Future suggestions/predictions thread

[Chaz]

Are preorders actually going well for Rebecca? The last I knew she wasn't in the the top three according TrainWorld's preorders. That doesn't mean that she might not be fourth or fifth, but I just don't see huge demand for Rebecca.

The simple answer is we don't know for sure. Trainworld let's you search by wishlisted items. She is currently in 13th place for preorders, out of 7923 current preorders. This does not inherently equal sales. DCC Thomas and N scale Gordon are higher wishlisted and we know they are top preorders. However we won't know for sure until it's confirmed from an official source how good her preorders are. She is currently in 37th place for wishlisted items in the Thomas line out of 194. These are good signs but again, no way of knowing for sure right now. She releases on their on the 16th so maybe reviews will boost her up come release of the full batch. We will just have to wait and see.

If you're curious the currently lowest wishlisted Thomas preorder is the dark grey gondola for the narrow gauge line, above only the G scale Farmer Mccoll which is now discontinued. However what is at the bottom consistently fluctuates. DCC Thomas, Salty, N Gordon, Rebecca, and DCC Percy have remained consistently in the top 15 wishlisted for preorders on Trainworld, in that order.

The wishlists at Trainworld are meant to be placeholders for people who are interested in possibly pre-ordering an item or plan on purchasing the item in question while given an option to share this wishlist for friends and family (which would be ideal for Christmas or birthday lists for friends and family). 

The things that actually matter for Bachmann and shops like Trainworld are the preorder numbers and the sales of the upcoming products.  The wishlists need to be taken with a grain of salt and not as justification for what sales or preorder numbers of an upcoming product are actually going to be.

[DustyMarie53!]

The wishlists at Trainworld are meant to be placeholders for people who are interested in possibly pre-ordering an item or plan on purchasing the item in question while given an option to share this wishlist for friends and family (which would be ideal for Christmas or birthday lists for friends and family). 

The things that actually matter for Bachmann and shops like Trainworld are the preorder numbers and the sales of the upcoming products.  The wishlists need to be taken with a grain of salt and not as justification for what sales or preorder numbers of an upcoming product are actually going to be.

Exactly what I said, it's not definitive data just a good indicator. However, that's why I made a point regarding DCC Thomas and N scale Gordon are highly wishlisted as well. We know they were in the top 3 preorders alongside Beau. So the other wishlisted items are likely also doing well, or will do well once said people eventually buy them. As a counter example, the G scale Museum Coaches are near the bottom currently. I don't know a single person who has bought them, so this feels rather accurate. Unfortunately, there is no way to actually check preorder popularity, so this is the best case of reference on possible statistics we can use. It's not definitive proof one way or the other but is a good potential indicator. They haven't said anything regarding Salty but I imagine that may be because of the fact he is on indefinite hold. With that in mind I would not be shocked if Rebecca took Beau's spot in the top 3 preorders, but we'll have no way of knowing unless someone confirms it on the next stream since her and N Gordon release in 13 days, which was my main point. We don't know, here's some potential reference data but it isn't fully reliable. Make your own assumptions with it. If nothing else, this definitively tells us people want Rebecca at least currently. How her sales will turn out again, we will have to wait and see.

[Mulfred100]

The wishlists at Trainworld are meant to be placeholders for people who are interested in possibly pre-ordering an item or plan on purchasing the item in question while given an option to share this wishlist for friends and family (which would be ideal for Christmas or birthday lists for friends and family). 

The things that actually matter for Bachmann and shops like Trainworld are the preorder numbers and the sales of the upcoming products.  The wishlists need to be taken with a grain of salt and not as justification for what sales or preorder numbers of an upcoming product are actually going to be.

Exactly what I said, it's not definitive data just a good indicator. However, that's why I made a point regarding DCC Thomas and N scale Gordon are highly wishlisted as well. We know they were in the top 3 preorders alongside Beau. So the other wishlisted items are likely also doing well, or will do well once said people eventually buy them. As a counter example, the G scale Museum Coaches are near the bottom currently. I don't know a single person who has bought them, so this feels rather accurate. Unfortunately, there is no way to actually check preorder popularity, so this is the best case of reference on possible statistics we can use. It's not definitive proof one way or the other but is a good potential indicator. They haven't said anything regarding Salty but I imagine that may be because of the fact he is on indefinite hold. With that in mind I would not be shocked if Rebecca took Beau's spot in the top 3 preorders, but we'll have no way of knowing unless someone confirms it on the next stream since her and N Gordon release in 13 days, which was my main point. We don't know, here's some potential reference data but it isn't fully reliable. Make your own assumptions with it. If nothing else, this definitively tells us people want Rebecca at least currently. How her sales will turn out again, we will have to wait and see.

