Hi. This started conversation started in another thread. I felt that since this discussion was moving away from what the thread topic was about. That I should post it in its own thread.
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QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45
Student,
We’re trying to avoid trashing MTH. Yes, most of us dislike the lawsuits that they’ve been involved in, but we’ve thrashed the MTH topics thoroughly on this forum already.
Just a suggestion that we avoid doing that, especially when newbies are chiming in with questions regarding DCC and DCS. Nothing wrong with bringing up the lawsuit issues as long as we discuss them civily. It is easy to sling rocks at MTH, I did it myself last year and realized that we need to maintain this forum’s high quality.
BTW: MTH did not sue Soundtraxx. It sued QSI and “threatened” litigation to companies that employed the Back EMF in 1 scale m.p.h increments.
Remember guys, MTH, Lionel, and William are primarily toy train companies that operate under a completely different business mindset compared to “Model Railroad” manufacturers. For years these companies have litigated each other at one time or another so lawsuits seem to be “routine” for them.
When MTH sued QSI, MTH suddenly found itself at the receiving end of angry feelings from HO and N modelers. MTH’s management was caught off guard as it discovered that scores of HO and N modelers were planning to boycott their new HO products as a result of the QSI suit. That was back in Jan 2004.
However, 1 3/4 years later things have seemed to move on. Soundtraxx is including Back EMF in the Tsunami decoders (though not officially annoucning it) and DCC’s progress, which had been temporarily halted from the suit, is now moving ahead at a quick pace.
The new MTH K4 will be hitting the market soon, but fears that MTH will knock out DCC were greatly exaggerated. MTH will be
Ill never buy any MTH junk.They lost my business when they tried to start a war in the hobby.Ill stick with Atlas,Athearn,Kato and other quality equipment.MTH can stay in O for all I care.Dont need thier junk in HO.Dan
I’m with all of you. I salute James for having the strength to stand up for his convictions in the face of a tiny minority of screaming harpies. I dare say, James, that most people in this country feel the same way you do, and we’re tired of being criticized because we don’t happen to agree with the latest fashionable fringe group. (I like watchin’ football with a beer in my hand, and I wi***hey’d spend less camera time on the announcers and more on the cheerleaders. If that makes me politically incorrect, fine. I think I’m in good company.)
At the same time, I can see Antonio’s point about civility, and giving the original poster a chance to make his own decisions on the technical merits of DCS vs DCC, rather than the socially repugnant behavior of MTH. And this thread shows that James recognized the same issue, and chose to split the discussion off. It would seem that we are indeed a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen after all.
OK, I’m off to E-bay to find that dome car from James’ signature. Glue’s drying on the roundhouse and the broken passenger car truck, and the drywall compound is setting where the yard crosses the low spot in the foam. Can’t do trains, must be time to buy some more.
Thank you. I have to often in my pasy let things happen that I felt was wrong because I didn’t think anyone would listen to me. There was a point where it got to essentially “This line and no farther” that I finally started speaking my mind and realised that people do listen to me. Ever since I have always spoken my mind aobut this or that. This sort of behavior probably makes me outspoken. But I figure if I speak out long eneugh I can change eneugh minds to maybe make a difference.
I also vote with my wallet as well. If I feel someone is doing something I do not support I do not let them have any of my money. In the model railroad circle of things that has meant I have done the following.
No more purchasing Union Pacific merchandiced.
I wont buy anything MTH makes.
And finally no ready to run.
It should be fairly easy to find. Any smooth side dome painted GN Big Sky Blue will do. But your going to need a custom interior. See my other post on how to model this car.
MTH makes top quality and highly detailed products. The new HO K-4 is a knockout. Mike Wolf recently demonstrated it at a hobby shop on Long Island and everyone there was impressed, including the O gaugers.[tup][tup][tup]
Also, Please explin why I get better performance from Tyco engines than what appears to be in the video of the thing on the link you so thoughtfully provided for our examination several weeks back? And also please explain my my G-scale friend Tim, Can’t get MTH to service any of his equipment? Even though they are factory defects. He had to take his MTH 4-6-4 and put it on the drive for a USA Trains 4-6-4 and make his own electronics board to make it work right. And the Challenger? He had to rebuild a completly new drive train for it because MTH couldn’t seem to fix it.
