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Post by MichRR714 on Feb 22, 2022 20:01:21 GMT
Apparently the latest run of MTH RS-3's were delivered with a code error that overheats the smoke unit. The smoke unit on these units should be turned off until the code update has been completed. MTH has confirmed this only affects the recently delivered RailKing Scale RS-3's.
This can be corrected with a code update using the DCS loader program. Take a look here for the actual message from MTH.
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Post by Adam on Feb 22, 2022 20:04:23 GMT
Good to know!
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Feb 22, 2022 20:09:13 GMT
I have the Erie Lackawanna RS3 I bought from PDT a couple months ago. I suppose that is one with this issue?
30-20850-1
Tom
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Post by MichRR714 on Feb 22, 2022 20:16:53 GMT
I have the Erie Lackawanna RS3 I bought from PDT a couple months ago. I suppose that is one with this issue? 30-20850-1 Tom Yes I believe you are also affected.
I'm updating my units tonight...I'll let everyone know how the updates go for me.
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Post by ptc on Feb 22, 2022 20:31:03 GMT
Thanks for the warning, Charlie.
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Feb 22, 2022 22:10:07 GMT
Yes, thanks Charlie!
Tom
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Post by dennym57 on Feb 23, 2022 2:40:07 GMT
I have the Erie Lackawanna RS3 I bought from PDT a couple months ago. I suppose that is one with this issue? 30-20850-1 Tom What is PDT?
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 23, 2022 3:06:29 GMT
I have the Erie Lackawanna RS3 I bought from PDT a couple months ago. I suppose that is one with this issue? 30-20850-1 Tom What is PDT? Public Delivery Track, run by Beth Marshall. She's consolidated her operations to Paso Robles, California now (about midway between SFO and LA)... after once having a presence on both East and West coasts. Beth was a long-time vendor at Allentown ATMA, where she had the long row of tables along the wall immediately to your right as soon as you hand in your ticket and enter the building. She was also a regular vendor at York in the Brown Hall (which I'm not sure is even used anymore?). But after holding down the fort on the West coast in recent years, I haven't seen her at either Allentown or York. Travel expenses hauling the large display cross-country are just too cost-prohibitive. Much easier when she had her East Coast base near Philadelphia. So I think she's strictly mail-order and online now in CA. She often has some interesting special-runs from MTH and Atlas. Top-notch dealer with lots of Atlas-O inventory.
I recall Beth might have been one of the dealers who stepped up to buy out part of AM Hobbies when Bob Thatcher sold his business. No one dealer bought the whole business outright, but I'm pretty sure Beth bought some of Bob's inventory. Not all of it though.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 23, 2022 3:06:57 GMT
Thanks for the alert, Charlie!!!
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Post by dennym57 on Feb 23, 2022 3:44:38 GMT
They stopped using the Brown Hall.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Feb 23, 2022 12:18:06 GMT
I'm not affected by this issue but have read around it to see exactly what the problem is. At least MTH has owned up to a software coding mistake (which has happened at least once before on an earlier product) and put it down to human error. That's certainly preferable to getting no explanation at all, such as with Lionel's color-matching issues. In this case, since there is a risk of serious heat damage it's understandable why MTH had to deal with this. Aside from that, a special run they did for TrainWorld is affected, and given that they must be a very large customer that might explain the response.
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Post by MichRR714 on Feb 23, 2022 19:02:38 GMT
I flashed my engines last night with the new code. Let me know if anyone has questions...
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gftiv
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by gftiv on Feb 23, 2022 22:10:40 GMT
I just got an RS1 dropped on my doorstep. Any smoke unit problems with it?
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Post by harborbelt70 on Feb 23, 2022 23:02:58 GMT
I just got an RS1 dropped on my doorstep. Any smoke unit problems with it? 2021 RailKing RS-3 Diesel Locomotive Smoke Unit Overheating February 22, 2022 - The 2021 M.T.H. RailKing RS-3 Diesel Locomotives released in January 2022 were mistakenly programmed with the wrong smoke unit temperature values in the Proto-Sound 3.0 firmware resulting in excessive external smoke unit housing temperatures which could cause the locomotive shell to distort and warp. The issue exists in both conventional or command operating modes. Owners of the locomotives should immediately cease operating the locomotives with the smoke unit on until the firmware in the locomotive is replaced. Revised firmware has been uploaded to the M.T.H. website and is available for free download by visiting the support tab of each affected RS-3 diesel's landing page. The firmware can be replaced by consumers, retailers, or service centers using the DCS Consumer Loader Windows software and the DCS TIU. The affected RS-3 models can be found HERE. See below for more details on obtaining the DCS Consumer Loader software and using the software to reprogram the locomotive's firmware. WHAT SHOULD M.T.H. AUTHORIZED RETAILERS DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE? 1. Contact all customers who purchased any of the affected models and advise them to cease using the models with the smoke unit in the ON position. Consumers can turn off the smoke unit in conventional mode by turning the smoke unit volume control knob located on the bottom of the locomotive all the way to the left (counterclockwise). The location of the knob is located in the User Manual on page 36. You can find the manual HERE. Command control operators MUST turn off the smoke unit using the DCS System as DCS overrides the smoke volume control knob position (the smoke volume control knob has no control over smoke output in command mode). 2. Update the Proto-Sound 3.0 software in any affected models still remaining in inventory BEFORE selling them. 3. Prepare to offer Proto-Sound 3.0 software updates to any customers who request it. HOW TO OBTAIN THE DCS CONSUMER LOADER WINDOWS SOFTWARE 1. Visit the DCS Software Downloads page on the M.T.H. Website located HERE to download the free software. 2. Review the DCS Consumer Loader software installation tutorial video located HERE. 3. Review the DCS Hardware Connection For Firmware Updates tutorial video located HERE. Note: you'll only need to review the section about hooking up the TIU to the computer 4. Review the DCS Loader Program Instructions user manual located HERE. Should you have any questions about this issue or require assistance in using the DCS hardware and consumer loader software please don't hesitate to contact the M.T.H. Sales Department.
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Post by MichRR714 on Feb 24, 2022 3:34:12 GMT
I just got an RS1 dropped on my doorstep. Any smoke unit problems with it? George, no worries with the RS-1's. 👍 |
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