Bachmann Sir Handel thread

[Chaz]

https://twitter.com/trainworld/status/1722723396969017647?s=46&t=P-yyOHfS2jVlFTUMzHYGLg

With Trainworld posting Sir Handel up for preorder, I figured now was as good of a time to make a new thread exclusive to Sir Handel where fans can discuss updates on this highly anticipated model.

Anyone else excited to finally preorder Sir Handel?

[RailwayRoundhouse]

VERY excited to do so indeed! I recently acquired Skarloey and Rheneas (with Peter Sam on order as we speak) and they are honestly some of the very best Bachmann has to offer. Sir Handel's stories and overall character were always enjoyable to watch and the prospect of owning what undoubtedly will be another banger model and finally finishing off the "Four Little Engines" group is something I'm genuinely looking forward to!

[TrainFan97]

We finally have a little update on Sir Handel. No unpainted prototype yet, but preorders are available, including a price. Sounds like progress is finally happening on Sir Handel.

[Chaz]

Bumping up this thread in light of what was just teased on Bachmann's social media post today!

[TrainFan97]

About time! After a seemingly endless wait, the unpainted sample of Sir Handel was FINALLY teased! However, it's not a perfect one, which isn't ready for primetime yet, so it won't be shown in the August Trainworld stream. At least they got a sample in, but there's obviously some flaws on it that need to be tweaked, so what they got is not the final mold. Hope we'll get a better look in the September stream. For now, we only see the back half of him. After Stanley's unpainted sample and the fully painted samples of the HO Scale figures, I knew Sir Handel's unpainted sample would be next. He's finally on the way!

It's just like when they got a painted sample of Rebecca's tender in February, Rebecca's painted sample wasn't ready for primetime until April, and shown in the May Trainworld stream.

Now that we know Sir Handel is in the unpainted stage, the next things we have to look forward to being teased are the unpainted Narrow Gauge Gondola, Open Carriage, and fully painted Sir Topham Hatt's Car, along with the fully painted Narrow Gauge High-Side Wagons. May be a while before we hear anything on N Scale Diesel/Paxton or the Express Coaches. They're still working on Bulgy's design. We know it's going to be a while before we hear anything on Duncan or the Gunpowder Wagons.

[Chaz]

I'm a little late into posting in this thread but I am really happy with how Sir Handel is coming along so far.  I'm especially happy that they're adding additional details that were not present on the CGI model, the brake pipes in particular.  It gives me a little hope for Duncan now, so I'm open to seeing how he will turn out.

Anyway can't wait for the fully painted sample for Sir Handel. It's nice seeing progress made on a lot of the previously announced narrow gauge projects.

[JLK2707]

Cool! I am so going to preorder Sir Handel!

[harrison05]

Just posting these because no one posted the pics of Sir Handel yet.

[harrison05]

https://x.com/thomasmerchnews/status/1860383066134577228/photo/1

[Chaz]

The new pictures I've seen posted of Sir Handel really, really impressed me.  They really nailed some of the extra details that the CGI render did not have such as the additional brake pipes, the additional rivet detail, and the raised bunker panels. This model has all the right cross appeal for not only OO9 modelers but Thomas fans who also love and know the character and his design. I have absolutely no doubt that Bachmann will eventually reuse this model to make a Sir Haydn model in the future to go along with Talyllyn. They really went all out with this model and it's easy to see why it will take over three years for this model to be released. I say that this model will definitely be worth the wait once we see him fully painted and ready to go.

[Mulfred100]

I'm very impressed with how Sir Handel is looking. Can't wait to see a fully painted Sample. I think potentially he could easily become the best in the NG range so far. With the the extra detailing is honestly wouldn't be surprised if he jumps up the que of engines and we get Sir Hayden alot sooner then we expected, it definitely feels like Bachmann have added those extra details with that in mind, which I totally wouldn't be against. Talyllyn seems to be proving quite popular so far, so adding another engine into the fleet will probably be announced in 2025/26.

[Zorran202]

Looking at the image of Sir Handel, it makes me wonder: is his cab also die-cast metal? I ask this because when comparing to Skarloey's prototype model (the differences on his model are easier to pinpoint), makes me wonder if #3 cab is also die-cast or just also plastic. Hard to tell when the silver looks so similar to the boiler...

[TrainFan97]

Sir Handel is still not painted yet, but his tooling can definitely be used to make Sir Haydn in the near future to join the Talyllyn range. Sir Handel's model was definitely made with Sir Haydn in mind. Hopefully Bachmann can also use his tooling to make Proteus. It would be nice if Bachmann uses Rheneas' tooling to make Smudger as well, but Dolgoch is bound to be announced in 2025. It's too bad Duncan had to be cancelled because his CGI render strayed way too far away from Douglas, and there are no other characters that would use his tooling, so it would be one and done. That doesn't mean he'll never be made. Rusty was possible because his tooling was much simpler than Duncan's would've been.

Anyway, it may not be until the January Trainworld stream at the earliest when we finally do see Sir Handel fully painted. If not, then the 2025 catalog should have his image, unless it suddenly shows up on the Bachmann webstore.