Bachmann Thomas & Friends in 2020

[TrainshockeylifE]

Maybe they won't make two n scale and narrow gauge announcements a year. Maybe they will just do n scale one year, then narrow gauge the other and keep flipping each year?

[TrainFan97]

It would be nice if somebody made a 3D printed Sidney face, so someone can make him as a modelling project, and show how he'd look if Bachmann made him.

[Chaz]

Personally, I think the HO range is done with new toolings for the time being.  If anything I expect Sidney to happen probably next year or a green Thomas and black James.  Heck, I even think Salty probably has a chance of making a comeback next year too as the next "new" HO engine announcement.  It's sad that this is pretty much what everyone's expectations of HO came to after Grumpy Diesel and Red Rosie.

[TerencetheTractor525]

These are all definitely fair points, but considering that next year is Thomas' 75th Anniversary, I do hope that Bachmann can at least make one more HO engine with a new tooling that fans have been screaming for. Stepney and Daisy are the most ideal candidates for sure. Both are classic characters that would close off the classic group of engines in a unique way. Afterwards, I would be perfectly fine with Bachmann making characters such as Sidney, making existing engines with different facial expressions, or not making anymore new HO engines altogether, since most of their attention would go to narrow gauge and the new n scale line.

But can our dear licencor agree to this? I truly hope so.

[TrainFan97]

I can see why Large Scale looks bleak, due to considerably inferior sales compared to HO. Very few people actually have the budget for Large Scale, and even Bachmann's competitors are struggling with Large Scale, while HO Scale is small, more affordable, and easy to collect, but the budget for new toolings in HO Scale has really been a problem lately for Bachmann. Rosie remains the last new tooling for HO Scale, who was first announced in 2016. It's been three years without another new tooling getting announced. It's safe to say that new HO Scale toolings are done, at least for now. Next year is the 75th Anniversary, and maybe a new tooling can be possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. I won't get my hopes up.

I don't think the N Scale line is going to replace HO Scale. As long as the HO models continue to sell, and Bachmann still makes money off of them, the HO range shouldn't be going anywhere. The HO and N ranges should definitely coexist. As for Narrow Gauge, Rusty and the Coaches were taking longer than expected, so it should be the reason nothing was announced. Those models should definitely get released this year for sure.

[mulfred-100]

I can see why Large Scale looks bleak, due to considerably inferior sales compared to HO. Very few people actually have the budget for Large Scale, and even Bachmann's competitors are struggling with Large Scale, while HO Scale is small, more affordable, and easy to collect, but the budget for new toolings in HO Scale has really been a problem lately for Bachmann. Rosie remains the last new tooling for HO Scale, who was first announced in 2016. It's been three years without another new tooling getting announced. It's safe to say that new HO Scale toolings are done, at least for now. Next year is the 75th Anniversary, and maybe a new tooling can be possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. I won't get my hopes up.

I don't think the N Scale line is going to replace HO Scale. As long as the HO models continue to sell, and Bachmann still makes money off of them, the HO range shouldn't be going anywhere. The HO and N ranges should definitely coexist. As for Narrow Gauge, Rusty and the Coaches were taking longer than expected, so it should be the reason nothing was announced. Those models should definitely get released this year for sure.

Well in terms of Rusty and the coaches there is a man who supplies Bachmann Thomas in the UK and he has told me via the Thomas modeling group that his supplier expects rusty and the coaches to be released around April 30th. Now this isn't 100% accurate and things can and normally do change but i can safely asume they will be out this year.
As for large scale theres still the tankers to be released off last year. Yeah i think it is dwindling but i don't think it will end just yet. If we get no new announcements for next year then I'd start worrying. I personally hope it doesn't as I've just started collecting large scale.
HO always a safe bet and N Scale we can't really comment on as there's so much we have yet to find out. How good it is. Pricing ect. For all we know these new N Scale models might not be as good as tomix so might fall flat. Might be amazing but until theres these facts about price and product quality ect we don't know. Everyone seems to be running with this amazing idea of a new line and all that without even seeing a product yet.