I do feel like the "watchlist" theory Is very flawed for judging popularity for a few reasons. It tells you the order of where things are on trainworld but that's all the data you can get from it. It's like saying Rebecca has been added to x amount of watch lists, n scale Gordon has been added to this many. For all we know there could be 1 or 2 differences in how many people have them on their lists, or it could be 50 or 100. We simply don't know. Secondly as you've pointed out they aren't sales and heavily rely on people going back to check out with the item or taking it off their watch list if they decide they don't want to buy her or any items. I'm guilty of that myself I've got a long list of items on my Ebay in my watch list that I had every intention of buying but life crops up and over time you forget or buy the item elsewhere or simply no longer want it. Thirdly and I think this is important to remember is international sales or just sales away from Trainworld in general. I'm an international customer who will likely buy Rebecca but I wouldn't be ordering from trainworld due to customs charges so I wait for distributors in my area to get stock and order via them, as will many others. As said without someone saying this item sold over x many units compared to this item it's all speculation and as I say watchlists for me aren't really a good way to judge for reasons stated.

[DustyMarie53!]

I do feel like the "watchlist" theory Is very flawed for judging popularity for a few reasons. It tells you the order of where things are on trainworld but that's all the data you can get from it. It's like saying Rebecca has been added to x amount of watch lists, n scale Gordon has been added to this many. For all we know there could be 1 or 2 differences in how many people have them on their lists, or it could be 50 or 100. We simply don't know. Secondly as you've pointed out they aren't sales and heavily rely on people going back to check out with the item or taking it off their watch list if they decide they don't want to buy her or any items. I'm guilty of that myself I've got a long list of items on my Ebay in my watch list that I had every intention of buying but life crops up and over time you forget or buy the item elsewhere or simply no longer want it. Thirdly and I think this is important to remember is international sales or just sales away from Trainworld in general. I'm an international customer who will likely buy Rebecca but I wouldn't be ordering from trainworld due to customs charges so I wait for distributors in my area to get stock and order via them, as will many others. As said without someone saying this item sold over x many units compared to this item it's all speculation and as I say watchlists for me aren't really a good way to judge for reasons stated.

Yeah, again agreed on all accounts. It is flawed metrics it's just the only thing we have to even give a suggestion right now. And also right that it's not the only retailer, which I thought I put in my last post but it appears I accidentally deleted it out, that's on me. Also correct on the things only being one or two away from each other. The Thomas watchlists fluctuate constantly. She's been steadily climbing up but hard to say by how much without actual numbers. With that said her place within ALL preorders has remained consistent, but that's just it, ALL preorders. Bachmann isn't going to be looking at that as metrics anyway in relation to other companies. It'll be how she does in relation the Thomas line. I've heard she's doing ok from a former trainworld employee (same employee who also recently confirmed on Twitter DCC Thomas and Percy are not retools) but that is old data so hard to say where she stands now, hence why I haven't brought it up before now because I think that's even less reliable personally. Even then, she's high up in wishlisted preorders but by how much? Impossible to gauge. I do think it's a good sign that she will have momentum, but if it sticks, or is only because Stanley and Sir Handel and others won't be out by christmas, we'll have to see.


I don't really have anything else to add, other then, yes it's a flawed metric. Yes it should not be taken as 100% fact. It can be used to determine potential sales/popularity but not by how much exactly. Right now it's good for filling in potential gaps between what info we do have from Bachmann and trainworld staff from within the Tuesday streams, but should not be taken as 100% fact because it's just that. Potential. How well she ends up doing is going to be a long process and probably one we won't have the grasp on for a while. That's why I'm not personally expecting to see Hiro announced next year either because they'd probably want to wait a good while before deciding if other tender engines are worth pursuing. My bet is firmly on Whiff or Nia, leaning on Whiff.

I hope this is all worded well.

TLDR: I agree with both you and Chaz for reasons outlined above. because yes this did get long and rambly and I apologize for that.

