Hello Rail Roaders!
After finalizing my plans for my ho scale diesel engine fleet i started looking at different manufacters websites to see what engines thay have. (most if not all have all engines in some scale) But after looking at my favorite manufacters website (MTH) i saw that thay only have the dash 8 series in O scale. I then felt some of my plans fall to the floor. So my question is will MTH ever release the Dash 8 series in ho scale?
I don’t know if MTH is planning on making one, but Atlas has released just about every variation of the DASH 8 in HO scale. I have one of the 8-40Bs in Conrail, and it is in every way fantastic.[:D] If MTH released one, there isn’t much at all that could be done better.[:D]
I also have one of the more recent Bachmann Spectrum 8-40CWs. It’s not as good as the Atlas, but it’s still very nice.
MTH has been a major player in the O-scale market for quite a while. However, it’s only been in the last few years that they have been making any HO-scale models at all. So, they still have relatively few models available.
I still have trouble understanding their marketing philosophy. Until recently, their engines all had their proprietary DCS decoders installed. These are designed to work with their control system. The newer ones have some functionality with DCC or DC, but many of the engine’s features are unavailable without DCS.
DCS, however, can’t run DCC engines, so to get all the DCS features, you have to forsake your DCC fleet. As you’ve seen, this severely limits your engine choices. To make matters worse, you can’t buy DCS decoders and install them in other engines. The decoders simply aren’t available as retail items.
MTH has announced one or two engines which will be available with DCC-ready plugs and no decoders at all. I’m hoping this is the wave of the future for them. I’d rather see them concentrate on making good engines, and forget about getting the entire HO community to adopt their control system.
So what your saying is I shopuld just forget about geting MTH engines and go with somethin like Atles?
What he’s saying is MTH does not currently offer a HO scale GE Dash 8, which Atlas does.
The Atlas model is been around for many runs now and the widecab version is well done - best available in detail for money.
You’ll be both interested and pleased to know that both the Atlas and MTH HO locomotives run very well together with little issues - I consist these together all the time.
As for the Standard Cab C and B axle units, my only criticism of Atlas is that they omitted the Ditch lights on this model which would have been prevelant on just about every RR version ever ordered, or added shortly after service life began.
Atlas has re-run these many times and still no ditch lights - it appears they have no interest or intention of correcting (upgrading) the tooling to accomodate the addition of the ditchlights, which in my opinion is a pity - they are fabulous models with that one glaring exception.
It is my hope that Atlas is reading this and takes note of this for consideration.
If MTH does offer a GE modern diesel in the future, it’ll be a 1st class model - that’s for sure. With Mike Wolf’s resources, interest in the HO market and obvious overwhelming success with the HO models offered so far, I think we are all going to see some really awsome products in the future.
I don’t think all will be aimed at the advanced modeler -rather a range from novice to advanced -something for everyone.
Atlas is one of my all time favorites and I can confidently recommend that you proceed with your plans by just going with the Atlas Dash 8 - it is the best there is on HO - for now.
HeritageFleet1
Seems no one has mentioned the Walthers 8-40B (stand in for an LMX 8-39B).
It shell may be a bit dated, but it runs smooth and pulls pretty well. it can be had for cheap too.
Atlas is doing another run of 8-40BW’s (32BWH) due out in Nov 2010. In the features section, it’s mentioned that they will have operating ditch lights on the HO scale models.