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I know numerous people have built Thomas so far but a comment Larry made a
few weeks made a lot of sense (every club should have a Thomas). So with
that thought in conjunction with the fact that we are headed to my parents
house for Thanksgiving where I will see my nephew, a huge Thomas nut,
tonight I built a version of Thomas while watching Twister. Take a look,
comments welcome.
http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
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Nice work, Mike-
I too watched Twister tonite but did no work:-( I see you have decided to
use the 4.5 volt red plate with buffers on which to base your Thomas. I did
the same on mine, and I think it's a mixed blessing. It ends up compressing
him too much IMO, making him look too tall. And of course the wheel config
thing. I have recently purchased a 12 volt motor for my Thomas, so at least
he is now an 0-6-0, but I had to put the 9 volt motor in a car behind him and
rewire. But in the end, kids recognize him as Thomas and that's what's
important.
Another problem I see with modeling Thomas in general is that there are *so*
many versions of him in various toys with varying degrees of accuracy (if you
assume that the video version of him is the "correct" prototype).
The kids will love it on the NCLTC layout!
-John
Mike Walsh wrote:
> I know numerous people have built Thomas so far but a comment Larry made a
> few weeks made a lot of sense (every club should have a Thomas). So with
> that thought in conjunction with the fact that we are headed to my parents
> house for Thanksgiving where I will see my nephew, a huge Thomas nut,
> tonight I built a version of Thomas while watching Twister. Take a look,
> comments welcome.
>
> http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
>
> Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
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> Another problem I see with modeling Thomas in general is that there are *so*
> many versions of him in various toys with varying degrees of accuracy (if you
> assume that the video version of him is the "correct" prototype).
It's not. The most "accurate" would be from the first book. Thomas is based
on a LBSC E2 tank, but the artist who orginally did the paintings was NOT a
railway artist. Therefore, as long as it has 6 wheels, and is blue, it is
reasonable.
As regards Mikes Thomas, I think it is too tall in the cab. It looks more like
a Emmett engine than Thomas-that or perhaps a W. Heath Robinson engine. (I was
looking at "Railway Ribaldry" a few days ago...)
James
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In lugnet.trains, Mike Walsh writes:
> I know numerous people have built Thomas so far but a comment Larry made a
> few weeks made a lot of sense (every club should have a Thomas). So with
> that thought in conjunction with the fact that we are headed to my parents
> house for Thanksgiving where I will see my nephew, a huge Thomas nut,
> tonight I built a version of Thomas while watching Twister. Take a look,
> comments welcome.
>
> http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
>
> Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
Nice.
Kinda tall, though, and definitely has some rare parts in it!
Maybe we (1) ought to work up a canonical Thomas design that can be whipped
out quickly, doesn't take any rare parts, and looks fairly good (unless
you're an 8 wide aficionado, in which case you're on your own).
If we (1) pulled together a page of links to all the known Thomases that
might be a good start.
1 - that's the managerial "we"... i.e. I thought of it, but someone else
ought to go do it and then I'll critique the effort and take credit later
for having thought of it... :-)
++Lar
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"Larry Pieniazek" <lpieniazek@mercator.com> wrote in message
news:G49wrE.2wD@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.trains, Mike Walsh writes:
[ ... snipped ... ]
>
> Nice.
>
> Kinda tall, though, and definitely has some rare parts in it!
It is kind of tall and it does indeed use some rare parts. The red buffer
plate and the yellow 1x1 and 1x2 windows are not easily found. I had
forgotten that I even had the windows until after I had I completed it the
first time (it was "completed" probably three times beforeI took the picture
last night and once since).
Regarding the height, it is actually only one brick taller than a Crocodile
(4551) Engine (the only LEGO model I have built up right now). I think the
"too tall" persective is actually due to the 16 stud length. I am not too
woried about it, I don't expect to make any more of them although I am sure
I will tinker with this one over time. I really wanted to use the red
buffer plate and the 1x2 with curved top
(http://img.lugnet.com/ld/6091.gif). These two pieces drove most of the
design, the buffer plate the lenght, and the 1x2 top curved brick the
height.
Most importantly thought, this morning at breakfast my three year old
daughter knew exactly what is was.
>
> Maybe we (1) ought to work up a canonical Thomas design that can be • whipped
> out quickly, doesn't take any rare parts, and looks fairly good (unless
> you're an 8 wide aficionado, in which case you're on your own).
>
> If we (1) pulled together a page of links to all the known Thomases that
> might be a good start.
