Quote from: Mulfred on March 19, 2011, 04:40:35 PM
I hope bachmann makes Diesel with the white side rods like the original in the TV series.

Actually, I believe his side rods were silver (as in unpainted metal) in the TV Series.


Courtesy of TTTE Wikia.

Is your track clean enough? You aren't giving enough information. People can throw out answers and that may not even solve the problem.

My Percy is one of the worst runners I own. He stalls on switches for anyone if he is going too slow, and sometimes he stops out of nowhere. Percy is bad on switches too. This all relates to conductivity of his wheels and maybe just the motor itself. He could even need a good cleaning, so a screwdriver might be of need for taking him apart.

I don't truly know how to give any advice thus far.

PerfectP

Quote from: ThomasFan247 on March 16, 2011, 09:01:21 PM

Quote from: PerfectPercy on March 16, 2011, 07:50:08 PM
Post some pics of your layout in the layout thread. I'm interested to see the entirety of it. Three questions:

1. How did you manage/what is your method for such successful painting of the coupling hooks on Thomas, Percy, James, Henry, Gordon, and Toby? I am contemplating doing this myself.

2. How did you manage to paint James' smoke-box so neatly? I have had a go at it, but it doesn't look exactly right. Due to the faulty decals, I am also now without the black lining for James' wheel-arches as well (I'm looking into decal paper.).

3. What did you do for the rear coupling on Percy?! I'm sad that Bachmann didn't put it on there in the first place.

Some clarity would be great.

Much appreciated and happy modelling
PerfectPercy

Once my layout is complete, which I'm hoping to be done next weekend, I will have tons of pictures posted

1. I took a very small amount of red acrylic paint on a paint brush and brushed it over the entire hook. I repeated this until there is a solid coat. Then I take another very small amount of paint, this time black, and paint it on the hook OR I use a black sharpie marker.

2. Back in 2009 I used a black sharpie to "paint" his smoke box and wheels. I masked the surrounding are with regular tape, but the tape was out of place and the line on one side of his smoke box is a little crooked

3. My 12 year old cousin stepped on my Annie when he was 8, so I had an old Annie chassis laying around. I used my Dremel (small hand-held saw) and cut the coupler off and super glued it onto his back foot plate. Then I painted it as I did with all my other engines.

Hope this helps! And I'll be glad to answer any questions! Also, thanks for all the comments everybody!!

Much appreciated, sir. Now I can have a go at the couplings once I get around to finishing up James. I also noticed how you painted Annie and Clarabel's chassis-es black. That is next on my list as well. As for the hint of more pictures to come, I can't wait. Some layout pics would be nice. You seem to have a good hand at scenery.

Post some pics of your layout in the layout thread. I'm interested to see the entirety of it. Three questions:

1. How did you manage/what is your method for such successful painting of the coupling hooks on Thomas, Percy, James, Henry, Gordon, and Toby? I am contemplating doing this myself.

2. How did you manage to paint James' smoke-box so neatly? I have had a go at it, but it doesn't look exactly right. Due to the faulty decals, I am also now without the black lining for James' wheel-arches as well (I'm looking into decal paper.).

3. What did you do for the rear coupling on Percy?! I'm sad that Bachmann didn't put it on there in the first place.

Some clarity would be great.

Much appreciated and happy modelling
PerfectPercy

Quote from: Edwardtheblueengine on March 15, 2011, 02:38:45 PM
Please help 
I have a bachmann edward and it worked for 3 mounths, then it was fixed and now a mounth later it broke down again!
Any Ideas

What was the original problem that resulted in needing him to get fixed?

Quote from: Anthony P2 on March 11, 2011, 07:36:02 PM
if you look in the new catalogue, it has the measurements.  http://www.williamstrains.com/2011/2011_bachmann.pdf

I find it interesting how the turntable bridge alone measures 10 inches when the longest engine in the Bachmann Thomas and Friends range is just about 11 and 3/4 inches. Wouldn't that result in a bit of a problem?

I'm surprised. After all of this "down with Emily, up with Molly," I wonder why she isn't on your wishlist SCOTTISH RAILWAYS.

