Well regarding moving eyes we do know that engines who are too small or there's no room (Beau) can still be made. We just need to look at the NG line for that or even N scale or G Scale Winston. Yeah his design isn't a typical but other modeling companies have managed it and with Stephen there's the added room of his smoke box which the actual rocket just has the funnel. Sales wise like every engine when done with care they sell brilliantly. One of the main reasons I keep coming back to Stephen is the fact the Open Coach is being made, which yeah it was shown in season 16 but its notably connected to Ulfstead and Stephen pulling his Tours around the castle. As always time will tell. I've made my case and I've done the research and tried to carry out some Polling so it's not just me saying "I'd like Stephen".

So with Stephen I figured rather then me echoing myself I'd use my Instagram as a bit of a data poll to see what others think I threw out a poll which is one poll so it's not gospel and my following is only 2755 and the poll itself was seen 539 and out of that 539 only 110 actually took part giving their view however the results are here
poll and what was aksed

results

63 voted yes they'd buy Bachmann Stephen. 18 voted no they wouldn't buy Stephen and 29 voted for I'll decide when the model is revealed. Again I'm just someone making a poll on my account so I hold no weight really nor can really follow that up with who voted no who actually collects Bachmann, or anything like that but it's just a little bit of data research to show that there is a bit the fandom who would get behind the model and a potential pool who could be won around once the model is revealed. Thank you for reading and if you happen to be one of the people who voted thank you for participating.

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on August 23, 2024, 08:26:25 PM

Quote from: Mulfred100 on August 23, 2024, 03:33:10 PMTbh I know I'm one of the few people who are less against the mandate and I know Bachmann as a company care about us fans and genuinely listen and keep us modeling. I've said it before but I'll say it again it's been 15 years this year for Hero of the rails and the CGI switch 11 since King of the railway and what we know as the Brenner era. We can continue to point out "but YouTube, but we want" they know! Let's make the most of what we can do and trust Bachmann and Doug. I mean 2015 we were completely shocked by Skarloey, then N scale, The iconic summer announcements of Peter Sam and Daisy, HO scaled figures, the beautiful resin building (rip) Besides we've still got a nice little pool of CGI Characters that are liked by fans. Hiro, Stephen, Porter etc.

I just don't like it being a mandate. I don't like it when parent companies limit their liscensors regardless. Everything you're saying is completely true but also, it is an unsatisfying answer. People will likely keep bringing this up here because it is an annoying limit that shouldn't be in place. I think that being unsatisfied with this current contract is completely fair as long as you also acknowledge that Bachmann still has plenty of ways to deliver to the fans. Both are statements that can coexist.

But people don't do that and that's my overall point! Sometimes this thread feels like it should be renamed as "The CGI Mandate Thread" rather then it's actual title. It's very negative and draining. It's one reason why I left, it becomes page after page of negativity rather then people talking about the future. Now we can continue to push for what we want in a positive way and discussions or we can keep repeating the same lines about it. I know which I'd rather and my ending point which seems to have been completely lost was that Bachmann always surprises us, so I have no doubt be it in a cold day in February or a summers day in July or August that one day we'll see a model series character introduction and be all "well I wasn't expecting that! This is amazing" until then let's be POSITIVE and talk about what we'd like (model series included) rather the this be page after page being down on a situation Bachmann can't really do anything about and like I say as soon as they can we'll know because shock announcements lol.

Tbh I know I'm one of the few people who are less against the mandate and I know Bachmann as a company care about us fans and genuinely listen and keep us modeling. I've said it before but I'll say it again it's been 15 years this year for Hero of the rails and the CGI switch 11 since King of the railway and what we know as the Brenner era. We can continue to point out "but YouTube, but we want" they know! Let's make the most of what we can do and trust Bachmann and Doug. I mean 2015 we were completely shocked by Skarloey, then N scale, The iconic summer announcements of Peter Sam and Daisy, HO scaled figures, the beautiful resin building (rip) Besides we've still got a nice little pool of CGI Characters that are liked by fans. Hiro, Stephen, Porter etc.

Quote from: JLK2707 on August 22, 2024, 01:22:20 AMI think Mattel just needs to drop the CGI only mandate since Bachmann is running out of characters. It is too restrictive.

I mean there's less classic series characters then CGI. I can reel off about 25-30 from the top of my head who are CGI characters Bachmann hasn't done without engines like Whiff and Harvey. But sure, they ate running out of CGI Characters. Only Hiro, Victor, Charlie, Scruff, logging locos, Belle, Norman, Luke, Stafford, Winston, Stephen, Connor, Caitlin, Millie, Porter, Gator, Timothy, Marion, Samson, Philip, Flying Scottsman, Glynn, the journey beyond sodor newbies, Nia, all the international engines who I can't remember their names and I'm too lazy too google. That's just off the top of my head without using the wikia. I don't agree with the mandate but to say they are "running out of characters" is factual wrong. Bachmann make the most of what they can do and let's be real they succeed otherwise we'd have lost interest a very long time ago.

So I have a few theories and ideas of what could be next from Bachmann and there is evidence there to support them and I feel these would really benefit the range rather then more class 08 recolours like Fanado. I'm glad we are getting what we are with Sindey and Mainland diesel but that's plenty for me. These may seem strange on the surface however there's cases to be made for each and tbh I never hear anyone talking about these
Firstly Stephen


Now Stephen is pretty iconic within the Brenner era of the show. He's a CGI character based off the legendary Stephenson's Rocket. He is a very unique design and there is a gap in the market for a tooling of the rocket in HO that won't cost the earth, thus opening up the possibility people will buy Stephen even if they aren't a Thomas fan to customise him or to make him look like the real thing. Similar to Skarloey and the 009 engines. Bachmann are already making the open blue coach so technically he already has one piece of his rolling stock being worked on.



Maybe even they could make a red version of the blue open coach with a Santa figure for a Christmas set



There's only his other coach that would need making and I'm sure Bachmann could make that in 2025 or 2026. Adding Stephen also adds more possibility for Millie, Sir Robert and Glynn further down the line.

My next one I'd like to talk about is Skiff

Now Skiff was introduced in Sodor's legend of the lost treasure along with Ryan. He's a very simple railboat who I'm sure would be a massive hit. He is very unique and extremely versatile in that if his base was removable you could have him either in water or on land. He's that perfect bridge between rolling stock and non rail characters. He wouldn't require couplings as he is never pulled by an engine nor is he ever seen pulling anything behind him. Ryan and Daisy are already in the range, along with Oliver and Duck so he has characters he can be paired with at fairs and trainshows.  He's also appears in all engines go so he still has a very broad appeal and lastly like Stephen if there was a figure of Sailor John made he'd look fantastic riding inside Skiff or even if Bachmann made a figure of his new Owner Captain Joe.

My last prediction is for an N scale item.
Bradford

Now my reasoning for this is very simple. Bachmann just introduced the LMS 20 ton Breakvan which is Bradfords basis. It makes sense to utilise the tooling and make Bradford. He sadly is a CGI character with 0 merchandise so if Bachmann made him in N scale I'm sure fans would be thrilled. The tooling is there so why not use it. If Bachmann can make Hannah I see no reason why Bradford can't be made too and this will give the N scale range more of its own identity having things that HO and Large scale don't have which isn't a bad thing. I was blown away by Hannah not only being announce but her painted sample is out there ready to be shown. Lastly for Bradford if he is made I'm sure Bachmann can utilise Percy's chassis and make Samson in N scale in the future. These are just alternatives and my thoughts. Thank you for reading.