading F7's and hoppers.

Rusty

 

They look interesting to me also.  I know nothing from DCS, can I run them on straight DC or, short of that, if gutted will the MTH motors operate on DC?

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

The MTH catalog states they will work on AC, DC, DCS, DCC.

The motors are DC.  Nobody uses AC motor anymore.

Rusty

Sgaugian posted:

Boring unless you haven’t been in S the last 10 years.

Otherwise S-Helper engines, rolling stock, and track all over again with MTH power supplies and DCS.  Once had so many NW, SW and F units (all three types done well by Don and Robin) that I sold several so I’d at least get around to running the others.  

S - starved for new, satisfied with old.  

We have known this since 2012. MTH has said repeatedly that if we want NEW tooling then we need to buy the existing tooling products that they put out first. I disagreed with this logic then and now, but I don't make the call. If these don't sell well I wouldn't be surprised if this was the last S scale catalog from MTH.  I'll be buying my fair share. Hopefully others do too instead of just making excuses.

Buying your "fair share" for any reason other than you really want those items and are genuinely excited about them is taking the bait and buying the con.  If they see continued plentiful purchases of retreads then on the balance sheet that makes us a high-margin milk it until that changes market segment and product line.  "The beatings will continue until behavior improves" (changes) kind of thing.  Were you buying tons of Flyonel retreads when Lionel introduced TMCC Mikados in 2005?  No.  Were you buying a ton of retreads when they expanded those into the Pacifics and on down the line from there.  No. The fuse had been lit by the spark of something new -- not "fair shares" of remakes.  And if a mfr. doesn't see revenue from selling retreads, then yes, they will have to ask themselves if that market is worth it anymore, but at least that creates the opportunity and chance for something new getting done.  Otherwise its kick the can until we stop buying.  And if they deem it no longer worth it, then that's the case.  And you have to ask yourself then as well if its enough be and stay happy with and excited about.  No excuses.  

Dave

I understand your perspective. As I mentioned, I argued with MTH about their strategy. The cold hard truth though is that they get to set their strategy.  And the simple fact is that if these products don’t sell well I wouldn’t be surprised if they exit the scale altogether. Is that a better place to be? 

Everyone gets to decided that for themselves. I guess I’m lucky that there are several products that I’m interested in.