yvesvidal

Folks, I am still looking for a Gauge 1 1/32nd MTH or electrically powered Accucraft GS-4 Daylight engine, in good condition. I missed the MTH model that Jerry was selling but I am still looking for one of these rare locomotives. If you have one for sale or a pointer to one, please let me know. I thank you in advance. Yves

Thank you Joe. Yves

Besides KADEE offering some scale Wheelset and car trucks, is there another way to procure good quality 1/32nd wheelsets and trucks for passenger trains and others ? Thank you for any pointers. Yves

Beautiful engine and great layout, Jerry. Yves

Thank you Chuck, Yes, I saw it and contacted the seller in Germany. He offered to let it go for $10K plus $1000 shipping..... A little bit too much for me..... Plus shipping this behemoth over the Atlantic and paying the import taxes is not too much for my taste. Yves

Looking for an electric powered ACCUCRAFT Cab-Forward AC-12 in good condition. Please contact me if you have one for sale. Thank you. Yves

I am sorry to hear from your bad experience. Let me just add this regrettable story, too: I have been needing the C2 connector for a P8 sound system. Some of the wires have been falling down due to excessive manipulations by the previous owner. I contacted Phoenix by Mail and received a quick answer from Jim, telling me that the connector was in stock and that he would send me an invoice (Pay-pal or others). Then Jim disappeared from the surface of the Earth.... I have been trying to send multiple E-Mails over the course of three weeks and finally gave up. I soldered the defective wires and managed to reconnect them to the P8 board. It is small but can be done. Needless to say, Phoenix will never get my business again. Yves

I doubt there will be any BIGBOY delivery in 2022. What I was told (E-Mail) is that they may re-consider producing it in 2022, perhaps taking orders at that time. Now, as far as shipping the FEF-3 and finding a container, I have a couple of friends working for International Shipping companies and things are not looking good: it is just crazy and overloaded. In addition containers are now becoming rare and their prices are going up (containers are traded like any other precious metals and commodities). I certainly hope they find a way to bring these models in the USA. Yves

Regarding these two items from USA Trains: - has anybody ever received their FEF-3 units? What is the exact status on that delivery and could people who have received them, post some pictures of the engines? - Big Boy? I inquired a while back about a possible re-run of the 1/29th Big-Boy engines, but was told 2022 possibly with no more details. What would that mean? Delivery in 2030? Any information would be much welcome. Thanks Yves

Fantastic work and atmosphere. So nice to see these small people having a real life and sharing tea. Thank you for that vision of beauty and fresh air. Yves

Folks, I am looking for an MTH GS-4 Daylight locomotive, as long as it is not the Christmas model with garlands of LEDs around it: Anybody could give me a pointer to a retailer or a member willing to sell it in the USA? I tried MTH but they do not respond. I thank you in advance. Yves

That is not a good omen for future 1/29 endeavors....or maybe it is.... ? Hopefully, someone younger with a lot of energy and dedication will take over. Yves

After enquiring with USA trains about the availability of the 1/29th scale Big Boy, I got a very laconic answer that they may do a re-run in 2022. I would encourage folks who have an interest for this engine, to get in touch with USA Trains and voice their interest. The more queries they get, the most likely they will manufacture it again. Thanks Yves

You may have heard it already, but that is a big bummer for G-Scale items. Mike Wolf is retiring next year and MTH is up for take or may disappear. Here is the official letter: Customers, June 8, 2020 - First, on behalf of M.T.H. Electric Trains, I want to thank you for the support and encouragement you have shown my company over our 40-year journey. From humble beginnings and a lot of hard work, we were able to build one of the world's largest model train manufacturers - one unquestionably buoyed by your unwavering support. In particular, I am proud that M.T.H. has released more models than any train manufacturer in the history of our hobby. The variety, quality, and infusion of technology throughout our offerings allowed M.T.H. Electric Trains to help bring enjoyment to all who share our wonderful hobby. It is, therefore, with mixed emotions that I tell you I have decided to retire in 2021 and close the business. The last two M.T.H. catalogs, our 2020 Volume 2 O Gauge catalog, and our 2020 HO catalog and all non-delivered items from our 2020 Volume 1 O Gauge catalog, 2020 Ready-to-Run Train Set catalog, 2019-2020 S Gauge catalog, and 2019-2020 G Gauge catalog will feature the last products produced by M.T.H. Electric Trains. The new items featured in all these catalogs will be available beginning Summer 2020 through April 2021 and will carry our limited one-year warranty supported by our Authorized Service Center network and the M.T.H. Service Department. Upon our closing in May 2021, our ASC network will provide warranty coverage through April 2022. A list of M.T.H. Authorized Service Centers is available on the M.T.H. website and will be updated as M.T.H. Authorized Retailers join the program over the coming months. M.T.H. Electric Trains would not have enjoyed success without the support of the M.T.H. Authorized Retailer network. While traditional retail has changed significantly over the past decade, the independent hobby shop has been and continues to be the most important cog in our distribution chain. I truly appreciate the support and friendship these shops have shown M.T.H. I wish all of them good luck and prosperity in the years to come. Finally, I want to thank all of my employees for their hard work over the years. Most of them have been with me for decades and their loyalty and talents were paramount to our success. With thousands of tools and molds and a wealth of intellectual property, a new model railroading company may arise from my former company as I entertain various options and buyers. One scenario is a new company organized and owned by members of my current staff. Their decades of experience, work ethic, and creative talent will ensure success regardless of who owns the assets while providing a welcome bridge between the past 40 years and the future. The remainder of my time will be busy as we clear out inventory and other miscellaneous items accumulated over the past 40 years. As that process evolves, we’ll be offering consumer and retailer purchase opportunities Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your loyal support for all these years. Mike Wolf, President M.T.H. Electric Trains I wonder what will happen of the G scale products. Yves

