RailKing.Co.UK

D. P. Associates Ltd. - Supplier of M.T.H. RailKing HO, Gauge 1, O gauge and S gauge products

[customers are respectfully asked to check our "small print" before committing to a purchase, UK residents are specifically requested to view the option on prepaying VAT]

MTH (Mike's Train House) is an American company producing mainly American outline products and, to date, are best known for their Premier and RailKing O Gauge lines. Their full catalogue covers a wide range of railway eras, prototypes, model scales and types or styles of models, for instance they still offer tinplate. More recently they have used their renowned manufacturing expertise for Gauge 1 and now HO models. Despite the considerably smaller size of their HO products they still have the full gamut of detailing and operational features of their larger brethren. Puffing smoke units and a sound generator synchronised to the driving wheels, directional lighting and, on the diesels, remotely operated couplers. The locomotives may be operated from a conventional (analog) transformer/controller and in this mode the volume of the sound unit and smoke generated may be adjusted manually (please note that for maximum locomotive speed and power output a 16 rather than 12 volt supply is recommended). If however you would prefer detailed control over every aspect of the Protosound 3 controller then the locomotive will respond to either MTH's DCS controllers or generic DCC commands. For control under DCS there is the option of either the MTH TIU with a remote handset (the TIU incidentally is sufficiently engineered to control a dozen average gauge 1 locomotives, it could probably power some 80 Ho engines) or the DCS Commander (which has been introduced as part of the MTH Ho range). If you just want to operate one locomotive (Christmas tree layout for example) then the DCS Remote Commander may provide a convenient low cost solution.

If DCC operation is important to you then please check this sheet for the main supported DCC commands.

3 Rail. MTH has recently introduced 3 rail locomotives. MTH 3 rail locomotives generally have NEM 311 profile wheels and NEM 365 style couplers. The central skate contact is designed to be compatible with the Maerklin (and Peco) style of stud contact track. What is more the digital decoders fitted (Protosound 3E version) can decode the major command functions of Maerklin DCC, Motorola 1 and Motorola 2 systems. The 3 rail locomotives should obviously not even be placed on live 2 rail track as this would lead to a short-circuit across the rails (unpowered 2 rail track sections may be used for display). MTH's Ho rolling stock may be used on 3-rail systems but any powered features, such as interior lighting, will not operate.

If you are used to model railway catalogues that change slowly but generally continue to offer each line for a number of years then a basic description of the production and ordering system for MTH's HO items may be helpful. MTH decides on which prototypes to manufacture and puts them in a catalogue along with an estimated release date, generally within the next twelve months (experience has shown however that these production dates are prone to slippage though the Ho model announcements seem to be pretty accurate, perhaps a couple of months late rather than the year delay that is often noted for gauge 1). Within a relatively short time of the catalogue being issued (say 3 months) the order book is closed. This permits MTH to build to order. The production quantities of any particular model are not limited to a pre-determined amount but some are obviously going to be produced in a smaller quantity than the actual demand. It is also possible that an item will be cancelled if insufficient orders are received. If MTH decides to re-run a model this would only be expected to occur after a two year gap and the new issue would be expected to have differences to distinguish it from the original run. One might predict that some items might not be so popular as others on initial issue and in overall terms those items will eventually become much rarer. As dealers we place orders with MTH against predicted demand, obviously it helps us considerably if we know what people want before the order book closes and therefore we are offering a pre-order system with lower prices.

Items on our lists can therefore fall into into several categories of availability:

IS - In stock, AO - Available to Order, PO - Pre Order, BC - Book Closed (enquire), BG - Been and Gone, RKC - RailKing Club item

Given our location we do not expect that many visitors but, if you ever are in the vicinity, by prior arrangement we would be pleased to show you what we have. We are happy to mail-order to anywhere the usual carriers can reach. If you would like to place an order then we provide a printable mail-in form, or alternatively you may place your credit/debit card order on line at our web-shop.

Homepage

Free site counter