Quote from: ThomasFan247 on February 03, 2012, 09:01:54 PM
But as long as Tomix is still holding the N-Scale license, would Bachmann be able to produce a narrow gauge range?

I'm probably ignorant about this - but how is that different than what Hornby does - right along with Bachmann?

Quote from: ThomasFan247 on February 03, 2012, 06:53:20 PM
Would Bachmann be able to produce the Skarloey engines if they don't have the license to produce N-Scale Thomas and Friends products? Technically the range would be HOn3/009, but I'm just curious. That kind of has me a bit puzzled.

Their On30 range uses the same mechanisms as their HO range, but it is marketed separately. I'm sure any HOn30 models would be handled the same way.
Honestly, I would love to see them produce a HOn30 range, regardless of whether they do the Thomas NG stock or not.

Quote from: ClearwtaerMK2 on February 03, 2012, 04:45:42 PM
The reason why bachmann would never make any narrow gauge engines is because:
1.They are smaller than standard gauge engines.

So? What does that matter?

Quote from: ClearwtaerMK2 on February 03, 2012, 04:45:42 PM
2.Bachmann would have to make this entire range for N scale in order to have them share the same size.

Bachmann does already have a very successful N scale range. The mechanisms are there. Additionally, Bachmann owns the Graham-Farish range of British N scale models. So your point is lost there.

Quote from: ClearwtaerMK2 on February 03, 2012, 04:45:42 PM
3.The skarloey engines are better off made as toys so you can make your own in 009 scale.

True - but they are toys and lack the scale aspect of a good model. About the only thing the toys are good for is providing the face.

I am making a model of Duncan, using the face from the wooden toy and the chassis from a Bachmann N scale 0-4-0. It's a fun project, but not everyone is up for this level of model work. A ready-to-run model would not be that big of a deal for Bachmann and would be appreciated I'm sure.

Quote from: thomasj219 on February 01, 2012, 01:22:01 AM
Right but you never stated that the station is not in front of the shed in the show, he may have thought that was where Knapford Station is in relation to tidmouth sheds, he wants an accurate model im sure, so I figured I should make that plain.

Sorry - didn't mean to come off so harsh. I have had a similar problem and it can be so frustrating. I am trying to build the Knapford Station site and have collected dozens of photos. The background has changed greatly over the life of the show.

So I really think we need to capture the spirit of the scene and not worry too much about specifics. The show's modelers never worried about such things. They often used the same details for different scenes - such as the signal box in Knapford and Tidmouth (I even have a photo of the same model on the OTHER side of Knapford). They also used the same station canopies from Knapford on the Tidmouth Station - a nice idea if you are planning on building the Tidmouth station, you could use parts from the Bachmann model.

Quote from: thomasj219 on January 31, 2012, 11:13:15 PM
The last one is the signal box at Knapford not Tidmouth.

You're right!

Of course, if you had actually read the text you would have know that I had said that, which was the point of my post.

Thanks for playing...

Here is a view looking toward the Tidmouth shed. If you look closely at the signal box, the sign on it says "Tidmouth"

Regarding what is behind the camera... First, if you look at the lower left of the photo you will see the "edge of the world". Second, this is the same signal box used outside the Knapford station, only in those photos it says "Knapford".
Here's another shot of area from a slightly different angle:

And finally, a shot of the same signal box looking the other way:


The thing is, we are modeling a moving target. It changes from one episode to the next. I think the best you can hope for is an idea of what Tidmouth may have looked like. In the Railway Series, Tidmouth was the main city. In the TV show, some of that was moved to Knapford, and some to Brendam.

Quote from: ClearwtaerMK2 on January 31, 2012, 04:47:50 PM
Stop bringing up the skarloey engines!

sorry - I didn't know you were in charge 

Actually, Bachmann has become the leader in the On30 market. I wouldn't be surprised to see them try the HOn30 market, which would lead quite nicely into some of the NG Thomas characters. They already have the N scale mechanisms in place, it just be a matter of molding new bodies over the existing chassis.

I use weathering chalks. I'm not comfortable using paints to weather - harder to undo mistakes. But basically, the colors would be the same.

Just think about what would weather a real wagon. Dirt - various colors of brown, from the bottom up. Loads - oil and tar wagons would have black and brown weathering from the top down -  cattle wagons would have white weathering around the bottom - mineral wagons would have a lot of white for quarry wagons, or black for coal wagons. Rust - a common weathering for all wagons (except milk wagons) which would be an reddish orange near any metal attachment. I do weather my milk wagons with a dirt color, though in reality, these were usually kept pretty clean.

Watch episodes and see how these modelers did it - especially the first few seasons. They were generally pretty realistic. Later episodes seem to be more idealistic.

Passenger coaches would not be weathered - they were kept well washed. The same with the locos - but they would get dirty in use. I will probably weather Percy - "Dirty Percy" you know.

Another thought regarding the mineral wagons (or Troublesome Trucks) - you will see some of them with physical wear - dents and such. A good way to show this is LIGHT and CAREFUL exposure to a soldering iron. For instance, along the top rail of the wagon, a light impression with the iron will show repeated punishment from falling quarry rocks. Or a slight depression from the inside with an iron for a dent. But be careful, this can be easily over-done. And always do this in a well-ventilated space. Burning plastic is toxic.

Not too many photos of Thomas, and I didn't see any of the new layout (except for maybe some really far away shots). But here you go...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bachmann-Trains/182658255760?sk=photos

Yeah, there are parts better - but I like the quayside in the other one.
I do like that signal box at the start of the video.

They should include buildings like this in their Thomas range.

Quote from: Sparks on January 22, 2012, 06:04:36 PM
Those aren't new.

sorry - I haven't seen any newer ones

Here: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/gallery.php?set_albumName=album14&include=view_album.php

Haven't worked out all the different exchange rates - but it is also available in Canada at: http://modelrailwayimports.com/product.php?PID=4969&CID=6&BID=14&TID=0&SID=1&q=coal

Not sure what you mean by "sets". Are you asking if you could buy the coal yard already built up? Or are you looking for images that you could model?

If the latter - then here are some images of the Coaling Plant:
http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/The_Coaling_Plant