I for one would love a Big-Boy (4014 or other). What would be the best way to show my enthusiasm for such project? Send an E-mail to USA Trains? Thanks Yves

Yes, I also wish they would re-issue the Big Boy to celebrate the resurrection of the #2014. Same here, I do not have the space or tracks but would love a queen shelf for the time being. Yves

Folks, Since I sold my Sunset Big Boy in O scale, I have been thinking about a replacement. And I discovered the USA Trains Big Boy engine which was produced a few years ago. I have been reading this forum and the many experiences members of this group have had with the USA Trains Big Boy. Some are positive but unfortunately, a lot of them have been a struggle to repair engines damaged during shipping or by previous owners. I understand that this model may never been produced again as the market may be saturated with the MTH and the Accucraft (for the very wealthy) models. So my question is very simple: How and where can I get a USA Trains Big Boy in running condition? I do not mind some light cosmetic issues that can be fixed relatively easily, but would definitely prefer an engine that is capable of running and which has all its original electronics on board. Any pointers would be welcome. I am seeing two of them on E-Bay today (one from a train collector, the other one from a Garden Supply shop ???). However, I would prefer something from members of this forum that can give me more information about their model. I thank you in advance. Yves

This is going to be another monster locomotive. I have it in O scale (made by KTM) and it is massive and powerful (sorry no other pictures available): Yves

While searching to some old magazines, I found the original advertisement from BLI: This was published in August 2007, few months before the financial world fiasco created by W, Vice and his cronies. The suggested retail price was $4590 (with an MSRP of $4995). Interestingly, the scale is 1:29th probably to match the USA Train Big Boy. The model came with two motors, was made of brass (which is of a higher quality than die-cast metal), had a Phoenix sound system with specific Cab Forward sounds, steel rods, sprung drivers, full cab interior, real window glass and was to weight 14 Kg + 5Kg. Interestingly, the company Factory Direct Trains is/was located in Asheville, NC, not too far from where I live. I wonder if they still have the model... :-) Yves

Thank you Rayman4449 for your response and welcome. Yes, I agree with you on all the points(even on the price of what could have been the BLI Cab Forward in Gauge One). And yes, like many others, I would love to have a USA Trains Big Boy, even though it is at the scale of 1/29. It makes it even more attractive. The O-scale world also suffers from these discrepancies of scales: - Officially it is 1/48 or 1/4 inch - Some people models in 17/64 - Europeans uses 1/43.5 - Finally, the P48 fanatics model in 1/48 but use fine-scale wheels and a different gauge for their rails. Here is a picture of my O scale US Hobbies Cab Forward that I entirely rebuilt and re-motored. That unit is a tank and can pull 64 reefer cars on a 2% slope: Yves

Du-Bousquetaire, You are correct, I have interest for 1/32 scale and should have used the terminology "Gauge One", instead. Yves

Hello everybody, I am new to the world of G Scale but have been an avid collector of N-scale (since the age of 12), then O scale for the past 10 Years and I am now looking into expanding my knowledge of Scale Model trains in the G scale arena. I suppose the prospect of being able to run outside is a big incentive about acquiring some G scale pieces. I am a fan of multiple railroad companies (UP, SP, ATSF, C&O, NW, Virginian to name a few) but my primary interest resides with Southern Pacific and Union Pacific, like many people. One of my favorite engine is of course the legendary Cab Forward 4-8-8-4 AC-12. A few years ago, Broadway Limited tried to manufacture an AC-12 in G Scale, entirely made of Brass. That project never came to fruition unfortunately but I have never fully understood the reasons, besides perhaps a decision based on the fact that they could not sell enough of them to justify such an endeavor. BL issued some pictures of their prototype model and I could only find two of them on my disk (I have the other ones on a drive at home): It would have been a fantastic model, perhaps even nicer than the USA Trains Big Boy, but 2008 put an end to that development. I would appreciate if the experts could shed some light on this topic. Thanks Yves