TrainMan2001

Hello, Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I'm getting close to finishing the painting part of a locomotive project I've been doing, and once I get the lining transfers on, I'll need to think about the overall finish on the loco. I don't really want to leave it glossy, so I am wondering what the general consensus for locomotives is regarding satin or matt finishes? I am planning on doing some light weathering as well. Thanks for your help! -Kenyon

That was quick, and it looks great!

And we're back to a Series 1 inspired Thomas! As I was preparing to add detail to the model, I started thinking a lot about why I was doing the project in the first place, and I couldn't really think of anything beyond fulfilling a childhood dream. I also have thought about doing some of the other original characters (mainly Edward, Henry, and Gordon), and I couldn't think about how I would add extra details to them without just getting an A3, Black 5, etc., and that wasn't very appealing to me. Not to mention the fact that I've had to look at a bunch of photos from Series 1 recently to paint Thomas' faces, anyway. I have sold off the detailing packs, and the faces I wasn't planning on keeping, so I'm not really doing this at a loss, which is lucky. I will be keeping the extra running plate, though, in case I ever do decide to do anything with it. Anyways, I need to show you where the project is at, because despite the setbacks, I did not quit working on it! Thomas is really close to being ready to paint, and I have been working on the faces! I did need to build the Smokebox support out of plasticard, but since it was just a square, it was rather easy! I only have one face left to paint, and eyebrows to draw on for two (and permanently draw on for the confused face). I have also been tweaking the running plate I designed a year and a half ago (can't believe it's been that long!) to be more accurate and to fit the body shell better. Overall, it'll be around a millimeter too long, but it's still closer than the Bachmann model. I cut the gearbox down to size as well, and I ordered the blue paint, which should arrive tomorrow! I really just need to paint the body shell, finish designing and order the running plate and a couple of other things from Shapeways, and the bodywork will all be done! Now I really just need to figure out the lining and number. I have had vinyl cut stickers recommended to be, but I don't really think I'd be happy with it if I did that, because they look like stickers, and not part of a paint job. I would love to do transfers, but I'm not really sure how I'd get some specifically to fit Thomas (and his number design as well). I don't really have access to a printer, either. If anyone has some recommendations on how to do that, it would really be appreciated! Anyway, that's all for now, thanks for reading! -TM2001

8 wagons, 2 carriages, and a steam engine. Working on everything at once may not be a great idea...

Does this mean we'll get a new Kit-Kat van? And maybe a competing "historic revamp" later on?

Alright, my Shapeways shipment has arrived! I got some faces for Thomas and printed out a running plate I designed! Here are the faces. Some of them are the same as the ones I had before, and there are others that are new. It's really cool to see how the project is finally starting to come together now after a couple of years of work! I did forget to do the splashers, but I'll figure those out later. Something nice, though, is that the Bachmann chassis slots neatly into the running plate, something I was a little concerned about when designing it. Anyways, here are some pictures: As you can see, he scales pretty much to how I wanted him to when I first started this project! Now I just need to cut the motor casing and try to figure out how to hold everything together, then put all of the little details on. I have lamp irons, brake gear, and handrails to put on, and I plan on making sandboxes as well! Also, I have a couple of questions. I have some brass parts (pictured below) and I was wondering how I would fit them to a plastic body? What type of glue would one use to do that? I also have handrails, and I am also wondering how I would get the wire to stay in the handrail knobs? Thanks, TM2001

I'm back with my second attempt at the Bachmann Thomas project! By chance, I figured out that the Hornby Clockwork Thomas was pretty accurate to the original TV show, except from the running plate and Smokebox, which were a little stretched to fit the Clockwork mechanism. However, I was able to cut the body away from the smokebox and running plate from the body. After that, I took the smokebox from my Bachmann Thomas and glued it to the body. The glue didn't actually stick the pieces of Thomas together the first time, so I had to do that again. I also put some milliput inside the boiler where the join for the smokebox was, so it shouldn't come apart now. I also glued the underside of the boiler to him, which came from the smokebox from the Clockwork model (there's not much of it left!). I also decided that I'll just use the Bachmann mechanism (other modellers leave older mechanisms in models they improve with success), because I know that it runs pretty well. However, I did get a new motor, since I had my old one for 7 years, and it was in a box for at least 5 years before that, and it has definitely been used a lot! I'll be modifying the gearbox to fit the smaller body, and I'll try to figure something out to disguise it in the cab (I'll also put some detail in and a crew eventually). That's all for now! I just need to put some milliput in a few gaps to fill them and design a 3d-printed running plate (I think I'll copy the Bachmann N Scale design), then I can wait for the detail parts to arrive from the U.K.. After that, the alterations will be complete and I can start on painting! Edit: Now I'm just not sure if it's technically a Bachmann or Hornby Thomas?

