Just hoping this summer's NMRA announcements will have N Scale Henry and the Express Coaches, and it will be great. Bachmann should be aware of the demand for them. Popular demand has given us Henrietta to go with Toby. It can do the same to bring us Henry and the Express Coaches for N Scale. The Express Coaches being the perfect thing to go with Gordon, so we can have N Scale Express, coming through!

Nice to see N Scale Toad fully painted, as well as the box vans. Maybe at some point, they could also make the Explosives, Mr. Jolly and Brendam Bay vans for N Scale as well. More very welcome N Scale rolling stock I'd like to see are the Red Coaches, Express Coaches and Spiteful Brake Van. Some might get announced at the NMRA. It's great that Henrietta is also coming our way, as the faithful companion for Toby. A Mail Car would be nice for Percy.

The unpainted prototype of N Scale Gordon looks wonderful. Can't wait to see him fully painted within a few months. The reason Bachmann is getting Gordon done faster than Emily is because Emily's basis turned out more difficult to make, and needed more time. However, it seems like they got there, and we will see an unpainted N Scale Emily within a few months. Maybe we'll see Emily unpainted the same time we see Gordon fully painted. Now I'm really hoping that N Scale Henry gets announced at the NMRA this summer. Just recycle Gordon's chassis, minus the trailing wheels. For Edward, Bachmann can simply scale down his HO Scale tooling. Once Bachmann announces Henry, then Edward, N Scale will have all eight members of the original Steam Team.

Could Toad indicate plans for Oliver? Duck? Could Oliver be the first side character for the N Scale range? Likely, the first side character would be Diesel, as he's the most popular among Mattel. Paxton should get announced with Diesel, and his face will look much better than his HO Scale counterpart. For now, the #1 priority for an engine is Henry.

Bachmann desperately needs catching up on Narrow Gauge products. At least the Narrow Gauge brake vans and box vans have painted samples, and should be available anytime now. HO Scale Ryan, Explosives Van, N Scale Toby and even the three newly-announced N Scale ventilated vans also have painted samples, and should all be available anytime now, within the next few months, as long as nothing goes wrong. Don't know about the N Scale vans, though. Those might be later this year. Maybe Doug Blaine will give us estimates on when all upcoming fully-painted products are expected to arrive in stock, including the reintroduced Salty and Red Express Coaches. Maybe we'll see HO Scale Ryan and N Scale Toby in their packages, showing they're just about to be available.

Another idea for a road vehicle is the Post Van, which appeared in Season 24.

I have an image showing recolor suggestions for the HO Scale range. Because their toolings exist, Bachmann might as well announce Sidney, Fernando, Mainland Diesel #1, Mainland Diesel #2 (Ulli), or Green Salty at some point, possibly at the NMRA, since their toolings already exist. All of which appeared in the CGI series. Diesel's tooling still has some good choices for recolors, while Salty's reintroduction can make Green Salty a recolor. As for the Mainland Diesels, Bachmann can't do all of them, but it would be nice just to have two or three of them, especially #1 showing a rather annoyed expression. Only a few have good looks of their faces. It's been six years since Paxton was first announced for HO Scale, and Sidney still isn't on the cards. BWBA introduced Fernando, another character who would use Diesel's tooling. Both he and a few Mainland Diesels could possibly get their first official pieces of merchandise. I wonder if Bachmann could acknowledge Sidney like they did for Stepney.

Hopefully, N Scale Henry and Express Coaches get announced this NMRA. Bachmann should know how much we want Henry, following Gordon, for N Scale.

Hopefully this summer at the NMRA, Bachmann could announce N Scale Henry, along with the Red Coaches, or even the Express Coaches to go with Gordon, now that we're getting Henrietta to go with Toby. With Toad being the first brake van in the N Scale range, could that indicate plans for Oliver? Henrietta would also make Hannah a possible recolor.

