iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

I do plan to update some of his faces overtime like with the rest of my fleet, but Thomas has SO many that it’ll take forever to even get through some of them, so for now, just the model will do. See you next year with more models! 🎉🎊🍾

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Regardless of all the setbacks, I slowly chipped away at it, as my first Thomas was EASILY my least favorite/worst model, and I really wanted to redeem myself with the main character himself in time for the 80th. Pretty much everything, even the chassis, is fresh/not reused.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

In actuality, this project had gone through quite the development hell (2 years??), either being pushed back for other projects, or the embarrassing number of body prints I went through before one was good and/or didn’t have a bad paint finish. I was full-on perfectionist mode.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Happy New Year(s Eve) everyone! 🎉🎊🍾 To cap off this year and 80th Anniversary, here’s my final model reveal of the year. Thomas! Completely redone and drastically improved. 🔵🚂 All new 3D printed shell by @/The_lbsc_thomas, printed, assembled, and painted by yours truly.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

“This engine is a Metropolitan-Vickers, diesel-electric, Type 2.” BoCo joins the RWS fleet! Nothing too complicated as expected; repainting the bufferbeam red, and renumbering. Like Bear (but unlike real Class 28’s) he wears both numbers; D5702 on the front, D2 on the back!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Overall, good improvement over my first attempt with him. I am by no means perfect lmao, but nice to know I’ve gotten way better at this in just five years. The grind continues though, got way more to finish within a year, so stay tuned as always!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

It’s mostly small stuff, but the smoother smokebox end, and using actual 3D printed lamp irons, brake pipe and safety valve make a world of a difference. Also so happy we have scans of the prop faces to use and print now, though I still need to sand n paint the rest of them.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m trying to upgrade and refine my TVS stuff since I feel a lot of it has aged. Edward was one of my earlier ones and is probably the easiest to redo, since he doesn’t require a new 3D printed body and is pretty simple detail-wise, so he was first up.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Been a bit, but finally got substantial finished model stuff to show. Not exactly “new”, but here’s Edward, fully refurbished and repainted. Better lining and paint finish + old parts cleaned or swapped with new ones. Plus a new main face from the 3D scan of the real prop one!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

“Thomas slept badly that night. He kept wondering what Gordon, Henry and James would say if they knew he had finished his journey on a lorry. He almost thought he could hear them laughing.” Based on my favorite Chris Awdry book, my #JustLikeAwdry diorama finished *just* in time.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Here’s a comparison between the new Hornby and my old Bachmann Mayflower in 1970s-2000s condition, that I renamed/Renumbered myself. And yea the Hornby one’s def an upgrade in every area, especially the handrails. Might sell my Bachmann one, but it’s a different livery so idk..

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Do have some minor gripes tho, mainly the (still) plastic running plate makes the price a lil questionable + the front NEM pocket sticks out too far and interferes when the front details are fitted. I might even get a spare bogie to model and cut the pocket off, it is annoying.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

I am not beating any LNER-bias allegations anytime soon. Always had a soft spot for B1s, so when I saw Hornby release a modern Mayflower, I couldn’t help myself. Love the livery and finish, the gold front lamps especially! Nice they upgraded it from 8 to 21-pin DCC ready too.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I’ve received news that the Vancouver Train Expo in November has been cancelled this year. :( Very sad news to hear, was really looking forward to displaying my models and meeting other fans again (was in the middle of storming up some special plans for this year too).

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

And since it’s appropriate, here’s the two “Blue(s) Brothers” together.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

“Those are Thomas’ coaches!”

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

As you may have noticed, I’ve also completed RWS renditions of Annie and Clarabel too. Made from Ratio/Parkside Midland Railway 48 ft bogie coach kits, of course with their push-pull windows cut out. Not bad for my first coach kits, just felt wrong to have Thomas without them!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

In-all, overjoyed with the results, and happy to complete the steam engine fleet (sort of). Cliche to say, but this may be another favorite in the collection. Thanks to KnucklesSCC for the bodyshells as always! Stay tuned, and Happy 80th Anniversary!! 🎉 #THOMAS80 #RWS80

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

After all the test fits tho, painting was a pretty standard affair at this point. Like with the Scottish Twins, it was a real challenge trying to get their details matching up to make them look like the same engine, but I think I pulled it off well enough.

Lining is 0.75mm red transfers from Fox Transfers as usual, same with the O gauge LMS number. Also real coal in their bunkers like with Percy.

