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 Announcements / Creations (MOCs) / 2770
  8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
Well, my prayers have been finally answered (sorta:-) I had gotten into the habit of firing off an email to Brad Justus every 6 months or so when he was still heading up LEGO Direct begging for TLG to get a license for producing Thomas the Tank (...) (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.announce.moc, lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX) !! 
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Works for me. I actually thought about doing that when I saw them in the prerelease photos! But now that you have one in your hand, how does the size of the face compare to, say, a 4x4 radar dish? Rob (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) They are five studs in diameter. The faces I used on my 6 wide Thomas characters were just shy of 4 wide. I think that these new faces would be virtually impossible to use on 6 wide trains and have the results look good (except, perhaps, for (...) (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) SWEET! I have been thinking about doing something very similiar since I first saw the preview pictures. John, you might get me to go 8-wide after all. ;-) Russell BayLTC/BayLUG (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) lol Hey Russ- I was actually thinking about you when I was building this stuff-- how will these sets affect your LEGO Thomas presentation? JOHN (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I am probably going to have to add a section on modifying the Duplo sets to 9v since it is a new and easy way to get Thomas for a club/layout. Russell (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Thanks for the pics! I must say they look pretty good, even with the squishing. I have an unrelated question though: How do those 1-wide sleepers work in curves? ROSCO (19 years ago, 6-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Great. Since a 100k pic is worth 100k of words, I'll post some to show how (along with some pics for my son Ross' solution for points, as requested elsewhere) JOHN (19 years ago, 7-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Also, don't those sleepers mean less ground clearance for the motor (and other stuff)? Legoswami (19 years ago, 7-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Yes, but how much clearance does one need? These ties are simply 1x4 tiles on the LEGO ties. If you need more clearance that, you also probably need more time at the design table;-) Out of curiousity, to what "other stuff" might you be (...) (19 years ago, 7-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I had some problems while trying to replicate a dummy for the train motor. It seems one plate lower than the where the axle is in a regular wheelset is 1/2 a plate lower than the ground clearance of the motor. Although I don't recall the exact (...) (19 years ago, 7-May-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
Hello John, Very nice. Two questions: 1) Where can I get a Duplo Thomas engine? - I'm not seeing them listed on S@H anywhere. 2) What color blue did LEGO use for the engine? Thanks, Ben Fleskes Big Ben Bricks LLC (...) <snip> (...) (19 years ago, 9-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Toys-R-Us has them. HTH, - Joe (19 years ago, 9-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Hey, Ben! They have been sighted at various TRU and also from TRU online (Amazon.com) (...) It is the regular LEGO blue. Percy, OTOH, is the lighter LEGO green, which is the correct color for him. JOHN (19 years ago, 9-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
In lugnet.announce.moc, John Neal wrote: One of the perils of fatherhood for which I was not prepared is the disturbing fact that the Thomas themesong stays in my brain for three or four days after I watch the show. I can only catch it with Matthew (...) (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) (URL) (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Dave! (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) As I mentioned previously, I still yell "CHOO-CHOO!" when I see a train while driving around in my car. If that's not disturbing... (...) lol Reminds me of HP:POA last year-- I had that section of chorus "Something wicked this way comes!" (...) (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Duplo question: Are those Thomas Duplo sets available in retail yet, or are they direct-only? And is Bob the Builder still on the retail market? (...) I had a lampshade that, a few hours into the party, ended up as a hat. (...) Hey, I call 'em (...) (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) My wife and I saw these here in Vermont at Toys R Us this weekend, so they are available in retail (at least in this small corner of the north-eastern U.S.). I still occasionally find a Bob The Builder (great, now I'll be singing *that* song (...) (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I know for sure _we_ will not get them (so I can't help you). (...) If I'm not mistaken there should be renewed line in June including 2 new vehicles. But maybe _you_ won't get it? Jindroush (19 years ago, 10-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Well, I'm in Pennsylvania, if that makes any difference. I'm not too savvy with www.lego.com, so I don't know how to confirm availability. Elroy already mentioned that he's seen them in Vermont, so that's good news. Anyone else have any ideas? (...) (19 years ago, 11-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Dark Powers? Any relation to (URL) or (URL) Stephanie>? With whom do I have dark pacts? Only the (Dark) Shadow knows.... JOHN (19 years ago, 11-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I was thinking of (URL) Booth>, if you must know. According to IMDB, he can't be photographed; what stronger proof do you need that he's evil? Dave! (19 years ago, 11-May-05, to lugnet.off-topic.fun, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Ahh, he is evil, as he will always be burned into my psyche as Jim Jones! JOHN (19 years ago, 11-May-05, to lugnet.off-topic.fun, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I was told that Europe won't get Thomas at all. (I meant _we_ Europeans). I should wrote it more clearly. -- Jindroush www.kostky.org - For czech LEGO fans. (19 years ago, 11-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) That's okay--from your name I suspected that you were from the Continent, but I confess that this really baffles me. Judging from the theme song and the names in the credits, Thomas originates in the UK, which I believe *is* part of Europe, (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Says the guy with a German surname... ;) (...) There's a theme song? In the UK there's a tune, but no song. But does Thomas the Tank Engine feature much in non-English-speaking countries? Jason Railton (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Same here. (...) FWIW the one on Cartoon Network here is also there as a Hindi-dubbed version. Legoswami (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Oh