As for HO Scale, could the Open Carriage indicate plans for Stephen joining the range? There's also the Blue Coach, which you see at the end of Stephen's train, and was once pulled by Diesel, which could also get made. If any new engines get announced for HO Scale at the NMRA, it would most likely be recolors, like Sidney, Fernando, a Mainland Diesel or two, or Green Salty. Nia, as much as I don't care for her, is bound to be the next new tooling. Beau will not have moving eyes, but should have a working light instead.

It's perfectly understandable why the announcements were small, considering all the products Bachmann needs catching up on, especially for Narrow Gauge.

Pardon this double post, but the 2023 catalog is up!

No new engines were announced, but HO Scale is getting an Open Carriage, which is a new tooling for rolling stock, as well as Sir Topham Hatt's car. N Scale is also getting Henrietta to go with Toby (thank goodness) by popular demand, as well as three box vans (Great Western, Fruit & Veg, and Ice Cream), and even a set for Emily. Also nothing new for Narrow Gauge, but there's plenty of stuff there still on the backburner. Also, nothing new for Large Scale...

An unpainted prototype of N Scale Gordon is ready much sooner than expected, even before Emily, who was announced before him, which is very weird. Not too long ago, Bachmann did show an unpainted prototype of Emily's coach. I really hope N Scale Henry gets announced soon. He would be the best choice immediately after Gordon's announcement, especially for being the same size as Gordon, as well as sharing Gordon's chassis; minus the trailing wheels. After Henry, Edward will be the only member left of the original Steam Team for N Scale.

Gordon is also the first engine in the N Scale range who doesn't already exist in Large Scale, since N Scale is much more flexible with big engines like him. If Bachmann can make Gordon, they can absolutely make Henry for N Scale. Just recycle the chassis, remove the trailing wheels, change features of the body to match Henry's, paint him green, and make the tender different.

So SOME catalog announcements were shown in Bachmann's latest video, but NONE of them were Thomas & Friends products. However, there will soon be a separate video announcing Thomas products within like a few weeks or so. We'll get the full catalog during February. We may not see the new Thomas products until then.

We'll have to hold our breath for just a little longer. There will be Thomas announcements. Just not at this moment. They're being saved for a dedicated video on them.

I shouldn't get upset if Nia is next in line for new toolings in HO Scale, considering we already have Rebecca coming our way. The demand for Hiro is bound to have skyrocketed following Rebecca's announcement, which greenlit new toolings for tender engines. Hiro could even use Rebecca's wheels (repainted) as parts, like how Ryan used Oliver's wheels; just repainted. For smaller engines, Stanley has had high demand for years, and can recycle Thomas' chassis with the wheels painted red. Hiro should be the next tender engine for HO Scale, as he's had consistent demand, and now more-so following Rebecca's announcement. I think Hiro should be considered before Flying Scotsman (whose only concern is the second tender).

As for diesels with new toolings for HO Scale, the best choices are Den, Dart, Philip, Norman, or Diesel 10. Dart would make Natalie a potential recolor (albeit she was a one-off character like Beau). However, Dart's only concern is his small size, and may have to be scaled up slightly to fit the eye mechanism and motor. Frankie could recycle Diesel's chassis, though she was a one-off character, but would make one of the American diesels a potential recolor. Not only would this be Norman's first official piece of merchandise since Mattel's takeover, but he would also be the first ready-to-run model of 11001. Philip would also be a good choice for Large Scale.

If we finally do get Sidney for HO Scale, I just hope the face won't be botched, like how Paxton's was. However, Paxton's face was a huge improvement on his Large Scale model. Sidney would also need a painted border around his face.

It's been six years since Paxton was first announced for HO Scale, and Sidney still hadn't been on the cards, but we'll see if that changes soon. Fernando and the Mainland Diesels are other good choices that use the same tooling, but it would make sense that Sidney comes before them. Too bad Splatter and Dodge haven't been relevant in two decades.