I just started to think about when Duck and Oliver are eventually released, at least they are expected, I am trying to consider what I really would want to be made. I guess I will base my wishes on new rolling stock and maybe a few engines.

"The" List:

Engines:
Duck*** - next year maybe?
Oliver** - next year maybe?
BoCo
Daisy?
Stepney?

Stock:
Red Branch Coaches***
Some sort of closed van (other than a ventilated van)**
Toad** - next year with Oliver?
Log wagon with logs (identical to the paint drum wagon, only with the logs)
Troublesome Truck #4
CCT Van?
China Clay Wagons?

It was basically a ramble of ideas, some nonsense, some pretty considerable. For example, the log wagon production would be decently inexpensive. All Bachmann would need to do is make the loads (logs/lumber/wood) and they might want to paint the wagon a different color (charcoal gray possibly?).

The red branch coaches are in close relationship with Annie and Clarabel. They are still popular. There seems to only be two main sets of coaches used in the TV series: express coaches and the branchline coaches. It is time we get more branchline coaches.

S.C. Ruffey is also a long-time model and he is worthless without Oliver to rough him up a bit.  Oliver and his companion Toad are high on my list, though not as incredibly high as Duck .


I surely hope that the Bach-man reads this thread, and that Bachmann Trains considers the highly desired engines that we longingly hope for and talk of throughout the forum.

Have a nice day, all!

PerfectP

Hope it's alright if I jump in here.

I am dealing with questions of my own about this mining kit. I know I will be using this kit one way or another because of how much I like it. I am also fond of both setups shown, but I'm not sure if they would work for what I'm dealing with.

That extra slack loading is something that I can't find a home for. What is more common for it? To load coal into trains or into dump trucks? I'm caught here. I am attempting to model an older era but no older than 1950. I have no definite dates.

Another question: is it possible to reverse the entire kit, or only certain portions, if need be?

I don't want to pull out the glue and assemble this stuff if I am not sure of what setup I should have.

The closest to my possible setup would be fairly similar to r0bert's, but the slack loading building would need to be relocated.

If anyone can give any advice, hints, or suggestions, I would be greatly thankful.

Cheers,
PerfectPercy

Quote from: PasqualeCS96 on January 06, 2011, 03:10:56 PM
Its a boogie truck sorry for not saying.

Then lubrication is quite possibly your answer. I would suggest applicating it on the axle of your troubled bogie.

I also ask this, you say it sometimes doesn't spin. Is this only in certain conditions (Ex. curves or straightaways, hills, over switches/turnouts)? I would think that it could happen over curves regardless just because of the tension of the bogie being forced to move as the engine curves.

Hope your problem is resolved soon,

PerfectPercy

Quote from: fighter4luv on January 07, 2011, 06:02:32 AM
Does this happen to everyone else's or is it just my particular one?

Happens to me.

Quote from: JD417 on January 06, 2011, 11:13:36 AM
what'cho talkin about willis? james aint the slowest my james is like the second fastest bachmann engine i own, behind gordon of course 

I wouldn't believe it until I see it, and you can take my word on that. James is as slow as Percy for me. They both don't start until about 30 mph on the dial, and they are the slowest Thomas models I possess.

Spencer, Gordon, and Henry are my fastest without a doubt, then comes Mavis, Toby, Salty, and Thomas, then Edward. Emily seems slower than Edward, but maybe faster than James and Percy, and it is acceptable because of her two drive wheels. Finally, James and Percy are the slowest, with their fruitful day and whatnot.

My complaints for speed only arise in the last two. Edward is a good runner for what his background implies (old engine, slower engine). The others are just amazing in speed and they pull quite well.

Cheers

PerfectPercy

Quote from: fighter4luv on January 07, 2011, 06:05:04 AM
Yeah, I have to have them going quite fast over my 30 degree cross track or else they just freeze up. The track should've been built with perhaps small pieces of metal running in areas of the plastic to keep the connection

Actually, the whole reason for the plastic is to prevent a short in the electrical connection, or a cross in the connection. If you think about it, the negative and positive power (or vice versa) cross over each other in a switch/point/turnout to get the two lines/tracks to connect.

