I just got my HO Scale Ryan and N Scale Toby today. Both are very good models.

Unlike his HO and Large Scale models, N Scale Toby actually has side rods. Thomas' chassis was recycled for Toby, complete with side rods, and it worked perfectly. Only the N Scale model has side rods, while his HO Scale and Large Scale models didn't, which could explain why he was a poor runner in those scales, with the middle wheels being unpowered on them. The N Scale model really fixed that with the inclusion of side rods.

If we do get Mavis in N Scale, she too can recycle Thomas' chassis complete with side rods, and she would be a great runner. It's such a shame that Mavis was given the short end of the stick in Large Scale. Hope she can be made in N Scale.

For now, the #1 priority for N Scale is Henry. As stated before, he would recycle Gordon's chassis, minus the trailing wheels. I would certainly welcome both Henry and Mavis to N Scale, since both would recycle existing chassis. Like Henry, Spencer and Flying Scotsman would also recycle Gordon's chassis. Here's hoping that the next Trainworld stream will show N Scale Gordon and Emily fully painted, and that Henry gets announced this NMRA.

Diesel is also one I would welcome to N Scale, and he would be great for recolors, including Paxton, who can be announced with him. Paxton's face would look so much better in N Scale than it did in HO Scale.

The fact that N Scale is getting Toad could even indicate plans for Oliver. Along with Toad, we also have three ventilated vans coming soon, which are Great Western, Fruit & Vegetable, and Ice Cream, and they're coming along very well. Regarding rolling stock for N Scale, the best choices would be Red Coaches, Express Coaches, Coal Wagon w/ Load, Red Open Wagon, and Spiteful Brake Van.

At last, HO Scale Ryan and N Scale Toby are now officially in stock!

The recent stream showed painted samples of Emily's coaches in N Scale, as well as an update to HO Scale Beau's tender. Hopefully next time for sure, we see painted samples of N Scale Gordon and Emily.

Recently, the images of HO Scale Ryan and N Scale Toby have been posted.

HO Scale Ryan:
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=756_772_774&products_id=8037

N Scale Toby:
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=756_1126_1127&products_id=8592

Should hopefully arrive in stock within the next month. Now that Beau has been shown fully painted, his image needs to get posted, too. I'm sure progress has been made on both Sir Handel and Rebecca. They too should get posted to the store, but with render illustrations for the time being.

So the latest Trainworld stream did not show N Scale Gordon fully painted, but did reveal HO Scale Beau, who is fully painted. Beau actually turned out really good. He doesn't have buffers, but that makes him more realistic, since American engines don't have buffers, plus being made from an existing tooling, that would've raised the cost. He doesn't have moving eyes, but makes up for it with a working headlamp. We're now getting an American-styled engine in the HO Scale Thomas range. His rear coupler is hook-and-loop, which makes him compatible with Thomas rolling stock, but his front coupler is a knuckle coupler, so that it doesn't create such a large gaping hole.

Beau is currently the only engine in the HO Scale range not to have moving eyes, but does have a working light, at the result of being made from an existing tooling. It may not be until the summer when they're finally ready to show an unpainted prototype of Rebecca. Next month for sure, they should have N Scale Gordon and Emily fully painted.

For the next Thomas Tuesday, we should hopefully see the first painted sample of N Scale Gordon. If not, then May for sure. Emily's painted sample may not be revealed until May at the earliest.

Gordon's chassis can be reused for Henry, Spencer and Flying Scotsman, except Henry wouldn't have trailing wheels, while Spencer's trailing wheels would be made differently.

N Scale Henry is sure to be announced this NMRA, given his demand, and the molds are already ready for both Gordon and Emily, which are soon to be fully painted. If both Henry AND Edward can't be announced at the NMRA, then the NMRA can just announce Henry, while Edward can be announced in early 2024. I probably shouldn't bet on them both being announced at the same time. Once Bachmann announces N Scale Henry, followed by Edward, we'll get to have all eight members of the original main cast in N Scale. Toby will arrive in stock very soon, and at least he will eventually get his faithful coach, Henrietta. Edward was given the short end of the stick in Large Scale, and so was Mavis.

Hopefully for rolling stock, the NMRA could announce either the Express Coaches, or Red Coaches. Maybe even the Spiteful Brake Van.

N Scale Emily is now in the unpainted stage, and it only took one month after N Scale Gordon was shown unpainted. Within a few months, we should definitely see both N Scale Gordon and Emily fully painted, with Henry being announced at the NMRA.

Both HO Scale Ryan and N Scale Toby were shown in their packages, which means they will arrive in stock very soon. We should get updates on HO Scale Beau and Rebecca at some point.

It's better that Hiro gets made in HO Scale before Flying Scotsman. Bachmann can even do a recolor using Hiro's tooling, which would be his patchwork livery. Hiro is the #1 priority for a new engine in HO Scale, even more than Stanley and Whiff, since he is a big fan favorite, and one of the most popular CGI characters.

While Spencer is another good idea for another big engine in N Scale, but after Edward and Henry, there are other side characters that should join the range first, like Diesel, Duck and Oliver. Diesel's tooling would be highly versatile for recolors like Paxton, Sidney, 'Arry and Bert. The latter two would sell better if their faces were different, with Bert having noticeably more stubble. Duck and Oliver would make sense, as they're both very popular classic characters that appeared in CGI, and sold well in HO Scale, especially with Toad joining the range as the first brake van.