[Kemptown Branch]

The only thing I am worried about for the N Scale range is the size. I am really hoping that they will be in scale with typical British N Scale models. The Tomix models are oversized to the point that they are as big as Skarloey and Rheneas, the only exception being the height. If Bachmann made the N scale models like Tomix did, they would just be shooting themselves in the foot. None of the products they are currently releasing would be different than what Tomix did, give or take a few details and Troublesome Truck #2. I personally hope that they scale them with British N Scale just so they could be putting something different out compared to what's already been done.

I have also been looking around at the types of wagons available from Graham Farish. There are several that could be used that would follow the HO Scale line, which is what the large scale range did for a few years. This would also mean that Bachmann wouldn't have to make everything with new toolings like they would if they followed the Tomix Scale, which would make it easier for Bachmann to release new items.

One thing Bachmann could do that would be better than Tomix is something they did with Rheneas: separately fitted handrails. They could also do the lamp irons and brake pipes, which are features that the Graham Farish models have, so they wouldn't be impossible. I really hope that Bachmann can make these models a breath of fresh air, rather than being redundant until they can please fans who own Tomix's limited range.

One thing I'd like to say to those who want them to be scaled like Tomix models. Obviously Bachmann is going to do the main characters first. If they did make the models just like Tomix, they would be releasing the same things for several years before they can actually do something new that people who own the Tomix models would want to buy. Obviously, this would hurt sales. Although people would say that going the other way would hurt sales, too, it's not like Trackmaster, where they released every character, then pulled a switch so that everyone would have to buy everything again. The Tomix models have not been on sale in the US for a long time (if they ever were). With the Trackmaster models, both types ended up on shelves with each other for a long time, which helped people see just how bad the new Trackmaster Stuff is. Besides, the majority of Tomix stuff has been discontinued for a long time, so a lot of people wouldn't even have what Tomix made, which, therefore, brings no reason for Bachmann to release them to the dreadfully oversized scale. I really hope Bachmann chooses the way that would make more sense for them in the long run. Anyways, what are your thoughts?

[Cheeky_ULP]

The Tomix equipment is in scale with Japanese N scale (1∶150) rolling stock, which is metre gauge rather than standard gauge. British N scale (1∶148) is to standard gauge, and thus a different scale entirely.

Personally, I hold the opposite opinion; not scaling them to Tomix would be shooting themselves in the foot, as it means the two ranges would look inconsistent. Think of how the Bachmann and Hornby ranges were always bought together and mixed because they were the same scale. Tomix and Bachmann could benefit from the same ordeal. In the next few years, if Bachmann makes tankers, vent vans, a brake van, etc. they would all be compatible with the Tomix range. There is the advantage of being in-scale with British N scale, but as far as we know, the range isn't even being sold in the UK yet, and is probably being designed with American N scale layouts in mind. It's something we'll hopefully have answers to soon.

[Kemptown Branch]

I am correct in saying the British N scale would be larger (slightly) than Japanese N scale. The funny thing is that the Tomix N scale Thomas models are a lot bigger than the British N scale models. There are photos online that prove it. Bringing up the scale ratio has no merit in this case.

[Cheeky_ULP]

That's exactly what I was referring to, though, so I dunno what you're saying.

[Kemptown Branch]

If the Tomix Models were scaled 1:150 they would slightly smaller than British N Scale models (1:148). As the second number in a ratio gets larger, the size of something in that scale decreases. This should hold true with British prototype models being made in either scale, but the Tomix Thomas models are larger than 1:148 British models. The Tomix Thomas models don't even scale well with other Japanese models made by Tomix, which they should. My theory about this is that the Tomix Thomas models were made too big, not because of the scale being different, but so that kids would be able to handle them more easily. Something that supports this is the lack of detail on the Thomas models (no lamp irons or brakepipes). The buffers also don't have correct proportions, and the whistles are beefier than they should be. They aren't like that because they would be too small in N scale, because other manufacturers have made those to scale.

