      */
     override protected function calculateThumbSize():Number
     {
-        var thumbLElement:ILayoutElement = 
-            LayoutElementFactory.getLayoutElementFor(thumb);
-        return thumbLElement.getLayoutBoundsHeight();
+        return thumb.getLayoutBoundsHeight();
     }
 
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------

import spark.components.supportClasses.Slider;
import mx.core.UIComponent;
import mx.core.ILayoutElement;
import spark.layout.supportClasses.LayoutElementFactory;

[IconFile("VSlider.png")]


    override protected function pointToPosition(localX:Number, 
                                                localY:Number):Number
    {
        var trackLen:Number = track.getLayoutBoundsHeight();
        var thumbH:Number = thumb.getLayoutBoundsHeight();
    
        return trackLen - localY - thumbH; 
    }
