Something else I hope Bachmann can do is modify their Bachmann Toad to have the correct hook-and-loop couplers, so it would work with Bachmann's HO/OO Thomas models seamlessly.

Given that they did indeed base the China Clay Wagons on the Railway Series illustrations, maybe in future they WOULD be willing to recolor Bachmann 58807 Donald and 58808 Douglas into Blue Donald and Blue Douglas. Bachmann really respects the Thomas Fans, and they have surprised us in the last few years, with the Toby's Museum Coaches being made because of a fan's artwork, and now both the 80th Anniversary Railway Series set and the Railway Series China Clay wagons.

Quote from: RailsByRick on January 25, 2025, 11:24:35 PMIt's really cool how the Sodor China Clay wagon is RWS-inspired. Never thought I'd see the day where Bachmann started to pull directly from the pages the RWS. This could open the door for them to finally re-announce their cancelled Rickety and Fred Pelhay from several years ago.

And if they are making sets and rolling stock based on the Railway Series Books, maybe they could also repaint 58807 Donald and 58808 Douglas into Blue Donald and Blue Douglas. A lot of modelers already make Blue Donald and Douglas themselves, sometimes repainting Bachmann models, so it might be a smart idea for Bachmann to cash in on this opportunity.

If they did make Blue Donald and Blue Douglas, I would personally buy multiples of those items each. In part so I can juggles some of the bits around for fun. Like having versions of Blue Donald and Douglas shells over Black Donald and Douglas wheels.

Here's hoping.

I really like that while they released the CGI version of the Milk Tanker, they also still have the original Model Series version available as the Tidmouth Milk Tanker, so that way they have both versions on the market at the same time, allowing fans the option of the Model Series version, the CGI series version, or both. I hope they do the same with the 77039 Sodor Fuel Tanker: release the CGI series Fuel Tanker as a separate item while leaving the Sodor Fuel Tanker available as well.

Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 20, 2024, 06:04:01 PMIf there's any time for Mattel to be more lenient about the CGI mandate, it's the 80th anniversary. I feel like if they allow merchandise to be based on all sorts of different eras of Thomas throughout that year, then Bachmann should take advantage of the opportunity to knock out some characters or items that would otherwise usually be off the table.

Agreed. And maybe this could include some treats from the Railway Series as well. If Bachmann is allowed to branch out from the CGI mandate for the 80th Anniversay, maybe that can be used as a springboard to having the CGI mandate finally removed entirely!

Some of the suggestions that have been made include Railway Series Blue Donald and Blue Douglas, as they would just need to recolor their already existing Donald and Douglas models. Quite a lot of modelers make models of Blue Donald and Douglas, often repainting Bachmann Donald and Douglas themselves, so Bachmann might want to look into getting in on that themselves.

Given that there is a demand for 'Arry and Bert to return, if they do return, maybe Bachmann can also release Splatter and Dodge alongside and 'Arry and Bert rerelease. 'Arry, Bert, Splatter, and Dodge all share the same basis, the Class 08 without the front ladders that were already used for 'Arry and Bert. Bachmann would just need to recolor the shells of the items, and given that Splatter and Dodge are always shown with identical faces onscreen, all they would need to do is design a single face for both of them to use. Given that there is a demand for Diesel 10, and the fact that it is the 25th anniversary of Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2025, that might be some good incentive for Bachmann.

Bachmann UK also has the LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T, BR Standard Class 9F, and the BR Class 40 Models. Considering that a lot of Bachmann's Thomas Rolling Stock are recolors of Bachmann UK Rolling stock, including the Express Coaches, the Cattle Wagons, and Ventilated Vans, maybe Bachmann could look into making Arthur, Murdoch, and The Diesel/Class 40. They could either recolor their existing models and put a face on them, like Beau, or maybe use the existing models as starting points to design more screen-accurate models of Arthur, Murdoch, and Class 40, so they don't have to design completely new models.

Has anyone repainted any Donald and Douglas into Blue Donald and Blue Douglas?

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on November 03, 2024, 04:12:26 PMI'd also really like to see Sonny but I can't particularly give him any strong reasoning beyond me wanting him because his basis and livery is cool.

I would also like to see Sonny as a Bachmann model.

One potential argument in favor of Sonny could be is that he was the last character made in CGI, and therefore does not have much merchandise of him. Bachmann could therefore be one of the few ranges that produces merchandise of Sonny.

Another argument in favor of Sonny is than while Sonny's basis, Bellerophon, is rather iconic with railway enthusiasts, there are not many models of it, although I think KRModels does a Bellerophon now. Bachmann Sonny could be used as a less expensive model for non-Thomas Modelers who want to convert a Bachmann Sonny into a either a Bellerophon or another Haydock Foundry well-tank engine.

Not exactly the strongest arguments in favor of Sonny, but I wanted to at least put them on the table.

If people contact Bachmann Europe, something they can mention, among other things, that Bachmann UK already have the basis for Arthur, Murdoch, and Class 40. It would be a good idea to tell them that they have those character's basis so that they could either recolor those models into the characters like they did with Beau, or have a starting point for potential Arthur, Murdoch, and Class 40 models, that they do not need to design completely from scratch. Bachmann has already used a lot of Rolling Stock tooling's from Bachmann UK range.

https://www.bachmann.co.uk/product/lms-ivatt-2mt-tank-1205-lms-black-(revised)/31-442

https://www.bachmann.co.uk/product/br-standard-9f-with-br1f-tender-92184-br-black-%28late-crest%29/32-859b

https://www.bachmann.co.uk/product/class-40-disc-headcode-40097-br-blue/32-489sf

Something I hope Bachmann will do would be update their USA HO Annie and Clarabel models so they have the black Chassis of their UK models. They have already updated a lot of their early models with the thicker lamp irons and dummy coupling hooks of the UK versions. Speaking of which, I hope they will also update the US HO Henry, Gordon, and Toby so they have black lamp irons and dummy coupling hooks instead of light gray.

