The Everything Thomas Topic

[Chaz]

Honestly I was expecting the prices to be even higher considering how much Mattel has been inflating the prices of Bachmann products as of late.  Of course how the final products turn out will really tell if the new N scale models will be worth the price.  The only major deal-breaker would be if Thomas and Percy have the rivets and handrails added to them, which I highly doubt they would bother with those.  Just as long as they look like the G scale models scaled down to n scale then I think they will be worth the wait.

[Falcon the 2nd]

Just as long as they look like the G scale models scaled down to n scale then I think they will be worth the wait.

That's what I am pretty much hoping for. Both characters looked just about flawless in Large Scale and utilizing the same looks in N Scale would help their sales a lot in the long run.

As discussed before, an N Scale Thomas range has lots of potential to succeed and it is a given that Bachmann currently has much hopeful expectations to live up to.

[TerencetheTractor525]

https://www.licensing.biz/2019/09/24/mattel-readies-for-thomas-friends-75th-with-new-partner-line-up/

Found this online, and I thought that I should share it with the forum, especially since it involves the Bachmann Team. After reading this, it is nice to see that the licencor is thinking about the 75th Anniversary and has some special things planned for us fans . The last paragraph excites me the most: "Our goal this coming special 75th anniversary year is to introduce new highly accessible and memorable consumer products through our increased partnership activity. A number of specialized product and retail executions will be launched to help give added meaning to the experience Thomas & Friends delivers to the consumer in its celebratory year". Really hoping that this means that nostalgic characters will get made (a Bachmann HO Scale Stepney in particular ). Can't wait to see what everyone else's thoughts are!

[JLK2707]

Today is just 35 years since Thomas and Gordon first aired! Happy 35th anniversary Thomas and Friends!

[Ronniethe14xxx]

Today is just 35 years since Thomas and Gordon first aired! Happy 35th anniversary Thomas and Friends!

I thought it wasn't until October 9th?

[Kemptown Branch]

https://www.licensing.biz/2019/09/24/mattel-readies-for-thomas-friends-75th-with-new-partner-line-up/

Found this online, and I thought that I should share it with the forum, especially since it involves the Bachmann Team. After reading this, it is nice to see that the licencor is thinking about the 75th Anniversary and has some special things planned for us fans . The last paragraph excites me the most: "Our goal this coming special 75th anniversary year is to introduce new highly accessible and memorable consumer products through our increased partnership activity. A number of specialized product and retail executions will be launched to help give added meaning to the experience Thomas & Friends delivers to the consumer in its celebratory year". Really hoping that this means that nostalgic characters will get made (a Bachmann HO Scale Stepney in particular ). Can't wait to see what everyone else's thoughts are!

The thing that caught my attention the most is that it said Bachmann and Mattel have a 2 year contract with each other from mid-2020 onwards. If that's true, that means Bachmann can hopefully announce and make new items at least for the duration of my mission. I had no idea if that was going to happen or not, but it definitely makes me more excited to see what Bachmann has in mind, especially for narrow gauge.

[Cheeky_ULP]

I'm gonna expect this will just be the same toolings marketed under a new packaging. They might go so far as to change the face toolings, but we can only hope and pray that it isn't based off the new "quirky" faces that have been in the Thomas & Friends style guides handed to manufacturers for the last few years... 

[Chaz]

I've been thinking a lot about this, and I think what this really means at the end of the day, is that it's just their way of saying Bachmann will be producing more products for the next two years and nothing more or less than that.  They probably will not be updating the tooling's anytime soon either considering how much higher the prices are getting in production.  Plus why make entirely new toolings of the same characters at this point?  If it would cost so much money to do so they would be much better off making a new engine altogether, and I'm sure Bachmann knows that.

Regarding the faces though, if they do update some of the faces to CGI style faces, I honestly wouldn't have had an issue with that since I would argue that's long overdue... if not for the most recent track record of Mattel pushing for "meme/emoji" faces in their senseless promotions and advertisements.  They aren't necessary, don't add any value to the sales and most of all... they are just creepy looking.  They wouldn't flatter the models at all and if anything might be a turn off to people, even parents with young kids.  So not only would Bachmann would be wasting any money for updating the faceplates into that style in the first place, but they would also lose money in the process if people won't buy these, especially with the yearly price increase from China and especially Mattel.  So if anything I say Bachmann should dodge the bullet while they have the chance.  Even if it means sticking with the same Thomas Percy and James faces from 2002, I will gladly take the faces that are on the models now rather than these "meme/emoji" style faces by Mattel.

[TrainshockeylifE]

Not sure if anyone else saw this but someone tweeted an article today so I read through it and found this. Not sure what they mean by a two year deal to bring Thomas' adventures to life. They said they would provide Thomas fans with a recreation of thomas' adventures. Maybe the recent announcement was part of an early start? Hopefully this will bring many new cool items.

I can't upload the photo. So I'll quote it.

Mattel has secured a raft of new partnership deals spanning toys, publishing, and retail as the team charges full steam ahead to celebrate Thomas & Friends' 75th anniversary next year.