[Cheeky_ULP]

Yes which is what I said, because you have to keep in mind metre gauge vs standard gauge as well, which is where it rebounds back into the Thomas engines being larger because Japanese rolling stock in metre gauge is usually smaller. It's not gonna be a 1:1 proportion in any regard because the (Tomix) Thomas designs are a loose representation of British rolling stock (the show is properly Gauge 1 but that's a whole nother can of worms).

Either way, the bottom line is as said already; Bachmann UKs Graham Farish range is a different scale, so it makes the Tomix range look too large in comparison. The two ways to go about it are to scale the Bachmann Thomas N scale to Graham Farish's scale and have access to more rolling stock and British engines in the same scale, at the expense of alienating the pre-existing Tomix range. The second option is the vice versa; making it proportionate to Tomix and thus looking in-scale with James, Henry, and the other buildings (all of which are currently available in the deluxe set that sports the CGI Thomas face), but alienating British N scalers a bit.

What will probably make the call in the long run is if Bachmann re-uses Graham Farish toolings for the rolling stock or not. If the wagon toolings are entirely new, then I expect Bachmann will make the N Scale range larger for the same reasons you said Tomix did; to make it easier for kids to handle and use.

[Kemptown Branch]

Alright. Those are pretty fair points. The only things left to consider really are that the Tomix Thomas models are a lot more scarce than British N scale models, and a not a lot of people are going to have the complete Tomix range, while, comparatively, a lot of people are going to have a fairly sizable collection of British N scale models, wheter they are made by Graham Farish or other companies. Another thing is that Bachmann already has the Graham Farish 7-plank wagon toolings they could use and several other models that mirror what's available in the HO scale Thomas range, that they would easily be able to use to build upon the range. Looking at the other ranges (bar Large Scale, seeing as there's hardly any Standard gauge models in that to begin with), Bachmann has always gone with what they could easily use to bring out their Thomas line. Even the Narrow Gauge line did this, although it sacrificed accurate box van toolings in the process. I guess my point with this is, they didn't make the HO scale models HO when they started out because they already had the basic toolings they needed to make the Thomas range. They didn't even do it with the Narrow Gauge range. I hope they don't feel the need to throw away something that has always worked for them (and their budget needs) just so they can match an obselete line of Thomas models from 15 years ago to satisfy the few modelers who went out of their way to find the entire range. How many kids would be given N Scale Thomas models in the US (and possibly the UK) anyways when there are the larger HO scale models? I know a lot of parents wouldn't want to get their children an expensive model they could break easily. Heck, Bachmann even confirmed to me via email that if they ever did do an N Scale Thomas range, they would not deem it suitable for use by children (whether it's because it's too small or because children would break them too easily, I know not), but I am certain they will market the line for people of 14+ years. I am also certain that when a lot of modelers bought the entire range after it was discontinued, they did not believe another manufacturer would pick up the license to make more models in that scale. I'm just saying that at this point, would it really be worth it to throw away scale and an economically smart business practice just to match an old product line from an entirely different era of Thomas and Friends?

It is also possible that the N Scale range will be available in the UK. The only known reason for the HO scale models not being available in the UK is becausd Hornby held the license. This had no effect whatsoever on the Large Scale models. Similarly, no one has held the license to make N Scale Thomas models in the UK, so it is entirely possible that this range will have the same go for it the Large Scale range did.