One thing admittedly not present on them atm that are on my other models are builders plates. This isn’t deliberate or by accident, I have a set of “Brighton Works 1915” plates, but embarrassingly, I forgot to order two sets, and the second set hasn’t arrived yet.. 😅 But it also got me indecisive about the placement of the plates, whether they should be on the splashers, running board side like real E2s, or bunker side? etc.

Then I thought, if it’s possible, I’d like to get “Crovan’s Gate 1920/1960” plates to go them, whether these be custom etchings or I design them myself and print them on vinyl. Idk when or if that’ll ever happen with either method, but we’ll see once the other Brighton plates arrive. Who knows, perhaps I’ll go back and do the same for Edward too?.. Food for thought..

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I had always planned Thomas to be the last of the main steam engines. I bought (them) the same time as Percy, but unlike Percy, getting the chassis to fit right on BOTH shells was easily the hardest part; LOTS or trial and error cutting/test fitting with these ones!

Once again went with the SCC shells (E2X V02-F and E2X V2 respectively to be specific) as I liked the look of them the best, and I went with the full size E2s instead of Gavin’s shrunk down versions, as I decided to be consistent with the rest of the fleet being proportionally accurate to their basis’. Plus it’s consistent with Awdry’s own model of Thomas MK3, as well as differentiating him from my TVS Thomas.

The Bachmann Jinty chassis was the natural choice for this, as it’s been used by many before me, and its wheelbase and wheel size were near-identical to an E2’s. Ik in-universe, Thomas allegedly was given larger driving wheels circa-1920(?), thus explaining his front splashers, but like with my James, I’m okay with overlooking this for the sake of a model haha.

Since they share a chassis, it meant I couldn’t do any cutting to the chassis itself to avoid risking the possibility that it would fit one but not the other.

Should note that this photo is not a representation of the final cutting job, so I don’t recommend copying exactly what you see here. 😅

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

“Blue is the only color for a Really Useful Engine - everybody knows that.” In time for the 80th Anniversary, here’s my completed RWS Thomas! 🔵🚂🎉 Went the full mile and did both MK1 and MK2 Thomas’, using their respective SCC E2X bodyshells on a Bachmann Jinty chassis. 🧵⬇️

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

The Trevor faces are scaled to the Bandai TECS model, but I can scale them to whatever size you want (Plarail, WR, Take Along, etc), just provide me the measurements. I also have some of NWRKRIS other designs available too. These are about $5 CAD per face, DM if interested too!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Got an Easter treat for y’all, a set of faces for Trevor… that you could have too!!! NWRKRIS has kindly granted me permission to 3D print his faces for others to buy from me and use. Prices are $3 CAD per face, or $20 for a full set (+shipping ofc!). DM if interested!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Finally feeling better after being sick for nearly five days.🫡 Got to do some catching up at work, and for new model projects I’ve got planned, as well as a few commissions. Also might have something special y’all might be interested in if all go well this week… Pic related.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Don’t think it’s worth going into as much detail about everything else, they’re pretty self explanatory as to what they are, besides getting everything shown for decent prices. ‘Tis all for now. I’m been really sick for a couple days, so I will go back to dying in bed 🫡 🛏️

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Oh yea and Mr. Overpriced himself, Oliver. I have an Oliver from childhood already, but in rough shape even after cleaning and a bad runner. Then by chance I found an auction for this one at a low bid, so said why not! I still have his coaches from childhood in clean shape too.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Yes, the RWS Thomas is as good as everyone says it is, don’t think I have much to add that hasn’t already been praised. It’s just really cool to me that we have versions of Thomas (and Annie and Clarabel) in RWS, Model, and CGI styles now.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Most recent Japan haul. It started as just preordering the RWS Thomas… But then that put me into a bit of a Plarail mood, and well… I might’ve gotten a bit carried away… 😅 Mini-🧵

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Reposted by EdwardKing02

EnterprisingEngine93 @ee93.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Skarloey if he could have had a word with Duke when Sir Handel and Peter Sam first arrived

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Based on feedback from when I asked about opening a P-treon or Ko-Fi, one suggested that the latter is better as an actual tip jar if you’re unsure about consistent incentives. So Ko-Fi it is!.. I don’t demand anything big of course, but any amount is greatly appreciated! ko-fi.com/edwardking02

