MTH class J

[NW Modeling List]

I read with interest Bob Folsom's review of the MTH J.  I am an MTH user in 
3-rail O (scale only).  I have run the MTH HO engines and did not see the 
operational problem Bob saw, but was using the MTH control unit.  I am not 
familiar with Digitrax.  That probably does not make any difference.

Bill Graham, III
Twyman's Mill, VA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 10:38 AM
Subject: MTH class J



> Hello everyone,

>

> I just received my MTH class J locomotive and can share a few initial

> observations.  It has many features that I haven't tried yet (including

> smoke, playable whistle, etc.), so I will mention some basics.  I recently

> sold my Bachman Spectrum J's so the only comparison I will make there has 

> to

> do with operation.  I have 2 BLI J's and 2 brass J's for comparison.  The

> overall appearance is very good.  BLI's drivers are totally black whereas

> the MTH has unpainted tires.  Likewise for the pony trucks.  I think the 

> MTH

> trailing truck and tender trucks have better detail than the BLI.  The 

> paint

> is flatter on the MTH than the brass locos, and the BLI is the shiniest. 

> I

> think the space between the loco and tender is too far on the MTH compared

> to BLI (and the brass have prototypical space if you can manage your 

> curves

> that way).  The headlight has a good slightly yellowish tint to it - looks

> realistic.  The MTH has a beautiful coal load in the tender - piled high 

> and

> with lots of texture.  The BLI coal pile is flat and with an obvious cast

> plastic appearance.  At least they have coal.  I haven't yet gotten around

> to putting coal in the tenders of my brass locos!  Both the BLI and MTH 

> have

> a traction tire and spare driver set.  This is where they both outperform

> the brass locos - more traction.  In my situation, traction is the most

> critical element because I needed locos that could haul a 14-car 

> Birmingham

> Special up a 1.6% grade, and the brass J's were not able to do that. 

> After

> that, sound and operation are high on my list of attributes.  Both brass

> locos have cams and were retrofitted with Soundtraxx DSD 150 (SP GS4)

> decoders.  They perform superbly.  In my estimation, nothing comes close 

> to

> this combination.  The brass locos can start up or come to a stop with

> ultimate realism, and the chuffing sound at speed is very realistic,

> coordinated exactly with the driver RPM's.  This is a big plus for the 

> MTH -

> the exhaust matches the driver RPM at all speeds.  This is not true for 

> the

> BLI.  Also, the overall sound package on the BLI ranks last.  The whistle 

> is

> horribly raspy, and the exhaust sound at speed is ridiculous and has no

> relation to the RPM's of the drivers.  The whistle sound of the MTH is

> better, but tends to sound a little bit like an automobile horn.  The

> control of both the BLI and MTH is spasmodic.  On the BLI's, you keep

> turning up the throttle, and then suddenly the train lurches forward.  It 

> is

> very hard to make a smooth start.  Likewise, the MTH does nothing at 

> first,

> then jumps forward, and even worse, increases in huge increments at each

> click of a Digitrax throttle.  Maybe this can be adjusted.  The MTH also

> makes a grinding sound at speed which worries me - I will contact them 

> about

> that.  The Bachman Spectrum locos ran very smoothly and quietly.  I would

> have retrofitted them with Soundtraxx decoders, but they didn't have the

> pulling power, and of course had the bright red stripe instead of the N&W

> red as is the case on both the BLI and MTH.  Personally, I like the

> lettering on the MTH better than the BLI, however it is more muted.  Well,

> that's it for now.  When I can work more with it, I will make another

> report.  If anyone else has an MTH, please share your observations.

>

> Bob Folsom

> Clemson SC

>

>

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