Group,
I recently attened the Temple Tx Model Train show and found these locos in the UP Heritage paint shemes…
My question to you is have any of you bought one of these and how do you like them…They are DCC equipt and some are w/sound…
Thanks
Videomaker,
I have several and highly suggest purchasing one. The detail is outstanding and they can pull several cars (around 70) without slipping. The only downfall is that they dont play well with other manufactures. So i just run all MTH together elephant style and no big deal. You wont be disappointed.
I also run Atlas and Athern Genisis,are you saying they wont run with these? I was planning on running a lashup of the"3 Amigos" if you know what they were…
Which units do you have and is there a 4141 yet?
I own the DRGW heritage unit and a CN SD70M-2, both with sound. I love them both, best units I own. I have run both units on Digitrax and NCE with no problems but I have yet to MU anything together on NCE jus because I have not had the chance to, maybe if I have time tomorrow at the hobby shop I will try it. I have however MUd my SD70M-2 unit to a Tower 55, with an NCE decoder, using Digitrax with NO problems at all. Here is my video of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EEEKH3tcd0 Here is another of my Heritage unit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCi2Qxzmc7w
These are very nicely detailed units. I have 2 more CN units on order without sound that should arrive in the next week. I also have a Genesis ACe on order to compare the differences when it arrives but until then, I have more than happy to currently own 2 MTHs.
Check out my other videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/cn8800
John
Thanks for all the replies…I think Im going to get at least a couple…
I just found them on Walthers website !
New MTH locomotives with DCC? I don’t think so. DCS maybe, but it would have to be a custom job if they were DCC/sound.
-Crandell
I have all Heritage paint schemes except #1996 Southern Pacific + BNSF and NS. I love them. The best models I own. Here is a movie from my layout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZZ3km72S20
There are two versions:
- DCS, DCC compatible with ProtoSound
- DCC ready, wihout sound.
I have two without sound and one with and they are great units.
Here’a a few pics of my 4141
Hi all,
I’m up to 4 of these beauties now (3 Ace’s and 1 M-2) and all are exceptional runners. They consist perfectly with each other and any other MTH locomotive right out of the box with no reprogramming. That even includes consisting with my steamers like my SP GS-4. And, yes, that is a protoypical consist. The UP arranged to have the SP Heritage engine in Tacoma, WA, at the same time as 4449 and 844 a couple years ago! They also consist just fine with non-MTH engines, but you have to match the others to the MTH speed map rather than the other way around. The end result is pretty cool because all your engines will be running at 1 scale mile per hour for each speed step.
The remote operating couplers take a little tuning to get them to soft couple, but they work great once they are tuned. They work best when mating with Kadee and McHenry “scale” couplers like the #58 or #158. Here’s a video of mine after tuning: MTH HO Couplers
Crandell, MTH’s PS3 decoder may not be your favorite decoder, but IT IS DCC! Just because it can run on DCS in addition to DCC doesn’t mean it’s not DCC. All the other respondents on this thread who actually own the engines have figured out how to run and program them on their respective DCC systems just fine. Get over it.
Hello Videomaker…
I was at the Temple CentraMod Show and worked with the Spring Creek Hobby booth…Sorry I didn’t get a chance ot talk with you there, as I could have demonstrated one for you on the demo track.
The MTH models are some of the finest running and well constructed models ever offered in HO and are available with either the protosound 3.0(upgradeable) or with DCC ready options.
However, if you do not need or want sound, you can opt for the currently available DCC ready versions and install your own decoder - you still will have to adjust the settings to speed match the locos.
I can also ASSURE you that they DO RUN WELL with Athearn, Atlas and Kato locomotives…but you must be willing to make some minor adjustments to the dcc values to match the MTH.
Before the haters start, let me clarify that the MTH model runs so smoothly and in scale speed steps, that the others simply don’t match the speed step settings out of the box. Since the Athearn and other manufacturers in most cases, need to have the speed calibrated anyway, matching their speeds to the MTH is real a no-brainer.
I have speed matched Athearn, Atlas and Kato models to perform beautifully with the MTH SD70ACe models.