>
> 1 - that's the managerial "we"... i.e. I thought of it, but someone else
> ought to go do it and then I'll critique the effort and take credit later
> for having thought of it... :-)
>
> ++Lar
I think the Train Depot would be the ideal location for this set of links.
Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
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"John Neal" <johnneal@uswest.net> wrote in message
news:3A177186.AC2409DD@uswest.net...
> > tonight I built a version of Thomas while watching Twister. Take a • look,
> > comments welcome.
> >
> > http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
> Nice work, Mike-
>
> I too watched Twister tonite but did no work:-( I see you have decided to
Geez, did everyone watch Twister last night? :)
Here's what I did while watching:
http://www.oxford.net/~hendryjr/temp/tower/
(4 pictures)
It's the start of a modified HUSS Shot-N-Drop model. Note the extensive use
of 4.5v rails. :)
(The HUSS Shot-N-Drop is a pneumatically driven amusement ride consisting of
a tower, somewhere in the order of 50 m, around which wraps a car with seats
for 24 people. Cables connected to the longstroke pneumatic cylinders wrap
around pullise at the base and top of the tower, allowing controlled
launching/droping of the ride vehicle. This is sort of a cross between that
and Intamin's updated Impulse Coaster (see
http://www.oxford.net/~hendryjr/sue/ for pictures and info).)
Iain
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Larry Pieniazek wrote:
>
>
> Maybe we (1) ought to work up a canonical Thomas design that can be whipped
> out quickly, doesn't take any rare parts, and looks fairly good (unless
> you're an 8 wide aficionado, in which case you're on your own).
Even we 8 wide aficionados build Thomas characters 6 wide; they are toys, and
need to look smallish. Good idea, though, Lar. I'll have to post some pics
of my Thomas with the 12 volt motor in it.
-John
>
>
>
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James Powell wrote:
> > Another problem I see with modeling Thomas in general is that there are *so*
> > many versions of him in various toys with varying degrees of accuracy (if you
> > assume that the video version of him is the "correct" prototype).
>
>
> It's not. The most "accurate" would be from the first book. Thomas is based
> on a LBSC E2 tank
Hey James, would you happen to know of a good link to a pic of one so that we
could see how he *ought* to look?
-John
> , but the artist who orginally did the paintings was NOT a
> railway artist. Therefore, as long as it has 6 wheels, and is blue, it is
> reasonable.
>
> As regards Mikes Thomas, I think it is too tall in the cab. It looks more like
> a Emmett engine than Thomas-that or perhaps a W. Heath Robinson engine. (I was
> looking at "Railway Ribaldry" a few days ago...)
>
> James
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Mike Walsh wrote:
> I know numerous people have built Thomas so far but a comment Larry made a
> few weeks made a lot of sense (every club should have a Thomas). So with
> that thought in conjunction with the fact that we are headed to my parents
> house for Thanksgiving where I will see my nephew, a huge Thomas nut,
> tonight I built a version of Thomas while watching Twister. Take a look,
> comments welcome.
>
> http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
>
> Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
We ran one at the last show we attended. Poor thing was kept running all day.
A member created the face out of 'femo'.
Dean
I'm still grabbing stills from my footage. Hope to have it done soon.
--
Coin-Op's For Sale!: http://www.akasa.bc.ca/tfm/coin-op.html
Dean's Lego Workshop: http://www.akasa.bc.ca/tfm/lego_wr.html
Vancouver Lego Club: http://www.akasa.bc.ca/vlc
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> Hey James, would you happen to know of a good link to a pic of one so that we
> could see how he *ought* to look?
>
> -John
No, not online. _I_ have the books :). (Some of which were my mom's, and date
to the 50's)
I have a mobile that has a picture of Thomas from the TV show (which is fairly
close, but actually a Marklin Ga 1 engine, cut and hacked...). Really, as long
as it has 6 wheels, is blue, and side tanks, it is Thomas. In the UK, the
movie (no, I did not go see it) was promoted by having a Jinty (another class
of tank engine, made famous by "The Railway Children") painted up and put
outside a London moviehouse. (There were photos of it in the steam press)
James
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> Hey James, would you happen to know of a good link to a pic of one so that we
> could see how he *ought* to look?
