Making copies of Tomy Thomas face?

Thanks for the idea Wartsilaone!

I am unsure if this method would work, as if you can see from the second picture, that there are these bumps and grooves which help to fit the face to the boiler piece, and is then screwed in from the middle part, and I don't think that it would be easy to replicate that with Plasticine. If you have an idea on how this could be achieved/fixed, I would be happy to know!

Gmeehanfilms (George)

Sorry I assumed you were going permanently attach the new faces to more Thomas bodies. If so sand or file off the raised bits from the body so that the flat back of the new face can be glued to it. The faces could be drilled to take the screw and allow some interchangeability.

google vacuum forming. I made a homemade vacuum forming box from scrap wood. I I attached my house vacuum to it. It is pretty cool

Hey kdeblanc

Thanks for the idea! It is a very interesting method and might just work. I am wondering how you made it, whether it was from a particular video or something, because I wouldn't know where to start going about making one! Also, what type of plastic sheet did you use, because I am thinking of creating the face replicas hopefully out of somewhat the same material or similar.

There is one problem that I haven't been able to understand throughout this thread: I am wanting to make the different faces of Thomas, not just copies, because having different detailed faces of Thomas like in the original tv series would give the engines more expression and personality.

Gmeehanfilms (George)

Hey everyone at BluePlasticTracks!
Thus far I have not been able to contact Powerful Gordon Mike, but i looked on his website where he sells his custom Powerful Gordon: http://customthomas.com/product/powerful-gordon/
And in the description he said he hand molded and painted the face plate out of high impact plastic, which i'm guessing is how the official face plates for the trains are made.

My main problem is I am not at all knowledgeable in plastics, and have no idea how I would create them, my main goal is to recreate the many faces of the different engines from the television series (preferably the first couple of seasons).
Would I have to go to a plastics place/industry and ask them, or do any of you have any knowledge in this? Is there a better way of contacting Powerful Gordon Mike as he hasn't answered back (or probably ignored).

maybe flick these guys an email http://www.axiam.co.nz/ they appear to be nationwide [we have a factory in my town and a couple of friends work there]

they may be able to give you some advice

maybe flick these guys an email http://www.axiam.co.nz/ they appear to be nationwide [we have a factory in my town and a couple of friends work there]

they may be able to give you some advice

Thanks Sunhuntin! As I also live in New Zealand it shouldn't be hard to get in contact with the people at AXIAM! Hopefully they can answer some of my questions!

good luck