I do plan to update some of his faces overtime like with the rest of my fleet, but Thomas has SO many that it’ll take forever to even get through some of them, so for now, just the model will do.
See you next year with more models! 🎉🎊🍾
Regardless of all the setbacks, I slowly chipped away at it, as my first Thomas was EASILY my least favorite/worst model, and I really wanted to redeem myself with the main character himself in time for the 80th.
Pretty much everything, even the chassis, is fresh/not reused.
In actuality, this project had gone through quite the development hell (2 years??), either being pushed back for other projects, or the embarrassing number of body prints I went through before one was good and/or didn’t have a bad paint finish.
I was full-on perfectionist mode.
Happy New Year(s Eve) everyone! 🎉🎊🍾
To cap off this year and 80th Anniversary, here’s my final model reveal of the year.
Thomas! Completely redone and drastically improved. 🔵🚂
All new 3D printed shell by @/The_lbsc_thomas, printed, assembled, and painted by yours truly.
“This engine is a Metropolitan-Vickers, diesel-electric, Type 2.”
BoCo joins the RWS fleet!
Nothing too complicated as expected; repainting the bufferbeam red, and renumbering. Like Bear (but unlike real Class 28’s) he wears both numbers; D5702 on the front, D2 on the back!
Overall, good improvement over my first attempt with him. I am by no means perfect lmao, but nice to know I’ve gotten way better at this in just five years.
The grind continues though, got way more to finish within a year, so stay tuned as always!
It’s mostly small stuff, but the smoother smokebox end, and using actual 3D printed lamp irons, brake pipe and safety valve make a world of a difference.
Also so happy we have scans of the prop faces to use and print now, though I still need to sand n paint the rest of them.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m trying to upgrade and refine my TVS stuff since I feel a lot of it has aged.
Edward was one of my earlier ones and is probably the easiest to redo, since he doesn’t require a new 3D printed body and is pretty simple detail-wise, so he was first up.
Been a bit, but finally got substantial finished model stuff to show.
Not exactly “new”, but here’s Edward, fully refurbished and repainted. Better lining and paint finish + old parts cleaned or swapped with new ones.
Plus a new main face from the 3D scan of the real prop one!
“Thomas slept badly that night. He kept wondering what Gordon, Henry and James would say if they knew he had finished his journey on a lorry. He almost thought he could hear them laughing.”
Based on my favorite Chris Awdry book, my #JustLikeAwdry diorama finished *just* in time.
Here’s a comparison between the new Hornby and my old Bachmann Mayflower in 1970s-2000s condition, that I renamed/Renumbered myself.
And yea the Hornby one’s def an upgrade in every area, especially the handrails.
Might sell my Bachmann one, but it’s a different livery so idk..
Do have some minor gripes tho, mainly the (still) plastic running plate makes the price a lil questionable + the front NEM pocket sticks out too far and interferes when the front details are fitted.
I might even get a spare bogie to model and cut the pocket off, it is annoying.
I am not beating any LNER-bias allegations anytime soon.
Always had a soft spot for B1s, so when I saw Hornby release a modern Mayflower, I couldn’t help myself.
Love the livery and finish, the gold front lamps especially! Nice they upgraded it from 8 to 21-pin DCC ready too.
I’ve received news that the Vancouver Train Expo in November has been cancelled this year. :(
Very sad news to hear, was really looking forward to displaying my models and meeting other fans again (was in the middle of storming up some special plans for this year too).
Museum Friends.
And since it’s appropriate, here’s the two “Blue(s) Brothers” together.
I like BR Express Blue :)
“Those are Thomas’ coaches!”
As you may have noticed, I’ve also completed RWS renditions of Annie and Clarabel too.
Made from Ratio/Parkside Midland Railway 48 ft bogie coach kits, of course with their push-pull windows cut out.
Not bad for my first coach kits, just felt wrong to have Thomas without them!
In-all, overjoyed with the results, and happy to complete the steam engine fleet (sort of). Cliche to say, but this may be another favorite in the collection.
Thanks to KnucklesSCC for the bodyshells as always!
