Comparing the Original version Benkei, 1972 to the more modern release in 1998.

Not too fond of the original power friction drive but I do like the 'clacker' of the original. Love the look of the taller smoke stack but at the expense of not going under a riser?
/pier but that would be easily remedied with the use of custom cut 3/4 inch riser blocks. I love these Western Steamers 😊

Here are some vintage Plarail/Tomy commercials. We have come a long way in video quality haven't we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nUnokCyRQo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqVCvqbP1T4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw49zu987xI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJz8pCqdDQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8VHuR2LU98
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuaMjmI80BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOSnb2OjaXM

Plarail has released two sets that include an exclusive twin:

⚫The Donald and Douglas snow plough set : https://thomasmotorized.fandom.com/wiki/..._Train_Set (1999)
⚫The Bill and Ben harbor friends set : https://thomasmotorized.fandom.com/wiki/...riends_Set (2004)

1. The Donald and Douglas snow plough set:

In the The Donald and Douglas snow plough set the exclusive twin is Douglas. Eight years later he was released in the UK in the MR&R range with a few differences:

The plarail one had the old tomy logo and copyrighted 1998 (Not 1999 as the sets were probably made 1 year before release ). He also has his eyes facing downwards. He also came with an unique and exclusive snow plough sloped down towards the right.




MR&R Douglas





Plarail Douglas on the right





MR&R underframe





Plarail underframe



2.The Bill and Ben harbor friends set

In The Bill and Ben harbor friends set the exclusive twin is Bill. Five years later he was released in the MR&R range with a few differences:

The Plarail model had the eyes facing towards the right and only had ©Britt Allcroft(Thomas) Limited 1999 and nothing else.





Plarail Bill and Ben





Markings





Plarail Bill, Ben and MR&R Ben





Personally I own a MR&R Donald and Douglas, a Plarail Bill and Ben And a MR&R Ben

So I just found it this was a thing, and decided to make a thread about it. Honestly kinda ludicrous because I haven't found a single engine below $50 AUD, with the average price somewhere between 75-100 dollars

Are there any engines that would allow for more torque as to pull more carriages?
(also, off topic but where can I get replacements for the old plastic flexible tender connectors?)

Does anyone know the links to the custom Tomy/TrackMaster stickers which the user Custom Trackmasters sells?

Have several engines which need new stickers.

Hi, I'm looking to try 3D printing custom components and was wondering what the closest filament in terms of colour would be for both the older dark blue track and the newer light blue Takara/Plarail track. Any help would be greatly appreciated
.

not sure if this is the correct category for this kind of thing, but i have two tomy thomases and a jet engine. when i bought the jet engine i thought i was getting a surprised one as the image indicated. however, i got a stock standard one and i am wishing to convert it to a surprised jet engine type.

i've opened it up, and i'm just wondering what motor i should get? i don't like the speed of the official one, so looking for a quick motor


for the face, i'll probably just obtain a dead thomas off ebay if i can find one. large eyebrows on the japanese version amuse me, so will modify to add that

I have a 1999 Ben which needs to be restored. I need to know what the motor piece inside the drive unit is called as the current one is dead and needs to be replaced.

first time on the forums, came here to ask about the tomy gordon. is it just mine, or does it struggle to get up hills?