Tomix - only "N" manufacturer of Thomas the Tank Engine?

[richie894]

Is Tomix the only company which produces Thomas in N gauge? I presume it is non-DCC. Does anyone know how easy is it to make DCC?

[Caz]

It depends on which model you have as to how you fit DCC, have a look here for info http://modeltrains.about.com/od/electronicsdcc/tp/DCC_Thomas.htm

[richie894]

I don't have any yet. I was thinking about buying one or two.

Thanks for the link. I guess it can be converted to DCC, but probably best to take to an expert to do as it is advanced.

[Caz]

Here's another link for DCC install with pictures http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/N_Scale/Tomix/thomas%20the%20tank%20engine%20m1/tomix_thomas_the_tank_engine_m1.htm

I keep meaning to get Thomas but seem to always find something more important, a New Years resolution me thinks to finally buy Thomas and have it running on my DCC layout.   

[richie894]

I was hoping to get Percy. But that seems sold out everywhere.

[Lawrence]

The original moulding was "terminated" the new one is as rare as hens teeth, you can go on the waiting list here http://www.1999.co.jp/search_e.asp?Typ1_c=104&scope=0&scope2=0&itkey=percy priced just over £32 if you can get one, they do have some playrail Percys  other than that is the usual bean fight on ebay, they do come up from time to time

[silly moo]

Tomix are the only manufacturers in N, apparently Thomas and friends are very popular in Japan as is N scale due to limited space in most homes.

The locos and rolling stock are very well made but quite a bit over scale, for instance Annie and Clarabell don't fit through Peco tunnel mouths too well.

We run them on our club layout, much to the delight of younger members of the public, it's well worth having them just to see little faces light up whenever they appear.

[Paul B]

One of the Swindon club members has an old Farish GP tank model painted as Thomas, and has a couple of the old Farish 4-wheel coaches to portray Annie & Clarabel. He also has a kit of a tram loco that he wants to do as Toby. So it can be done with British outline (and sized!) stock with just a repaint!

Just has a quick look at Wikipedia - it says that Thomas was based on the LB&SCR class E2 loco, but I don't think this is made as a RTR model, although it may be in kit form? But sometimes it doesn't matter if the 'Thomas' is accurate - it just has to be blue with a number 1 on the side and a face on the front and kids will yell "THOMAS!" when they see it! (Even if it is green with a number 6 on the side they will still yell "THOMAS!" - and have to have it pointed out that it is actually Percy...  )

[GWR-Kris]

I have managed to get Thomas and James Tomix sets, but finding a percy set for sensible money is rare. They come up on ebay every now and then. Hopefully they will run another production run

[Steven B]

Langley do a white metal kit for the extended tank E2 (i.e. Thomas). To DCC it you'd need a Digi-hat.

I've DCC'd both Thomas and Percy and wouldn't want to do either again - I used CT DCX75 decoders. Soldering the track feed wires to the chassis block was the hardest part - they're split frame chassis. Watch out that you don't apply heat to the motor for too long either; They don't have standard carbon brushes but rely on metal wipers to pass power to the comutator. These wipers tend to fall off if too much heat is applied as they're soldered to the tags on the outside of the motor.

Happy modelling.

Steven B.