>
> -John
No, not online. _I_ have the books :). (Some of which were my mom's, and date
to the 50's)
I have a mobile that has a picture of Thomas from the TV show (which is fairly
close, but actually a Marklin Ga 1 engine, cut and hacked...). Really, as long
as it has 6 wheels, is blue, and side tanks, it is Thomas. In the UK, the
movie (no, I did not go see it) was promoted by having a Jinty (another class
of tank engine, made famous by "The Railway Children") painted up and put
outside a London moviehouse. (There were photos of it in the steam press)
James
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James Powell wrote:
> > Hey James, would you happen to know of a good link to a pic of one so that we
> > could see how he *ought* to look?
> >
> > -John
>
> No, not online. _I_ have the books :).
Well, that's why God created scanners;-)
> (Some of which were my mom's, and date
> to the 50's)
>
> I have a mobile that has a picture of Thomas from the TV show (which is fairly
> close, but actually a Marklin Ga 1 engine, cut and hacked...). Really, as long
> as it has 6 wheels, is blue, and side tanks, it is Thomas.
Even if it has 4 wheels, it is Thomas. I just thought it would be nice to see
exactly what we are modeling (the prototype modeler in me asserting himself:)
-John
> In the UK, the
> movie (no, I did not go see it) was promoted by having a Jinty (another class
> of tank engine, made famous by "The Railway Children") painted up and put
> outside a London moviehouse. (There were photos of it in the steam press)
>
> James
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In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
>
> Well, that's why God created scanners;-)
No, that was Bill Gates. :-) (FUT off-topic.debate if you insist)
> Even if it has 4 wheels, it is Thomas. I just thought it would be nice to see
> exactly what we are modeling (the prototype modeler in me asserting himself:)
I'm with J2 on this, although I usually am the rt. hon. Mr. Stickler from
the Accuracy Riding (that's a UK reference). For adult modelers, getting it
just so is a good thing, but for kids, as long as it's blue, short, some
black trim, kind of looks like a steamer, that's good enough.
Some examples we have seen are a bit TOO goofy, but I digress.
++Lar
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Larry Pieniazek wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
>
> >
> > Well, that's why God created scanners;-)
>
> No, that was Bill Gates. :-) (FUT off-topic.debate if you insist)
Are you saying that: God created Bill Gates? (agree-- He *does* move in mysterious
ways, you know) Actually, I had heard that Al Gore invented scanners....
-John
> > Even if it has 4 wheels, it is Thomas. I just thought it would be nice to see
> > exactly what we are modeling (the prototype modeler in me asserting himself:)
>
> I'm with J2 on this, although I usually am the rt. hon. Mr. Stickler from
> the Accuracy Riding (that's a UK reference). For adult modelers, getting it
> just so is a good thing, but for kids, as long as it's blue, short, some
> black trim, kind of looks like a steamer, that's good enough.
>
> Some examples we have seen are a bit TOO goofy, but I digress.
>
> ++Lar
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"Larry Pieniazek" <lpieniazek@mercator.com> wrote in message
news:G4Bz3D.10p@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.trains, John Neal writes:
>
> >
> > Well, that's why God created scanners;-)
>
> No, that was Bill Gates. :-) (FUT off-topic.debate if you insist)
>
> > Even if it has 4 wheels, it is Thomas. I just thought it would be nice • to see
> > exactly what we are modeling (the prototype modeler in me asserting • himself:)
>
> I'm with J2 on this, although I usually am the rt. hon. Mr. Stickler from
> the Accuracy Riding (that's a UK reference). For adult modelers, getting • it
> just so is a good thing, but for kids, as long as it's blue, short, some
> black trim, kind of looks like a steamer, that's good enough.
>
> Some examples we have seen are a bit TOO goofy, but I digress.
>
> ++Lar
Last night (when I should have been working on a presentation) I was
fiddling around with my TTTE model. Several people felt that it was too
tall and I agree. So, it is now one brick shorter and has some new details
including a face I cut out from a package of TTTE stickers.
http://www.nclug.net/members/mw/trains/engines/engine_003.htm
Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
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Mike Walsh wrote in message ...
> Last night (when I should have been working on a presentation) I was
> fiddling around with my TTTE model. Several people felt that it was too
> tall and I agree. So, it is now one brick shorter and has some new details
> including a face I cut out from a package of TTTE stickers.
Sticker face is a good idea - it's the hardest part!
Is the big red external cylinder casing at the front, part of the red
baseplate? A good reason not to use that baseplate, I think (it can be done
without) since Thomas has inside (i.e. inside the frames) cylinders and
valve gear so you can't see them. At the train show last weekend there was a
HO Thomas which had complete external cylinders and working valve gear -
looked very odd!
