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MTH Electric Trains HO scale Mohawk 4-8-2
Great to see MTH and others (Walthers for example) bringing out some really terrific NYC items. I’m hoping MTH will consider some of the smaller NYC steam engines for future release. The level of realism they’ve packed into their line (sound, smoke, details, etc.) goes way beyond anything I ever dreamed of when I began in HO back in the 1950s.
Add one more to those with the “slipping driveshaft problem”. Mine refused to move right out of the box and was returned to MTH for repair. We’ll see what happens.
I’m assuming that the Mohawk features essentially the same engineering as the recently released Daylight 4-8-4 and reading the reviews it seems to have a few of the same problems. When I got my Daylight it seemed sluggish out of the box, slow and lacking in pulling power. An MTH rep asked what powerpack I was using. It was a MRC Control Master 20 paired with an Aristocraft radio throttle. He recommended that I eliminate the radio throttle ( I run straight DC ). Instead I switched to the G scale setting on the powerpack and the engine ran much better.
Tracking was poor over switches, especially Atlas switches but that was solved when I cut the trip pin on the front coupler. Going up a grade with a train, the Daylight struggles so I agree with the reviewer who recommended a stickier traction tire. By contrast, my BLI Reading T-1 handles the same grade with ease
so its traction tire must be more efficient. Best performance is at about 14 volts. The rep said it could stand 24 volts which is something I’d like to see! Soooo it looks like the Daylight and the Mohawk have their little quirks but the potential for greatness is there. Since I have had no experience with the Mohawk, it’s probably not fair for me to submit a rating on it.
Unit looks impressive, nice details, sounds nice and has very incredible pulling power, hopefully they can overcome the mechanical problem. Other than that , good job!, and I look forward to seeing it.
I would like to see a NYC Hudson
The pictures of this model look excellent! The features and components applied to the model seem above the average as well. I am glad to see MTH is sticking with Die Cast bodies and many metal details that will hold up much better than the usual plastic. The price for the quality built in to this model is very good as well. I hope to own one of these fine MTH steamers soon. I agree with others that multiple holes in the drawbar to close the tender gap would be an excellent improvement. I have an old Rivarossi steamer that has this feature and I always use the hole closer to the engine.
This is a great model! Only two constructive criticisms (that I have already shared w/ MTH): Distance between engine & tender is too large. Recommendation: Have several tender recepacles in the drawbar for closerer coupling.
Engine does not pull well up an incline (eg. can’t handle more than three Walther’s heavy weight pass. cars up a 2% incline). Recommendation: Replace current traction tire w/ that which has a “tackier” surface, thereby increasing traction & pulling power.
I HAVEN’T PURCHASED ONE YUT BUT I PROBABLY WILL BASED ON WHAT I’VE SEEN AND READ. THANKS.
I have the L-4b and it is a great model. Traction does not seem to be a problem. I have it pulling a 16 car passenger train and it does it easily. My MTH GS-4 initially could not do that. I traced the problem to a too strong spring on the trailing truck which caused the traction tired drivers to only lightly contact the rail. I cut the spring in half and everything was fine thereafter. The spring on the L-4b trailing truck seems very strong but I have not had a traction problem with it. Perhaps the rear of the L-4b is heavier than on the GS-4. I too agree that a second drawbar hole would be welcome, and I would like it if the bell could be sounded at the same time as coupler slack. That way you could sound the bell before moving and still hear the slack let out when the engine starts to move. As it is now you have to let the slack sound and then sound the bell.
I always love to see the steamers from mth. I think mth offers great features for a good value, although i would like to see “blank” locos from mth. (no features) they would look identical to their sound and smoke cousins, only feature-less and more affordable. but i still love the current mth models.
Mine failed after about 3 weeks of daily use. Same driveshaft problem as the others,but I returned mine to the retailer for a full refund. I was very disappointed that a unit in this price range failed so quickly.
The external details on this model are exquisite and the sounds and smoke are outstanding. MYH makes the best HO trains bar none.
I have had one for over a year and never ad any problem with the drive shaft slipping. I love the Proto 3 sounds.