tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post5214576994571553511..comments2024-03-28T13:56:50.590+00:00Comments on Phil's Workbench: Thomas has foreign friends? Quelle horreur!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-24913374626236528882016-04-07T20:41:00.642+00:002016-04-07T20:41:00.642+00:00My son started out with the Brio style "Thoma...My son started out with the Brio style "Thomas" sets. This has the distinct advantages that it's not in any way powered or automated, plus compatible track is available all over the place (including IKEA!) for not much money. He has had several years of great fun building huge railways, long trains (often with implausible numbers of engines) and ludicrous junctions. The most important thing for me, though, had been the chance for him to be creative, making up his own stories and acting out ones he remembered from the Rev Awdry's books. <br /><br />I'd agree that the recent films are awful, but I can't deny that my son loves watching them. He also enjoys the original books though, and was enthralled by the original Ringo Starr narrated TV series. Does anyone know what happened to the models used? Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-80348319821839443302016-04-04T13:01:45.940+00:002016-04-04T13:01:45.940+00:00Tony - There's plenty of UK traction in Bulgar...Tony - There's plenty of UK traction in Bulgaria too: http://mremag.com/index.php/reviews/18-books/728-bulgrlyPhil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-19324285005702302232016-04-03T17:28:47.250+00:002016-04-03T17:28:47.250+00:00If ever there was a case for design clever it'...If ever there was a case for design clever it's that Sentinal ,a basically accurate moulding that can be modified to take a face. <br />Has anybody made a collection of British made foreign locomotives.? I have a spare GBL class 47 begging to be turned into a Cuban locoMr Taylor Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00406976471726387380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-66305719391144018522016-04-03T16:12:53.629+00:002016-04-03T16:12:53.629+00:00Foreign characters aren't new: I saw a Mikado ...Foreign characters aren't new: I saw a Mikado on there years ago, and never mind that is should be 3'6" gauge.<br /><br />Probably it's just the first locomotive the DM recognies as furrin...Andy in Germanyhttp://www.korschtal.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-152670129558883752016-04-03T15:36:57.196+00:002016-04-03T15:36:57.196+00:00ooooh, I knew PH Designs did Ivor in 7mm but didn&...ooooh, I knew PH Designs did Ivor in 7mm but didn't know they did it in 4mm as well. Might have to treat myself at some point.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02418527698793489162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-9393390587613589382016-04-03T15:34:28.932+00:002016-04-03T15:34:28.932+00:00You're not the only one with that kit in the p...You're not the only one with that kit in the pending pile...<br />Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-49634002858886519882016-04-03T14:41:16.370+00:002016-04-03T14:41:16.370+00:00PH Designs market an etched kit for Ivor, in both ...PH Designs market an etched kit for Ivor, in both 4mm (with a EM/P4 option) and 7mm. I have one in the pile awaiting attention. Looks to be a well designed kit.<br />I personally wouldn't like an Ivor trainset, let Thomas get dizzy chasing his tail and leave Ivor in peace.<br /><br />Favourite model? Maybe the Tri-ang Dock Shunter, simply because it was my second loco and inspired my liking of obscure industrials. Mine sits behind me on the top shelf of a display cabinet. Perhaps I should write a log post about it.Paul B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05278773151546187084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-55765982795447152062016-04-03T14:29:42.177+00:002016-04-03T14:29:42.177+00:00My favourite models are the Triang Giraffe car and...My favourite models are the Triang Giraffe car and Battlespace Turbo Car. <br /><br />Trust me, if I saw this at a show, I'd be fascinated, as would quite a lot of other modellers, even if they wouldn't admit it. <br /><br />I really do agree (sorry if it came across as sarcasm earlier) they are a lot better than I thought. The first set I saw looked like there was no expansion but it's obvious that there is.