yes, he does. In Sweden the toy manufacture company BRIO has had a license to produce him and all of his friends as wooden toys for their wooden railway system (about 5-wide, i would guess), and the TV show has been shown, and is available (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) And you have the cheek to call yourself "British"??? (URL) Song lyrics here> I suppose you've never heard of "Monty Python", either? ;-) JOHN (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I'm willing to bet he doesn't call himself British. Tim (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.off-topic.fun, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Hey, wait a minute. (URL) These> are the lyrics from all of the episodes that I've seen, but I've only been watching for the last few months. A few observations: 1 It's always the episode in which someone has to cross the scary, rickety (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Hey, good call. And the Hebrew first name, come to think of it. Who the heck am I, anyway? Dave! (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) That sounds almost as tacky as calling him a 'railroad' engine. As I said, I've never been subjected to that in years of books, TV and even LPs of Johnny Morris reading recordings of the books. I have heard the TV series theme tune played over (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) No kidding: "Matthew", Hebrew for "gift of God" :-) JOHN (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I had Brio trains, along with a plastic variant the same size. I've seen Thomas Brio, but I've never particularly shopped for Thomas products abroad. Jason Railton (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) That's what goes on my passport application and for people outside the UK. I'm only English to the Scots, Irish, Welsh and Cornish. Jason Railton (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.off-topic.fun, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Now, it is my understanding that all of the characters are all based on real-life locos. Not so? (...) lol that is amusing. I had heard that Mozart was being played as well. How awful for those poor subway loitering ne'er-do-wells:-) BTW, I (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Thomas in the US includes a "Brio compatible" product from some company that is NOT Brio, near as I can tell (TC Timbers??? I forget). Everything interoperates but the track is different, it has ties simulated via grooves that go across the (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) The characters from the original 26 books by the Rev W Awdry, and the next 14 books by his son Christopher Awdry use characters based on real engines and stories that happened on the real railway (whether transposed to a different railway (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Eh? The point is the books were originally called the Rev. W Awdry's Railway Series, so the title 'Thomas and the Magic Railroad' is something of a travesty. But they all are, anyway, except Thomas. The closest to Thomas is a small number of (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Yes, well, I was once young as well, but never even heard a, well, peep about Thomas the Tank Engine until the PBS series "Shining Times Station" which began airing in the US in 1989. It is that series which propelled Thomas onto the world (...) (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Ahem. Thomas the Tank Engine books and records (7" 45 RPM!) were very popular in Australia in the early 70s. So while the TV series may have propelled it onto the North American stage, that is not necessarily the world stage. ROSCO (19 years ago, 12-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Hehe, was wondering how long it would be before you pointed that out! (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) What happened since? (...) Well, the success of the series prompted the major motion picture release, which could rightly be called a "world stage". I realize that the books have been around a looong time. But as actual toys, Thomas, it seems (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I'm curious as to what this show consisted off. We had a TV series called 'Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends'. It started with a theme tune featuring shots including a side view of Thomas+Annie+Clarabel passing a windmill at the moment the (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I'm going to be a pedant here and argue that there is no Thomas BRIO now, either. At least not in the US. It's a clone, not real BRIO. This site suggests that one company that makes BRIO **compatible** Thomas stuff is Learning Curve. (URL) (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Yeah, well, I'm all for pendantries and all, but here is what meant. I know that Learning Curve has the Thomas license (I bought enough of them-- I oughta know!) What I didn't know is that Brio has a license in (Sweden?). Even if Brio hasn't a (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Sort of. It was set in a train station, with human characters. One character (Ringo, initially), would tell a story (about Thomas et al) every now and then to some kids, and the show would cut to the large scale Thomas characters with the (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
In lugnet.trains, John Neal wrote: <snip> (...) I dunno, I'm kinda partial to George Carlin doing it now--Carlin shaping the young minds of the 'next generation'--that's how I like my irony... Dave K (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
In lugnet.trains, David Koudys wrote: <snip> (...) Didn't realize that it was 'that long ago'-- (URL) Carlin .... Mr. Conductor (1991-1993) " and the synopsis-- " Plot Summary for "Shining Time Station" (1990) An American version of the popular (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) I must admit that I have lost touch with the show and all of the newer characters (although Ross and I did go to see the motion picture, for the sake of nostalgia:-) I heard that Alec Baldwin took over for Carlin (AB was in the movie)-- I (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Ummmmm does it matter? They were very popular in countries other than the UK, so they (the characters/stories) were propelled to the world stage many years before anyone thought of a Brio Thomas or TV series. (...) Sure, but it had already (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Fair enough. I guess what I don't understand is how Thomas could have remained a relative unknown here in the US up until the late 80's. JOHN (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)
 
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) TRU in Pittsburgh, PA now has a few Thomas sets, including Toby, James, and Thomas himself. Not sure of the official set names. The sets for Dora the Explora are also available, but I think that they've been there a little longer than the (...) (19 years ago, 18-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)

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