Having taken a look at the new MTH catalog, ...

[J. S. Bach]

...I saw only one item that would have interested me if it were available in two-rail; the PRR L5 electric.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

...I saw only one item that would have interested me if it were available in two-rail; the PRR L5 electric.

Intriguing.......

[chuck]

Is the model's frame rigid like the prototype? That usually translates to really wide curves?

[J. S. Bach]

Is the model's frame rigid like the prototype? That usually translates to really wide curves?

Unknown to me, I just looked at the picture as I went through the catalog; although it does state that it will operate on O-72 curves.

[ScaleCraft]

Is the model's frame rigid like the prototype? That usually translates to really wide curves?

Unknown to me, I just looked at the picture as I went through the catalog; although it does state that it will operate on O-72 curves.

In three rail, anything operates on 072. Was it 072 minimum?

[chuck]

Prototype also had issues with curves. That's a long wheelbase for a rigid frame.

[G3750]

The L5 was intriguing, but I didn't really see anything I would order.

George

[robert.]

I believe MTH has made the L5 for 10+ years. One sold last month on eBay for $150.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I believe MTH has made the L5 for 10+ years. One sold last month on eBay for $150.

At that price I can afford to have it converted to 2 rail.

[robert.]

That $150 L5 needs a pantograph. You may not be able to afford that.

[chuck]

Was the 2010 version released with single or dual catenary pantographs for "mainline" service or the smaller DC pantograph for NY metropolitan tunnel work? PRR made two versions of the prototype.

There is a YouTube video of the 2010 in operation. The 80" drivers and jackshaft drive are mesmerizing to watch. The irony is the model looks like a toy unless you knew about the prototype.

[ogauge47]

Nothing I'm particularly interested in. The DT&I 50' Pullman-Standard boxcars were a nice effort, but inaccurate. The prototype had the DT&I compass logo painted on a steel plate that was mounted in the left hand corner of the car. The MTH model has the logo painted on, not to mention the old-school 90's stamped metal frame that has yet to be upgraded to Kadee-friendly status.

[J. S. Bach]

...snip... not to mention the old-school 90's stamped metal frame that has yet to be upgraded to Kadee-friendly status.

One reason that I do not, usually, buy cars of that configuration; they are way too difficult to convert to two-rail. At least for me.

[jlong]

The only thing that intrueges me is the weenieking scale AS616. The paint scheme offerings are blah and icky however. Maybe next year.

[pennsy484]

What I find interesting is that Andy E. said on that Notch 6 audio show that, (paraphrasing here, but hopefully not losing his meaning) in the Premier Line they are not producing any new steam, whats in the catalog is all stuff that is already in inventory.

I don't like to armchair quarterback, because who am I to say, but to not even produce new stuff that they already have molds for (and even stuff that they have molds for and nobody else does (my soapbox has mentioned the PRR L1 Mikado and PRR I1 decapod) seems odd.

I have watched that show "The Profit" where the billionaire guy comes in and invests and takes over to save and build the business, and I know I have seen him fire-sale the unsold leftover stuff that nobody bought to cut the losses and move on to profitable stuff. IDK, something doesn't seem right about resting on inventory of stuff that nobody wanted and viewing the unsold stock as evidence of a poor market and not producing new stuff that will sell.

Granted, I am a PRR guy, and I am one of the few who does think there are some better sounds in PS3 than PS2, so I don't mind that they merely regurgitate PRR stuff that they have done before, especially in the current market where new tooling seems out of the question.