I am taking a long break due to family matters. hope to be back one day.
I am taking a long break due to family matters. hope to be back one day.
Member since:01.09.2001
Reviews:140
Members who trust:76
I remember as a child, playing with my brothers train sets, in those days the trains were made by Hornby and were mostly made from metal and were heavy in weight. As the years have passed Tomy a leading toy manufacturer have created the wonderful collection of Thomas the tank engine, and if you have never heard of him, then where have you been.
They are one of the best selling train sets collections around today, as they cater for all age groups, starting from as young as 18 months old. Most boys love trains and unfortunately my son, had passed the age of interest when they were introduced on the market,
but my step son was crazy about anything that featured Thomas and his friends.
Thomas is an engine that is bright blue and has the number 1 in yellow painted on his sides. He has a charming smiley face on his front end. He has many friends, each with their own distinctive faces and colours, far too many to name them all. Thomas used to be on television a lot and his programme was great for kids, as the story lines were easy to follow for any child. There are loads of videos and books, all featuring the great little stories, which are available everywhere and very amusing.
My grandson has just turned 2 and so I decided to buy him the Thomas activity island for his birthday. I purchased it from my local Index store for £17.99. It is very colourful with its bright green and yellow base and has little features such as a windmill, house, trees, and a small little grove that runs around the outskirts of the island, which is supposed to be the track. Thomas runs around the track and up over a bridge, obviously it is very basic. But his friends Percy, Bertie, Terence and not forgetting Harold the helicopter are all included. Harold is suspended above the island and can be pushed backwards and forwards along the tubing. On the front of the base are three buttons, which create sounds, when pushed. The first one is a (toot), the 2nd is a (whistle) and the last one is the famous (chuff) sound, that delights the little ones. The batteries are included with the purchase.
My grandson loves it and tries to make the sounds, he gets very excited and claps his hands, I am so pleased that it is giving him enjoyment and hours of fun, he has a video tape and a small book collection, that is at the moment. He actually got brought a Thomas torch, which I felt that he was not old enough for it just yet. However he loves it, as it actually has moving wheels, so that you can push it along, but what he loves most is when it is lit and held at the wall, it projects Thomas’s face. I checked out the price and its £7.99 for anyone that may be interested.
OTHER ITEMS FROM THE THOMAS RANGE:
The Thomas big loader, which is a small track and comes with Thomas, Percy and Terence, this costs £14.99 and is recommended for ages 3 and over.
The Thomas clockwork set, comes with a play mat, oval track and Thomas, Annie and Clarabel. Hornby makes this and the track can be added too, which is great. This costs only £17.99 and I will be getting one for Christmas for my Grandson to start him off, with his first proper track.
The Thomas big set, this has lots of extras, such as a tunnel, bridge, and station, there is also a road layout and you get a motorised vehicle in this set. This costs £32.99 and is made by Tomy.Thomas adventure set, this is the largest of the sets and where Harold (the helicopter) actually flies around. This is also a rail and road set up and costs £44.99.
SUMMARY:
I think all the engines are designed wonderfully for small children, as they are very safe, with no removable parts. They are very colourful and I adore the little faces on each vehicle. You can purchase die cast models as well, which are heavier, but have also great detail. My stepson has outgrown his sets, which are the die cast type and they are safety stored in my loft, ready for my grandson, who I am sure will have great fun with them. I know the trend at the moment seems to be Bob the builder, but to me he does not come close to Thomas and his friends. I really think these superb train sets will be around for years to come.
Thanks for reading bye for now Deni
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Thomas the tank engine......he is fantastic according to James my 3 year old! The little metal Ertl thomas trains are worth quite a bit you know, we collect them from car boots for a few pounds each - we actually found a Skarloey still in his packet! A real find as he is discontinued now! I am waiting a while then puttin ghim on ebay! lol Emm
junkboxjules 05.07.2002 00:39
My son has just turned 9, he used to love Thomas The Tank Engine and still has all the engines - he wouldn't admit it to his friends but sometimes he still gets them out to play with. Thomas is a timeless classic and will probably still be popular when my son has his own children. Julie
Advantages: hours of fun and entertainment for adults and children. Disadvantages: watch out for the points, they are hell on the feet when trodden on.
Advantages: practically unbreakable, great for developing story-telling skills Disadvantages: it''s v. painful if you are hit over the head with one!! Quite pricey.
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