Inside Gold Thomas

MuddyPoppins · MuddyPoppins 10-17-2016, 04:14 PM Collector

While still trying to sort out all of the myth from fact about Gold Thomas, I thought I'd share this interesting detail right away...
It is NOT simply a modified version of a standard Thomas.
It's shell is not of standard blue plastic, and it's underside is missing one feature that has always been a staple of the Thomas model!!!
Does anyone recognize what's missing???

**Super** · **Super** 10-17-2016, 04:27 PM Track Engineer

Middle wheel????

MuddyPoppins · MuddyPoppins 10-17-2016, 04:37 PM Collector

(10-17-2016, 04:27 PM)Super Wrote: Middle wheel????

Ding ding ding ding!!!
We have a winner winner chicken dinner!!
I knew you'd spot that right off Super!!!
Yes...I have never seen him made this way..
Every other version has that middle wheel.
It's not just painted gold but it's construction and design are also unique unto itself.

plarnold · plarnold 10-18-2016, 05:10 AM Senior Member

@Muddy Poppins,

What do you mean? Have you never seen a Plarail blue Thomas without a middle wheel?

-plarnold

MuddyPoppins · MuddyPoppins 10-18-2016, 07:25 AM Collector

(10-18-2016, 05:10 AM)plarnold Wrote: @Muddy Poppins,

What do you mean? Have you never seen a Plarail blue Thomas without a middle wheel?

-plarnold

No I have never seen any version of Thomas with only 4 wheels...sometimes the middle wheel may be affixed and just part of the mold and painted, but generally middle wheels are the mechanism that releases to allow the shell to be removed from their locked slotted position that interacts and engages with said middle wheels...
Do you know of any other 4 wheeled versions of Thomas??

Starworld101 · Starworld101 10-18-2016, 02:23 PM Reaper Of Percy's

Are there moulded holes for where the middle wheel would go? also does a standard Thomas have a J7 sticker inside.

MuddyPoppins · MuddyPoppins 10-18-2016, 06:04 PM Collector

(10-18-2016, 05:10 AM)plarnold Wrote: @Muddy Poppins,

What do you mean? Have you never seen a Plarail blue Thomas without a middle wheel?

-plarnold

There are 54 different variant versions of Thomas in the Plarail/Tomy/HitToys/Trackmaster 1 line...from 1992 to current( this includes the newest "Original Green Thomas" just released by Plarail)
Of the 54 different versions, only 12 are different from each other in their design and construction, but no matter how Thomas is made or put together he has ALWAYS had a middle wheel included in his design.
These are the 12 different variants and configurations of different components that have made up Thomas' undercarriage construction that have been released.

sunhuntin · sunhuntin 10-18-2016, 06:46 PM out of the game

that thomas is beautiful, both inside and out! interesting about the wheels. wonder if they left them off because of the likelyhood of damaged paint from them "snapping" back into position?

**Super** · **Super** 10-18-2016, 08:45 PM Track Engineer

Strange, the one in the middle has no activation tab.

**ripley802** · **ripley802** 10-18-2016, 08:54 PM Moderator

(10-18-2016, 08:45 PM)Super Wrote: Strange, the one in the middle has no activation tab.

The one with the large coupling? If so, that's one of the "real steam" Thomas's which the engine just has the steam components.