And you claim that is quality construction? and GOod customer Service? And you think the HO modeling public is going to put up with that? MTH should go back to making toys and leave us HO and N scalers alone.
Isn’t that against the forum rules or somthing? A troll thats probably connected to a manufacture and constantly pushes their products, but he never gets his account locked. I probably shouldn’t say anything, its like feeding the troll.
Student, -------------you’ve got my respect and admiration–[C):-)][tup]
I’m with ya on most of your points! I’ve always enjoyed reading your posts under your current name and the former “Grayhound Challenger”.
I share some of your views, including the political correctness which has gone too far in today’s sickening ACLU-Hollywood society. I will always say: Merry Christmas!
I also share your view regarding Mr. Wolf’s business tactics.
Buy hey…look what has happened! MTH received a huge, hot barrage of negative feedback from many HO and N customers. (N scale was affected as well – Talk about a united front! ). So a year+ later DCC is looking healthier than ever.
As for MTH HO? No longer a big deal. Yesterday’s News. Bring on that $400 HO Pennsy K4 that has the superior sound but inferior detailing. BLI K4s are selling on the web for half that price.
Let the market decide if MTH HO will be a huge success. Looks doubtful with just one steamer and no offerings for diesel or N-Scalers. Yet, I wi***hem well. Mr. Wolf has had to have seen the writing on the wall by now. But you never know.
With DCC manufacturers having gained a solid foothold globally, MTH HO, if successful, will still be a small player. So rather than encourage the trolls we can all speak with our wallets. Personally my command control budget will be aimed at Digitrax, Soundtraxx, and TCS.
Student, my main point on civility was so that the usual trolls would not get any ammunition and that command control newbies would receive unbiased info. I have no intentions of buying from MTH, but I only wanted to be fair.
On that other thread I even made an appeal to Ted E MTH Rules to join the discussion rather than stir up the gasoline tank with a blow torch. But in reading his post above, I wonder if he
And a hearty Merry Christmas to you too, Antonio! I couldn’t have been said any better. Merry Christmas (I suspect) James! (Sorry, it’s snowing here in the Northeast, and it just got me in the holly-jolly spirit.)
And to the rest of you, Merry Christmas, Cool Kwanza, Happy Chanukah, ROTFL Ramadan, Swingin’ Solstice, or whatever floats your boat. Even you Mike, or Ted, or whoever you are.
Back in the 20th century, they even shut down wars for a day at Christmas. I’m sure that now the secular humanists will insist that we go on fighting and killing, rather than show an ounce of respect for anyone’s religious beliefs. My layout isn’t far enough along yet, but maybe next year I’ll put up a big Christmas tree, and maybe a manger scene, right in the center of town. It’s prototype in my era…
Thank you Antonio. I am glad you like reading my posts and the things I have to say. Several people have told me that maybe I should become a writer or a journalist. Given that I am expereincing employment troubles. I have been giving it some serious thought. Writing seems to be one of my strong points. Just like custom painting trains. Maybe I should write a book on how to do it?
Also High Green to you as well.
Merry Christmas to both you and Antonio. I admit that while I am astraddle the proverbial fence when it comes to my religous beliefs, Chrstmas has always been a big tradition in my family. The day after Thanksgiving through New Years is “Christmas TIme” for me. It is the time of year I get to come out of my semi depressive funk. and be my happy jolly self, because I get shame the Bah Humbugers, who due to my economic status get to run my life for the other 11 months of the year, into at least keeping quiet until the Holly, Tintsle, and lights come down. So I from now intill new youers. In my car, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51181, I am offering free eggnog to any Happy Cheerful Holly Jolly Person who wants to take up the offer.
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QUOTE:
Back in the 20th century, they even shut down wars for a day at Christmas.