[Mulfred100]

Well I'm sure we'll find out how well Rebecca is selling soon enough
Back on future suggestions I've pretty much nailed down a top 5 I'd like to see (based on what we currently know and what the current mandate is. Yes I'd love Stepney and BoCo too but they aren't currently possible so I'm focusing on what is.
There's 3 pretty safe bets, 2 slightly harder but I'd buy in a heartbeat and 2 NG engines. This is just my list and opinions of what I'd like and I know they aren't heald by everyone. Also this is HO and 009.

So firstly Hiro
I think Hiro would be an incredibly popular seller for Bachmann, he's a beloved character. I honestly can't think of another tender engine (under the current mandate) who fans would love more. I personally would love a model of him running around. He'd look incredible pulling any train behind him and I think Hiro being the first CGI character in the show gives fans alot of nostalgia towards him.
Whiff
Next I've put Whiff. He'd be a great engine that appeals to most sides of the fandom, Model series character who made it to CGI and even into AEG. He's a very unique design with alot of history behind his basis. He'd be a ton of fun for people to weather up really go to town on making him look like he's been hard at work in the waste dump. The only slight thing that worries me is his glasses and how Bachmann would make those. I've never really been a fan of the molded glasses most of his merchandise but that's literally the only worry I have.
Porter
I've got Porter as my third pick. I was tempted to throw Timothy in here but I think his open cab would probably cause an issue. Honestly he and Porter were neck and neck but Porter just won out. I really love Porter's design I think he'd be a great engine to introduce as he'd have a big appeal to the US market being an American engine like Beau, Connor and Caitlin so from a selling point I think he'd be a good tank engine to introduce and he'd probably do really well especially on the back of Salty's reintroduction. He's definitely an engine I'd love a HO model of.
Stephen
I've spoken about Stephen in detail before. He's one of my favourite CGI characters and he's definitely the one I'd pick hands down if Bachmann said to me "who should we make next" I've put Stephen further down however as I know he would be more difficult then the previous 3. However I think there are more then enough selling points for him so if made I think he'd sell incredibly well. He'd look amazing pulling the Blue Open coach with some figures inside. His basis is iconic and I genuinely see Stephen as the engine where younger fans start to learn about steam engines and encourages them to look up the history or maybe their parents or grandparents start to pass on their knowledge.
Harvey
Lastly in the HO section I've gone for Harvey. Now this is my list and my own opinion, I know there's alot of demand for him and Diesel 10. Me personally I honestly wouldn't buy Diesel 10, he's one of a select few engines I'd pass on every time. However I would buy Harvey in a heartbeat. He's a classic series character that I loved way back in 2002 when he, Salty and Elizabeth were introduced (along with the pack) and I still love him now. I was over the moon in series 17 when he randomly popped up. He'd be expensive to make but man he'd be a great engine to add to the range.
Luke/Millie
For NG I'm very torn on both Luke and Millie, I'd be happy with either or both in any order. If Stephen was ever made Millie would be the perfect companion. I love her design and basis. You could even have a Figure of Sir Robert too. Luke I think would be great to round out the blue mountain mystery crew off. He'd look amazing pulling the high sided wagons. In a perfect world Bachmann would make an animal pack with a Deer you could place in Luke's cab
That's my top 5. I'm not suggesting they all get made or all get made in 2025. Its just my own personal list of engines and I'd love to see other people's lists.

[DustyMarie53!]

A really solid list only thought I have that I haven't shared before is Porter maybe being held back by Salty. I don't think Salty will be cancelled, to be clear, but he is on hold. So they may want to wait until closer to him being done before pursuing him and who knows when that'd be. I think he's still a solid shout though, your list isn't necessary "these need to happen right away" just that they all have factors going for them, and I definitely agree on that front.

I also definitely agree on the Harvey front. As cool as D10 would be if they're going to take a risk with a character like that, I'd rather it be one I'd get more use out of and have more personal interest in. Harvey all the way.   


I would make my own top 5 but realized it's just my signature with Charlie swapped out by Whiff. I'd also really like to see Sonny but I can't particularly give him any strong reasoning beyond me wanting him because his basis and livery is cool.

