In the newest catalog stream from Trainworld Matt Stern gave some updates.

He said the RWS Thomas will NOT receive a new face because it isn't cost effective, but he will receive cosmetic updates to compensate, such as the eyebrows and pupils.

Sidney and Mainland Diesel are paired because Sidney takes cars to the mainland and the MD picks them up.

The new Milk Tank and Tar Tanker with have new bracings and chassis to better match the color from the CGI series rather than the existing black which is interesting.

They also said that N scale is more focused on the Thomas fans while HO is more for parents and kids. Also interesting.

They also talked a little bit about the China Clay wagon development and Henry being an all new tooling but not much new updates on that front.

Stanley update was also confirmed for the next stream. There were a few other brief product mentions going over everything from 2024 NMRA and 2025 catalog but those were the main highlights from a pretty lengthy stream.

I hope Doug has a happy and long retirement, he's earned the rest for all he's done for Bachmann and the Thomas line. Look forward to seeing how Matt handles things going forward.

I watched the final stream with my girlfriend and we both had a blast; it was very fun and fitting finale. Look forward to seeing what comes next.

Building off of what Cheeky ULP said, there is a mold that could blend the best of both worlds. Make a character from the CGI series, while also make a more nostalgia engine. That pf course being Norman, and his brother Dennis.


Norman is a prototype that doesn't currently have a ready to run model as well so that's a nice bonus. He isn't the most popular character, but he is in a trio with Paxton and Sidney, so getting him to complete the set would be nice. Dennis is nearly identical so they wouldn't need to be a new tooling. Now that we know there is no model mandate there is really nothing holding this back from being a dual release to maximize the new tooling cost. This would be an ideal way to test viability for model only characters without breaking the bank. Similar to how the TR locos Bachmann are producing are tests for viability of the new molds in the same style. Splatter and Dodge could also fill a similar niche. However being 08 diesels, while different, I could see a hesitance after the failure of the iron twins. Splodge could risk a repeat. But they would be welcome inclusions.

New Model Monday was yesterday and with it comes some Thomas news. Nothing too major

Sir Hayden sample was shown off, developed alongside Sir Handel. No real surprise there.

No shipment estimate for the human figures, expecting that news soon

Stanley is expected in July.

The thomas at NY toy fair was a hand "painted" sample for show only. Which the people who went to the show already relayed. Friend of mine is the one who took the pictures circulating in fact, and another friend is the one who got the news regarding the new Thomas assortments for the mattel stuff.

Thomas tuesday next week, maybe on monday, they said there would be something special. Unclear what (this does not necessarily equal a product from Bachmann themselves either.)

I think that is everything they said on the stream.

In regards to those samples.

The RWS Thomas at new york toy fair was very rough, just sharpied over to showcase the potential changes. it is not a traditional sample. So they probably won't show it off until it's finalized. The rolling stock is done but they probably want to wait to show it off as a full package

Same with the open carriage, the one in the catalog is digitally altered and they are probably waiting to show it off fully painted now that it's been advertised as such, but may be wrong

The gondolas were shown on the last stream. I thought painted Stanley was shown off before as well already?

So of those it's just Sir Hayden I'd expect to see in the next stream

Once again do want to state, the clay wagons are also in learning curve TWR, which we know have been sent to Bachmann for reference before. While did make it more similar to the illustration, it's still in a different category then something like RWS Donald, Douglas, Skarloey, Toby, etc. It doesn't set a precedent just yet, neither does the set as they said on stream even though Thomas was their idea it's design and the trucks came from references sent by Mattel. The specific wording in NMM also makes it clear this was not the original announcement plan, they just spruced it up to boost its sales which was definitely the right call I think.

We haven't got anything yet that isn't taken directly from refs supplied by Mattel. Doesn't hurt to keep suggesting it but I imagine it is in the same category as the model only characters, just not feasible rn.

I also just started watching the NMM stream and they talk about the face suggestions, and how they'll look into it. They mention both the possibility of updating the original 3 and also separate sale face packs. Would love to see if that goes anywhere

With the faces I also imagine may be difficult to design around the eyemechs as well, we saw the difficulty that was had with Paxton. And I doubt they would design faces that aren't compatible. I also imagine Mattel may be shakey on signing off on that. Eyeless faces for separate sale could scare children. Now of course they wouldn't be the primary demographic for this kind of product, but that doesn't mean that wouldn't be the reason Mattel would be worried. The kato faces avoided this by not having the holes for the eyemech but there's also other merch in Japan of just the faces. So it isn't as out there over there as it would be stateside.

Definitely may be something to look into for the mainline if the sales for the Kato faces do end up being that great, but I'm admittedly not sure it's something they'd want to do because there are a few inherent risks involved.

Christian said the next stream would be a big one, I'm just curious in what way. Did he mean the guest because I admittedly am drawing a blank on who that could be (ThomasTankMerch Perhaps?)

I could also see some reveals happening. They didn't talk about the the open carriage this stream so that's likely going to be shown off. But assuming Christian meant a big reveal. The only thing I can really think of is some unpainted samples from NMRA 2023. Diesel and Paxton have had prices for a while now so wonder how fast they started work on samples after finishing Gordon and Emily.  I suppose we will see when it happens

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed yet, but the NMRA show is on the same week as the final TR Awdry Extravaganza event.  Not really anything else to add to that point, that's just going to be a very exciting week for the fandom.

Honestly a great point! It'd still celebrate Thomas's original first appearance, so it would still work out that way. In that case yeah, going for a full on new face mold would still work out

I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, the face would be a really nice bonus. However, with the pipeline having so much to work on as is, I do worry delaying this pack just for the face would mean it missing the anniversary year window and thus feeling less special. Admittedly people will probably buy it anyway, me included, but it being tied with this year specifically I think will help its sales a lot.

