Why have you stopped selling larger engines and reduced the selection available for sale?
Due to a large number of orders that we're still struggling to complete, we've reluctantly come to the decision of limiting orders for the immediate future. With increased demands in our private lives and other work demands, the time we can dedicate to LEGO building has been massively impacted - meaning orders simply aren't progressing at a rate that we feel is acceptable. That being said, for any urgent requests for say a Thomas or a Toby (for example), we may still be able to supply these if timing works out for all parties.
Why don't LEGO make and sell these as kits?
It's a reasonable question. LEGO once had a line of Duplo Thomas and Friends sets that for all intents and purposes was a popular line. But as with many lines, LEGO didn't continue with it and it is now owned by a competitor. As a result, it is highly unlikely we'll ever see an official LEGO or Duplo Thomas set again - even if a design was lucky enough to get the 10,000 votes required on the popular Ideas platform where fan designed products have the potential of being made into an official set.
Do you sell instructions or sticker kits? Or whole kits with bricks, stickers and instructions?
We have considered creating full kits, sticker kits with instructions and even just precut stickers, but we just weren't happy with the potential results and issues. The time spent creating instructions was one thing, but the vinyl sticker kits were deemed too complex and likely to fail that we decided that completed models were the best route. In all honesty, too, the time spent creating instructions and easy to follow and apply stickers would be treble that of what it takes me to build a detailed, complete engine. And instructions alone would not do these trains justice. It's amazing watching them come to life after adding the pin striping... They just look like big blocks of colour before then!
Do you make and sell other engines or carriages?
We are happy to offer replicas of all of our engines and rolling stock, so if something hasn't been listed on our Information and Pricing page, please ask. The photos of Sodor on Flickr feature a great many, but we're also always adding new trains to the fleet that are yet to be photographed. We also do commissions, too, as it's a good opportunity to build new engines for Sodor! One for you, and one for our fleet! Unfortunately, at the moment, it is unlikely we will be taking on any new commissions. By all means, you can ask, and if we can, we will assist.
Are the engines motorised? How do they move?
Due to particular wheel spacings, arrangements and the desire to keep the trains looking reasonably realistic, we've opted out of putting motors in most of the engines. The vast majority are 'free-wheeling' and get pushed by powered coaches or wagons. For example, Annie houses a PF train motor and the IR receiver whilst Clarabel holds the battery box. Similarly, our express coaches actually have two PF train motors, an IR receiver and battery box inside. Recently, we did do a Powered Up version of Annie for a client, and it all fitted in the one small carriage! I don't supply the electronics (except for Toby, who is supplied with motor*), as they tend to be a little more expensive here in Australia and they also add a significant amount of weight for postage.
How long will it take to receive my order?
All of these trains are built to order and as this is our hobby, not our day job, they can take some time to produce. We used to have about a two to three month turnaround on average, but this has increased enormously over the past couple of years due to increased demand, reduction in our LEGO building time and increased wait times for parts. If there's a specific date you require your order by (for example, a show or a birthday), let us know and we'll do our very best to cater to that.
Wow - that's a really long time to wait. Will it really take that long?
The short answer is maybe. We'd prefer to under-promise and over-deliver. The larger your order, the more likely it is to take longer. The more unique or complex the engine, the more likely it is to take longer. We tend to build in batches, as it is far easier to build 10 Thomas engines at the same time than it is to build 10 separate Thomases for unique orders. If you are lucky enough to want an engine or two that we already have orders for, there's a good chance yours will be ready much sooner. This is one of the reasons we've decided to not take on any large engine orders for the meantime. There's a high likelihood that we have a couple of Thomas or Percy orders on the way for other people, so it's not impossible to add another one or two for new customers. Whilst it is more efficient to build 3 or 4 Gordons side by side, they're still a much lengthier build.
Are your models made out of 100% LEGO bricks?
For the most part, these models are made out of brand new LEGO parts, but there are a few exceptions. The beautiful coloured wheels, for example, are manufactured by Big Ben Bricks in the US and even come in sizes LEGO doesn't make. There are also several parts LEGO don't produce any more, such as 9V magnets, red train bases and even those black round bricks we use for the boilers, so we do our best to source good quality second hand parts.
Are your models LEGO purist friendly?
Beyond the obvious custom wheels, printing and vinyl stickers on these models, a select and very small number of parts may also have been modified to improve the look, running or strength of them. These tend to not be visually obvious, but as there is a community who don't approve of part modification, we felt it was important to mention it.
What are your payment terms?
Payments are typically made via PayPal. Some people simply pay the full amount up front, whilst others pay an AUD$100 deposit for the first item and AUD$50 per additional item at confirmation of their order and balance prior to shipping. We tend to keep good stocks of our most needed parts, but the deposit ensures we can get your wheels and any tricky parts ordered as soon as possible.
How much does postage cost?
