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As an avid (adult??) fan of the Bachmann Thomas line and Thomas and Friends in general, I'm always curious how "non-fans" react to an entire line of electric trains based off of a children's show. I was watching an interview from a train show a few days ago, and one of the items the Bachmann rep mentioned in particular was their model of "Skarloey"- the debut engine in their newly launched HOn30 "Narrow Gauge" line of locomotives- which was described as a huge bestseller. I did a bit more research, and found out that the model of Skarloey can easily be converted to his real-life counterpart, "Tallylyn," (shown below).
I wanted to get everyone's input on this narrow gauge line, the possibilites for it outside of Thomas itself, and why you all, as fans of railroading outside of just Thomas, perceive it to be such a huge seller. Bachmann is expanding the line outside of Skarloey this year with "Rheneas," the Thomas and Friends counterpart to the real-life "Dolgoch," and based on glimpses from interviews, etc of what appears to be his final model, he also will be able to be converted to his IRL likeness. Let me know your thoughts!
Skarloey aka Talyllyn Railway No. 1 has been very well received by the British OO9 narrow gauge railway modelling community. Actually, for HOn30, the engine is a little too big, being close to the British 1/76 scale.
Aside from the "face" the only real flaw of the model is the cylinders, which are way to big when compared to the prototype. In Britain, there is a cottage type industrie offering parts to convert Skarloey into a more prototypical representation.
Modellers in the UK are looking forward to "Rheneas" and others, which will hopefully follow!
Take your 'de-faced' model, put a brass plate BURRA on the saddle tank, make a few mods to the cab and you'll have a reasonable approximation of a well-known Australian coal mine shifter.
The name was supposed to be KOOKABURRA, but that plate was too long!
I'll be watching future offerings to see if any can be kitbashed into something that would be at home on the Kiso Rintetsu, prototype of my Kashimoto Forest Railway.
That would give me more incentive to make it operational.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with a 762mm HOe logger)
I don't know how accurate the Thomas trains are, but they look like an easy way to dabble in overseas trains. For someone like me who is not very knowledgeable about British railroads, replace the faces and you're off to a good start.
Or just do a Thomas layout.
Paul
IRONROOSTER I don't know how accurate the Thomas trains are, but they look like an easy way to dabble in overseas trains. For someone like me who is not very knowledgeable about British railroads, replace the faces and you're off to a good start. Or just do a Thomas layout. Paul
I have cranky the crane working in my shipyard someday I will get around to de-faceing him and give him a more prototypical front. But hey the wife likes him.
Joe Staten Island West
JamesNWR05 http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=879_756_772_975&products_id=6437 As an avid (adult??) fan of the Bachmann Thomas line and Thomas and Friends in general, I'm always curious how "non-fans" react to an entire line of electric trains based off of a children's show. I was watching an interview from a train show a few days ago, and one of the items the Bachmann rep mentioned in particular was their model of "Skarloey"- the debut engine in their newly launched HOn30 "Narrow Gauge" line of locomotives- which was described as a huge bestseller. I did a bit more research, and found out that the model of Skarloey can easily be converted to his real-life counterpart, "Tallylyn," (shown below). I wanted to get everyone's input on this narrow gauge line, the possibilites for it outside of Thomas itself, and why you all, as fans of railroading outside of just Thomas, perceive it to be such a huge seller. Bachmann is expanding the line outside of Skarloey this year with "Rheneas," the Thomas and Friends counterpart to the real-life "Dolgoch," and based on glimpses from interviews, etc of what appears to be his final model, he also will be able to be converted to his IRL likeness. Let me know your thoughts!
Considering the childrens show was once (and might still be) made by building actual models with little to no CGI, its pretty neat to watch (hit mute and you have a layout tour...). I grew up watching Thomas. I wish they would let a DCC decoder company make DCC sound decoders specifically for the Thomas line (kind of understandble why they dont, but it would be pretty nice for train shows etc..).