[JacobSK]

Okay...late to the party, but I concur with Chaz and Mulfred100. The wishlist is meant to be a placeholder and there're other retailers besides TrainWorld. Yes, they're popular (I have extreme loyalty to them myself, as I'm sure many others here do), but a lot of sales come from other online dealers (The Toy Crossing on eBay is one that immediately comes to my mind) as well as local hobby shops -- which where I live in Louisiana, is rare as a hen's tooth. They aren't the only game in town.

As for what I want to see (and maybe I'll be able to gather my thoughts more cohesively as these lists need 100% concentration) next January/February:

HO/OO:

Hiro - a beloved character from the CGI series. He was the first and with Rebecca sharing his wheels, they're technically ready to go. Yes, he'll be expensive, but I'm willing to bet he'll do relatively well. Would seem poetic for the 80th Anniversary

Gold/Silver Thomas - Wooden Railway and Take Along/Take N Play did this. Since we've got the main attractions from The Adventure Begins in this scale, now seems like as good of a time as any to do a fun 80th Anniversary recolor. If I have to choose one, I'd get behind gold for a reason I'm about to list below...

Silver Spencer - This would be a fun one, especially if we get Hiro. Spencer's Season 7/8 bluish gray livery looks outdated. He's one of the only models I don't have because I don't feel he's worth it. If they recolored him and essentially did an inverse of what's on him -- the blue gray for the handrails and silver for the body, I may finally consider picking him up. Reissuing him alongside a Hiro announcement, I can say no more.

'Arry and Bert reissue - Demand is surging for them. If it isn't time for Hiro, then it'd at least be something to get collectors who don't already have them excited about rather than a recolor of something that already exists.

Narrow Gauge:

SKIP - all the attention needs to be on getting Sir Handel out there. Especially with Duncan cancelled, I feel (and please don't take this the wrong way) all hands on deck for Sir Handel!

N Scale:

Edward - the one who started it all 80 years ago. It'd be simply poetic

LBSC Thomas and Origin James - I think we're in a good enough place in N scale to do some engine recolors. What better way to do so than to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of TAB? Alongside Edward and with Henry along the way, seems like a no brainer

7 plank variants - specifically standard green coal wagon and the new red China Clay wagon that was announced in HO. I also wouldn't be angry about a blue open wagon, either.

Large Scale:

Pipe dream, but Edward and Henrietta. Rather than repeating what's been said over the last 10-11 years by various people, please see what they had to say.

Those're all my thoughts. Please take them or leave them.

[Armada Starscream]

I'd also really like to see Sonny but I can't particularly give him any strong reasoning beyond me wanting him because his basis and livery is cool.

I would also like to see Sonny as a Bachmann model.

One potential argument in favor of Sonny could be is that he was the last character made in CGI, and therefore does not have much merchandise of him. Bachmann could therefore be one of the few ranges that produces merchandise of Sonny.

Another argument in favor of Sonny is than while Sonny's basis, Bellerophon, is rather iconic with railway enthusiasts, there are not many models of it, although I think KRModels does a Bellerophon now. Bachmann Sonny could be used as a less expensive model for non-Thomas Modelers who want to convert a Bachmann Sonny into a either a Bellerophon or another Haydock Foundry well-tank engine.

Not exactly the strongest arguments in favor of Sonny, but I wanted to at least put them on the table.

[DustyMarie53!]

I'd also really like to see Sonny but I can't particularly give him any strong reasoning beyond me wanting him because his basis and livery is cool.

I would also like to see Sonny as a Bachmann model.

One potential argument in favor of Sonny could be is that he was the last character made in CGI, and therefore does not have much merchandise of him. Bachmann could therefore be one of the few ranges that produces merchandise of Sonny.

Another argument in favor of Sonny is than while Sonny's basis, Bellerophon, is rather iconic with railway enthusiasts, there are not many models of it, although I think KRModels does a Bellerophon now. Bachmann Sonny could be used as a less expensive model for non-Thomas Modelers who want to Convert a Bachmann Sonny into a either a Bellerophon or another Haydock Foundry well-tank engines.

Not exactly the strongest arguments in favor of Sonny, but I wanted to at least put them on the table.

KRModels are making one but it's status updates are few and far between, and as you said cheaper alternative. Same as say, Heljan's class 28 not necessarily effecting BoCo's chances ignoring the mandate in the room.

I do think Sonny's biggest knock would be expense with his gearing, it would be costly and the demand simply isn't there for him yet. Maybe in a few years when the remaining heavy hitters are out of the way.

