Gents.
I just returned from lunch with many HO buddies. The conversation today turned to MTH engines in HO. Some of that conversation might be applicable to future MTH S engines. The key word here is "might" since we don't know anything for certain about their S offerings. The first inkling of negativism was a reference to MIKES TOY HOUSE. When I heard that, I politely corrected it to MIKES TRAIN HOUSE. The whole group then corrected me that TOY house was a more accurate name. Persisting as I tend to do, it turns out the engines are quite acceptable cosmetically. It is the electronic innards that nobody likes. Most all of these HO guys run with NMRA DCC and they were quite uniform in their opinions. Even though MTH advertising claims DCC compatibility, the actual performance is disappointing because many features become non-functional when using NMRA DCC. According to the HO grapevine, things like consisting, speed matching, some sounds and function mapping are not possible. And, the conventional assignment of functions is not used. Thus, function buttons cause different things to happen from what you have become used to. But the loco will run and will backup. The HO crowd does not want to adopt the MTH command control system and so they tear out the electronic innards and replace it with NMRA DCC decoders of their own choosing. They are very upset with MTH because MTH keeps trying to force them to use the MTH system. This forcing is resented. The feeling is that MTH will not listen to them and is somewhat arrogant about the entire matter. Notice that I am not claiming MTH S products will be the same as MTH HO products. I do not know what the S product line will include or exclude. The thing that I have noticed is that the massive HO crowd cannot effectively influence MTH to change their product design. If the HO guys cannot influence things, what chance will the S guys have? Food for thought. Have fun with this one. Cheers.Ed Loizeaux