For HO Scale recolors, Bachmann could easily make Sidney, Fernando, the Mainland Diesels, or Green Salty because their toolings already exist. For new toolings, they could make Nia, Stanley, Whiff, Harvey, Norman, Diesel 10, or Hiro. For Harvey, one issue is his crane arm, but Bachmann has made rail cranes. Making one that's self-propelled shouldn't be too hard, though they may have to omit the eye mechanism for a rotating crane arm. As for Diesel 10, they could at least make his claw posable, and could still stay in place when not in use. Diesel 10 is the only other good choice for a larger diesel that's appeared in the CGI series. Not a fan of Nia, but since we're getting Rebecca, they might as well complete the BWBA Steam Team. Ashima would be really interesting, but two problems with her are her complex siderod configuration with upper flywheels, and her highly-detailed paint scheme.

We may never get a Bachmann Stepney, no matter how great his demand is, solely because he never appeared in the CGI series. Same for BoCo or Duke, unless Mattel ever warms up to the idea... They probably won't, given that they intentionally made All Engines Go a dumpster fire for the older fans, but that's a different topic.

After being cancelled for the past two years, the Toy Fair is finally returning, but will be later in the year this time, so we'll most likely just get the 2023 catalog within a few weeks. Maybe this Friday, but no guarantee.

For Narrow Gauge, Duncan is inevitable, and would complete engines 1-6 on the Skarloey Railway.

For HO Scale, however:

They might as well announce Nia, since they are making Rebecca. I personally don't care for Nia, or Big World Big Adventures, but given that she's a main character, and Rebecca's joining the range, Nia is inevitable, and would only make sense that she joins too. Nia would also complete the BWBA Steam Team. Also has a very unique livery.

Porter is another good choice, with Salty being reintroduced to HO Scale, but one big issue is his scaling, which is even more problematic than Oliver's.

Hiro is a very popular choice for a CGI character, and is now more likely, since we're getting Rebecca, which means Bachmann is back to making new tender engines for the HO Scale range. Rebecca's wheels (repainted) can be used for Hiro, just like how Oliver's wheels were used as parts for Ryan, but repainted.

Flying Scotsman could also be made possible as a new tender engine. Might use the same chassis as Spencer with Gordon's trailing wheels. The only concern is his second tender, which would make him more expensive, and need a longer package.

Stanley is one who appeared in both model and CGI, and has a unique white livery to make him stand out. He could even use Thomas' chassis with red wheels.

Whiff is also a very good choice, and would be the first ready-to-run model of Aerolite. He would be about as long as Ryan, though his front wheels might have to be powered. Announcing Whiff can make Scruff possible.

For recolors, Diesel's tooling can be used to make Sidney or Fernando. Mainland Diesel #1, Ulli, or any of the other Mainland Diesels can also use that tooling, but one thing is that the Mainland Diesels mostly didn't have names, and didn't show that much character, but it would be interesting if they or Fernando get their first official pieces of merchandise. Fernando is more likely since at least he has a name and character. The only issue with Splatter and Dodge is that they haven't been relevant in two decades. Green Salty is a different recolor I'd be okay with as well.

Because Stepney never returned in the CGI series, and Rebecca was chosen over him because both audiences were familiar with Rebecca, does that mean we'll never get a Bachmann Stepney?

Beau's upcoming HO Scale model will be his first official piece of merchandise, since both his Thomas Wood models were cancelled. He's also said to be a limited release. Thankfully, I have him on preorder from Trainworld.

Maybe the reason we haven't already gotten the Milk Tanker in N Scale is because when Bachmann chose the Graham Farish tooling for the tankers, people were disappointed. N Scale Toad used a new tooling, and he will be the first brake van in the range. Apart from the Express Coaches, Red Coaches would also be very welcome additions to N Scale rolling stock. Henrietta would be much more likely for N Scale than Large Scale, and she has to be made at some point, since Toby has joined the range. Henrietta would also make Hannah a possible recolor.

Hopefully next month, we could see an unpainted prototype of N Scale Emily, or Sir Handel, as well as N Scale Toad fully painted. Once the 2023 catalog goes up, Beau might be fully painted right off the bat, since they're using an existing tooling for him.