Really really sorry I've been away so long....been going through some pretty big life changes!
Really really sorry I've been away so long....been going through some pretty big life changes!
Member since:26.02.2005
Reviews:5
Members who trust:3
I am constantly amazed by the things which interest and empassion my two little boys. Maybe that's because I was never a little boy myself, or perhaps my memories of youth have dimmed, who knows....anyway, I decided to wtite a review on Thomas the tank engine diecast models as my little boys, and I, were so impressed by them. I bought several models from Amazon, the prices of which I have listed below.
What are they like?
These models are made principally of steel, with plastic wheels. Each train/coach/carriage has the trademark face to match it's personality and the character name painted on the side of the toy (useful for parents - I am alway being asked the name of the toy my child is playing with and can never remember all the names!). Some models are larger than others ( a source of much argument in our house - why do they always want the biggest??! ), some more colourful than others
(blue and red are much preferred to black).Coaches attach to the trains giving hour of posibilities and fun.
So what's so good about these models?
Well for a start, they are diecast. So what , I hear you say. Die casting is a manufacturing process use to produce metal parts by forcing molten metal under high pressure into reusable steel moulds. These moulds, called dies, can be designed to produce shapes which can be repeated accurately. Diecast models are strong, durable and resistant to temperature and humidity. Which make them ideal for our little friends. They really do seem to be practically indestructible, and they need to be! How many times have you bought a toy for your child only for it to be destroyed the next day?
I have found great joy in watching my boys playing with these models. They have unwittingly made up their first stories, albeit simple ones (well they are only one and three after all!), they converse with each other and have played their first co-operational game with these models.At times my huband and I have been creased up listening to their conversations. And how comforting that they enjoy playing with these simple toys, the like of which their father and grandfathers played with when they were children. I peronally find them infinitely preferable to the electronic and computer games and to television. Of course these have their place, but you can't beat old-fashioned trains!
What age range doe this toy suit?
This toy will suit any child from the age of three, but are great fun for all ages. They are unsuitable for the under threes to play with unsupervised because of small parts which could detach from the toys and are a choking hazard.
So how did it all start?
Thomas the Tank Engine came into existence when a father needed to find something to keep his son, Christopher, who was suffering from scarlet fever and in isolation, happy. He told the stories over and over, and they were accompanied by some rough sketches of the trains from the front view with their accompanying expressions. The father was the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, and the books were not published until 1945 , when , spurred on by his wife, Wilbert sent the book to a publisher. An illustrator, C. Reginald Dalby, looked at the trains of the time and attempted to match them to Wilbert's sketches. When Rev.Awfdry stopped writing, after 26 books, his son Christopher, now a father himself, continued and has written ten of his own books.In 1984, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, the T.V series was made, and many more children were introduced to the joys of Thomas, Edward, Henry and all the other engines, plus not forgetting Annie and Clarabel of course!
Where can I found out more about Thomas and his friends?
There is an excellent website at www.hitentertainment.com/thomasand friends/uk/homepage.html which contains much more information about Thomas and friends, and the site includes loads of great games and activities for the kids too.
What do they cost and where can I get them?
I bought several of these models from Amazon.co.uk. There is great competition on Amazon so you can often get things like this at greatly reduce prices.
Die-Cast Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends: Annie & Clarabel - £2.95 Die-Cast Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends: Edward the Blue Engine - £4.99 Die-Cast Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends: Percy the Small Engine - £2.95
It is also possible to buy these toys in most high-street toy shops and department stores.
In conclusion I would say that these are great toys with a lot of entertainment value for young children. They are well-made and robust, will be used for hours in the home but are also great portable toys for days out. In my home, these diecast Thomas and friends models have become a firm favourite and I’m sure that they will become one of those well-loved childhood toys that are remembered with fondness.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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.
very helpful by (100%):
