Bachmann Thomas + Matt Varnish

I should keep up with this blog again, lots of new developments coming.

Anyway, recently I took the time to putt matt varnish on my Bachmann Thomas items. What this does is remove the plastic shine. For the results, look right down.

Water Towers

The show has had its share of water towers, being about steam engines and all.

TYPE A

Type A is a square tower. Hornby made this for its Thomas range, but like all its other Thomas themed buildings, is discontinued.

Like most of the Hornby Thomas buildings, they appear on eBay occasionally, or are still dotted around various stores.

The Dapol water tower kit isn't a far stretch.

March 2015 edit:

Bachmann announced they are making their own variation of the square water towers. No official picture of the kit has been released yet.

 

TYPE B

This version is slimmer and a more familiar water column shape. In Seasons 1-3, it wasn't as slim but still tall with the same shape.

The PECO water tower kit is cheap, easy to assemble, and a pretty close bet.

March 2015 edit:

Bachmann announced they are making their own variation of the round water towers. No official picture of the kit has been released yet.

Double and Single Road Sheds

In Thomas and Friends, the show uses various numbers of props for sheds. There's been roundhouses, large sheds, and all sorts of small sheds. This post covers the single and double road variety of engine sheds.

RAILWAY SERIES SHED

This is a shed that appears in Edwards yard in the Railway Series.

Hornby R8581 Double Road Engine shed is a close match to it.

YARD SHED A

The first type of double road shed, seen here, has been in the show since Season 1. It's most known as the shed just outside of Knapford, as well as one of the Quarry sheds. This prop is regularly seen in other yard and industrial sets. Its sides lack windows, and has a back wall. No known OO gauge variations exist.

Dapols Single Road Engine Shed kit is a close runner-up.

YARD SHED B

 The second type is less regularly seen in the show (it's within close view once a blue moon). It has windows on one side and is usually open on both ends.

Oddly, Hornby has made it in OO gauge despite its obscurity, but has since been discontinued. Some sites and stores still carry it.

BRANCHLINE SHEDS

These are the branchline sheds. First seen in Season 2 (and a bit of 3) as a trio of sheds, later seasons divided the berths up into solo pieces.

 

Hornby R9637 Single Road Engine shed may not be 1 to 1, but it definitely is close. 

March 2015 Edit:

Bachmann USA announced their own version of the Thomas & Friends single engine shed into their range.

 

It is based off the solo shed seen in Season 7 and onward.

STANLEY'S SHED

Stanley's Shed never appeared in the TV series, but it did creep its way onto Drayton Manor's Thomas model display set.

Stanley's Shed is made by Hornby, but like its Double Road Thomas shed, is discontinued.

Sodor Themed Props: Nissen Hut

This blog post is about identifying some props seen in the show, and finding an OO scale version to use for your "Thomas the Tank Engine" themed layouts.

Nissen Hut:

 The Nissen Hut prop appears throughout the show, usually on farms and airfields. You can find an OO scale representation of a "Nissen Hut" through two brands:


Bachmann Scenecraft, a bit harder to come by these days:

Hornby Skaledale, more readily available:

March 2015 edit:
Bachmann USA recently announced their own version of the Nissen Hut in their Thomas & Friends range.

A slightly different design, but a welcome addition to any Thomas & Friends layout.

Testing Blog

Who do we appreciate??

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