As a matter of fact, I had a SD70ACe MU’d to an Athearn Tunnel motor SD40T-2, equipped with Tsunami decoder at the show, and they ran flawlessly together - and to the amazement of many a modeler who observed them running together - quickly dismissing the notion(rumors) that the MTH models do not run with other locomotives - they not only do, but exceptionally well.
Simple motor trim and apreture settings can be easily adjusted with CV 212 and CV 214 in the Tsunami decoder.
There has been some objection as to the MTH NOT complying with others standards.
My arguement is that the standards between manufacturers of both locomotives and decoders are sparatic at best anyway - I find that matching my locomotive
Cool down, Dave. MTH has gone to great lengths to describe and market their engine control system. They don’t call it DCC, they call it DCS. Mike must have a purpose in that distinction…could we agree?
They have made their decoder capable of interpreting DCC signals, but it only affords limited utility to a strictly DCC operator. If any one here has a DCC system and purchases an MTH engine NIB with their PS3, they will not get the same utility from the engine as they would had a Tsunami or a QSI or a LokSound or any other DCC-specific decoder been installed. Same goes for DC operations last I heard.
I have nothing against MTH…their products are undoubtedly some of the best…there, you heard it directly from me. But statements that those engines are DCC are misleading at best, and decidedly false in my view. We owe it to each other and to new viewers who might be reading to keep the posts factually accurate.
-Crandell
Hi Crandell…
I think the poster is actually making the point that it is a ‘dual function’ decoder if you’ll excuse the term - both DCS and DCC receiver.
Again, having listened to customers, MTH is offering a full DCC compatible model at signifigantly lower cost to those who don’t need sound or prefer to install their own decoder/sound.
HertitageFleet1
I had the chance to try it today at the shop. I used “old style” or “basic” consisting on the NCE system. I was able to MU the MTH loco to a Kato Dash 9 unit with no problems at all.
John
If that is something we can look forward to, then I can’t help but think it should be welcome to a lot of people. It sure would make things easier for those who hanker after an MTH HO product and who don’t really want to fiddle too much or to give up entirely their DCC investment and know-how. It would also be great if it would put to rest, permanently, the re-hashing of the real differences between the two somewhat compatible system in threads. We could get down to comparisons on a more equal footing. [:)]
Thanks for letting me know.
-Crandell
Anyone can purchase these right now…they are currently available for around 159.00-179.00 at most retailers and on line.
These are an option to the Protosound3.0, which I personally have no problems with - the fact that I can upgrade and transfer sound files as they become available and from one loco to another via the MTH downloads website, makes this a pretty nice setup.
HeritageFleet1
I have 2 MTH SD70Aces, and all I can say is they are my best locomotives, period. I will be getting a few more on their next available run.
Hi all,
Crandell, we have a fundamental disagreement about what is misleading in this conversation. Every post on this thread has been factually accurate except for your first post. The OP’s comment, to which you initially replied,…
…is correct. MTH offers two versions of the SD70ACe’s and SD70M-2’s. The versions initially released with the Protosound 3 decoder are ready to run factory DCC equipped with sound. These engines are labeled PS3 and have item numbers ending “-1.” The more recently released versions are DCC-ready with a standard NMRA 8-pin connector for those who want to install a different decoder. They do not come from the factory with any kind of sound installed. These engines are labeled as DCC-ready and have item numbers ending “-0.”
Obviously your hang up is with the description of the PS3 versions as “DCC equipped.” For those of us who own the engines we know full well that they are DCC engines. When I brought home my first SD70ACe I took it out of the box, put it on my NCE DCC controlled test track, entered the cab number and I was off and running. I was able to access every function from F0-28, which includes all the usual bells, horns, lighting, and volume controls as well as some less common features like the remote operating couplers. I was able to program the short and long address and momentum on the main exactly as instructed in the owners manual. I couldn’t program the min, mid, or max voltage or a 28 step speed map because MTH is the first DCC manuf
Dave, I don’t have your expertise, so I will defer to you on this. I just wish MTH would update their website to reflect what you have said above. When I read the linked reference earlier, it suggested to me that the user must install their own decoder into the new DCC-Ready NMRA compliant board. DCC ready, not DCC. Perhaps your information is more up-to-date.
http://www.mthtrains.com/news/452
-Crandell