By this time next year, 1.34 HO scale model railroaders will have thought about switching to DCS.[:D]
By this time next year, 1 HO scale model railroader will have switched to DCS (most likely mthrules).[:D]
Let’s see if those predictions come true.[:D]
I wonder why mthrules hasn’t come through here yet? Hmm…
Joe, you’re exactly right. In HO, I think there is kind of an un-written rule amongst the manufactuers not to flame each other. Anyone notice there had almost never been an HO add like the MTH one until it came out? In HO, the manufactuers more or less work together, thanks to the NMRA no doubt, but I’ve never seen Kato flaming Athearn because their SD70MAC is better than Athearn’s, for example.
I personally think it’s to late for MTH now. They came into HO with lawsuits at their heels, and they attack BLI. They’re just to far gone, the vast majority of HO modelers want nothing to do with MTH now.
The example you stated about the SD70MAC’s is a perfect example of two competing companies both offering good products overall and not bashing anyone.
The Kato’s run better, but the Genesis shell has advantages, in my opinion. The colors used is another reason I perfer the Genesis shell. I really like Kato’s, but their final colors are not my choice. The Kato Santa Fe Warbonnet red looks like they get when they are faded and after the oxidation sets in.
I did not take offense to the MTH advertisement, but ignored it in general. MTH choose to compare their 1928 version of a model, which I would not buy. The forties and fifties era is the version I model in because I had opportunity to see them run. They were modified when I first saw them and why would I want to model the older version with the incorrect whistle sound.
I also have too many K4’s already to consider buying more. After all, even the PRR only had 425.
Now I need to figure out what that number would be in 1/87 scale.
[quote user=“dave hikel”]
As for DCS, it is NOT a toy system, and it dosen’t require 24 volts. In fact, MTH posted on their website that the MR review speed tests were not accurate. On 16 volts DC the K4 is supposed to do 75smph, and 16 volts will runn DCS just fine. Obviously MTH must offer decoders for us to install in our other equipment so we can model a particular time and localtion. However, DCS offers a level of control beyond what we currrently have in DCC (even with the CV set to 128 throttle steps). I like modeling the Cascade Mountains in O scale. Running a W1 electric on the point of a 60 car freight consist with an R-2 (2-8-8-2 steamer) working as a helper on the rear, I can run up the grade to the portal of the Cascade Tunnel and uncouple the R-2 ON THE FLY just like the Great Northern. Two operators running DCC could pull this off if they worked well together and their locos were programed very well. But in DCS it’s easy to do by yourself. All locos run in scale miles per hour, with cruise control, so changes in grade and load won’t muck things up. I’ve run more modern consists with three Dash-9’s on the point and a couple more cut in the middle for distributed power (something we used to see quite often in Seattle and over Stevens Pass). When I would look down of the coupler in front of the pair of locomotives cut into the middle, the slack would be running in and out without tugging or shuving on the cars ahead. Esentially I had two trains running in intimate proximity. I’m under no illusions that DCS is going to take over HO. DCC is here to stay. What really make me excited is, according to MTH’s spec sheet, they’ve included their speed control in DCC mode if your system can handle 128 throttle steps. To me this is the best of both worlds. My HO equipment can have the sound, lighting and speed control I’ve come to love in O scale on just about any DCC layout.<
CAZEPHYR, you might notice that the “CurtMc” above does not put a space in his name… He had nothing to do with the National Train Show photos posted on the Atlas forum… (and hopefully he hasn’t claimed that he did)
Those postings and photos on the Atlas forum were made by me, the real Curt Mc (Note: With space - same as I use on the Atlas forum)…
I get the impression somebody wants to try to imitate me here and forgot to put the space in the name when he registered… So I drop in every now and then to see what “CurtMc” here is up to.
By the way, glad you enjoyed my photos, if you have any questions on them just send me a personal message or e-mail over on the Atlas HO forum where I normally hang out…
Heyas,
I dunno Joe, seems to me the difference between drool and spit is momentum and trajectory.
All I know about MTH is what I’ve seen in here and their ad campaign. If you develop momentum at the rate MTH seems to have or you buck a stiff wind you wind up with a wet spot on the front of your shirt. It seems MTH is doing the drooling while everyone else is doing the spitting.
Their re-invention of the wheel campaign places them in the same position of a bottled water outfit trying to campaign against their competition. What can you do but advertise negatively about your competition in your attempt to create the appearance of product diversity?
dwRavenstar
Curt
Thanks for the clarification. Except for the space, the names are the same and could be mistaken for one another at first glance. I appreciated your effort at the show to give us the latest information from the manufacturers.
CAZEPHYR
Where is the “beating a dead horse” smiley when you need one?
They may not have been “accurate” but they were more realistic than what MTH says.
NMRA specifics 12 volts to the track, (I will concede that some powerpacks may go to 14v, but I also believe these are not the norm, and not at full load,) so now with most power packs you already have a 4v deficit. That’s 1/4 of the 16v MTH “recommends” so you are now down to a DC max speed of 57smph. Kinda slow for a loco that runs around 75-80 mph. Here is the S-9 standard off of the NMRA web site:
A. Full throttle voltage available at railhead shall not be less than 12 volts direct current at maximum anticipated load. (1)
A lot of MRs will use their one and only powerpack to power not just the trains, but the switch machines and the lights in the buildings, which places a further load on the pack which WILL reduce the amount of current to the track. The trains will have 12v to work with and NOT 16v. Again a little sleight of hand work by MTH. The loco will run slower on 12v, the hobby standard, and not the 16v that seems the magic number for MTH.
A lot of guys also have separate power supplies for their switches and lights, but I don’t think I have ever seen a powerpack for HO that can put out a max of 16v DC for the throttle at full load.
Simon, shhhhhh!
Now why do you want to rush our “friend”? Let him take his time…he’ll be back soon enough and we’ll all be ready to welcome him.
You know, it is kinda scary - but having MTH attack them might be the best thing for BLI. Thanks to certain models… and a bit of attitude, BLI wasn’t all that highly thought of either.
But you know how it goes, “Yeah, he’s an idiot - but he’s our idiot.”
I took a look at this model at the Train Show. It looks like a pretty nice loco but, assuming I modelled the Pennsy and ran only DC, I would not purchase one because of the unique power requirements. Granted that NMRA spec only mentions minimum voltage at railhead but a little research would tell you that 12-14V was a typical maximum for HO.
I’m still trying to figure out why they would design the electronics like that, unless it was some concession to having 3-way compatibility (DC, DCC, DCS). Oh well, we may never know.
Now, about this “CurtMC” conspiracy…