Kevin
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Kevin Wilson wrote:
> Mike Walsh wrote in message ...
> > Last night (when I should have been working on a presentation) I was
> > fiddling around with my TTTE model. Several people felt that it was too
> > tall and I agree. So, it is now one brick shorter and has some new details
> > including a face I cut out from a package of TTTE stickers.
>
> Sticker face is a good idea - it's the hardest part!
>
> Is the big red external cylinder casing at the front, part of the red
> baseplate? A good reason not to use that baseplate, I think (it can be done
> without) since Thomas has inside (i.e. inside the frames) cylinders and
> valve gear so you can't see them.
Interesting point, Kevin. I know that those are separate pieces, and I know
that external cylinders are not shown on models of Thomas, but I had just
assumed that this was due to lack of detail. Are you saying that it is
prototypical for engines of this class to have hidden/shrouded cylinder
casings? I'd really like to see a proto of this type <off to search now>
-John
> At the train show last weekend there was a
> HO Thomas which had complete external cylinders and working valve gear -
> looked very odd!
>
> Kevin
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"Kevin Wilson" <kwilson_tccs@compuserve.com> wrote in message
news:G4DvJ9.M4F@lugnet.com...
> Mike Walsh wrote in message ...
> > Last night (when I should have been working on a presentation) I was
> > fiddling around with my TTTE model. Several people felt that it was too
> > tall and I agree. So, it is now one brick shorter and has some new • details
> > including a face I cut out from a package of TTTE stickers.
>
> Sticker face is a good idea - it's the hardest part!
>
> Is the big red external cylinder casing at the front, part of the red
> baseplate? A good reason not to use that baseplate, I think (it can be • done
> without) since Thomas has inside (i.e. inside the frames) cylinders and
> valve gear so you can't see them. At the train show last weekend there was • a
> HO Thomas which had complete external cylinders and working valve gear -
> looked very odd!
>
> Kevin
I assume the piece you are referring to is the one that hangs down from the
front left end of the red buffer plate. The buffer plate (the main red 6x16
plate in my model) is this one:
http://img.lugnet.com/ld/4178.gif
I could not find the part I added in Parts Ref - does any know if it is in
there and what it is called? I got two of them in an eBay lot and they have
been sitting on my desk for three or four months. Last night I stuck them
on to add detail, and debated leaving them there. The picture I was working
from didn't have anything like them showing so I will probably remove them.
I am not sure if I like them or not.
Mike - mike_walsh@mindspring.com
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> Interesting point, Kevin. I know that those are separate pieces, and I know
> that external cylinders are not shown on models of Thomas, but I had just
> assumed that this was due to lack of detail. Are you saying that it is
> prototypical for engines of this class to have hidden/shrouded cylinder
> casings? I'd really like to see a proto of this type <off to search now>
>
> -John
The cylinders are _inside_ the frames, not outside. A lot of UK engines were
like that (hmm...a photo of a certan blue engine...this is the one that was
outside the london theater:
http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/stock/steam/47298.html)
The problem is that with UK high level platforms, only relatively small
diameter outside cylinders are possible (GWR "Kings" have cylinders that _just_
clear platforms, for example). As well, with the victorian ethic (of 2
centuries ago...) playing a major role in the development of UK engine design,
the "typical" UK engine used 2 inside cylinders, with outside cylinders being a
more recent (typically, 1920 or so) introduction. Before that, most engines
were inside cylinderd (like City of Truro, the first engine to go over 100 MPH
(and have documentation that stands being looked at...), she's a 4-4-0, but
inside cylindered rather than outside)
The Pacifics all had outside cylinders, although a good number (A1,2,3,4's,
Princess, Duchess) all had inside cylinders as well (I know the Britannia's
are outside only, and the Clan's look like it...I don;t know about the
Southern (UK) railway stuff)
James
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Larry Pieniazek wrote:
> If we (1) pulled together a page of links to all the known Thomases that
> might be a good start.
>
> Okay, I'm checking in with my Thomas:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=1644
> I retrofitted him with his new 12 volt motor and finally took some pics.
> After having seen upon what Thomas is based, I am a little discouraged. The
> red buffer plate is completely inadequate (way too short), as are the
> diminutitive wheels. And, of course, the wheels on the proto are so far
> apart that anything near that spacing can't even come close to being able to
> take the tight LEGO curves.
I *do* plan on making up some stickers for Thomas, James, and my other
characters....eventually:-/
-John
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