MTH 4-12-2

[RAM]

I saw on another forum where MTH video showing MTH's 4-12-2 is running buyers off.  It will run on 22R, but it looks really bad doing it.

[SteamGene]

Are you saying that the video is making people NOT buy the newest MTH offering?  (I think the new standards of behavior prevent me from commenting on my thoughts on MTH's offerings.)
Gene

[ebtbob]

Good Morning All,

       In the interest of investigating new products,  especially motive power,  from any manufacturer,  I would like to make the following suggestion.
        Buy a copy or get a subscription to Model Railroad News.   I became aware of this magazine about three years ago,  and frankly,  look forward to it more than any other magazine I get.   
         The most important fact to know is that,  when a review is done on any product,  you get a fair and accurate review.   Another words,  if the product is a piece of junk,   you will know about it.
          Now,   why do I mention this in this thread?    One of our good customers at my local train store,  is a regular contributor to the MRN comments section.   In the March issue,  this man commented on one MTH product but also spoke to certain things that MTH does that may or may not be advantagous to all modelers.   It is an interesting read.

Bob

[Len]

A 4-12-2 from anyone isn't going to look right on less than 36in radius curves, whether it will go around tighter curves or not.

Len

[RAM]

Let me say this.  It is a good product.  It is not junk.  How ever they made it like a toy, and not a model. 

[RAM]

I copied this from another forum.  I just received an e-mail news letter from MTH. I had written off the possibility of getting one of their 4-12-2's after seeing the way it articulates. However, they have made changes in response to customer input. Here are the change photos they sent out.

Air pump location
old location


new location


Class lights
Lighted class lights with non-prototypical position to accommodate the LED's


Additional non-lighted class lights that will be included in the box for user installation with more prototypical shape and position



New piping detail


The biggest improvement IMO is they are going to include a locking plate and screw for the articulating chassis. They've done a video showing the locked and unlocked chassis running on some wider radius track (I'd didn't notice what radius if they said) and how the plate and screw are installed.

New video:http://www.mthhotrains.com/video/see.asp?show=80ST14988updatev&size=big

I still don't like the split in the exhaust pipes, but this seems like a MUCH better compromise for handling tight radius curves. At least this way, if you have wide curves, you can make it a ridged twelve coupled engine like the prototype. I'm back on the fence with this engine.

It's nice to know they're listening to customer input. I think some of the rhetoric gets carried away about MTH, but obviously the discussions on the various forums are having a positive impact.  With the frame locked it takes a 41 R.  You will need a big layout.

[SteamGene]

I think it's a shame that so many people want to squeeze some enormous pieces of locomotion or rolling stock on a small layout.  The 4-12-2 in real life needed wide turns and big turnouts.  There's a picture of one going through a relatively small turnout at the end of its career in the Steam Locomotive Cyclopaedia, and half the UP's brass hats are clustered around, watching the drivers negotiate the frog.
My smallest radius is 30" and I think my C&O 2-10-4s are really too big for the layout.
Gene

[Steam Freak]

MTH just made a new product update on the 4-12-2. They made it so you can lock down the chassis from articulation if you want to. However by doing so, it will only take a minimum 42" radius curves: http://www.mthhotrains.com/9000.asp#


I have one on pre-order 

[trainmaster971]

I must agree with Gene.  I have a BLI 2-10-4 and a Brass import SP 4-10-2. My minimum mainline radius is also 30", however, I do have a lead into the yard that is 28".  Both of these locos look acceptable on the 30" but you would be amazed at the difference you see on the 28" radius.

I can not see a loco as large as the 4-12-2 on anything less than 36" radius.  The larger locos need to be for use on large club layouts that have the radius needed for them to look and operate as they should.

Although, I would not mind having one with a decent sound unit on a roller display on my desk. The volumn would have to be turned down some but it would be great to watch and listen too.  I have thought about doing this with my BLI cab forward but do not want to have to carry it back and forth.  It sees too much service on the layout at home.
Ben

[kenp]

From what I got from their web page, when you lock down the chassis, you need 42" radius...............which is actually quite reasonable for this rigid wheelbase. But it seems odd that most 10 coupled model locos out there can negotiate 30" radius "mechanically", without regard to how it looks. They must not have included much "lateral motion" in the drive wheels, in favor of the ridiculous articulation.

[trainmaster971]

The driver contact wheel base of the Bachmann GS-4 is 3", The BLI 2-10-4 is 3 3/8" and the brass 4-10-2 is 3 1/4".  The overall length of them, without tender, is 8", 8 1/8" and 7 7/8", respectively. The appearance of these is acceptable on 30" radius curves.  The contact wheel base of the 4-12-2 would be 4 1/8" with a 9" length. This is a significant difference.

Ben

[pdlethbridge]

They are longer because the front driver is moved forward a bit to allow room for the motion of the connecting rod connected to the second driver from the middle piston.