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Some have asked, so here’s a side-by-side of both Percy’s. Ik his TV prop was bigger than his what he was suppose to be to fit all the mechanisms, but looking at it like this, damn… Funny how this probably still isn’t the craziest size difference between RWS and TVS either.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Hi all, got a serious question (especially if its to help fund a new PC): If I were to open a Patreon and/or KoFi, would you genuinely support it? How much/which tier are you most likely to support? What kind of perks would you like to have? Really want serious answers/advice.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Like I said, this does not include US/UK stuff; Tomy Trains, Tomica World/Motor Road and Rail, Trackmaster, etc. The aim here was Japanese Plarail releases. Also not counting the Korean version of the 2018 Edward; again, main aim was just the Japanese editions. Maybe one day…

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Finally got a hold of every (major) release of the *Plarail* Edward. • 1996-2002 • 2002-2011 • 2005-2010 Talking version • 2012-2017 • 2018-on Ik it’s not *literally every* motorized Edward edition ever made obviously, but happy to have all the Japanese-released ones now.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

“That’s the one. If I choose you, will you work hard?” “Oh Sir! Yes Sir!” “That’s a good engine; I’ll call you Percy.” “Yes Sir! Thank you Sir!” (Little thing I just had to setup before I applied Percy’s numbers.)

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

*Correction, should be the **V3** bodyshell. No V4 Green Goblin shell exists as far as I know 😅 I think I got mixed up with my Edward which is a K2 V4 shell. Whoops!

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Overall, pretty happy with how he turned out, and was a really relaxing process compared to some of my other recent RWS projects. With the Peckett chassis, runs well too. Thanks again to KnucklesSCC for the bodyshell. This just leaves, *ahem*… “One” more to go… Stay tuned!

His builder’s plates read: “Avonside Engine Co. Limited ‘6’ ‘1922’ Bristol”.

Ik a lot of people tend to put Percy’s presumed build date closer to Trojan’s around the late-1890s - early-1900s, but that more than anyone else’s build date has NEVER sat right with me whatsoever.

I like to think he was one of Avonside’s last in-house designed industrial shunters in the 1920s, hence why he has a fully enclosed cab unlike most of them, and he was built more or less right as the Railway Grouping Act was occurring, and with him being a one-off non-standard design, is hence why he never really had a home before Sodor.

The date of 1922 also gives him *just* enough time to have been unloaded to Hunslet Engine Company at some point (hence note that he has some parts from them), and making him younger then the Sodor engines before him, and better matching his younger demeanor and inexperience; *just* enough time for his official arrival of 1926.

Plates as always from Light Railway Stores.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

He wasn’t really that difficult at all, the bodyshell being designed for the chassis, nor does he have much lining or other complex details or features, so was finished relatively quickly… and I forgot to take some photos of him during the process as a result. Oops.

Bodyshell is the SCC “Green Goblin V4” shell. I liked the look and proportions of the V4 one the best, had the best balance of a slightly heightened smokebox like Kenney’s version of Percy, while maintaining the proportions and likeness to Trojan of the Edwards’ Percy. The fact these shells as basically designed RTR for the Hornby Peckett W4 chassis was another big plus for me.

The specific Hornby Peckett chassis I used was from ‘R3428 Manchester Ship Canal No. 654’, though it really doesn’t matter which Peckett you use since their chassis are all the exact same.

I would recommend getting a Peckett that has green wheels though, if not just so that it would potentially hide inevitable paint chips on the wheels better.

Mr. Color Spray 64 Yellow Green as usual!

Aside from the illustrations obviously, Henry and pics of the real Trojan were used as painting references when it came to painting the miscellaneous details, like the cylinders and especially the cab controls, to stay consistent with the rest of the NWR fleet and real life.

The coal load and cab handrails were probably the hardest parts of the whole model; the former since I don’t do it often using real coal, and the latter because the holes for the handrail knobs on the cab sides were so small and the cab sides thin, that I was certain they would break if I tried making the holes bigger (based on previous experiences), so I trimmed the bottom plugs off the knobs and glued them directly instead. Was a bit tedious getting them in the right spots, but worked out better than most likely cracking the cab sides imo

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

“I’ve always been green. I wouldn’t want to be any other color either.” Many have asked, and here he is at last, my RWS Percy! 🟢🚂 The model is a SCC Green Goblin V4 bodyshell, on the tried and true Hornby Peckett W4 chassis.

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EdwardKing02 @edwardking02.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

🧵End Thanks again to @riansrailway.bsky.social for the commission, faces are always a fun to do and a strong point of mine (even if they’re sanding nightmares haha). Faces of course designed by @the-chairlord.bsky.social and printed n painted by myself.

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