It finally happened, after all this time of reading and watching other peoples videos and reviews of the Trackmaster 2 series Thomas trains, one is finally in my hands to judge for myself. Included in a large Lot of trains a Thomas and Clay Wagon.
I have to say that, for the first time, I now have one in my hand to judge for myself.......I completely agree with all I have seen and read. Just holding these in my hand has a feeling of cheapness that I am not use to seeing as I like the feel of the first Trackmaster generation and Plarail. The Clay Wagon is really so light weight that now I know why the videos I watch they bounce up on the tracks so much. Thin plastic and the uni-wheel/axle....ugh and the wheels are really very thin too! The clay load, which I think is done nice, doesn't even fit properly as it is too small. Thomas, to me, just feels so light weight. And now I see first hand the low activation tab that made the train stop at the first curve it came to on our layout.
I have to admit there are some nice features though. There are pronounced buffers on both the wagon and Thomas even though the ones on Thomas aren't painted. I have seen many other Trackmaster 2 trains where the buffers are flat and hardly noticeable. No stickers on Thomas as the detailed paint looks very nice. And the motor is nice and quiet.
I can see that small children could probably handle these better because they are so light weight and their little hands can work the flimsy couplings easier than the white originals. I remember when my Grandson was very small having a tough time pulling the white ones apart having to resort to twisting and pulling which eventually damaged the couplings. So all in all... I think that I could have accepted (not buy) the new design for the tots if they would have made these the exact same way but with normal drive rubbers and higher activation tabs and sold them in the normal three pack. Then for the special trick sets use these chassis's with the cog wheels. That way they could have doubled the attraction where the trick set trains could be used with any set and with the trains using my suggestions could appeal to all those out there like us who have the original tracks and aren't into trick sets. The best of two worlds and more profit even though they are more cheaply made.
My belated review...of course this Thomas and his Clay Wagon wont be staying in our collection as he will be included in an Ebay Lot soon.
I have to say that, for the first time, I now have one in my hand to judge for myself.......I completely agree with all I have seen and read. Just holding these in my hand has a feeling of cheapness that I am not use to seeing as I like the feel of the first Trackmaster generation and Plarail. The Clay Wagon is really so light weight that now I know why the videos I watch they bounce up on the tracks so much. Thin plastic and the uni-wheel/axle....ugh and the wheels are really very thin too! The clay load, which I think is done nice, doesn't even fit properly as it is too small. Thomas, to me, just feels so light weight. And now I see first hand the low activation tab that made the train stop at the first curve it came to on our layout.
I have to admit there are some nice features though. There are pronounced buffers on both the wagon and Thomas even though the ones on Thomas aren't painted. I have seen many other Trackmaster 2 trains where the buffers are flat and hardly noticeable. No stickers on Thomas as the detailed paint looks very nice. And the motor is nice and quiet.
I can see that small children could probably handle these better because they are so light weight and their little hands can work the flimsy couplings easier than the white originals. I remember when my Grandson was very small having a tough time pulling the white ones apart having to resort to twisting and pulling which eventually damaged the couplings. So all in all... I think that I could have accepted (not buy) the new design for the tots if they would have made these the exact same way but with normal drive rubbers and higher activation tabs and sold them in the normal three pack. Then for the special trick sets use these chassis's with the cog wheels. That way they could have doubled the attraction where the trick set trains could be used with any set and with the trains using my suggestions could appeal to all those out there like us who have the original tracks and aren't into trick sets. The best of two worlds and more profit even though they are more cheaply made.
My belated review...of course this Thomas and his Clay Wagon wont be staying in our collection as he will be included in an Ebay Lot soon.
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