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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Aaaah, will I ever get hold of a Thomas the Tank play table?

27 replies

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 12:51

DS2 wants one for Christmas and it would be a fab surprise for him if he actually got it. I simply cannot justify - for a number of reasons - buying it new from ELC. It is so expensive! Am constantly watching on ebay but on many the tracks have been screwed/glued onto the table - which means they can't be moved and changed around, or they won't post because it is so heavy. Local papers have nothing. Freecycle has nothing

He would love it! He also desperately wants a DSi but he's only 4 so keen to eek out his childhood for a few years yet so really want to get him one. Any ideas where else I can look?

OP posts:

Lizzylou · 04/12/2009 12:54

We made two train/play tables for our DS's one year, you buy the plans from Ebay (about £2), they give you the sizes of wood to buy and a step by step guide.
I think they cost £30 in total. We now use them for Playmobil (I wanted to Ebay one this year as I know they can reach a good price, but he wouldn't let me!).

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 13:00

I feel your pain, this is what we're getting DS for his 2nd birthday in Jan, the table and the track will be £300 but I think worth is for all the years he'll get out of it. Plus none of the 2nd hand ones ever look in good condition

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 13:06

I know it's not Thomas but there is a bargain Chad Valley train table at Argos - I would have bought one for DS if we had the space! Could you maybe get that and a couple of Thomas trains?

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 13:07

here

Original poster

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 13:09

Thank for your suggestions ladies. My husband said he could make the table and we have looked at other options but I think it is the one from ELC that he really likes and trust me - our painting skills are nowhere near what would be needed!

My DS2 is 4 so I don't see him using this for more than a year or 2 really so can't really justify the outlay of a new one.

OP posts:

spacedog · 04/12/2009 13:27

The only thing i would say about this table is it's quite small. GLTC do a bigger plain one which you can trundle out from under the bed.

Another thought- why don't you email the ebay sellers and see if they will be happy for you to organise a courier to pick up the table? Log into www.p4d.co.uk to check prices- it's pretty easy to organise- you'll need the size and weight of the table. The seller will have to wrap it though.

TutTutter · 04/12/2009 13:35

strictlykatty, the table and set is £200, not £300 - www.johnlewis.com/230222603/Product.aspx

op - i bet you could find a similar table with a bit of clever googling - if i get time i will have a look...

spacedog · 04/12/2009 13:36

If you go on ebay there is a table- search item no: 320455746464
The seller is happy to wrap and courier

tootiredtothink · 04/12/2009 13:39

Your ds is too young to realise you're painting skills are not up to scratch.

I'd definitely have a go at making one before I spent out that kind of money for just a few years.

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 13:52

Tut sorry my ds wants this not the Brio one sadyl

Original poster

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 13:56

I think I may start looking for a different table and just get the Thomas table top set to go with it. I agree that the Thomas one is a little small - that was one of my concerns - and if I get a reversible one it will have a bit more longevity and can use it to store all their models on.

TTTT - trust me a one-eye man standing 17 feet away would realise my painting skills are not up to scratch - it wouldn't even resemble a train!

OP posts:

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 13:57

Tadaa! Get the Argos one and bung some of these on it! Seems crazy spending 4 times as much for a branded one that doesn't even include any trains or track!

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 14:00

The thomas one I've seen looks huge! Well for a 2 year old. I wouldn't want anything bigger or the whole playroom would be taken up.

DH has said he'll think about letting me use the £170 of ELC gift vouchers we've got towards it so that would only make it £130 thank the Lord Still a lot of money, but you do pay for the Thomas brand me thinks

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 14:00

The thomas one I've seen looks huge! Well for a 2 year old. I wouldn't want anything bigger or the whole playroom would be taken up.

Original poster

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 14:07

Tikkabilla, you are clever - that looks fab. Hubbie just said he will make nice wooden one that matches the skirting boards - he knows the way to a woman's heart that one! Some nice Thomas stickers might do the trick (and would not subject my LO to my crap painting efforts) and we might be able to get some trundle drawers to fit all the crap in underneath. Hopefully we could then turn the top over when he gets too bored of trains and turn into construction table. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

Strickly, if you have vouchers I would go for it - you can sell it on ebay afterwards and get half your money back.

OP posts:

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 14:07

If you use the code DOVE it should give 20% off StrictlyKatty - hope it still works! So that makes it only £70 to find.

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 14:09

Hooray TeeBee! That sounds fab and I'm glad to have helped! Am rather as I would love one for my DS2 and would also love my DH to be the sort who can conjure up wonderful things with a few bits of wood!

Original poster

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 14:14

Yes, my hubbie very clever, has just put up some fab shelves in the office which exactly match the desk. Unfortunately shite in bed. Can't have everything

OP posts:

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 14:14

Thanks Tikka but it's only £300 with an offer so it won't let me use another one

It should be £400! OGG!

DH wants to make one but I just know it'll look rubbish

Tikkabillajive · 04/12/2009 14:22

TeeBee

Strictly sorry the discount is no good. Sometimes it's worth biting the bullet and getting the thing you know will be perfect (if you can afford it!) I'm sure your DS will love it for years to come!

StrictlyKatty · 04/12/2009 14:24

That's what I think Tikka! I know he will love it and use it for years so I'm not really willing to spend a lot of money on something that isn't perfect ITMS. I'd rather get nothing!

We've saved up for it so in the end I think we'll just get the one he wants even if it'll hurt spending that much on wood

Original poster

TeeBee · 04/12/2009 14:29

Just don't stick the track down - then you'll get loads of your money back when the time comes to part with it. At 2 years old, I think he will get years of play on it so probably worth it.

OP posts:

Lizzylou · 04/12/2009 14:31

We just painted all but the table top blue, top was green, they stuck Thomas transfer stickers around it.
DS1 is now almost 6 and he has his PLaymobil castle stuff on his in his room.

Far cheaper, one word of warning, DH was spray painting the table tops a forest green, the top of the spray got stuck on "on" and he had to run to the middle of the road holding it over his head )not sure why he didn't run off himself at that point), he was covered, so were our cars, and you can still find spots of green on the driveway

theselegswermad · 04/12/2009 18:44

Have you tried these people www.woodentoystore.co.uk

they have quite a few different tables to chose from

HellBent · 04/12/2009 19:06

I wouldn't bother spending all that TBH, DS had one similar bought when he was 4 and now aged 5 would rather play with plastic battery operated thomas on his blue plastic track because he can go faster on his own. and thats only if he can be bothered building the track up. He has a table all set out with playmobil and lego. Can't go wrong with that stuff!

If your DS has seen it in ELC it is probably only the novelty of being in the toy shop. I'm sure you could get him a cheaper version and he would still love it.

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