We do post globally and only charge what Australia Post charges us. We also suggest including insurance, too, as we cannot be held responsible for items lost or damaged in the post. A Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, for example, weigh about 750g packed, so this should help in gauging the likely cost. Interestingly, a single large engine weighs about the same. For most of Europe and the US, postage seems to float around the AUD$45-$50 mark including $300 insurance. A single small engine weighs a lot less, and postage and insurance seems to be closer to the AUD$30 mark. It would also be prudent to mention that you may be liable for import duty charges, if applicable in your country, though I've only had this happen a couple of times over the years.
Why can't I just add to my cart and pay on your website?
We've been asked this a few times and I do realise we're a little behind the times with that now. Having a full e-commerce site, however, is a whole other commitment to set up and maintain, and an extra cost. With this literally being a hobby 'business' for us, we see that the time spent rebuilding the website is better spent building your trains! I must add, I also prefer to have that one-on-one dialogue with our clients. It means we can advise of any delays, clarify exactly what you want and keep you in the loop as your order progresses. These are, after all, not off the shelf - ready to go items, and I feel that an e-commerce site where you can simply add to cart and checkout may give people an unrealistic expectation of how quickly they'll receive their order!
What is the process to make a purchase?
The process is as follows - use the 'contact us' page to request which engines/rolling stock you would like to purchase. We'll then confirm pricing with you, and provide PayPal details and deposit request. Once your deposit is paid, your order is placed in the queue on our list and we commence ordering parts. Once your order is ready to ship, we pack and weigh it and confirm postage costs. After your final payment is made, your items will be shipped and a tracking number provided to you.
What is an AFOL?
I'm sure most people know this now, but maybe one person a week wonders what our little "built by AFOLS" line is on the main page... An AFOL is simply an Adult Fan of Lego. Similarly, A TFOL Is a Teenage Fan of Lego, but that doesn't seem to be used as regularly.
What is a LEGO purist?
A purist will only use official LEGO parts, do not like any form of customisation or modificaton, steer away from third party products such as lights or wider radius train curves and won't use stickers unless manufactured by LEGO. It is neither bad nor good to be or not be a purist; it is simply a preference in the way you play/use LEGO bricks.
So, if you're not a purist, what are you?
I've often wondered what you call someone who is happy to take a Dremel, drill or knife to a piece of LEGO. It seems that 'cutter' sounds a bit nasty... and maybe 'modder' could be confused with someone who takes a set and changes it slightly. Regardless of what the term for it might be, I'm someone who is happy to use LEGO as an artistic medium and don't feel restrained by the limitations placed on set designers working for LEGO. Removing part of the tubes under the plates under the running boards, for example, allows the flanges of the wheels to tuck up under there to dramatically improve the look of the engines, making the splash guards look like they perform a job! A small modification for a huge visual improvement.
Due to a large number of orders that we're still struggling to complete, we've reluctantly come to the decision of limiting orders for the immediate future. With increased demands in our private lives and other work demands, the time we can dedicate to LEGO building has been massively impacted - meaning orders simply aren't progressing at a rate that we feel is acceptable. That being said, for any urgent requests for say a Thomas or a Toby (for example), we may still be able to supply these if timing works out for all parties.
Why don't LEGO make and sell these as kits?
It's a reasonable question. LEGO once had a line of Duplo Thomas and Friends sets that for all intents and purposes was a popular line. But as with many lines, LEGO didn't continue with it and it is now owned by a competitor. As a result, it is highly unlikely we'll ever see an official LEGO or Duplo Thomas set again - even if a design was lucky enough to get the 10,000 votes required on the popular Ideas platform where fan designed products have the potential of being made into an official set.
Do you sell instructions or sticker kits? Or whole kits with bricks, stickers and instructions?
We have considered creating full kits, sticker kits with instructions and even just precut stickers, but we just weren't happy with the potential results and issues. The time spent creating instructions was one thing, but the vinyl sticker kits were deemed too complex and likely to fail that we decided that completed models were the best route. In all honesty, too, the time spent creating instructions and easy to follow and apply stickers would be treble that of what it takes me to build a detailed, complete engine. And instructions alone would not do these trains justice. It's amazing watching them come to life after adding the pin striping... They just look like big blocks of colour before then!
Do you make and sell other engines or carriages?
We are happy to offer replicas of all of our engines and rolling stock, so if something hasn't been listed on our Information and Pricing page, please ask. The photos of Sodor on Flickr feature a great many, but we're also always adding new trains to the fleet that are yet to be photographed. We also do commissions, too, as it's a good opportunity to build new engines for Sodor! One for you, and one for our fleet! Unfortunately, at the moment, it is unlikely we will be taking on any new commissions. By all means, you can ask, and if we can, we will assist.
Are the engines motorised? How do they move?
Due to particular wheel spacings, arrangements and the desire to keep the trains looking reasonably realistic, we've opted out of putting motors in most of the engines. The vast majority are 'free-wheeling' and get pushed by powered coaches or wagons. For example, Annie houses a PF train motor and the IR receiver whilst Clarabel holds the battery box. Similarly, our express coaches actually have two PF train motors, an IR receiver and battery box inside. Recently, we did do a Powered Up version of Annie for a client, and it all fitted in the one small carriage! I don't supply the electronics (except for Toby, who is supplied with motor*), as they tend to be a little more expensive here in Australia and they also add a significant amount of weight for postage.
