But you do know S Gaugers are far more modest than HO gaugers
John Armstrong
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Loizeaux
To: List, S scale
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 7:41 PM
Subject: {S-Scale List} MTH -- The HO perspective.......
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
