I used one large box for each of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy costume. All I did was cut the top flaps into the shape of the back of the train, and used masking tape to hold it together. This also gave my kids a place to stand in the center of the box.
The smoke stack is an empty Quaker Oats container painted black and attached with a hot glue. I used 2 elastic straps attached by brads as the “seatbelts,” as my kids call them. They had to be put on crosswise in order to stay up on their shoulders.
The wheels were cut out of the long flaps on the bottom of the box. For the faces, I bought craft foam discs, painted them black, and hot glued them to the front. I drew the faces in white construction paper with a black sharpie and glued that to the foam. All of the paint is acrylic paint from Michael’s.
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Thomas is number one, not number 3.
These are terrific! Thanks for sharing your pictures and description. I think I may try to make a Thomas for my son this year. – Maybe she put a #3 for his age. I just made a Thomas Tank cake and I put a 2.5 on the engine since we were celebrating his turning 2.5 yrs old.
My daughter wants to be Lady (the purple train from the Magic Railroad) and I’ve been hunting for something to model her costume on! This completely looks like something I can do easily and nicely.
1 or 3, lighten up Anonymous…this is supposed to be fun!
This is so cool!! I’ll try my best to make a similar one to my son !! Thanks for the inspiration.
These are great!! I do home daycare and my kids love Thomas. This would be great to have for them to play with. Thanks for sharing.
Why does Percy have 2 and Thomas 3!?
Plus Thomas is number 1.
Thank you for sharing an awesome idea, my little one is crazy about Thomas as so many, and definitely he will love it. Thank you so much
very nice could tell you put hard work in that.
very nice!!! it is very cool.
It is a great idea. Can’t wait to make ours. For those that are so concerned with the numbers…seriously??? I decorate cakes and have changed the “numbers” for the child’s age. Try to look beyond the numbers thing and thank the person for posting such an amazing homemade costume!
These are fantastic! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
maybe the numbers have something to do with their ages :)
Seriously those that fret over the numbers need to get a life. They are very cool outfits – i want one actually I am going to make one now… bye
I would agree at first glance, the numbers probably have an age significance but really, who cares! Those trains look awesome and the kids appear happy to wear them. Great work. I have been inspired to try making one of these some time.
Was looking for this and I love it I would assume the person that did this knew Thomas is number 1 its called being creative and it ROCKS!!! Thank u from the parent of Thomas fan addict lol
I’ll bet anything the numbers are the ages of e kids. That’s how we do it at our house!
Fantastic and the kids no doubt got a heap of fun out of them. As for the number
just found out that my twin great nephews LOVE Thomas the train, as i was throwing out ideas for their costumes, my niece said they would love to be Thomas the train for Halloween, so auntie started searching and found this awesome costume idea online. can’t wait to get boxes and get started on this for them!! They will be so excited!! And get over the numbers thing…who cares!!! If you want professional, go spend big bucks!! The kids will appreciate it more like this!!!
Here it is 2012 and I am thrilled to find this idea for my grandson, as I was recruited to make a Thomas costume for him. Thanks to the creative person who designed this!
The numbers were the ages of my kids that year…sheesh.
And thank you for all the compliments, they LOVED them and used them for months after the party!
I understand you stood the flaps up to make the cab behind their back, but where did the piece of cardboard directly behind their back come from? The sides make sense to me and the back of the cab at the end of the train, but directly behind their backs, where is that piece from? Thank you. I am looking at my box and before I make a critical cut wanted to know. Thanks for posting and good job!
I just cut those pieces from the leftover top flaps and taped them together before I paintd it.
My daughter and nephew have a party this weekend that is train themed. My plan is to make the trains for them to stand in and take a pic. Like a scene setter. Thanks!!!