here’s the real one… just so U know…
Joe Paonessa said:
here’s the real one… just so U know…
Yes, you confirmed it, no big gapping hole under the boiler.
Well then I don’t understand your comment? You say U know that there’s a compromise to be made for a Big Boy to go around 8’ curves when the USA model, which may or may not meet your ideals needs 20’ min. can’t run on most RR’s around. So you want both? Have you looked closely at the USA or Accucraft models?
(and I’m sure that the buyers using eight or ten foot curves are strictly using DCC???)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
take a look at the two full size catalog pictures of this engine at the end of the brochure:
http://mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/catalog_files/2015_mth_euro_eng/index.html
the catalog picture taken at track height over states the gap between the boiler and engine. It’s just a catalog rendering. I don’t believe everyone stares at the loco from that vantage point. If they did, there’s a lot to be desired in G scale from everyone making stuff. The Aristo Dash 9 would look like it’s jacked up on skates. Many electric steamers would give up their look of being realistic at that angle.
The MTH model is a lower priced entry in the RailKing line. It has great value for what’s included, smoke, sound, and now even DCC/DCS and conventional control.
My MTH Challengers look the part on my RR and are better looking than even some higher priced releases by other makes.
What is there not to understand about my comment? I don’t like the looks of this particular locomotive that MTH made.
Like the look of my Hudson (even though it doesn’t run anymore) and my VO-1000’s look and run great, just feel they missed the mark on this one.
And my GG-1 looks and runs fantastic, but really needs large diameter curves to look right!
Joe Paonessa said:
My MTH Challengers look the part on my RR and are better looking than even some higher priced releases by other makes.
I think they did a much nicer job on the Challenger and wish they would re-release that model so I could add it to my collection (still to big to run on my layout though)
I understand the overall comment. I think the pilot ends on the MTH DASH 8’s are in need of upgrading, but that’s another story.
I just can’t think of any way to add detailing that wouldn’t obstruct the tight curves on many RR’s it will run on. It would have to swing out of the way somehow or fold down?
So, I actually don’t stare at the flaws when I understand why an omission of detail was purposely made. They could restrict the turning radius so that the large steam pipes wouldn’t hit, and lower or tighten the gap. That would make it unable to run on many RR’s and force away customers that want the oversized model to run on their small RR’s.
That leads me to ask what the radii of the real one requires?
Here’s a pic on the net of how it looks in person. I didn’t know if you had seen it in person?
I seen one running at the Amherst show last year, that is what made me originally notice the spacing under the boiler.
I actually thought something was wrong with it.
the USAT version looks much nicer but it is 3-times the price.
I understand the need to make them to run on layouts that have 10’ diameter curves so they can sell more, I just wished they did a better job on it so I would buy one!
As mine would end up being a shelf queen anyway I wonder if it could be modified… Hmmm…
MTH had a display at York many years back when they first released the model. They had the Big boy running on what looked like a ridiculously tight set of curves. I can only imagine it was to show that it could do it? I felt it made the engine look bad. The boiler overhang caught my girl’s eye and she said she liked how it looked. I used that comment to acquire my first Challenger! She stayed quite for years after.
I modified all my Challengers using Ray Manley’s pages and adding springs to make the front drivers pull harder. I didn’t know that MTH had modified their bigboy’s to include that. They also have steel frames and drivers to add to pulling power. I’m excited to get one to compare against the Challengers. The included DCC control will probably never be needed on my RR as I run full DCS. I do like the use of caps and the removal of any polarity issues with the new PS3 system. I have plenty of PS2 models that still work with the new PS3 thankfully.
I may sell off a Challenger down the road if she does her weight on my RR. I still can’t find out how much a MTH Triplex will pull. Seems that I snap or have couplers fail somehow, when I get past 100 cars.
Well for anyone who cares… it seems that the minimum curve for the real Bigboy was limited more for the long tender! The Loco could do 20 degrees if forced, but not that tender. In practice the mainline was 10 degrees or larger I’m reading. Even the Berkshire liked curves bigger than 20!
Never looked at the pictures from the side. Yep, there is a big hole.
To be fair Joe, you show a 3/4 view, which of course “obscures” the hole. A real picture of the actual model from the side at track level is needed. I’m not sure why you say the catalog rendering overstates the gap, but it does look, well, goofy.
But MTH, like LGB, has a corporate mandate to have all locos run on a certain minimum curve. You would think a little imagination might help disquise it a bit more.
On one hand this could be easy. On the other hand, a customer might say “why do I have do do this on an expensive model”.
My take is G scale, nothing is perfect except perhaps Aster and some Accucraft locos. All my locos need tweaks, no matter how expensive they were (even my Accucraft K4’s and USAT Hudson).
In any case, here is a 1:32 big boy that basically everyone can run, has a ton of cool features, and now DCC compatible. Woo hoo!
Greg
Now if we could just get MTH to show their fine locos at the National Garden Railway Convention coming up this July in the San Francisco Bay Area…
Russ Miller
NGRC 2016 Chairman
#ngrc2016
With them being one of the few active companies you would think they would want to get the word out there. MANY still don’t know about the company at all. When they have an ad in GR, it is real small.
If you really need a shelf queen only, I’d watch out for a damaged USAT BB, I think Jerry B bought one at a song, because it had a broken frame.
You might fnid something with a non-cosmetic problem for a good deal.
Greg
I keep looking, will be checking the ECLSTS on Friday!
It’s also work calling USAT once in a while, as they may have some returned for damage, although I would guess this only happens when they are in stock, and I have not checked that.
Regards, Greg
Greg, mine was a damaged MTH Big Boy. I run it a lot, it’s doing fine, but I do have a new one on order. I like it, can carry it easily, can’t do that with the USA Big Boy!
oops, sorry Jerry, mis-remembered… someone got a damaged USAT BB…
And yes, there’s really no comparison between the 1:32 MTH BB and the 1:29 USAT BB, in size, weight, and honestly, detail and appearance.
Greg
Greg Elmassian said: oops, sorry Jerry, mis-remembered… someone got a damaged USAT BB… Greg
benshell He’s, on the : http://www.usatgscalegroup.com/phpbb/index.php?sid=f4dbee02a59dd093d1aecd6552f71596
USAT G Scale Group
Informational Site about USA Trains G Scale Products
Thanks Sean, I remembered someone had done this.
Greg