[harrison05]

If we get a Hiro we could also get a Patchwork repaint that could be cool as well. I'd also like to throw Victor in the mix as well, like I said with Hiro if he gets made we could also get a Yellow Victor if they make him as well.

[Awesometrain77]

OK going by popularity of suggestions that have seen on this thread the top contenders have to be
Whiff , Hiro , Nia , Harvey , Diesel 10
Which could honestly just be the characters they could do for the rest of the decade . All of which are very popular. And are key characters in a most Thomas merchandise  ranges.

[harrison05]

OK going by popularity of suggestions that have seen on this thread the top contenders have to be
Whiff , Hiro , Nia , Harvey , Diesel 10
Which could honestly just be the characters they could do for the rest of the decade . All of which are very popular. And are key characters in a most Thomas merchandise  ranges.

I haven't seen anyone talk about Nia for awhile ngl I don't think there is that much demand for her unlike Rebecca who's genuinely looks like one of Bachmann's best models can't wait for her.

[Luke22]

If Bachmann really wants to make the most of engine tooling repaints, I feel like they should at least try to pitch Norman and Dennis to Mattel before continuing to scrape the barrel for Big World Big Adventures era characters.



Dennis is a model era character, true, but he does have the distinction of being noted several times as a sibling of Norman in Norman's bios and merchandise. To me personally, it makes him "somewhat" of an honorary CGI character, compared to BoCo or Stepney, whom of which were never mentioned in the CGI era in any regard. I really get the impression that had BWBA not jumped in, we could've seen Dennis surface in the CGI era with Norman.



Topping that off, Norman has had a few speaking roles throughout the CGI era, and is often marketed with Paxton and Sidney as a trio (probably because they're each red, green, and blue), so he has a notable presence in CGI. Bachmann has made Paxton, and is now making Sidney, so why not round off the trio? To me, Norman and Dennis is a win-win for Bachmann and its consumers; niche and quirky, but bold and unique additions to the range.

I can see Norman being made, especially if they decide to reuse Rebecca's wheels AND seeing that they're cousins to each other being built from the same designer Bulleid..., more or less.

Hopefully, for my picks of 00 scale: I hope at least Hiro, Stephen (probably w/o moving eyes), or Whiff can be considered for the range, but certainly Whiff would be more likely since he's a tank engine, thus cheaper to make.

For 009 scale: as long as either Luke, Victor, or Millie can be considered, I'm content since they have potential to be amazing models since of their pairings with other potential characters introduced from their respective specials that also can be considered too (Stephen plus the blue open carriage w/ Millie for example).

[MrNormalDraws]

I can see Norman being made, especially if they decide to reuse Rebecca's wheels AND seeing that they're cousins to each other being built from the same designer Bulleid..., more or less.

Not exactly, as Rebecca's wheels were reused from Hiro and are larger, and Norman's are definitionally Bulleid wheels and I think smaller.

[DustyMarie53!]

OK going by popularity of suggestions that have seen on this thread the top contenders have to be
Whiff , Hiro , Nia , Harvey , Diesel 10
Which could honestly just be the characters they could do for the rest of the decade . All of which are very popular. And are key characters in a most Thomas merchandise  ranges.

I haven't seen anyone talk about Nia for awhile ngl I don't think there is that much demand for her unlike Rebecca who's genuinely looks like one of Bachmann's best models can't wait for her.

On here definitely hasn't been as much discussion about her, simply because I've made all the points I can for her. No real reason to repeat it much. But there's demand from the wider fandom including some who have emailed Bachmann's request line directly, as well as on their facebook and twitters. There's also just the fact she has shot up to be part of the main marketing trio, which has continued into AEG. She's a core part of the brand now so the line will always feel incomplete until she's added, I'll also argue Whiff falls into this category as well to a lesser degree, but his longevity definitely counts for something. With that said. She is a complex design. If Doug simply says "hey we looked into it, deemed too expensive for our main audience" like D10 and Harvey in a future stream, then fair. But I will continue to argue in favor of her until then because I personally think she's a key character and one the line could use. I will say if decisions were simply based on forum popularity, I doubt we would have Rebecca coming out now. So I do think it is important to consider that this forum is not inherently representative of the whole market and there are other avenues of requests and even outside factors of brand marketing to consider.