A hybrid model of Duncan would probably be the proportions of the model series Duncan with a CGI face, just like the model in the middle of the pic above. If they went this route, then I would not mind it if Duncan gets announced next.

Always a pleasure reading your thoughts, Chaz. Very happy to officially see that Rusty is a lighter shade of orange than Rheneas. Yet, I'm surprised to see how small Rusty is compared to Rheneas and Skarloey. However, as you stated, it is probably because Bachmann was trying to go for the size of his basis in real life while keeping the shapes and proportions of the CGI model. Nevertheless, I plan to get this model for Christmas as it still met my expectations. Can't wait to see the narrow gauge coaches next.

Finally! Really looking forward to seeing people's thoughts on the model. And with all the changes that are happening to the characters on the show, I hope that Duncan's proportions will be fixed soon. Would love to see Bachmann make him, since Duncan and Rusty go together very nicely. Just desperately hope that the proportions match his basis, just like Rheneas and Skarloey.



Bottom line is that the model on the left would lead to the best sales, considering that it matches its original basis, the model in the middle would lead to reasonably good sales, as it matches the model that most Thomas fans remember, and the model on the right would lead to the worst sales, since no one is fond of the CGI model of Duncan. The proportions say it all.

Lately, I've been thinking more deeply about Bachmann's newly announced N Scale Thomas line, and I have to admit that the idea of it has really grown on me. Also, just today, I came across this image, showcasing the Tomix Thomas in front of a 1:148 N Scale British Express Coach and a 1:148 N Scale British Loco (Oliver's basis) in front of the Tomix Thomas Express Coach.



After looking at this image, I think that making the new Bachmann line in scale with the standard 1:148 British N Scale (smaller than Tomix) would be the smarter move as there is currently much more that is offered through that than there is in the Tomix range. Moreover, this would make sense since Bachmann is now offering their entire Thomas range in the UK, so UK modelers will want to have Thomas models that are in scale with their other British products. What are your thoughts? And for those who have already stated their preference, does this image change it?

Lastly, here is the link to the forum where I found the image: http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/15419-new-n-gauge-thomas-and-friends-by-bachmann-us/

Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on April 17, 2019, 09:51:30 PM
Now, one thing I wonder though, is that the resin buildings were discontinued because they didn't sell well. In the US, detailed resin buildings generally aren't as popular of a seller than say plastic buildings. In the UK however, both Bachmann UK and Hornby have their own lines of resin buildings. I wonder if Bachmann could test the waters of a limited run of the Thomas resin buildings in the UK, and see if they have a second chance. I think with a whole new market, it's worth a shot, and by starting with a limited run, would make risk minimal.

That's a very good point. Resin buildings have typically done better in the UK, so I would be all for introducing a limited run of Thomas resin buildings to the UK too. To encourage sales, another idea would be to showcase the buildings along with some of the engines and rolling stock on a detailed model railway set, similar to what Hornby did:



Not only would this make the buildings stand out more, but it would also give the impression that Thomas is a show of quality models, and not just basic merchandise of your generic computer animated show.

This is excellent news! As others have already stated, hopefully the extra profit will lead to more exciting new products such as an HO Stepney and Narrow Gauge Sir Handel or Peter Sam (especially next year, as it is Thomas' 75th Anniversary).

I'm with Cheeky ULP. I mean, 2020 is Thomas' 75th Anniversary, so it would be the best time to announce a newly tooled HO engine to commemorate the anniversary and wow Thomas fans. I am still on board with Stepney or Daisy, as I know that both would sell extremely well, but I could actually see Stanley having a fair shot too. Announcing one of them along with the Green LBSC Thomas would be excellent (just as Oliver was announced with the Celebration Thomas in 2015). In the years after 2020, I could see Bachmann announcing more repaints such as Sidney, Silver Spencer, and Scrap Oliver.

