Tomix Thomas (2016)

nice layout, bud. wish mine looked as detailed, but its been build to be transported, so the less on it, the less damage to repair.

Since I live in a smaller place the layout itself is only 4'x3'7". So still pretty portable since I have to move it out of the way for xmas so the tree can go in that corner.

i am in two minds about trying to pick up the new thomas. yours looks a darker blue to mine, but that could be the lighting, too.

I think it's just the pictures came out. It's very similar to the Hit Toy Company flip-face Thomas just a little bit more matted finish.

Anyways, after some running here's some points about this set:

- Thomas is slow; even compared to 25+ years old MiniTrix 0-6-0T Lil' Donkey Thomas falls behind big time. And yes, I've tried to run it in. 8-hours going in each direction plus regular run time.
- Thomas is light; while I haven't had any derailment on switches YET it feels like it could happen any time I run it. I haven't opened it yet so I'm not sure about adding any weights to it.
- Annie & Clarabel are SUPER light; I have empty 70-ton cars or 4-bay hoppers heavier than those. They like to de-couple on switches since they bounce so much. Could be fixed by adding extra weights inside of the cars.
- Plastic wheels on Annie & Clarabel. I'm not one of those people that have to have metal wheels on everything, it just happens EVERYTHING I own runs on metal wheels but.. Maybe using metal wheels could solve the weight problems?
- The model scale is off? All 3 cars seem a little too.. bulky compared to the rest of the n scale stuff I have. Thomas feels pretty much like Thomas Mini engine. It's the same height as the Minis and the face is pretty much the same size as of the Minis.

Nice to have a 'review' of the model after all as we can only source these out of Japan at the moment we're otherwise buying blind. On the plus side if out of the box they are light it shouldn't cost so much to ship and weights can always be added generally speaking.

As for speed, you may find that is deliberate, some trains are deliberately geared low either to give them more pulling power or to make them look more realistic speed-wise. After all let's be honest Thomas is only a little tank engine, if they intend to make a Gordon at some point they would want Thomas to be quite slow so that Gordon can be the faster express engine he is supposed to be

the new james is on jauce now. not sure when he was released. comes with the same trucks as before, but looks like he has an updated face as well.

http://www.jauce.com/auction/q172467022

percy has been out for quite some time. his set has changed... originally he came with a post van, now its s c ruffey.

http://www.jauce.com/auction/w190190080

[Super]

I like the details on Percy

I got Percy here and James is in the mail as we speak. I'll post some pictures when James arrives.