ScaleTrains.com Acquires MTH's HO & S Scale Tooling

[Chris Webster]

From another fourm:

ScaleTrains.com™, Inc., a leading manufacturer of HO and N Scale model trains, announced the acquisition of M.T.H. Electric Trains® HO Scale and S Gauge tooling assets. Learn more from our announcement video: youtu.be/moYQb1tCIVM

“MTH is recognized as a leading manufacturer of HO scale steam locomotives. The purchase of MTH’s HO products also allows us to broaden our product line into passenger cars, track, and more. We believe there is an opportunity to grow the S market as well.” said Shane Wilson, President of ScaleTrains.com.

The acquisition includes steam and diesel locomotives, freight cars, and track in both scales. The HO tooling also includes turbine and electric locomotives, subway sets, passenger cars, and more. Engineering schematics for several all-new steam era HO projects were also received as part of the agreement.

“ScaleTrains.com has a great reputation in the industry and the M.T.H. HO tooling will make a great addition to their already impressive HO lineup.” Stated Mike Wolf, President of M.T.H. Electric Trains. “S Gauge fans will find the ScaleTrains.com team loaded with talent and model railroading experience.”

Both scales are being melded into ScaleTrains.com umbrella of brands including Rivet Counter™. Several molds have been transferred to the ScaleTrains.com factory and testing is already underway. Over the next few months design will begin to convert the models to accept the ScaleTrains.com motor and change to ESU-LokSound® electronics including DCC & sound. The first models are expected to be available in 2022.

ScaleTrains.com is making significant investments in infrastructure to better service more brick-and-mortar retailers in the future. Although ScaleTrains.com is currently not accepting new retailers, dealers are welcome to send their contact information to retailers@scaletrains.com in anticipation of opening new brick-and-mortar accounts within the next year.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will fulfill all outstanding customer HO and S Scale preorders. In addition, service and support for products sold by M.T.H. Electric Trains will be serviced by the current M.T.H. Authorized Service Center network. This includes part sales.

Products manufactured by ScaleTrains.com will be serviced by Product Support in Benton, TN.

For additional information, please contact Hollie Smith at Hollie@ScaleTrains.com.

[up148]

Well, this might be a shot in the arm for S scale modelers. Scale Trains sells/sold some remarkable HO 3 unit turbines for under $1000, when the comparable brass models still bring $2500-3000, depending on uniqueness/rarity. But, they sure allowed hundreds or thousands of HO models to own a really quality turbine, for the fraction of the brass $$$.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Well, this might be a shot in the arm for S scale modelers.

But will there be any kind of windfall for O scale modelers???? Or will it all just dry up and blow away?

[up148]

The biggest problem, as we all know, is there are not enough train enthusiasts to replace those dying off, regardless of scale. So any venture into model trains is iffy IMHO. I don't think MTH was too happy with the response they got from the "S" guys after acquiring S Helper Service, as it's even a smaller group than O. I don't expect any "fall out" for O from Scale Trains, but who knows, it's a bunch of young guys and maybe they've found a new way to skin the cat.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

..............it's a bunch of young guys and maybe they've found a new way to skin the cat.

Last time I was at the Chicago meet there was a far larger groping of younger attendees than in the past; a generation younger, not 5 years younger,

I suspect that all potential means of skinning a cat have been fully explored.

[up148]

Well, many expected them to fail when they announced a plastic HO & N 8500 HP Turbine and it was successful enough they did a second run, which is almost sold out. No one thought a plastic turbine would be a quality model and no one would pay $1000 for plastic......but.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

No one thought a plastic turbine would be a quality model and no one would pay $1000 for plastic......

Shows what the "many" know. Maybe the O scale world needs to wake up.