Hence, with resin buildings now out too, my current HO predictions list is the following:

Stepney, Daisy, or Stanley
Green LBSC Thomas
Troublesome Truck #6
Flat Wagon with Pipes

I'll openly ask to everyone, does announcing three new toolings (ex. HO Scale Stepney, Narrow Gauge Peter Sam, and N Scale James) sound unreasonable for 2020 (even if it is Thomas' 75th Anniversary, and all three of these sell extremely well)?

Great work, Chaz! I love the idea of the trolley line; the layout keeps on looking better and better too.

Either way, they won't be making Rebecca due to how expensive she would be to make. If they are going to make a new HO engine with a new tooling, I'm sure that they would choose the most popular candidates, which are Stepney and Daisy (both of which are much cheaper to make too). But my money is still on the Green LBSC Thomas, since they are trying to use existing toolings.

Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on March 21, 2019, 07:03:29 PM
I'm well aware of those customs, and I feel the fact that you are reiterating that only about.. 3 have been made, only supports my point more. It would have to be a -very- limited run, and then that run would have to cost enough to warrant the manufacturing costs, as well as a small tooling for a new faceplate.

It's also why I'm surprised we got Red Rosie so soon; there were customs going around in the fandom, but they were small in numbers. Either Bachmann has strong confidence in Red Rosie, or it was a Mattel mandate.

I certainly understand that, but the reason there have only been three custom Smudgers is probably due to the fact that Rheneas has not been out for that long, and that making a custom model of him requires a higher attention to detail than making something like a custom Spiteful Brake Van.

At the end of the day, it would be nice to see something get announced for narrow gauge rather than absolutely nothing.

Rusty looks excellent! Can't wait to get my hands on one as well as the new flat car with logs.

And I apologize for sounding like a broken record, but since the narrow gauge coaches are still not ready to be shown, hopefully this means that they will in fact be made in two different toolings .

https://twitter.com/ElsbridgeP/status/1105066420793008128

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,32140.msg257681.html#msg257681

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,30612.msg256217.html#msg256217

I'm pasted some links above to show that there is in fact many people who have modelled Smudger. And from looking at the feedback they have received, it seems that there is a demand for him.

I agree that there have been many more Spiteful Brake Van customs, but I would argue that is only because he is one of the easiest customs to make. Smudger, on the other hand, requires much more attention in terms of color scheme, just like Red Rosie, which Bachmann always does a great job with. Also, in Bachmann's case, the challenge of announcing a new product is with new toolings, not fine paint scheme adjustments. Even take Gordon's coaches, which have just been changed with the addition of the yellow stripe. For many modellers who wanted to do that to the original models on their own, that addition of would be challenging to get just right. Thus, once again, announcing Smudger as a limited edition product would be a nice compromise. It would be targeting to serious Thomas fans, would not cost too much to make, considering that it would be a repaint of Rheneas and only a limited amount would be produced, and seems like something that the licencor would approve, since the Spiteful Brake Van was also approved. It would be much more exciting than announcing nothing like this year.

That's fair. Yet, that's why I also stated that they could maybe announce Smudger as a limited edition product. Specifically, a limited run of 1000 Smudgers may be possible, making it a product specifically for avid fans like us.

Personally, I would love to see a Bachmann Smudger, but since he is an quite unknown, perhaps releasing him as a limited edition product would feasible.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Smudger

Honestly, this is something that they should have done this year for the narrow gauge line instead of announcing absolutely nothing.

With these clear images, it's nice to see that that Gordon's coaches do indeed have that yellow stripe now. I think that this is a very smart marketing move since there are fans out there who already have the originals and will purchase these just because of that small change.

Very impressive work mulfred-100 and grandpuff! I'm happy to also state that I will be starting one more expansion to my Sodor layout this summer! It will consist of Crovan's Gate, Rheneas Viaduct, the Slate Incline, and Bertram's Old Mine (or Boulder Quarry). Hoping to squeeze in the castle causeway if I can too . Looking forward to posting pics once the project begins!