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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>I’m glad they are using Soundtraxx. The Spectrum J could pull 8 IHC streamlined cars on my layout OK, but I doubt if it could handle 8 Walther’s or Rapido’s – they seem to be heavier.<BR>
<BR>
Bob<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On 4/1/09 6:06 PM, "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Bob<BR>
<BR>
Regarding the Spectrum J; what is the pulling power on a flat straight track, and how much could they drag up your 1.6% ( 1:60 I think on this side of the Atlantic!) banks?<BR>
<BR>
I have one on order, and though I will have no line for a long while I have long term plans for an outdoor line , using Peco code 83 rail, and would like it to pull at least 8 up a 1.5% (1:75) grade.<BR>
<BR>
I see the new spectrum J's come with the Soundtraxx DCC system so they should at least sound good.<BR>
<BR>
Barry Reeves<BR>
www.northwestlondonblues.co.uk<BR>
<BR>
> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:38:12 -0400<BR>
> Subject: MTH class J<BR>
> To: nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org<BR>
> From: nw-modeling-list@nwhs.org<BR>
> <BR>
> Hello everyone,<BR>
> <BR>
> I just received my MTH class J locomotive and can share a few initial<BR>
> observations. It has many features that I haven't tried yet (including<BR>
> smoke, playable whistle, etc.), so I will mention some basics. I recently<BR>
> sold my Bachman Spectrum J's so the only comparison I will make there has to<BR>
> do with operation. I have 2 BLI J's and 2 brass J's for comparison. The<BR>
> overall appearance is very good. BLI's drivers are totally black whereas<BR>
> the MTH has unpainted tires. Likewise for the pony trucks. I think the MTH<BR>
> trailing truck and tender trucks have better detail than the BLI. The paint<BR>
> is flatter on the MTH than the brass locos, and the BLI is the shiniest. I<BR>
> think the space between the loco and tender is too far on the MTH compared<BR>
> to BLI (and the brass have prototypical space if you can manage your curves<BR>
> that way). The headlight has a good slightly yellowish tint to it - looks<BR>
> realistic. The MTH has a beautiful coal load in the tender - piled high and<BR>
> with lots of texture. The BLI coal pile is flat and with an obvious cast<BR>
> plastic appearance. At least they have coal. I haven't yet gotten around<BR>
> to putting coal in the tenders of my brass locos! Both the BLI and MTH have<BR>
> a traction tire and spare driver set. This is where they both outperform<BR>
> the brass locos - more traction. In my situation, traction is the most<BR>
> critical element because I needed locos that could haul a 14-car Birmingham<BR>
> Special up a 1.6% grade, and the brass J's were not able to do that. After<BR>
> that, sound and operation are high on my list of attributes. Both brass<BR>
> locos have cams and were retrofitted with Soundtraxx DSD 150 (SP GS4)<BR>
> decoders. They perform superbly. In my estimation, nothing comes close to<BR>
> this combination. The brass locos can start up or come to a stop with<BR>
> ultimate realism, and the chuffing sound at speed is very realistic,<BR>
> coordinated exactly with the driver RPM's. This is a big plus for the MTH -<BR>
> the exhaust matches the driver RPM at all speeds. This is not true for the<BR>
> BLI. Also, the overall sound package on the BLI ranks last. The whistle is<BR>
> horribly raspy, and the exhaust sound at speed is ridiculous and has no<BR>
> relation to the RPM's of the drivers. The whistle sound of the MTH is<BR>
> better, but tends to sound a little bit like an automobile horn. The<BR>
> control of both the BLI and MTH is spasmodic. On the BLI's, you keep<BR>
> turning up the throttle, and then suddenly the train lurches forward. It is<BR>
> very hard to make a smooth start. Likewise, the MTH does nothing at first,<BR>
> then jumps forward, and even worse, increases in huge increments at each<BR>
> click of a Digitrax throttle. Maybe this can be adjusted. The MTH also<BR>
> makes a grinding sound at speed which worries me - I will contact them about<BR>
> that. The Bachman Spectrum locos ran very smoothly and quietly. I would<BR>
> have retrofitted them with Soundtraxx decoders, but they didn't have the<BR>
> pulling power, and of course had the bright red stripe instead of the N&W<BR>
> red as is the case on both the BLI and MTH. Personally, I like the<BR>
> lettering on the MTH better than the BLI, however it is more muted. Well,<BR>
> that's it for now. When I can work more with it, I will make another<BR>
> report. If anyone else has an MTH, please share your observations.<BR>
> <BR>
> Bob Folsom<BR>
> Clemson SC<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
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