How long will it take to receive my order?
All of these trains are built to order and as this is our hobby, not our day job, they can take some time to produce. We used to have about a two to three month turnaround on average, but this has increased enormously over the past couple of years due to increased demand, reduction in our LEGO building time and increased wait times for parts. If there's a specific date you require your order by (for example, a show or a birthday), let us know and we'll do our very best to cater to that.
Wow - that's a really long time to wait. Will it really take that long?
The short answer is maybe. We'd prefer to under-promise and over-deliver. The larger your order, the more likely it is to take longer. The more unique or complex the engine, the more likely it is to take longer. We tend to build in batches, as it is far easier to build 10 Thomas engines at the same time than it is to build 10 separate Thomases for unique orders. If you are lucky enough to want an engine or two that we already have orders for, there's a good chance yours will be ready much sooner. This is one of the reasons we've decided to not take on any large engine orders for the meantime. There's a high likelihood that we have a couple of Thomas or Percy orders on the way for other people, so it's not impossible to add another one or two for new customers. Whilst it is more efficient to build 3 or 4 Gordons side by side, they're still a much lengthier build.
Are your models made out of 100% LEGO bricks?
For the most part, these models are made out of brand new LEGO parts, but there are a few exceptions. The beautiful coloured wheels, for example, are manufactured by Big Ben Bricks in the US and even come in sizes LEGO doesn't make. There are also several parts LEGO don't produce any more, such as 9V magnets, red train bases and even those black round bricks we use for the boilers, so we do our best to source good quality second hand parts.
Are your models LEGO purist friendly?
Beyond the obvious custom wheels, printing and vinyl stickers on these models, a select and very small number of parts may also have been modified to improve the look, running or strength of them. These tend to not be visually obvious, but as there is a community who don't approve of part modification, we felt it was important to mention it.
What are your payment terms?
Payments are typically made via PayPal. Some people simply pay the full amount up front, whilst others pay an AUD$100 deposit for the first item and AUD$50 per additional item at confirmation of their order and balance prior to shipping. We tend to keep good stocks of our most needed parts, but the deposit ensures we can get your wheels and any tricky parts ordered as soon as possible.
How much does postage cost?
We do post globally and only charge what Australia Post charges us. We also suggest including insurance, too, as we cannot be held responsible for items lost or damaged in the post. A Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, for example, weigh about 750g packed, so this should help in gauging the likely cost. Interestingly, a single large engine weighs about the same. For most of Europe and the US, postage seems to float around the AUD$45-$50 mark including $300 insurance. A single small engine weighs a lot less, and postage and insurance seems to be closer to the AUD$30 mark. It would also be prudent to mention that you may be liable for import duty charges, if applicable in your country, though I've only had this happen a couple of times over the years.
Why can't I just add to my cart and pay on your website?
We've been asked this a few times and I do realise we're a little behind the times with that now. Having a full e-commerce site, however, is a whole other commitment to set up and maintain, and an extra cost. With this literally being a hobby 'business' for us, we see that the time spent rebuilding the website is better spent building your trains! I must add, I also prefer to have that one-on-one dialogue with our clients. It means we can advise of any delays, clarify exactly what you want and keep you in the loop as your order progresses. These are, after all, not off the shelf - ready to go items, and I feel that an e-commerce site where you can simply add to cart and checkout may give people an unrealistic expectation of how quickly they'll receive their order!
What is the process to make a purchase?
The process is as follows - use the 'contact us' page to request which engines/rolling stock you would like to purchase. We'll then confirm pricing with you, and provide PayPal details and deposit request. Once your deposit is paid, your order is placed in the queue on our list and we commence ordering parts. Once your order is ready to ship, we pack and weigh it and confirm postage costs. After your final payment is made, your items will be shipped and a tracking number provided to you.
What is an AFOL?
I'm sure most people know this now, but maybe one person a week wonders what our little "built by AFOLS" line is on the main page... An AFOL is simply an Adult Fan of Lego. Similarly, A TFOL Is a Teenage Fan of Lego, but that doesn't seem to be used as regularly.
What is a LEGO purist?
A purist will only use official LEGO parts, do not like any form of customisation or modificaton, steer away from third party products such as lights or wider radius train curves and won't use stickers unless manufactured by LEGO. It is neither bad nor good to be or not be a purist; it is simply a preference in the way you play/use LEGO bricks.
So, if you're not a purist, what are you?
I've often wondered what you call someone who is happy to take a Dremel, drill or knife to a piece of LEGO. It seems that 'cutter' sounds a bit nasty... and maybe 'modder' could be confused with someone who takes a set and changes it slightly. Regardless of what the term for it might be, I'm someone who is happy to use LEGO as an artistic medium and don't feel restrained by the limitations placed on set designers working for LEGO. Removing part of the tubes under the plates under the running boards, for example, allows the flanges of the wheels to tuck up under there to dramatically improve the look of the engines, making the splash guards look like they perform a job! A small modification for a huge visual improvement.
