https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imph5AJz2kw&ab_channel=TerencetheTractor525

I just uploaded a video, showcasing all the products that I hope to see announced by Bachmann in the coming years, not just next year. I only included HO Scale and HO Narrow Gauge, as those are the two scales that I personally collect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfXp5dL4fYs

Check this out, if you haven't already. This only makes me more excited about the fact that Bachmann is making Daisy .

All in all, the Bachmann N Scale Annie & Clarabel look good, especially with the accurate paintwork. It would have been nice to see a guard compartment on Clarabel's model, but I guess that is a very easy thing to overlook. The only other complaint that I really have is with the faces. It isn't because they went with CGI faces (even though I prefer the model faces), but more so about the fact that both models share the same expression. I personally always liked that Annie had a surprised expression to give some more diversity to the two models, but that's just me.

I am completely on board with supporting a Bachmann Duncan model that is not based on the CGI proportions as well. A Duncan model that is completely based on the CGI render would be a major let down in my books, and I do not intend to purchase the model if it turns out that way.

Even so, while Mattel may be concerned with how kids recognize each Bachmann model, I agree that the best compromise would be to use the proportions of one of the Duncan models from the model era when constructing the new tooling, but base the face on the CGI model. If Bachmann can make hybrid models of the Spiteful Brake Van and the narrow gauge carriages, then Bachmann can certainly make a hybrid model of Duncan too.

An enjoyable read, as always, Chaz. As for the questions:

1. I would definitely be interested in seeing Sir Handel, as well as all of the suggested rolling stock.



The only other piece of narrow gauge rolling stock that I would really like to see made in the future is the green open carriage. Given that it is an open carriage, it would bring some more diversity to the rolling stock line, while still remaining nostalgic as it has made multiple appearances in the classic model series.

2. I intend to purchase multiple narrow gauge open wagons and troublesome slate wagons, but only if Bachmann were to make new toolings for both, especially a new slate wagon tooling for the troublesome slate wagon that is bigger than the tooling that is currently in the line. As for the brown brake van, I would most likely purchase one.

3.


As for the faces of the narrow gauge troublesome trucks, I completely agree that the face shown above is the most iconic narrow gauge troublesome truck face, as it was used in very memorable narrow gauge episodes such as "Rusty Helps Peter Sam": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HKZD7UImqI and "Snow": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF9cuUu__YI.

I would love to see Bachmann nail this face perfectly, just as they did with the Spiteful Brake Van, which makes me wonder if the 3D printed version could help (It is the face in the middle): https://www.shapeways.com/product/HV98H88G8/ng-character-pack-1?optionId=68884941&li=shops



It is also #17 from this reference.

As for other faces, a surprised face (most notably the one on the left of the Shapeways 3-Pack) would also be a great choice, but I would be perfectly happy with any other face, as long as it is from the model era, and not the CGI era or a random sculpt.

These faces can really play a large factor on how well received the products are, as the Spiteful Brake Van most definitely showed. Thus, I look forward to seeing how the face for the HO Troublesome Truck #6 turns out as well, as I hope that a square model era face is considered for the model instead of a CGI one.

Yesterday, two new fan-made episodes were uploaded to YouTube that utilize the Bachmann Thomas models, and I have received permission to share the links on here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt2pEHwGcOg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX5KO0LbDsg

Would highly recommend taking the time to watch them, as the level of artistry is marvelous, and they both present the same realistic charm of the classic model series that we all cherish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P81QLv-DbjM

The sneak peek to Episode 9 of my Thomas model series has been uploaded to YouTube. Hope everyone enjoys!

With a great amount of discussion on Troublesome Truck #6 happening at the moment, I thought that it would be a good idea to bring back this thread.

I agree with those who state that the face will determine how well the reception is for the troublesome tanker. For me, it's mainly about the shape of the face.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXvJpnwaTFc

In the model series, the faces were square or rectangular (longer vertically, and shorter horizontally), which is what I hope to see.



In contrast, in the CGI series, the faces were rectangular (longer horizontally, and shorter vertically).

To make things easier, I have pasted some links to 3D printed troublesome truck faces that were used for the tankers:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/XWRDG8PAF/ng-character-pack-2?optionId=68885009&li=shops

https://www.shapeways.com/product/RXZ2V5E6C/ng-character-pack-3?optionId=68885006&li=shops

Hopefully, Bachmann will use one of these faces as a reference, as I would be much happier with a model series face than a CG one.

Upon watching TrainWorld's stream today, I must state that I am very grateful that Doug Blaine took the time to make an exclusive Thomas portion for us. A great amount of new information and product reveals were presented, which was the number one thing that I was hoping for.