Quote from: Sparks on January 07, 2011, 07:18:05 AM
A good idea is to run your engines in for about an hour backwards and forwards to get them used to running. There's little space in James' cab for liquid weights (and I mean little).

Liquid, eh? What do you mean by that???

I used lead weights and electrical-taped them together. There is a small space on the top of his motor in the center to put a very very small weight, but in the cab, there is a decent amount of room. I'm almost happy that Bachmann didn't give James a true cab.

Quote from: MetaDude27 on January 08, 2011, 11:24:32 AM
Besides Duck and Oliver (read my signature )

Campaign ad much? 

I've thought more and more about what I really want Bachmann to make this year, besides wanting them to release Donald and Douglas  . I like the idea of Duck and possibly the red branchline coaches. Oliver and Toad should wait. We really need (HA, I say that like it's a necessity ) the Scottish Twins and Duck first.

So might I say this ( ):

DUCK for 2011!

Quote from: BillingsRR on January 05, 2011, 08:21:19 PM

Quote from: PerfectPercy on January 05, 2011, 08:09:30 PM

Quote from: Anthony P2 on January 05, 2011, 06:19:26 PM
yes we know Emily should be made. don't get me wrong but she has the same chance as, lets say Edward for example. and you say if bachmann ever made Gordon or Henry, they would be close to $600, because they're big tender engines. guess who else is a big tender engine, Emily.  so that means she would also be close to $600. and if you want one really bad why don't you make one?

$100 difference is not that great if you think about it. Either way they will be pretty expensive. I'm glad I model in HO. I put my money (bets anyone?) on Toby, Diesel, or Mavis.

I honestly think Toby has a great chance of being an LS model. He wouldn't be as expensive as James. I don't know who would even buy James. Does anyone plan on spending several hundreds of dollars (or whatever currency you use) on him? I'm not trying to talk badly about LS James, but I figure that the price is just so high for... well, a toy.

If you get down to the basics, the Thomas range by Bachmann is really meant to be a range of toys. They are great all the same, as any toy has the ability to be, but the prices are getting steep in some areas.


Cheers,

PerfectP

I believe you are wrong. At Longwood Gardens Thomas and Percy, and when he comes out James, run 8 and 12 hour days. They are not toys there, they are there to entertain the young kids when they visit the Garden Railroad. They are there to get the job done. Longwood has 6 Thomases and 2 Percys. If one Thomas goes out, a new one is put on the rails and they old one is repaired. Longwood isn't the only place Thomas runs long days. He was the the NY Botanical Gardens and the Big Tree thing down in D.C. James was introduced because he is one of the main 3 engines, and has been for decades. I understand James is expensive, but if you look at the Big Haulers, they are expensive as well. And a parent with a child who likes trains will pick James over the Big Hauler because he is on Thomas & Friends.

So how are they not toys? I said they were great. They are good at what they do - run down the rails and entertain.  Your reasons for me being "wrong" aren't really relevant to whether or not the models are toys in general.

As for the Big Haulers and James:
A parent with a child will most likely buy a smaller and more affordable model, such as that of the HO Thomas and Friends range, than an LS model to begin with, unless they are LS fans or already run in Large Scale. Of course a child would want a Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends model over any other kind of engine.


- PerfectPercy

Quote from: meshy on January 05, 2011, 04:23:05 PM
We just purchased an Edward for Christmas and it runs surprisingly slowly. Our 'standard' engine (Devon Flyer Hornby) is about 3 times as fast. Is this normal? Are all the Thomas trains designed to run slow?

Thanks very much.

Is this the only Bachmann Thomas model you have? If so then Edward is has a lower-average speed out of all the Thomas models in the Bachmann range. Percy and James are the slowest. Thomas, the newer engines, and the larger express engines are fast. Gordon, Henry, and Spencer are probably the absolute fastest. They can get up to a good speed, but they are merely toys. That is what they are basically, toys. They are great toys all the same.