Ertl, What Went Wrong... | Thoughts on

[@FlyingDuckMan360]

I'm not going to deny that ERTL was one of Thomas' longest-running merchandise lines, but as someone who played with them in my early childhood, I feel they were just okay. I'm not going to deny that the models had a lot of attention to detail, but they were also terribly proportioned. One such example is that Peter Sam, a narrow gauge engine, is bigger than Oliver, a standard gauge one (this was satirized in Ryan Rocketz's "ERTL Errors" video). Also, the coupling system was terrible; it was an extremely flimsy hook and eye system that easily broke apart, and engines could only pull rolling stock and not other engines. This was somewhat fixed late in its lifespan when the coupling system was re-designed with a U-hook so engines could pull both other engines and rolling stock and it was slightly more durable, but those models were released exclusively in Europe, as by then, the US had replaced ERTL with Take-Along Thomas, which in my opinion, was superior in many ways; while the Take-Alongs were less detailed, they were more durable, better proportioned, and had smart magnets that could connect either way.

[@catherinefan32]

I guess for me it’s more the nostalgia and yes it can be considered ok but I still had great memories. Heck I would still love ertl to come back. I remember my disappointment when the line ended before Season 9. I remember really wanting an ertl Mighty Mac.

[@hozkahilgarri3936]

Yeah, I agree. What bugged me most about these though is tender engines. The engine and tender are rigidly attached, so they always felt awkward.

[@WiiMan25]

My dad's friend had the genius idea of using a coin on the engine couplers to haul two engines together. That was what I did whenever I wanted to have an engine pull another. But yeah I had a few train cars with broken couplers because of how flimsy they could be sometimes. My Clarabel's coupler broke so I couldn't have the traditional trio of Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel as a single train for a long time.

[@WiiMan25]

These were my definitive Thomas toys from '97-'01. Even my dad respected them for their detailed sculpting and likeness to the show. But in addition to your points, the paint chipped off pretty easily. I didn't even bother with the tracks as a kid, even though I had some. I just rolled them on the floor or table.

[@cantfindclips]

There’s a lot more to go into the system of Ertl. From a plain boring grey track, they painted them with detail which looks really nice. New exciting, looking sets were coming out towards its end. The new coupling system allows the engines to go up and down slopes.

[@Badumpop]

I think another big issue with ERTL is some of the faces being die-cast (Diesel,Terence,Boco etc.) a majority of the time when looking for ERTL’s on the second hand market, they always have the face scratched up and or missing paint which sucks.

[@sodorislandstudios]

Oh yeah I didn't think of that but that is a great point!

[@FlyingDuckMan360]

@@sodorislandstudios As Ryan Rocketz said in his “ERTL Errors” video, “Aaahh! You look like you have acne with gray pimples!”

[@harrisonallen651]

It’s Scaling which seems to be the main issue in half of Thomas’s merchandise

[@sodorislandstudios]

Yeah agreed

[@Heroduothecomedian]

Before I went threw the stage of I'm told old to be playing with toys while I was in middle school. I use to have all the etl Thomas and friends toys.from the first batch till shortly after TMR movie came out. I loved them to death and I regret ever selling them. I should had keep them to give them to my future kids but I was just a per teen, what did I know lol. I wish it never did end

[@Steamenginesunited3456]

The wheels and coupling system is the real downfall. I still think they're pretty great.

[@sodorislandstudios]

Yeah, I still love Ertl and enjoy it but it bugs me sometimes so I thought I might talk about it.

[@asthmaticnightmare215]

Thank you for making this, we need more videos out there discussing ERTL T&F, also congrats on obtaining an ERTL Arthur, you have as much luck as Indiana Jones obtaining the golden idol to get one of those haha

[@ScrapyardStudios]

As one of the only people that uses ERTL’s track in videos, I can say it’s not as hard as you think to put together. Sure it’s wider than stretched putin & it’s practically a fucking road, but connecting it is pretty straight forward. It’s basically like Trackmaster track, except you have to angle the piece you want to connect, rather than just pushing one into another from the top

[@imatrainperson1195]

Jager becomes Summoning Salt and other stories. In all seriousness, well done my friend. This is extremely well made.

