2014 Trackmaster redesign

[Super]

I think my point was missed or I made it too vague. My point is that these are just children's toys so why would anyone get so worked up as to call others names just because they didn't share the same point of view. Unless, of course, it was due to the protection of the anonymity of the Internet where one can bravely say anything as long as it isn't to someones face.

And...no matter what you call them, they are still just childrens toys that we, as grown men, still like to play with.

[Ucwepn]

Yes Super I agree my friend! Anyway I have a set on the way and will be very thorough and fair in my review, I will be testing it on all types of tracks that I own (TOMY, Fake TOMY, Trackmaster and Trackmaster II, and against standard and modified engines too, this will show up any good/bad points and hopefully be a benchmark that we all can use to see how the new range performs.

[Super]

I have a set on the way and will be very thorough and fair in my review

As you always are!...as you always are!

Yes Super I agree my friend! Anyway I have a set on the way and will be very thorough and fair in my review, I will be testing it on all types of tracks that I own (TOMY, Fake TOMY, Trackmaster and Trackmaster II, and against standard and modified engines too, this will show up any good/bad points and hopefully be a benchmark that we all can use to see how the new range performs.

Thank goodness! I was waiting for the next review, and in interested to see them in action

[HankAmericanEngine]

As much as I don't like this redesign, as the engines look like tractors and the open wagons look like tiny mine carts to be pulled by horses/mules, the one and only one that actually gives me some degree of being impressed is Gator, or Gerald as his full name is.

Gator: https://www.harbourroad.co.uk/acatalog/B...82%29N.JPG

First time in a very long time I've seen so much detail on a TrackMaster engine; might procure a pre-wheels-with-niches Whiff from eBay if wheels are the same colour and swap out the ones with the niches. Might also buy a few more of Gator, as I do like the tarped cargo and it gives the one I'm going to own in future something to pull.

[Ucwepn]

After I review the Thomas I will also attempt a teardown and rebuild etc. I don't expect it to arrive this week, I have Plarail Hiro aquarium set, Plarail Percy, Trackmaster Hank, Plarail Arthur all to review. I'm thinking Hiro will be next.

Also one user said He had the Thomas and Percy from the new range and said they do not work on TOMY track, I will try and find out more on this.

[Super]

I think Ucwepn was looking to make some covered gondolas to recreate a picture of a real train but I can't remember where that thread is. Maybe he won't have to make them now if they would be so kind as to offer the cars separately.

[Ucwepn]

Hi yes I have noticed Gators covered truck and it is quite interesting, if its a removable load surely some will pop up on ebay sooner or later in lots etc. I don't think I would pay the $35 per greatest moments pack for a single covered truck, I could possibly adapt OO scale ones to suit as well or even make my own

I missed the discussion on Facebook. Was that in another group I'm not in?

Anyway... Since when is 'steeper' a 'more realistic' feature of a steam engine. I'm no train engineer but I was under the impression steep and train tracks didn't go together to well.

Ohh well, lucky for me my son is moving to Lego so I don't have to get the new stuff. I can stick to second hand from Yahoo or make the move to Lego with him. :-)

[HankAmericanEngine]

I missed the discussion on Facebook. Was that in another group I'm not in?

Anyway... Since when is 'steeper' a 'more realistic' feature of a steam engine. I'm no train engineer but I was under the impression steep and train tracks didn't go together to well.

Ohh well, lucky for me my son is moving to Lego so I don't have to get the new stuff. I can stick to second hand from Yahoo or make the move to Lego with him. :-)

I actually find it insulting that Fisher-Price is toting "steeper" and "faster" as a "legitimate" reason for the redesign of their engines, rolling stock, and track; my few engines with high-powered motors can easily tackle gradients, and the Plarail range is roughly 1:87 scale compared to the real world, which allows mathematics to properly be scaled down to this numerical scale. Gordon's Hill from Thomas and Friends is a 2.75% incline, which is quite a hefty increase; a single percent for an incline is rather easy to scale in real life. For example, a 1% incline means an increase of 1% in the land over 100 feet; ergo, Gordon's Hill has a 2.75% increase with each 100 feet travelled. Now if I only knew the height and length of the galloping sausage's hill; that'd help tremendously. That, and most of my engines are powerful and fast already.