Flying Scotsman might be better made in N Scale before HO Scale because Gordon's chassis is disproportionate in HO Scale, so Flying Scotsman's tooling would have to be made 100% from scratch. But for N Scale, Flying Scotsman can use Gordon's chassis, like Henry. For Henry, Bachmann just needs to remove the trailing wheels. Could N Scale Spencer also be made using Gordon's chassis? Though his trailing wheels would be done differently. Spencer would also pave the way for the Special Coach to be made in N Scale. Spencer is definitely feasible, though I think we're better off getting Henry and Edward in N Scale first, so we'd have all eight members of the original main cast.

Bachmann could still make the character Flying Scotsman, though he may not get released in the UK, especially if Hornby does own the exclusive rights to produce models of the real-life counterpart. Bachmann couldn't even sell their HO Scale Thomas products in the UK until Hornby dropped their Thomas license. Marketed there as OO Scale.

For now, our main focus for HO Scale is Hiro. For N Scale, it's Henry.

Rebecca has certainly raised the demand for Hiro in HO Scale. Rebecca's announcement had officially put tender engines back into the picture, considering she is the first newly-tooled tender engine in HO Scale since Donald and Douglas. We may see her unpainted prototype this summer at the earliest.

Did you know that Rebecca was intended to be a Season 21 character? After several episodes got cut, she wasn't introduced until the next season. The start of a short-lived era that killed the original show, but that's a different topic.

Hiro will even be prioritized over the likes of Stanley and Whiff, since he's much more popular, including among the Japanese audience. He's one of those CGI characters that's actually a big fan favorite. Maybe after Hiro, Flying Scotsman could be another good choice for a tender engine, since it's been 100 years since Flying Scotsman first came to service, and he was in CGI. The only issue is his second tender, which will make him more expensive. Hiro has two more drive wheels than Rebecca, but should still be feasible. If we just can't get Stepney, Hiro will be more than welcome.

The best choice for an engine in HO Scale at this time is Hiro, while the best choices for rolling stock are Judy, Jerome, and the Works Unit Coach. All of which require new toolings, but will be well worth it. While Hiro will be the most expensive model in HO Scale, given his sheer size, but many are willing to pay that much for him. There is a market for Hiro. Engine recolors can include Sidney, Fernando, or Green Salty, while rolling stock recolors can include bringing the Chocolate Syrup Tanker and Toffee Tanker to HO Scale.

For Narrow Gauge, the best choices are Duncan, as well as the brown brake van and box van. Although many are iffy on Duncan's CGI render, he will complete the classic Skarloey Railway engines that appeared in CGI. Progress has been slow on Sir Handel, so it may be a while before Duncan gets announced.

For N Scale, the best choice for an engine is Henry. After Henry, it would be most natural to follow with Edward, which will complete the original main cast in N Scale. The best choices for the first side characters would be Diesel, Duck and Oliver. Like Chaz said, Diesel would be a shoe-in with many potential recolors, including Paxton, whose face will look a lot better without the eye mechanism being an issue like it was in HO Scale. For N Scale rolling stock, the best choices would be the Express Coaches, Red Coaches, Mail Car, Coal Wagon w/ Load, Red Open Wagon, and brake vans, including the Spiteful Brake Van.

In HO Scale, Hiro would be the new tooling for an engine that would be best-received, as he is the most popular CGI-originated character. With Rebecca joining the range, which is bringing tender engines back to HO Scale, Hiro is now more possible. Rebecca's wheels can even be used as parts for Hiro. Just repainted, plus two additional drive wheels.

Judy, Jerome and the Works Unit Coach would be the best choices for new rolling stock toolings. I'd love to see the Works Unit Coach released in green, orange and blue. Like I said about Judy and Jerome, Bachmann has done rail cranes for HO Scale. They just haven't bothered doing any for the Thomas line. Doesn't mean they can't.

For a new rolling stock tooling in HO Scale, the Works Unit Coach would be the perfect choice. It can be made in green, blue, and orange. Three different liveries. That would certainly make for a great trio of rolling stock in HO Scale. The Works Unit Coach would be a much simpler new tooling (a basic shape) than Judy and Jerome, which also aren't bad choices, considering Bachmann does make rail cranes. They just haven't bothered making any for the Thomas line.

So, for the next new rolling stock tooling in HO Scale, I'd say the Works Unit Coach is the #1 priority, especially for being a basic shape.

For motive power, Winston may be feasible in HO Scale, considering Bachmann UK makes Wickham trolleys, and Winston literally is a Wickham trolley. He would also make great use of the Sir Topham Hatt figure. Something for him to ride in.

Now I got a better understanding of the Open Carriage. It's not necessarily for Stephen, but rather, it's being made so that the upcoming HO Scale figures would have something to ride in.

That being said, another idea that would make use of the figures would be Samson, which would be another new tooling. Being a cabless tank engine, Samson could be given crew members to put onboard. With Samson, Bradford can also be made as his brake van, using a UK tooling like Toad did in HO Scale. Also being Bradford's first official piece of merchandise, and another good option for a brake van.

An already-released engine like Rosie can also have crew members put inside.