RMweb Gold PhilH Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 With my two grandsons turning from babies to toddlers my thoughts are turning to their upcoming brainwashing fostering of interest in all things railway. My plan is to get the Bachmann large scale Thomas set and maybe set the track into the lawn. Extra track will be needed, nothing too fancy just a passing loop and a siding. My questions are does anyone know if the Bachmann set is suitable for this as in is the track suitable for outdoor use, and will this range of locos etc. run on LGB track as I'm not sure if extra Bachmann track is available. I also quite like the look of the Piko starter set which I know has brass track, is this better? - but of course it's not Thomas! Is this a suitable way of getting them into model railways as I thought the extra size plus the fun of being outdoors would appeal to them. Any thoughts / suggestions would be most welcome and appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
77philg Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Dont know about the Bachmann track But the loco and rolling stock is ok .Imho stick with LGB track its robust enough for anything Ive used peco g45 ( with the odd point switch blade coming apart) for 10 years .But I dont power the track, I fit nicads and radio control to all my locos cant be bothered to clean the track before a running session Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPF00yJies Not one of my videos, but it is a very useful video which shows their ins and outs. EDIT: By the way, Modelzone doing a deal on these sets at present. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 The Bachmann track isn't usable outdoors but try Aristocraft, LGB or Piko. One word of caution is the Piko point frog wiring is a bit light and if you start running big current drawing locos it can burn out. Best thing is to replace their weedy wire with a bit of 6amp stuff before laying it. Once they get a bit old for Thomas there are already parts to upgrade the locos to real engines, Smallbrook studio do a conversion kit for Percy and are preparing one for Thomas. Garden Railway Specialists do a nice dome for their Lynton & Barnstaple 2-6-2 kit which is a pop on replacement for Thomas' slightly skinny dome too. Look at prices at Dragon G scale, Trackshack, Garden Railway Centres (Cheltenham) & Kent Garden Railways as a start. Thought I'd add a video, quiet and smooth runner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted September 12, 2011 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 Thank you for the replies - food for thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 Phil - Garden Railway Specialists at Princes Risborough do seem to have quite good stocks of 2nd hand 45mm gauge track (or they have had on the occasions when I've been in for a drool). The chap in there who I spoke to a few weeks back about layout planning basics said he preferred Peco track and was very helpful with some of the basic 'civil engineering' information. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 about layout planning basics said he preferred Peco track and was very helpful with some of the basic 'civil engineering' information. GRS are good but can be pricy compared to others so check carefully One thing to note about PECO points is that LGB and USA trains locos are equipped with extra pickup skates that can short across the near scale PECO crossings so it just requires them tweaking so they are angled by about 5-10degrees rather than sitting flat on the railhead. Simple mod that takes literally 2 seconds and avoids BIG blue sparks. I'd give the Bachmann Thomas high marks for quality and performance and they seem to run and run despite some people telling you they won't last like LGB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 13, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2011 GRS are good but can be pricy compared to others so check carefully Excellent advice thanks - I've had the impression that their prices are high but as yet not compared them with other purveyors in this modelling area (I'm supposed to get the garden sorted before I'm allowed to start getting involved in 4mm in 'the room' let alone bigger scale stuff in said garden although at least I now have some ideas from GRS about the sort of radii and gradients I need to allow for with large scale live steam. Then comes the time to shop around although steam loco prices seem fairly consistent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike Bellamy Posted September 13, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2011 Playmobil also did a range of 'toy trains' that were compatable with LGB and are sometimes available cheap on the second hand market An example here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLAYMOBIL-TRAIN-SET-4000-/230670295283?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item35b50560f3 Playmobil set illustrated here http://collectobil.com/catalogue/items/4000.htm Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Shropshire Lad Posted September 13, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2011 If you are looking for outdoor use track Radius 1 circles of brass track in new/good condition regularly come up at well below list price in g scale central private sales Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hilton Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I can't add much further advice here - Colin references G-scale Central - that's www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f I recently bought a set for my daughter - as she was very excited by the idea despite already owning an LGB 'Big-Train' starter set - Thomas and his coaches run fine outside, and the detail level is perfect for child handling - the roofs come off the coaches very easily to allow 'passengers' to be dropped in - in our case teddies, knights, princesses - you name it! However the models lack the solidity of the LGB models I now own myself, and feel very toy like - I can't see them lasting more than a few years - rather than a lifetime. Mind they are priced that way.... As for the track - it is totally unsuitable, really for indoor use too. It's a hollow 'formed' rail from a steel allow - my daughter dented it by dropping a 'Happyland' church on it by accident. The joints use plastic fishplates and metal inserts but in normal running stretch open with the force of the train. The LGB/Piko solid brass track is a lot more robust with proper metal fishplates that can be crimped up if they become loose. This year I started an outdoor layout - ignoring most peoples advice on foundations and following prototype practice - a floating roadbed. It's proved to survive very heavy rain, strong winds and rabbit/bird attacks - but does require more maintenance to keep the ballast tamped and topped up. Something I find quite relaxing - so yes you can lay a line very quickly - but it may need more maintenance in the longer run. I'm not sure what will happen to mine over the winter - I shall report back next year on that I expect. Good luck - it's loads of fun, and massively addictive! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Just a quick question to those who bought a large scale thomas - how big is the face,'s diameter in mm? Am asking on behalf of a friend who isn't on RMweb. Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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