That would put things in a bit of a jam!

I find it rather interesting how the announcements played out overall. Last year, Hornby announced their intentions to do Lion, and Rapido, the Titfield Thunderbolt. Rapido have since gone on to announce a standard version of Lion (which makes sense). Hornby have now officially announced the Titfield Thunderbolt, but as yet haven't shown any indication that they will actually release a standard issue of Lion like they originally said. Whether anything with legalities happens or not, surely voting with our wallets will still send a message? I was only originally planning to get the W&U Coach set from Rapido, but now I may get a Loriot from them as well, seeing as Hornby also went all in on that. It still makes the lack of a standard Lion model by Hornby rather strange. False advertising... And also, we've seen CADs on everything from Rapido, but nothing from Hornby yet, so we also know who's taking their time with the project (if Hornby really are supposed to release theirs first).

Oh, nice. I wasn't particularly interested in the Loriot Y before, but I may just go after a Rapido example now.

Maybe, but Bachmann did the same thing (no face, different livery), and they were shot down with copyright when Hornby owned the license.

The odd thing is, now Hornby are producing non-faced versions of their Percy, and haven't had any issues copyright thrown at them, considering Bachmann now own the license.

At least you can count down the days to their death!

Hi Kevin, sorry if it has been mentioned somewhere, but what material do you use to build your walls? Is it some kind of thick cardboard (like puzzles are made from)? Thanks! Edit: Actually, I found the answer a few pages later

Merry Christmas Rob! It has been nice to follow your modelling for the last couple of years, and you remain one of my biggest inspirations! I look forward to seeing what you do with Ewe in the New Year!

I have used Testor's Plastic Cement with a toothpick, and it has worked fine. No issues with restricting the coupler movement or anything falling off.

Well, that's just to show that half of it is always moving forward and the other half backwards!

Hey guys, it has been a while, but I am back! A while back, I sold all of my OO Scale trains and moved into N Scale, because I thought it would be better. After a while, I just wasn't as happy with the trains as I used to be, so I have been switching back to OO scale, this time with more of a focus on what I actually want to do with real-life model trains. I have an engine on the way which is the real life version of a smaller (physically) Thomas character. My focus will be LNER based in an area that a former railway used to occupy before being merged into the LNER. I'll reveal that once the engine gets here. Any guesses who the character would be if I turned the engine into it? Also, here's some of the new rolling stock I got! I have 5 wagons from Oxford Rail, most of them from the LNER. I also started building some kits (all LNER) and I found my old brake van as well! I was also able to get the original Bachmann Christmas stock back, too! I have more kits on the way as well; they're actually quite fun to build! I also am getting ready for another attempt on my old Thomas project, which is exciting! Watch this space for more! -TrainMan2001

They were already brained by the cab steps, what else would you do with them?

To add to that a little, there are manufacturers who have made things RTR and got them wrong. As a rather extreme (and irrelevant to nearly everyone) example, Thomas has been made by both Hornby and Bachmann and neither got it right with their main range (00). There's also the Oxford Dean Goods and Hornby Stroudleys (yes, I know that was intentional). Also, depending on where you look, kit wagons can be cheaper than RTR, and I actually built my first one ever today because of that. There are still incentives out there for kit and scratchbuilding.

Thanks for the help, everyone! I'm glad that there is a fix for this.

Hi everyone! I recently purchased a High Level gearbox kit, and the worm gear is just loose enough on the motor's drive shaft that I can slide it around. I'm sure that that's not ideal, so I was wondering if you had any advice on how to fix it? I thought about soldering, but I'm not sure if that could cause problems for the motor, so maybe some kind of glue would be better? Thanks for any help you can give!

I think if Duncan's there, Rusty would be, too. I'm pretty sure they were introduced in the same book.

Does this mean it'll be available worldwide? If so, that'll make it easier to get one.

This looks really good! I love the way you weathered the track and the boardwalk!