Stay tuned, and Happy 80th Anniversary!! 🎉
#THOMAS80
#RWS80
Mr. Color 34 Sky Blue as usual!
Lining is 0.75mm red transfers from Fox Transfers as usual, same with the O gauge LMS number. Also real coal in their bunkers like with Percy. One thing admittedly not present on them atm that are on my other models are builders plates. This isn’t deliberate or by accident, I have a set of “Brighton Works 1915” plates, but embarrassingly, I forgot to order two sets, and the second set hasn’t arrived yet.. 😅 But it also got me indecisive about the placement of the plates, whether they should be on the splashers, running board side like real E2s, or bunker side? etc. Then I thought, if it’s possible, I’d like to get “Crovan’s Gate 1920/1960” plates to go them, whether these be custom etchings or I design them myself and print them on vinyl. Idk when or if that’ll ever happen with either method, but we’ll see once the other Brighton plates arrive. Who knows, perhaps I’ll go back and do the same for Edward too?.. Food for thought..
After all the test fits tho, painting was a pretty standard affair at this point.
Like with the Scottish Twins, it was a real challenge trying to get their details matching up to make them look like the same engine, but I think I pulled it off well enough.
Once again went with the SCC shells (E2X V02-F and E2X V2 respectively to be specific) as I liked the look of them the best, and I went with the full size E2s instead of Gavin’s shrunk down versions, as I decided to be consistent with the rest of the fleet being proportionally accurate to their basis’. Plus it’s consistent with Awdry’s own model of Thomas MK3, as well as differentiating him from my TVS Thomas. The Bachmann Jinty chassis was the natural choice for this, as it’s been used by many before me, and its wheelbase and wheel size were near-identical to an E2’s. Ik in-universe, Thomas allegedly was given larger driving wheels circa-1920(?), thus explaining his front splashers, but like with my James, I’m okay with overlooking this for the sake of a model haha.
“Hey.” “Hey…”
Since they share a chassis, it meant I couldn’t do any cutting to the chassis itself to avoid risking the possibility that it would fit one but not the other. Should note that this photo is not a representation of the final cutting job, so I don’t recommend copying exactly what you see here. 😅
I had always planned Thomas to be the last of the main steam engines.
I bought (them) the same time as Percy, but unlike Percy, getting the chassis to fit right on BOTH shells was easily the hardest part; LOTS or trial and error cutting/test fitting with these ones!
“Blue is the only color for a Really Useful Engine - everybody knows that.”
In time for the 80th Anniversary, here’s my completed RWS Thomas! 🔵🚂🎉
Went the full mile and did both MK1 and MK2 Thomas’, using their respective SCC E2X bodyshells on a Bachmann Jinty chassis.
🧵⬇️
Happy Thursday, all.
The Trevor faces are scaled to the Bandai TECS model, but I can scale them to whatever size you want (Plarail, WR, Take Along, etc), just provide me the measurements.
I also have some of NWRKRIS other designs available too. These are about $5 CAD per face, DM if interested too!
Got an Easter treat for y’all,
a set of faces for Trevor… that you could have too!!!
NWRKRIS has kindly granted me permission to 3D print his faces for others to buy from me and use.
Prices are $3 CAD per face, or $20 for a full set (+shipping ofc!).
DM if interested!
Finally feeling better after being sick for nearly five days.🫡
Got to do some catching up at work, and for new model projects I’ve got planned, as well as a few commissions.
Also might have something special y’all might be interested in if all go well this week…
Pic related.
Don’t think it’s worth going into as much detail about everything else, they’re pretty self explanatory as to what they are, besides getting everything shown for decent prices.
‘Tis all for now. I’m been really sick for a couple days, so I will go back to dying in bed 🫡 🛏️
Oh yea and Mr. Overpriced himself, Oliver.
I have an Oliver from childhood already, but in rough shape even after cleaning and a bad runner. Then by chance I found an auction for this one at a low bid, so said why not!
I still have his coaches from childhood in clean shape too.
Yes, the RWS Thomas is as good as everyone says it is, don’t think I have much to add that hasn’t already been praised.
It’s just really cool to me that we have versions of Thomas (and Annie and Clarabel) in RWS, Model, and CGI styles now.