The reveal of the three flat cars with crates was definitely the nicest surprise, as the crates look stunning. I will definitely be purchasing all three of them. The other new reveal, that was very surprising to see, was the N scale tankers, as those were just announced in February and utilized a new N scale tanker tooling. Additionally, while Daisy and Peter Sam have been delayed to 2021, I am glad that Doug Blaine still mentioned them in the stream, as that definitely cleared up many uncertainties regarding them. Finally, I really appreciate that Large Scale Diesel was shown with a 360 turnaround, as multiple Thomas fans have stated that they would like to see Diesel from more angles. Overall, this portion of the stream proved that Bachmann reads all of our forum posts with great care, and thus, it definitely made up for the disappointment in regards to the Thomas line from July 16th.

As for the Troublesome Tanker (Troublesome Truck #6), Bachmann may still be trying to decide which face to use out of all the troublesome tanker faces from Toad Stands By: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXvJpnwaTFc



Once again, thank you very much for a very satisfying Thomas portion in today's TrainWorld stream, and I look forward to seeing more updates on the new products in the coming months.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDB001_Hdlf/?igshid=yyohf87g7vuq

Stunning progress! Keep up the great work .

While I am optimistic about the future of the Bachmann Thomas N scale line, I wanted to share my thoughts on future engines for the line as well. Firstly, I completely agree that Toby should be the next N scale engine for all the reasons that were previously stated. Yet, the other engine that I would love to see announced afterwards is Gordon. Other than the fact that the HO Daisy and Narrow Gauge Peter Sam models are currently delayed, the one concern that I see with an N scale Gordon is that the model would require a complex side rod configuration with very thin side rods. I see this as an issue, given that the N scale Thomas model has side rods that are oddly thick, compared to the size of his wheels and body altogether. Even so, Bachmann has made Non-Thomas N scale tender engines with complex side rod configurations in the past: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=265_372&zenid=7tvpg04lr8qknape0o12nddq45 Hence, I still see Gordon as a possibility for the future if the demand for him is there.  

Thank you very much to everyone who responded to my Stepney post. I really appreciate it, and am confident that he will be announced next year, as long as things improve with the pandemic. There is no doubt that he is the best choice when it comes to new HO engines with a new tooling.

In response to TrainFan97's post on engine recolors, I fully support Bachmann making Sidney at some point since he is a separate character, just like Paxton. However, considering that there are now three Thomas models, and three James models, the engine that makes the most sense to make the next recolor with is Percy. He is the only one of the "main trio" that has not received any repaints.



One recolor that immediately comes to mind is "Chocolate Covered Percy" from Percy's Chocolate Crunch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC9NtDCvReg.



If possible, it would be interesting to see them tackle a "Jack Frost Percy" from Jack Frost as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEnSXtHZyeE, but I do see it as less likely since it is more than a simple recolor.



One other engine with modification that I would like to see is Gordon with the cable wire, which was seen throughout the early model series in episodes such as Down the Mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KquR4KdI8UU, and Percy Runs Away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE1t0VT2iUQ. Not going to lie, I would purchase a brand new Gordon model just to get this cable wire. If other avid Thomas fans feel the same way, then this may be an idea to take into account. Bachmann could make a huge profit off something like this if that is the case, since a small addition, being the cable wire, should not be too costly. After all, the Red Rosie included the lamp that was not seen in the Pink Rosie that was announced prior to it. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

Lastly, in response to Mulfred100's narrow gauge troublesome trucks suggestion, I would be all for them! If they make wagon tooling that is more accurate to the televisions series wagons, I may consider purchasing one or more. As for sales, seeing that rolling stock with faces generally do very well in HO scale, I could see narrow gauge troublesome trucks doing well with sales. Finally, apart from the brown brake van and green open carriage, there are not any other pieces of narrow gauge rolling stock that I would personally suggest.

I know that it is best to avoid double posting as much as possible, but I decided to repost my Stepney post from the previous thread, given Stepney's massive popularity amongst fans:

I thought that it would be appropriate for me to share my thoughts on the locomotive that I greatly believe should enter the HO Thomas Line next: Stepney the Bluebell Engine!



So, why should Stepney, an engine who has not been present in recent episodes of the television series, plus seem like a generic 0-6-0 tank engine at first glance be introduced next instead of engines such as Nia, Rebecca, Phillip, Stanley, or even Ryan?



Firstly, the demand for him is definitely worth noting. Stepney has constantly been the most popular new engine suggestion by a landslide, not only through the Bachmann Forum, but through other branches of social media as well. Specifically, through the forum, threads such as the Stepney or Ryan Thread, as well as the Bachmann Thomas in 2019 and 2020 Threads have shown Stepney's popularity to a great extent, while multiple Bachmann Forum users have even stated how much they would love to see Stepney made in the signature section of their personal accounts. Through platforms such as Twitter, multiple polls have been conducted on ranking Bachmann's next engine too, and Stepney has constantly been at the top.



In terms of various brands of Thomas merchandise, Stepney has done very well with sales. For instance, when the Take-n-Play model was released in 2014, Stepney's model constantly sold out. In addition, Hornby made an HO/OO scale model of Stepney, which was first discontinued in 2010, but re-released in 2012 for a limited time due to popularity. It really is a shame that the Hornby model is now discontinued, as there has been and still is great demand for him, and the model is incredibly hard to come across for a decent price nowadays.