I am going to echo something you said in the Bachmann N Scale Thomas thread, being, "If they're the wrong scale, then I don't see the point." As you said, the Japanese N Scale is metre gauge, which is almlst an entire foot off of Standard Gauge. Seeing as Japanese N scale is also only really used in, well, Japan, releasing the Bachmann N Scale Thomas models to a scale for a single country that Bachmann doesn't sell their models in, that aren't even the correct gauge, would just be pointless. Even though 1:160 (American and Continental) and 1:148 (British) are 1:12 of a proportion off, they are both Standard Gauge, and in that size, American and British models look even closer to proper scale next to each other than even HO and OO do. Considering also that the country (very possibly countries) they will be released in, it would make a lot more sense to release them in the scales closest to that country they are being released in. Again, the Tomix Thomas range is really rare and expensive, and only about half of the range is currently available, of which all items are being made to go around rediculously tight curves (around 7 inch radius) with no sign of the older stuff being rereleased in the near future. Even Chaz noted this as well. Another thing is that said curve radius is smaller than anything released by Bachmann USA. I don't think Bachmann should have to limit themself to follow the range that has tighter than necessary curves.

Besides, even if Thomas and Percy are made to the smaller standard, the Tomix James would still be in scale with them in regards to the CGI Series.

[Falcon the 2nd]

Since a handful of users have given their predictions and hopes earlier, I may as well give mine and include some reasoning behind them. I may or may not repeat what others have already said concerning certain choices and the list may not be anywhere as big as others' either, but it's still worth a share.

HO Scale
Daisy or LBSC Thomas - Daisy's become a major fan favorite since her return in the show and an LBSC recolor for Thomas would be ideal for the 75th anniversary.
Troublesome Truck #6 - Demand for this idea has lately been prominent and as someone who is (surprisingly) still yet to own a single Troublesome Truck, I'm open to it.
Ffarquhar Station Resin Building - This is a very iconic location that's been around since the show's first season and it would also fit accordingly with the anniversary.

Narrow Gauge
Sir Handel - Sir Haydn's overhaul was finished many months ago, which means Bachmann now has a good opportunity to get a hold of measurements for Sir Handel. If Peter Sam were announced instead, I'd be open to him too. Just hoping for Sir Handel out of silly personal preference.
Brake Van - This has also been a popular idea lately and I'd love to see it made since it'd make Narrow Gauge freight loads feel a little more complete.

G Scale
Mavis - This lineup has been in a rough place lately and if any new engine were to be made anytime soon, it'd have to be Mavis. As I already said elsewhere, her tooling can easily be reused from Toby's with minimal change (maybe a length extension at the most) and she'd be a popular character in this lineup like she was in the HO lineup.

N Scale
My predictions are pretty much the exact same as TrainFan97's. If just one item were to be announced in that list, however, I'd hope for it to be James. He's always been a favorite for many fans (myself included) and since he was among the first characters announced in past lineups, it's expected that he'll be next in line when all is said and done with Thomas and Percy.
I'm also hoping for Toby and Mavis to be made sometime in the future, but it's much too early for them to be introduced at the moment. Many of us are excited for this new lineup and we all have high hopes for it, though it's also important to keep expectations in check and have patience for certain ideas we may have.

[Cheeky_ULP]

I wouldn't really call it economically smart when it's alienating an entirely pre-existing range. So yes, I absolutely think and maintain that the range should be consistently scaled with Tomix. It has an objective benefit of being easier for young modellers to handle, and would allow the tooling to be distinctly Thomas. I think scaling the range to British equipment has its benefits in terms of rolling stock, but I think in the long run it makes things more complicated for Thomas collectors specifically. Americans never minded the scale of the Tomix Thomas range much, and British N scale is a much more niche scale in the UK than OO is.

Basically, we'll just have to see what happens when they reveal images of the upcoming range. If we're lucky, we'll see something in the catalog whenever it comes out. Neither outcome would really surprise me, though.

Course, I have low expectations despite my personal opinions.

The Tomix range is actually easily on Amazon and eBay. Anyone who has any marginal desire to collect the Tomix range has plenty of options online. The only thing that does make them rare is to older N scalers that have a hard time ordering stuff online. However, the more I thought on this point, the more I consider redacting it since that becomes more and more a moot point in 2019. Point is, the Tomix range is accessible within a few clicks and short keyboard strokes. eBay currently has.. 166 international results for various Thomas items.

This is just a snippet of what you can find, and as it's clear to see there's an absolute wealth of the range readily available online.