Has anybody seen any reviews (or actually purchased one) on the new MTH HO scale J class locomotive? Also, I can’t find any more info or pictures of the newly-announced passenger cars either. I’m still interested in the (what appeers to be} extreme distance between engine and tender. Anybody know?
This engine should be the BLI version since a recent court case settlement involved the transfer of that property from BLI to MTH, but really it was a settlement between the manufacturer of the trains that BLI contracts and MTH.
MTH has stronger “toy train” mindset in HO than they perhaps ought to, but that would account for what you may see as an extended distance between the engine and tender…they encourage the engine to be used on tight curves which a close coupling would not permit.
Edit- it has been pointed out to me off-line that the J was not part of the settlement. I regret the error.
-Crandell
Currently MTH hasn’t released their version of the N&W Powhattan Arrow passenger train. The cars shown in the photos are Overland Models HO scale brass version which in all likelyhood will be vastly superior in detail, paint color match.
Charlie
I’m too was looking forward to the Powhattan Arror passenger cars. But the set has mysteriously dissapeared from the MTH site as of late. I wonder if they will release passenger cars this year, or ever. I’m getting confirmations from my LHS that J class is indeed on its way and from what I saw at the MTH booth at Greatest Hobby this year, it will be a really nice model with extra detail over the Bachmann version that I have. Honestly, I don’t understand why MTH gets knocked in HO world, or maybe they are getting better and I didn’t see their bad models.
I have 4 of MTH’s HO offerings and they are learning and getting better on the design. The GS-4 has huge drive wheels and needs good track work. The mikado is a good runner but no spring axles means it can be hung up on switches and short Y’s. The UP 9000 has spring axles and is articulated, this will make rivet counters have a fit but it’s the best runner of them all. They all have excellent sounds and smoke like no other. I will also be getting the 611 but the passenger cars are slated for October. That is what my lhs told me. MTH is getting better on the HO locos but they are pricy. If you like excellent deep sounds and chuffing smoke than these are for you. I am not a rivet counter and run trains at large public shows and they are a crowd pleaser. The lighting on the UP 9000 is exceptional and the engine is very smooth. I had thought this engine would be a nightmare but it’s a smooth runner. I like the diecast metal engines and the deep throaty sounds.
Thats too bad, quite impressive photos they had on their site, apparently too good to be true.
Hi all,
You mean these?[;)]
80-60013 5-car set (coach #501, coach #511, coach #532, diner #491, observation #581)
My experience with MTH’s O scale products is that their on-line shipping schedule is suggestive at best, but they currently show the N&W cars still shipping in Oct. '09. Interestingly, the SP Daylight cars, which were cataloged before the N&W’s, are scheduled for Dec. '09. I guess I’ll have to be patient. [banghead][:D]
Ha! Good find, Dave. guess I missed it, not suprisingly though. MTH site looks like it was done around the time of the steam loco prototypes that they are modeling. It’s hard to find anything over there. We’ll see if these cars see the light of day in October.