Created by the Reverend. W. Awdry for his son in 1945, publishing remains a strong part of the Thomas brand heritage and franchise with over 100 titles and 2 million books sold each year. Licensing partner Egmont will continue to tell these stories with a 'special edition compilation of the original Railway Series' to commemorate the anniversary.

In April next year, the brand will launch its partnership with the London department store Harrods as it celebrates the heritage of the brand with several activations throughout the store, and limited edition branded merchandise sold in store.

Later in 2020, model railroad manufacturers Bachmann will work with the brand on a two-year licensing deal to bring the world of Thomas to life. The traditional electric trains will encompass the adventure and discovery of Thomas & Friends, to provide fans of the brand, railway enthusiasts and collectors with a realistic re-creation of the adventures on the Island of Sodor.

Meanwhile, the popular party and fancy-dress company Smiffys has teamed with the brand to launch a dress-up range for baby and toddlers that support storytelling. The new range will launch in time for World Book Day in March.   

The UK will also see a partnership with Europe's number one publisher of licensed calendars, greetings cards, gift wrap and diaries, Danilo. The family-run company has operated for over 40 years, creating products to celebrate those important milestones in life. The collaboration is a new licensing partnership, launching in AW19, and will see a collection of Thomas & Friends branded greeting cards, wrapping paper and gift bags.

Finally, a new deal with licensee Pyramid International will see the launch of a range of Wall Art, including posters, prints and canvases, together with an accessories collection of badges, stickers, keychains, mugs and a comprehensive range of stationery.

Helen Genia, head of UK licensing and hardlines EMEA, Mattel, said: "We are thrilled to announce these new licensing deals for Thomas & Friends spanning publishing, apparel and retail that will delight and excite Thomas fans.

"Our goal this coming special 75th anniversary year is to introduce new highly accessible and memorable consumer products through our increased partnership activity. A number of specialised product and retail executions will be launched to help give added meaning to the experience Thomas & Friends delivers to the consumer in its celebratory year."

[JLK2707]

Happy belated anniversary for Thomas and Gordon yesterday!

[Falcon the 2nd]

In case anyone else hasn't noticed or posted about it, Bachmann's official Twitter account announced that the coal cars and log flatbed announced earlier this year are now available.
https://twitter.com/bachmanntrains/status/1184480561211031554

So far, the only pre-NMRA announcements still yet to be released are the Narrow Gauge coaches announced back in 2018 and the new N Scale Thomas line also announced earlier this year.

[TrainFan97]

Looks like all the products that were announced in this year's Toy Fair are now available, except for the N Scale Thomas range, which will most likely start shipping in the spring of 2020. Soon, we should get a look at the N Scale models fully painted.

Most of this year's NMRA announcements (Daisy, 1-Plank Wagons and Troublesome Truck #6) will most likely start shipping in the summer of 2020, if not, then fall of 2020, with their first real images in the 2020 catalog. Peter Sam will most likely get released next fall, since narrow gauge engines take more time.

[Chaz]

Something I would like to comment on is how fast the sales of the new flat car with logs has been the moment it was released... It's been sold out within just a few days and impossible to find on eBay.  Bachmann truly hit a home run with this one in terms of sales, and I am glad to see them sell as well as they are.  Even if logs should have been the load included in the first place, the new flat car really got a lot of people excited, and for a good reason.  I already have my flat cars with logs but I would be very curious to hear thoughts on it whenever someone on the forum picks them up.

The wagons on the other hand well... as expected these don't seem to be all that popular compared to the flat car and clearly aren't selling as fast as the flat car.  They're overlooked because they don't really bring anything new to the table for Thomas fans since the coal wagon and other colored wagons are still being produced and shown in the catalog.  Even the conflats at the NMRA will likely do better than these wagons since the container wagon has been discontinued for a long time now, and fans who missed out on it can purchase one of the new ones with an additional crate load included.  

One last thing I want to comment on is the large scale range.  It seems that the standard large scale Thomas and the Thomas starter set is back in Bachmann's web store (with the set saying sold out as opposed to not being on there entirely), so it's nice to see the range still going despite no announcements this year.  Maybe they will get something in 2020, but only time will tell at that point.

[Angelob6660]

I don't get the new narrow gauge coaches or the flatcars. Hopefully the cars be in stock soon and maybe I'll pre-order Peter Sam and Daisy since I totally forgot them since their announcement.

[TrainFan97]

Even though Henry isn't a main character anymore, Bachmann would have to make him in N Scale if they get to Gordon. It would make sense for Bachmann to make N Scale Gordon and Henry at the same time because they would both share the same chassis, with Gordon having added trailing wheels. That's exactly what they did for their HO models. Bachmann shouldn't have too much trouble making the big engines in N Scale because the models are a lot smaller.

I doubt Bachmann would make N Scale Edward alongside James because they'd both use completely different chassis and molds. Many people hoped for Large Scale Edward, but it never happened. Hopefully, his recent removal from the main cast won't lower his chances of being made in N Scale sometime in the future. His HO model is still a great seller. Like Gordon and Henry, N Scale Edward also shouldn't be too out of the question. Before Bachmann gets to characters like Edward, Henry, Gordon, or even Diesel, the top priority for N Scale is James. The first female character in the N Scale range can be Emily, who was a stretch for Large Scale.