If they did make the Old Coaches, Composite and Brake Coaches, then I would definitely buy them! As further incentive for Bachmann, they could then recolor the Old Coaches into additional new products: the Teak Composite and Brake Coaches that appeared a few times in Season 1, and which were actually painted on the other side of the Old Coaches. Maybe call them the Teak Old Coaches or something:

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Old_Coaches?file=LNERTeakCoaches.png

Granted the Teak Coaches might be a little far-fetched, but Bachmann has already done so with the Toby's Museum Coaches. So I figured I would at least mention the idea, and we will see what happens.

Quote from: NWRLevi on September 25, 2024, 12:43:14 PM

Quote from: Mulfred100 on September 25, 2024, 09:17:19 AMBut completely inaccurate to the tv series. If they do Gordon's special coaches I'd much rather they used Spencer's coach without the corridor. It may not be real world accurate but it's TV accurate

I do get that, but also, Spencer's coach has the small doors on either end, meaning it wouldn't be accurate either way unless Bachmann makes a whole new tooling, which would never happen. They'd be inaccurate either way, so it would probably be best to use the already existing express coach tooling, as then they fit in with any already existing express trains. I do see where you're coming from, though.

I agree. Personally, I am fine with the Express Coaches having corridors at each end, even if it isn't screen accurate. So I hope that potential Gordon's Special Composite and Brake Coaches will have those corridors so they will fit in seamlessly.

The reason I keep mentioning that I hope they would recolor the Gordon's Express Composite and Brake Coaches into Gordon's Special Coaches is because the Spencer Special Coach is not identical to the other Bachmann Thomas Express Coaches. The Spencer Special Coaches do not have the rubber connecting corridor at each end of the coach, all they have is a door outline. Therefore, while they can couple up to the regular Express Coaches, there is still a gap between the Special Coach and the Express Coaches. I would hope that given that Gordon is an express engine, that people would want to either give him more than just 2 Gordon's Special Coaches or combine those Coaches into their already existing Express Trains, and having the corridor on both would allow them to integrate seamlessly, without a gap, like a real express train would. That is why I would prefer it if they recolored the Gordon's Express Composite and Brake Coaches into the Gordon's Special Composite and Brake Coaches, as opposed to just recoloring the Spencer Special Coach, even if a Spencer Brake Coach is released to go with it.

Quote from: harrison05 on September 24, 2024, 10:34:39 PM

Quote from: Yard Master on September 24, 2024, 09:25:50 AMStanley will not be shipping until 2025. We apologize for the delay, but hopefully we will a painted sample to show before the end of the year.

Take your time I'd rather have a model made with love and care and not thats not rushed to meet certain deadline.

Agreed. The same goes for Salty.

Since A lot of people have been suggesting Gordons's Special Coaches, and I would like to see them as well, I would like to reiterate some of the things that I would hope they would include in Gordon's Special Coaches models.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/SR_Maunsell_Coaches?so=search&file=Gordon%27sSpecialCoaches.png

For one thing, I would hope that Bachmann would make a set of Gordon's Special Composite Coach and Gordon's Special Brake Coach. Bachmann has done this before with the Toby's Museum Coaches, making both a composite and a brake version of these coaches, even though only the brake version appeared. That way, people could make a longer and complete express train for Gordon out of them. And hey, its two new products instead of one!

For another thing, I would hope they would recolor both of these Composite and Brake coaches out of the already existing Gordon's Express Composite Coach and Gordon's Express Brake Coach, with the rubber corridors on each end of them. Therefore, they would be compatible with the already existing Gordon's Express Coaches, as well as the Red Express Coaches. It would be cool to at least have the option for Gordon's Special Coaches to fit in with trains of already existing Express Coaches.

I have just had a thought on how Bachmann could make a RWS-style Toby, without even breaking the CGI mandate! It probably won't happen, but I at least wanted to put the idea out there. And Bachmann has surprised us in the past.

In the twenty-third season episode "Heart of Gold" Toby has a fantasy sequence where he sees himself being turned into a golfing windmill. Here are some pictures:

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold31.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold29.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold32.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold110.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold34.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_of_Gold/Gallery?so=search&file=HeartofGold37.png

The livery Toby is in when he is in this fantasy does look a lot like his Railway Series Book livery. I suspect that the episodes writer, fan-turned-pro Michael White, may have slipped that in as a little easter egg.

Given that Bachmann has released Busy Bee James based on an obscure livery in a single episode, Maybe something Bachmann could do would be release a Toby recolor in these colors from Heart of Gold. Toby's sideplates are not seen in the fantasy sequence, so maybe Bachmann could sneak some Blue sideplates on to it and release it as "Windmill Toby" or something along those lines? Therefore, it could secretly double as a CGI Toby recolor AND Railway Series Toby. It would be a great chance for Bachmann to get a recolor out as a quick new product.

Granted this is a rather far-fetched. I suspect it won't happen, but I just wanted to put the idea on the table. And Bachmann has surprised us before, so we never know. It would be cool to have a Windmill Toby to go along with Toby's Museum Coaches!