2014 Trackmaster redesign

Trackmaster-Rail-Yard · Trackmaster-Rail-Yard 06-13-2014, 01:21 PM Train Insane

That's just sad. All my track and trains it have loved for so long are going to this. Freakin Fisher Price!

Toys_Trains-Things · Toys_Trains-Things 06-13-2014, 02:47 PM Member

It's unfortunate but these look like cheap imitation plastic rubbish. I don't have personal experience with them and never will. They do not look like an item suitable for collectors or better yet, many years of play. There was/is something about Tomy and even original Trackmaster that allows them to be a bit more than just toys. These redesigned engines have a definite toy look about them. Just like toy (matchbox, hotwheels etc) car collectors, you don't see people collect plastic junk cars like those that come in packs of 10 for a dollar. And.. Those junk cars don't last to well when played with.

As for a basic drive unit design. It doesn't sound that great either. It has no safety clutch to stop when it snags or catches hair. Child product consumer groups won't like that. If it doesn't free roll when turned off, that's another negative for kids playing with them. The gear design probably doesn't have much torque for heavy/long trains due to almost direct drive arrangement.

Anyway, rant over. Does anyone know why they redesigned. Did a licensing (on the basic design and product components) end so they couldn't keep the proven design. Or is it just about cost cutting.

**HankAmericanEngine** · **HankAmericanEngine** 06-13-2014, 03:05 PM Controller of the Mid-American R.R.

(06-13-2014, 02:47 PM)Toys_Trains-Things Wrote: It's unfortunate but these look like cheap imitation plastic rubbish. I don't have personal experience with them and never will. They do not look like an item suitable for collectors or better yet, many years of play. There was/is something about Tomy and even original Trackmaster that allows them to be a bit more than just toys. These redesigned engines have a definite toy look about them. Just like toy (matchbox, hotwheels etc) car collectors, you don't see people collect plastic junk cars like those that come in packs of 10 for a dollar. And.. Those junk cars don't last to well when played with.

As for a basic drive unit design. It doesn't sound that great either. It has no safety clutch to stop when it snags or catches hair. Child product consumer groups won't like that. If it doesn't free roll when turned off, that's another negative for kids playing with them. The gear design probably doesn't have much torque for heavy/long trains due to almost direct drive arrangement.

Anyway, rant over. Does anyone know why they redesigned. Did a licensing (on the basic design and product components) end so they couldn't keep the proven design. Or is it just about cost cutting.

I believe the redesign is aimed for the newest movie coming out this September; cost cutting has been seen since day one of Fisher-Price's ownership of the TrackMaster line, so there's no real need to specify it again and again.

***Ucwepn*** · ***Ucwepn*** 06-13-2014, 10:11 PM The Fat Controller

I think Toy_Trains_Things described it perfectly, those are the words I was looking for when filming. The magic (or something special) is just gone from the series also the feeling of high quality. The quality of the track is so poor too that the knockoff TOMY track is of a much higher quality, the track pieces are shorter and the radius is tighter (both by around 50%). Its basically a dirty money grab here to make it not work with the old track and accessories.

sunhuntin · sunhuntin 06-13-2014, 10:15 PM out of the game

i agree, the free rolling, or lack of, is going to be a drawback. a friends 3 year old has a few trackmaster engines and a tomy track set. hes too young to enjoy them running with the battery and prefers to free roll them when playing, especially as he often uses them on the tables, bench, his books etc.
needless to say, i will be steering her away from this new range and get her onto the auction sites to buy used.

i still havent decided what to do. would like to get a set or two just to have an example of it in the collection. ick. on the upside, this is the kicker i needed to buy the sets ive been avoiding due to the cost. school holidays in a few weeks, so will put them on layaway.

***Ucwepn*** · ***Ucwepn*** 06-13-2014, 10:23 PM The Fat Controller

Oh there is a slipper clutch on the axle, that's what the click is when attempting to free roll. I will continue to study this new loco to try and adapt it for use on blue track and brown track, the activation hook under the rear axle sits very low and I believe that its beaching the loco on TOMY track, A whole axle swap is not possible as the gear on the axle is very different, a wheel replacement on the original axle might be possible but it will sit higher in the rear as the wheels are a smaller diameter on the newest one.

**HankAmericanEngine** · **HankAmericanEngine** 06-13-2014, 10:32 PM Controller of the Mid-American R.R.

Having watched your review Ucwepn, I can only say that my potential unbiased nature is almost dashed; seeing it in action is probably worse than seeing it on the shelves. Then again, neither one is really pleasing to us regardless; most likely, my hopes for Gator, and Marion(if those lazy, money-grobbing sods ever make her), are no longer as prospective and unbiased as I would have hoped. Even a little three-year-old can tell the difference between what is Thomas and what is not; I saw a little boy today deny the redesign in favour of the older models, simply saying, "That's not Thomas" to his parents.

**Super** · **Super** 06-13-2014, 10:36 PM Track Engineer

(06-13-2014, 10:32 PM)HankAmericanEngine Wrote: I saw a little boy today deny the redesign in favour of the older models, simply saying, "That's not Thomas" to his parents.

Too bad you didn't have a video of that.

(06-13-2014, 10:15 PM)sunhuntin Wrote: i still havent decided what to do. would like to get a set or two just to have an example of it in the collection. ick. on the upside, this is the kicker i needed to buy the sets ive been avoiding due to the cost. school holidays in a few weeks, so will put them on layaway.

If the new design is as bad as we have seen and heard I am sure if you wait a bit you will be able to pick up the new stuff pretty cheaply.

**HankAmericanEngine** · **HankAmericanEngine** 06-13-2014, 10:38 PM Controller of the Mid-American R.R.

(06-13-2014, 10:36 PM)Super Wrote:
(06-13-2014, 10:32 PM)HankAmericanEngine Wrote: I saw a little boy today deny the redesign in favour of the older models, simply saying, "That's not Thomas" to his parents.
Too bad you didn't have a video of that.

I don't think it would have made much of a difference if we sent it to Mattel anyways.

***Ucwepn*** · ***Ucwepn*** 06-13-2014, 11:14 PM The Fat Controller

you can be pretty sure Mattel and probably TOMY representatives are lurking here and there and other places around the net like Thomas fan groups/forums etc. My video also has got an overwhelming agreement from most comments that this is not a good change. I thought the scene would be much more divided but allot more do care than I thought.