Trackmaster and questions about general old stuff

@"Bkvir208",

Oh, I don't need adapters at the moment because I don't own any Trackmaster. I was just curious about the series because I've always bought Plarail. Thanks though.

@"Ucwepn" ,

Are the couplings really that bad? Does that mean you guys replace them with the Plarail ones?
What do you mean by the activation tab? Are you referring to the hook underneath the train sets which allow it to stop at stations and pull the automatic switcher rails?
I saw you posted a video about wheel swapping. Doesn't that mean you would have to sacrifice a working Plarail/Trackmaster train just for the wheels? I don't remember it being possible to get those wheels individually. If that is so, doesn't that mean the overall operation is quite expensive?

What about those magnetic couplings sunhuntin bought a few days ago? Would they be useful? I've only got magnetic couplings on my E3, E2 and E5 Shinkansen. They are pretty useful I suppose for filming when you have the train reverse to hookup and then go forward again.

I went into a store today and saw the current Trackmaster Revolution Sets. They come with adapters as well for switching from the old Trackmaster to the new Trackmaster Revolution. I don't think there will be any adapter from Trackmaster Revolution to Plarail then. :| Although, I don't suppose any of you would find the need for such a thing because you all seem to hate and avoid the new tracks anyway.

EDIT: Additional question. If I were to get a new Trackmaster Revolution set, would the train sets (rolling stock) be compatible with the Plarail scenery parts? The new Trackmaster Revolution train sets look a little wider and longer.

-plarnold


[Super]

Plarnold, do you need any of these adapters? I have a few that you can just have, I'll be happy to send you. I do not have any plarail, i got the adapters in a box of hodge podge trackmaster stuff I bought.

Very nice of you Bkir208

Trackmaster Revolution - would the rolling stock be compatible with the Plarail scenery parts? The new Trackmaster Revolution train sets look a little wider and longer.

Yes, Revolution rolling stock runs on all tracks, Tomy dark blue, Tomy/Tomica/Plarail light blue, Trackmaster beige, as well the Revolution ultra-flimsy junk. The trucks/wagons/cars are mostly shorter than before, but are the same track gauge and the same body width.

[Ucwepn]

The wheels are individually removable if you are careful and motivated hehe, The activation tab is the bit you described that activates features on the track and at stations etc.

I've got one of the new TrackMaster Revolution engines (Talking Percy, came with a separate blue ice cream car). It's described here:
http://thomastrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/...evolution)

It has a button on top (flush with percy's roof) and you simply press it to start the engine talking & moving. And press again to stop it.

It recently stopped working. I took it apart and tested the motor which works fine. Looks like the button is connected to a small computer chip which controls the sound&motor, etc. My guess is the chip or circuit died, and now engine doesn't work at all. I think the older engines just had a switch going directly to the motor with no fancy circuit inside.

But when it worked, it worked well on the latest TrackMaster tracks (the think grey plastic ones).