<br /><br />It might make "MyHornby" look a lot less appealing of course. This is much more fun, and not badly priced, compared to a single train running around a track which is what they are initially offering. <br /><br />Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-21291285775524764012016-04-03T14:22:52.302+00:002016-04-03T14:22:52.302+00:00Well, I wasn't suggesting that the sets were a...Well, I wasn't suggesting that the sets were any good, just that they possibly weren't as bad as you thought. I don't think I'd ever buy these for any children I know, but at the same time if a child had played with these sets they may well want to move onto something more which can't be a bad thing.<br /><br />I'm in danger of "frothing on the interweb" so I'll stop now :)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02418527698793489162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-8926594611865893092016-04-03T14:09:40.137+00:002016-04-03T14:09:40.137+00:00Paul - You are right! It's all very impressive...Paul - You are right! It's all very impressive. <br /><br />Now, can I pitch a magazine piece using this stuff? Could we take it to a show? Would it be more popular than all the "serious" layouts? <br /><br />Hmmm.<br />Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-67044656796426460552016-04-03T13:50:49.224+00:002016-04-03T13:50:49.224+00:00Sorry Phil, but it is expandable. Yes that set on ...Sorry Phil, but it is expandable. Yes that set on it's own does nothing but allow Thomas to go round and round (very much like the basis Hornby Thomas sets), but it's part of the "Track Master" range. The full range includes buckets of track pieces (a bit like Hornby track packs), more locos, and other complete sets like this one. Have a <a href="http://www.thomastrackbuilder.com/" rel="nofollow">look here for some videos and explanations</a> of the full system. I still think I'd go with a Hornby Thomas set if I was buying for a child as they can expand beyond Thomas then, but I don't think it's quite as bad as you think.<br /><br />Then again, I'm with Paul, I'd much prefer an Ivor set over a Thomas set any day!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02418527698793489162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-86894793942950457272016-04-03T12:55:27.119+00:002016-04-03T12:55:27.119+00:00Thomas? Pah! Irritating do-gooder. Give me Ivor an...Thomas? Pah! Irritating do-gooder. Give me Ivor any day, gentle stories rather than preaching, and no crass commercialism (he says drinking tea from an Ivor mug...).<br /><br />That silly diesel looks like a Warship to me.Paul B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05278773151546187084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-41392059829772880992016-04-03T12:33:00.071+00:002016-04-03T12:33:00.071+00:00Mark - Sadly not. As far as I can thell, that is i...Mark - Sadly not. As far as I can thell, that is it. Thomas goes round and round doing the same thing each time. No imagination required. <br /><br />Tony - The Sentinal appears to be the Radstock shunter. I agree Hornby could do a nice detailable model very easily, but then they could have done this with Toby and instead produced a weirdly overscale lump. <br />Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-18897279336537574322016-04-03T12:05:12.996+00:002016-04-03T12:05:12.996+00:00I am sure it's called moving with the times bu...I am sure it's called moving with the times but I can't watch the new programmes. Give me the old ones any day.<br />The voice of Thomas is too whiney and I don't think sets a good example.<br />As for the new daft toys etc... this will be them cashing in on anything and everything possible.<br />I am still hoping to get to Thomas Land just to see the layout that I still believe/hope is on show there.<br />Andy<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-83294978833875959872016-04-03T07:25:24.842+00:002016-04-03T07:25:24.842+00:00Okay I agree that set is daft but.... it looks lik...Okay I agree that set is daft but.... it looks like it's part of a range where more track and engines etc. can be bought, so in that sense it's kind of like the Hornby starter sets intended to grab the imagination and then be extended. Not sure I'd buy a kid this over a Hornby Thomas set but anything that gets young kids interested in railways can't be a truly terrible thing.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02418527698793489162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-30904412830236237862016-04-03T06:14:40.419+00:002016-04-03T06:14:40.419+00:00I don't think that's a peak, looks more li...I don't think that's a peak, looks more like something like a product of North British to me. It's funny but one of the new characters is quite obviously a Sentinal. Must come from Somerset or Dorset. Now if Hornby were to produce a model they'd have the basis of a real world model too. Mr Taylor Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00406976471726387380noreply@blogger.com