[@sodorislandstudios]

Summoning Salt? Thank mate, I used the same sort of music as you tend to use lol.

[@twistedaxles9126]

I wish there was a line of TTTE toys that was a mix of ERTL and Take Along.

[@The_Phone_Bin_Diver]

I absolutely the Ertl line of Thomas and friends products, they are really great quality and they even produced the obscure engines from the railway series that never made it into the TV show

[@hunterm4188]

I mean I’m shocked the wood stuff is worth more, it has maybe half the detail on the models if that. No offense but the wood ones just simply don’t look as accurate or good to me, but I grew up with the ertl diecast ones so I may be slightly biased

[@permvw]

Well said 👍

[@brakevanfilms101]

I agree with everything but I still love ertl

[@SodorEnterprises]

Great video! Although I don’t have many problems with Ertl, a rather bold claim I think I’ll make is that if the Ertl line was released now, everyone would hate it.

[@sodorislandstudios]

I agree, it couldn't exist today, it just doesnt work with modern children who need bright flashy lights and sounds and screens to entertain themselves.

[@OldInactiveUnusedChannel]

Fun fact: Ertl are the only series that made bluebell

[@sodorislandstudios]

Yeah ofc and 16

[@TLtimelord]

@@sodorislandstudios Can't forget it's the only time Jock and Bear ever got merch for themselves as well.

[@LukeOfSodor22]

​@@TLtimelord SAD HORNBY BEAR NOISES

[@gonzoengineering4894]

Didn't even know there was track for the ERTL line lol

[@sodorislandstudios]

Yeah, it is pretty hard to come by tho

[@trainguy3277]

OK well for me it isn't cuz I can easily find them on ebay mostly from international sellers that's only for me tho

[@sodorislandstudios]

Well yeah but it costs a ton to import

[@ashleybennett1064]

The joys of living in the UK is the track is everywhere I have tons of track and tunnels. Ertl UK is based in a place called Exeter that's about half an hour away from me. Shame they don't make it anymore tho

[@nightmarione2529]

Thomas fans: what happened to ertle mr Mattel? Mattel: we replaced it with take along I mean take and play I mean adventures I mean trackmaster push along

[@joshuaW5621]

At least I’m not the only one who see how flawed ERTL can be. It’s still a nice range.

[@sodorislandstudios]

Most definitely

[@andrewshearsby8125]

Ah Ertl my childhood Thomas range

[@hamishcameron1082]

Problem was there wheels wouldn’t turn well on the track when I was a kid so I still got my ertl sever since just no track because the wheels wouldn’t turn well on them🇬🇧

[@mr.slowking_64]

Ertl is pretty good

[@Crosby2016]

Honestly, I Think These Where More Aimed To Older Fans Of Thomas Just Because Of The Look. Back Then All Of The Other Stuff Was Aimed To Ages 1-6 Or Something Like That…

[@sodorislandstudios]

Perhaps but the issue with that is, one at that time there wasn't a large pool of older thomas fans like there are today to appeal to , and two children still are the target beacuse there will most almost always be more children looking for toy trains then say people over the target demographic. Buissness wise it just doesn't make sense. And back then of course Ertl was the only major thomas toy line of notable scale.

[@Watt_1200]

Could you do a trackmaster version of this video ?

[@sodorislandstudios]

Maybe? Although I'm not sure I would be the best person to beacuse although I have a decent little trackmaster collection, I'm far from a expert on it.

[@kingjr0822]

whats ur intro music

[@sodorislandstudios]

What intro music?

[@trainguy3277]

OK say what you want but I think ertl is amazing

[@sodorislandstudios]

I mean, I still like Ertl.

[@Pooperman-k6x]

Moral of the story: get nakayoshi instead of ertl

[@spearmintpony7105]

You didn't actually explain what went wrong.

[@sodorislandstudios]

How so? The question asked was "What went wrong with ertl" (Why does it have the issues that it does)? And I layed that out with some positives to see both sides.

[@EerierFish17]

I actually really hate ERTL. The only good models out there are Spencer Arthur D199 Derek D261 Diesel And mavis That’s it

[@ra1lwayman]

You are still in call in Obama.

[@sodorislandstudios]

I told you the story of Stana

[@funsyminn]

ertl is overrated