The Everything Thomas Topic

[TrainFan97]

Still no update on Sir Handel or Stanley, but they FINALLY revealed an unpainted sample of the Narrow Gauge High-Side Wagon. Once fully painted, there will be three colors of them. Still no sample of the other Gondola yet, but at least one new unpainted sample has been shown. Looking forward to seeing the High-Side Wagons fully painted. Might be within a few months that we'll see fully painted High-Side Wagons in brown, green and red.

It was exciting to see something we haven't already seen. Maybe soon, they will have an unpainted sample of the Narrow Gauge Gondola, and then they'll really start catching up on Narrow Gauge rolling stock.

Duncan is still under development. Bulgy was confirmed to have been started on, and going through the design process. Doug can't confirm or deny that we're getting N Scale Edward and Henry yet, but they were acknowledged. He knows those products are highly-requested.

With more products said to be coming by the end of year, we can hope the 2025 catalog will have some very exciting announcements.

[BubbleBuddyFan]

I will be interested to get Limited Release Thomas Rolling Stock soon at some point in the future. I do really like Original Steam Team sometimes too. I'm not planning to get HO Nia and Rebecca from Bachmann Trains either! It gets worse and worse in the future. I'm planning to get Knapford Express Coaches for Limited Release soon! I will get Limited Release Thomas Rolling Stock in HO/OO Scale someday.

[Awesometrain77]

On the stream they said something about Stanley shipping at the end of the year idk how true this could be .

Tbh I don't think we are gonna see much new toolings for NMRA this year we still have the open coach , Duncan , and some narrow gauge rolling stock . We have yet to see any updates on . Not to mention sir Handel seems to be behind Stanley .
 

An idea I had was for Spencer's brake coach we have a composite coach But not a brake coach

I think a brake coach for Spencer is 16 years overdue .

Troublsome truck 7 is also over due I think it's gonna be the LNER 12 ton van.

Lei could also happen as he is a LNER 12 ton van .

And both would add more trucks with faces to the Bachmann range .

[TrainFan97]

Once again. still no sign of Sir Handel just yet, but they did tease an unpainted sample of Stanley, which will be shown in the August Trainworld Stream in like three weeks. They managed to get Stanley ready before Sir Handel, who was announced long before.

They just recently got unpainted samples of the Narrow Gauge High Side Wagon and Stanley. Other products awaiting unpainted samples include not just Sir Handel, but also the Narrow Gauge Gondola, Gunpowder Wagon, Duncan, the HO Scale Open Carriage, Bulgy, N Scale Diesel/Paxton and the Express Coaches. It's going to be a while before we hear progress on Duncan or the Gunpowder Wagons. The N Scale Express Coaches are still not up for preorder.

[Awesometrain77]

Yeah Duncan is so far away right now it's insane . I expect to see the prototype of him summer 2025 if we are lucky for a late 2026 release .

I feel as if Stanley's unpainted prototype could shown off at the NMRA 2024 next month .

Maybe for September Thomas Tuesday we could see sir Handel .

[JLK2707]

Does Bachmann use 3D printing for the models of theirs?

[Yard Master]

Hi JLK,

All of our model trains are made with either plastic injection moulding or with die casting. 3D printing is great for small batches or parts, but not well suited to mass production of a full ready-to-run train.

[DustyMarie53!]

So recently Capsule Plarail had an interesting magazine article. In it they said they were aiming to make every CGI character in the line eventually. Why does this matter to this forum, you might ask?

Well, originally, in 2016, they said their goal was to complete EVERY character. Suddenly it's changed to CGI only. Just like how Bachmann has said they can't do Stepney. Now, this is speculation. But I think, with the advent of the reboot, Mattel has requested the licensees to stick to the CGI style guides for new molds to avoid possible issues with cohesion and confusion with what to use as reference. Hence why every recent model series rolling stock piece we've gotten has been alongside a CGI variant and/or a prexisting mold, and Stepney is currently off the table. It's a way to give every company outside of Mattel a specific style to stick to now that there is two very radically different interpretations of Thomas, easier to avoid confusion that way. That is likely why the rule exists, do I think it's a good rule? No, not really. I'd really like a capsule Derek. But it seems we're likely stuck with it for a bit. Granted. AEG might be ending next year, so hopefully that means the contracts can change back. We just have to wait and see.

[Awesometrain77]

I don't think that is the case because if that was the Thomas & friends classics channel would not put both on it . Not to mention CP has done characters such as BoCo in recent waves after a long time of not being available .

The figure packs are gonna be shown off next Thomas Tuesday And maybe even at the show In August . These packs were a long term project that happened to beat sir Handel . I hope we see him soon. 
The post almost hinted that this could not be it for new stuff they will off in August so maybe sir Handel then who knows

[N Scale Sudrian]

I don't think that is the case because if that was the Thomas & friends classics channel would not put both on it . Not to mention CP has done characters such as BoCo in recent waves after a long time of not being available .

I think what Marie was theorizing would only apply to making new toys or models of 'Thomas' characters in a post-'All Engines Go' world... so it wouldn't necessarily apply to what media can or can't be rerun... As for BoCo and other characters with odd resurgences in Plarails... I figure they're allowed to use any characters that have already been made for the line, in the same way S.C. Ruffey, Jeremy, and Spiteful Brake Van are allowed to continue existing in Bachmann's own line-up...

The theory sounds plausible to me, even if it would be a disappointing state of affairs... I think it would be somewhat hypocritical for Mattel to take this stance regarding non-'CGI' characters given their repeated use of Bulstrode among the 'CGI' style toys post-'AEG'... But I suppose its within their rights to be more strict towards licensees than their own internal team, given they're the ones holding the keys... It will be interesting to return to this topic once the HOn30 Narrow Gauge line runs out of 'CGI' characters, I assume that will be the breaking point as to whether or not this stipulation is true or not (or if it perhaps will be amended in the coming years)...