A nice potential middle ground would be if they updated the face print itself. The original promos were technically based on the rws drawings. Giving it a darker palette and some other small cosmetics could easily make it look like the face from the books without having to sculpt a new mold. Ultimately, I'll be happy with what whatever road they choose

Quote from: Coaltronn on January 31, 2025, 08:42:30 AMPerhaps I have never seen this in the forums but why doesnt bachmann sell different faces? I would eat these up and with how often i see it posted in the facebook thomas group for bachmann. i cant fathom why this isnt already a thing for additional faces to be sold for all the characters? I would break my wallet buying them.

I think they just don't see it as an avenue worth pursuing, but with the new Kato faces I wonder if that might make them reconsider which would be neat. Not sure how they did but they're really nice so having some on the western market is definitely worth considering

Mulfred and Chaz both have made good posts as always. Don't really have much more to add to their suggestions I think they are all really good shouts. Maybe some of the more recently released 12-ton batch could be upscaled to G, that'd be fun. I'm sure some people would like to have the circus vans in that scale.

This segways nicely into something I found interesting that I only noticed after my last post. If you take a look between the product numbers of Paxton and LBSC Thomas, it goes from 91408 to 91411. They skip two. Now this is nothing new, HO has done it before, there's in fact a gap of two in rolling stock right now between the now discontinued flatbeds and the scaled down from G scale 3 vans, which may be a placeholder for the chocolate and toffee tanker based on its placement, it could also simply be meaningless, I want to make it clear I could be just looking too deeply at this. But what I'm thinking is they are preparing to introduce at least 2 more characters into G scale, eventually. As said the two skipped slots with the HO rolling stock have not been filled in yet, so it's not something that has to happen immediately, or ever. Actually, this catalogs milk and troublesome truck #7 also fill in codes, and since the milk tanker already has a sample these announcements may have been considered for a little while, which is equally intriguing. Since LBSC Thomas is the one skipping the product codes, I don't think it's either James repaints. They would come after. I could see it being a pair, like Bill and Ben or the Two Rosie's. I could see it being just creating slots for the two 08's coming to HO a while, that way if they are ever introduced, they'll be next to the others. It could also simply be them deciding ok there are two more characters we want to make, let's set slots aside for them. So, as an example, Edward could be 2026 and then Stanley could be 2028. Or whoever. There are a few different options.

I don't want to say anything is guaranteed, even though these product codes were set aside they could decide nothing is worth pursuing later on. But it's interesting enough to make note of, that maybe there is some more new reveals coming. I'm not sure if I'm expecting them at NMRA personally, I think just some 12-ton vans (whether the anniversary ones or some of the other ones from HO) is definitely the safer bet, but at least there is a sign that there may be more to come.

Building off what Mulfred said, Thomas and his trucks illustrations are the main thing people think of when they think railway series. Mattel is also sending these illustrations out as part of their style guide. This does not mean more RWS stuff is coming. Although the brakevan is interesting since itis based on a separate illustration, it's likely just because it was a better fit for this set and they saw it in research. If we were to get any other RWS tribute stuff, it'd have been in this catalog. Maybe for a future anniversary but that's way off I'd say and again, I don't think it's likely. Blue scots and RWS Skarloey guys have never been handed out in the merch style guides, so I don't think they'd be something either on Bachmann's radar or something they'd be allowed to make.

The clay wagons likewise are based on the TWR toy with some cues taken from the illustrations. They're again not really comparable to the recolors mentioned here. Maybe in another 5 years but I wouldn't expect it.

TLDR: These are either stuff Mattel is specifically handing out as part of their legacy style guide or comes from previous existing merch. It is not an indication of anything to do with the model mandate, or more RWS things to come. At best though maybe we could see the uncanceling of Fred Pelhay? That'd technically align with the precedent set by the clay wagon. Idk if they'd do it though, but it's at least a possibility worth mentioning

Just as well for everyone's info, NMRA is in July this year. So we'll get the mid-year announcements roughly in the middle of the month. Show runs from the 14th to the 19th so the catalog should drop either on the 18th or 19th. I think that's the Friday and Saturday

Mine as well also catalog my predictions because I don't see much changing while I'm here as well.

HO Scale:
Whiff
Waste Wagon
20-ton LMS Brake vans, most likely Bradford and brown. To clarify I didn't mean to imply the model was the same as the set, I knew that. But I figured them advertising it as an exclusive 20 ton van means more MAY be on the way. Realize I worded it weirdly initially that was my bad.

Narrow Gauge:
Luke
Rolling stock I'm of 2 minds. If the gunpowder wagons are not done, then I think they'll do some of the brown and grey van and brake vans from the cgi series. If they are done I think they'll announce some of the rolling stock from BMM they can reuse for the normal TR line. My bet would be the open coaches if that were the case, but there are truly infinite options. Van 5 would also be a good shout.

N Scale:

Edward
One of the green wagons with coal loads
Milk tanker
Tar tanker maybe?

G Scale:
Honestly very possibly nothing, but if anything I'd expect some 12 ton vans.
If I'm feeling greedy maybe Henrietta, but I wouldn't expect it personally. I want it though. She absolutely needs to happen at some point.

Feel like these are pretty safe predictions, could potentially add more as we get more news of samples through the pipeline but I'm not really sure what else they'd do admittedly even if the pipeline does get cleared. Maybe another road vehicle but that's dependent on Bulgy.