PREVIOUSLY: I have a layout assembled mostly from Bachmann EZ-Track with a couple older Bachmann curves that my grandma Saundra gave me suspended between the EZ-Track ones because several of my EZ-Track curves are missing rail joiners and/or rails.On the layout I run my Bachmann Thomas and Henry.I used to run my James,too,but he needs the piece that holds his guide wheels mended or replaced.For rolling stock,I have Annie and Clarabel,an Express coach,a troublesome truck,a refrigerator car w/track-cleaner,and a tank car.The latter two are awaiting hook-and-loop couplers.I have Harold and Bertie,as well as a passenger plane I made from Legos that lands at the airfield.There are two stations.I used the Tomy Wellsworth Station,which I had two of and was conviently to scale.There is a level crossing made from a straight EZ-Track Terminal Rerailer and a level crossing kit sold by Bachmann.There are some signals and a plate girder bridge I made from cereal box cardboard painted black,with black construction paper that had rectangles cut out glued to the girders so they’d look more like girders.
I’ve added a carriage shed and uploaded the pictures.And could a mod please move this topic?I think it belongs in Layouts and layout building,not General Discussion.
It’s a floor layout.And I kitbashed Henry by cutting out his Belpaire(square) firebox and cutting off his top-feed,or sand hatch.I did this with a small hobby hacksaw.To make the tapered firebox,I used paper.That’s right,it’s a 3D object made from paper.I’ll replace it with a wood or styrene one eventually.
seems like you have some creative and inginuity skills. i was thinking if you could put your layout on some simple benchwork or something you could apply those skills at making some nice looking scenery.
Tragically,I am not living in circumstances that allow me to construct benchwork.I’m a 15-year-old living in in a 3-bedroom apartment with my parents and two brothers.I have my own room,where the layout and computer I’m typing this with are located.I found a good bargain on a Life-Like 0-4-0T Docksider that as soon as I’ve saved up and bought will undergo extensive kitbashing to become a model of Lady,from Thomas and the Magic Railroad.She will have couplers, coupling hooks,brake pipes,and working lamps.
Gunkhead, it looks like your off to a good start with your limited resources. Imagine what you’ll do when you get a place of your own. Also, good for you for kitbashing to get the cars you need.
Thanks for sharing your pictures and layout, I can remeber when I was 15 and how hard it was to save up enough from my part time job to keep my “Triang” Model railroad running,alsmost all my $$ went towards something, Nice to see you have a passion and determination to keep your trains running, I know many Model train guys into Thomas the train and one of our Local Hobby shops sells more Thomas at shows than any other product, So keep those pictures coming and keep Kitbashing and one day you will have a spot for a permanent layout. Don’t let any negative comments stop you from posting here,thats a very small Minority of the people here,almost all are very ready to help and support all ages and skills of this great hobby.
PS (When I returned to Model Railroading 7 years ago after a break my 1st set was a Life Like with EZ track as well)
I belong to an HO club that has a large permanent layout both DC and DCC. We have several open houses a year and the favorite trains for all of the kids are Thomas and his friends. It shows a lot of ingenuity to be figuring out how to kitbash other locomotives into Thomas characters. Keep up the good work.
Gunkhead, as stated already you are doing a good job on the kitbashing AND I’ll add that you are lightyears ahead of many of us here (myself included) in the ability to NOT RESPOND to the self-serving posts made by those less mentally mature.
Actually,so far I’ve only kitbashed an existing Thomas model.But as soon as I have that docksider,then the serious kitbashing begins.I’m also going to make The Old Coaches from the old days of the show.I’ll eventually add some narrow-gauge stuff.
Update:There is a small line made out of Tomy track on the inside now.It features my Tomy Lady, who pulls either my sole Tomy truck or two Tomy Annies and a Tomy Clarabel,all decorated to look like the Old Coaches.This is merely a fill-in until I have made the actual HO Lady,although I might get some flextrack and turnouts and make an HO version of the line glued to a cardboard base.Coming up next:More buildings,roadwork,and ground.
[#ditto] Keep up the good kid! Keep us updated on your projects, we might be able to pick up some good ideas for our own modeling.
Also, as you might know, alot of us create our own “ficticious” railroads, and if you think about it; in basic principle; it’s not that much different than doing the Thomas thing. Even though alot of guys won’t admit that.
