These guys are the remains of a Bachmann HO scale Thomas and Percy. They are missing parts and more importantly their faces. Scary as these might be they are actually some old friends. Cast your mind back a few months to when I restarted this blog I made a series of posts about how I had to stop regularly going to visit my old model railroad club at Masonicare.
These engines where the first Thomas and Percy we got for the club layout. They ran for a number of years for who knows how many miles. They took a few bumps, falls and lots of confusion and delay. Eventually there motors failed and they were taken off the layout. They were the most popular engines on the layout by far and the train guys deemed it necessary to replace the engines.
As they were destined for the scrap yards I elected to take them home instead. I removed the motors and greased the wheels in order to help make then free rolling. Back then I didn't know what exactly I would do with them. But I knew that they would be become very useful again one day.
And today is that day!!
First a bit of backstory for you all. For many years Thomas has come to visit us here in CT; helping to pull heavy trains on the Valley. I can remember my Nana and Papa bringing me there for a Day out with Thomas. Originally there it was the live steam Thomas that travels around the US for these events. However in recent years the "dummy" non-powered versions of Thomas has been visiting the Valley. There is a bit of debate about which is better, but personally I prefer the new "dummies" because it is more accurate to the TV series models. In addition, since 2015, Thomas has brought his friend Percy to visit us here as well.
As you may already know from my previous post I have been working on creating models of unique engines and rolling stock; mainly the ones found on the Valley. But what does this have to do with those old models you may ask? Well I decided I would try to make HO scale replicas of the Day out with Thomas (DOWT) "Dummies" that come to the Valley each year.
One would say this is not needed as Bachmann make fully working models of the engines, but they are not correct to the Dummies, nor their TV show versions ether. First lets look at Thomas; the factory bachmann model has the overall shape correct but there are things like the cab windows, the face and overall height that are incorrect for the dummies. If you look at this photo:
You can see the Thomas Dummy coupled to 3025. Notice that Thomas is significantly shorter, this is due to the dummys wheels. The overall body shape is correct but the wheels are a bit small making the dummy shorter than a one of the Valley's coach cars. Compare that to this photo of the Bachmann Thomas next to a Athern heavyweight car.
So I decided that I will try to fix these two issues at once using 3D printed parts. I started by creating a slightly shorter shell for Thomas, correcting the window issues found in the factory model.
I also starting to think ahead for "super details opportunities". Like creating a hole in the bottom of the smoke box to install a smoke machine as well as room for possible future DCC sound, while still leaving room to have the cab be open and not blocked off by black plastic like the factory model has.
Its just a start, but I thought it would be a fun project to revive some old models from the past and give them a new working life.
As you may already know from my previous post I have been working on creating models of unique engines and rolling stock; mainly the ones found on the Valley. But what does this have to do with those old models you may ask? Well I decided I would try to make HO scale replicas of the Day out with Thomas (DOWT) "Dummies" that come to the Valley each year.
One would say this is not needed as Bachmann make fully working models of the engines, but they are not correct to the Dummies, nor their TV show versions ether. First lets look at Thomas; the factory bachmann model has the overall shape correct but there are things like the cab windows, the face and overall height that are incorrect for the dummies. If you look at this photo:
You can see the Thomas Dummy coupled to 3025. Notice that Thomas is significantly shorter, this is due to the dummys wheels. The overall body shape is correct but the wheels are a bit small making the dummy shorter than a one of the Valley's coach cars. Compare that to this photo of the Bachmann Thomas next to a Athern heavyweight car.
Both Thomas and Percy are the same height or taller than the coach car. This is an issue I will have creating these models. Because I want to use as much as the factory parts possible, mainly the wheel sets.
I also starting to think ahead for "super details opportunities". Like creating a hole in the bottom of the smoke box to install a smoke machine as well as room for possible future DCC sound, while still leaving room to have the cab be open and not blocked off by black plastic like the factory model has.