As someone who was lucky enough to purchase a Hornby Stepney many years ago, two questions that I have been asked numerous times from many Thomas fans are: Where can I find a Hornby Stepney? Do you ever plan on selling your Hornby Stepney? While replying, I always feel guilty for stating that I do not plan on selling my Stepney model, and that eBay is really the only place to find one these days. This just goes to show that a character does not need to be in current CGI episodes to be a popular request. It is crystal clear that fans want an HO Stepney.



Even so, considering that Stepney still may seem like a generic 0-6-0 tank engine, one may then ask: what makes Stepney so popular? For starters, he is one of the last engines introduced in the classic model series that has not been made by Bachmann, plus is an Awdry character. In addition, when looking at past sales, classic engines such as Duck have done very well. It would be no different with Stepney as well as the upcoming Daisy model for the same reason.



Moreover, fans see Stepney as a natural addition to the line, as he would go wonderfully with engines such as Duck, rolling stock such as the red branchline coaches, and most notably, Rusty, since he is the one who saved Stepney from scrap in a fan-favorite episode of all time: Rusty to the Rescue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MbpwBfrrxY. Stepney even goes wonderfully with the newer engines in the line: Rosie and Paxton, since Stepney played a part in an episode with Rosie: Rosie's Carnival Special https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYgTOayoJd8, and Paxton could be utilized as one of the scrap diesels seen in the background of Rusty to the Rescue.



Other episodes that can explain Stepney's popularity are Thomas and Stepney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yHoSMEf2M, and Stepney Gets Lost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPGQtz1lvZU. Also, it is interesting to note that Stepney is the only engine mentioned in the classic song, Little Engines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wesCEBy1TE, that Bachmann has not made yet.



In real-life, let's remember that Stepney is even a symbol of railway heritage (The Bluebell Railway), and his real life basis is also called "Stepney". With the Bachmann Thomas line now entering the UK, a Bachmann Stepney could be sold at the Bluebell Railway Giftshop. This would, without a doubt, introduce more people to the Bachmann Thomas line, as well as give children who are already interested in Thomas a gateway to real-world locomotives. In fact, one Thomas fan made an extraordinary documentary on the history of Stepney, which once again, shows how popular of an engine he really is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGmpr52R2FY



As far as Stepney's design is concerned, a new tooling would be needed, but since Stepney is an 0-6-0 tank engine, his small new tooling is something that Bachmann could definitely work with. His goldenrod color scheme is also something worth noting, as there is currently no engine with the same livery, something that the licensor should certainly be on board with. In addition, one specific thing to note is that Stepney's red side rods should actually be plastic, and not metal, which would definitely help Bachmann, considering that many of Bachmann's most recent models such as Rosie and the narrow gauge engines have plastic bits for the side rods to save money.



Finally, some fans refer to Stepney as a ticking clock because the longer that Bachmann waits to announce Stepney, the higher the chance that Mattel will bring back Stepney to the television series. Hence, Bachmann would have to base Stepney on his CGI design. Although there have been some good CGI renders such as Daisy, other CGI renders such as Oliver missed the mark by a long shot. Thus, Stepney may suffer from the same fate if he returns in CGI. Therefore, what would be most ideal for Stepney is what happened with Duck. Bachmann announced him in 2012, right before his CGI render was revealed. Therefore, Bachmann Duck was based on the classic model series design, which fans were ecstatic about. And, just like Duck, Stepney's model era face is extremely nostalgic and has a unique charm of its own that I hope to see on the Bachmann model over any sort of CGI face.



Overall, I have zero doubt that Stepney is the best candidate for Bachmann to announce next as far as new toolings are concerned. To add, because it is the 75th Anniversary, I think that Stepney, a classic engine that has not been in the current show for a while, should take priority over any other new tooling in any scale of the Thomas line including a Narrow Gauge Sir Handel.



I truly hope that someone from Bachmann can pass this message along, as seeing Stepney announced would not only make fans extremely happy, but would greatly help Bachmann with very strong sales.

Now, for some questions:
Would you buy a Bachmann Stepney?
How popular do you think that a Bachmann Stepney would be?
After reading this, is there any other HO engine you could see as a better suggestion than Stepney and why?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this long post. I look forward to seeing everyone's thoughts, and with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, I hope that everyone is well and stays safe.

I was initially going to wait much longer to start another one of these, but after yesterday's disappointment, I wanted to start this ASAP with the hope that February's announcement will be much better, even though it is after the 75th Anniversary:

HO Scale
Stepney (with moving eyes) #1 Hope
Ventilated Van- Explosives
Red Express Coach
Red Express Brake Coach

Narrow Gauge
Sir Handel
Brake Van- Brown

N Scale
Toby
S.C.Ruffey
Tidmouth Milk Tanker

Large Scale
Red Coach
Red Brake Coach
or
Troublesome Van