Bachmanns Future for HO Thomas

[Cheeky_ULP]

This thread isn't a wishlist, or a predictions thread. This is simply a list of all the potential rolling stock Bachmann can do. The reason I am making this list is while it's great we finally got Duck, I've noticed the HO range has been shaved down quite a bit ever since the introduction of the Large Scale range.


1. Revisions of Thomas, Percy and James.



I'm not sure what's going on in HiT Entertainments marketing division, where they decide what Bachmann products are made next, but I sure hope someone at Bachmann has at least forwarded them the message that the current toolings of the "main three" HO Thomas locomotives toolings are outdated. This includes Thomas, Percy, and James. I think people find this to be a shame because the new models have amazing quality (the best of any Thomas merchandise produced, in my opinion) yet the most famous engines, and thus the most commonly bought, are poor representations of how decent the Bachmann Thomas range really is. I think it's time for Bachmann to bring their main three engines back from the ground up with the latest technology!

The best part about this is the problem is already halfway solved. The Large Scale range is a beautiful representation of who Thomas, Percy and James are. The tooling (which in this era, usually is first designed digitally if I recall correctly) already exists, so it would just need to be scaled down to the proper scale, have a new chassis designed, and make sure the buffers and height line up with Bachmanns other HO stock. A bit lengthy of things to do, but considering Bachmanns experience, I imagine this would be no problem for them.

This also opens the door for the main three engines to have their "CGI" looks in HO scale, which is something HiT seems to be strongly pushing towards in all of their Thomas ranges these days.

1a. This also applies to Annie and Clarabel!


2.  Charlie, Hiro Rosie, Stanley and or Whiff



I'm actually surprised none of these engines have been made yet. They have had a high amount of regular appearances in the TV series lately. They're all in CGI too, so any of these engines would go nicely with Bachmanns increasingly CGI rolling stock. Their frequent appearances will also be very familiar to kids, so that's a plus too. The reason I've categorized them all into one number is because they all pretty much have the same reasoning. The only real engines that stick out of that crowd are Charlie, Hiro and Whiff. Hiro starred in a special, and Charlie and Whiff both have had a few starring roles in new episodes (even more I think than Spencer did at the time of the release of his Bachmann model!). If this were a wishlist though, I'd be hoping for Stanley!

3. Arry and Bert.


I'm not gonna sit around and pretend that these two aren't a quick cash in just waiting to happen. Just remove Diesels ladders and a few other front details Arry and Bert don't have, repaint the bodies, and change the face. You got these guys made in easily just a few months prototype development time. It's so ridiculously easy to make these two that it almost seems inevitable to me. However, the question is if anybody is really demanding these two. I'd wager my money that not many are.

4. Plant/Scrap Wagons


Once an obscure wagon on the model era, only getting its big highlight in "Henrys Forest," CGI gave these interesting wagons a second lease on life, and now appear frequently in episodes. They've had a rising count of appearances (at the time of typing) in Season 16. They're now commonly filled with scrap, but ideally could be filled with anything if made in HO. A very unique freight car, and iconic of the Thomas and Friends franchise to frequent watchers.

5. Trevor and Butch


Trevor has been in high demand for a long time. It's almost a shocker that Trevor didn't come this year! Considering Harold and Berties current prices, I think Trevor and Butch would price nicely at $25. Both have already appeared in the CGI series, and while Butch has been getting regular appearances in the show, Trevor has been around much longer and is widely recognized as part of the franchise. In a way, he's the "Duck" of the roadway vehicles for Bachmann.


Closing thoughts for everyone else who frequents the Bachmann Thomas section:

- Take a strong notice at how I included nothing that's exclusive to the model era. Times are changing, and I have a feeling that Duck and the Ice Cream Wagon are the last of model era exclusives.

- There's a lot of other obscure things I could have went over, like the red coaches, varying hopper cars CGI has brought in, the new CGI brake vans, etc. but I'm a bit tired (notice how I hot linked from the wikia for now). Feel free to contribute your own potential items. Remember, this isn't a wishlist, nor is it predictions. This thread is just to give Bachmann popular items and possibilities to consider, since there's plenty of potential for the HO range. 

[fighter4luv]

This also opens the door for the main three engines to have their "CGI" looks in HO scale, which is something HiT seems to be strongly pushing towards in all of their Thomas ranges these days.

We got a new batch of the Magnet Thomas engines and Percy still has his old model face so please, if Bachmann can get away with that too, that would be much better than their boring generic CGI faces. They have no heart.

[Cheeky_ULP]

By magnet Thomas do you mean the Wooden, or Take N Play range?

[fighter4luv]

By magnet Thomas do you mean the Wooden, or Take N Play range?

Take n Play? I'm not sure. I don't buy Thomas toddler toys just the awesome Bachmann engines.

[RW James]

A well written piece, and I share your hopes, especially for the original three. But (and please forgive me if I misunderstood) I am concerned about this statement:

...and make sure the buffers and height line up with Bachmanns other HO stock...

The fact that Thomas' front buffer is lower than standard is part of the Thomas lore. It really should be lower. The Rev Awdry tried to fix it, but it seemed to just stay with Thomas. I really hope they don't try to adjust it back up.

[Cheeky_ULP]

That isn't referring to Thomas. Notice how compared to the HO Annie, Clarabel, and Troublesome Trucks the buffers are in slightly different spots, likely to accommodate the scale.

[ClearwtaerMK2]

If I were to get a Bachmann charlie, I'd transform him into silly billy.

[Stepney the 'Bluebell' Engine]

Id definitely like to see Arry and Bert added to the HO range in the near future, and i agree that the HO Thomas, Percy and James models could do with a facelift, they are nice engines, but they don't compare to the wonderful detail shown on the Large Scale Thomas models, this detailing could make the HO models so much better.

Stanley is another character id like to see considered for a future release. 

[DinoNTrains]

the HO Thomas, Percy and James models could do with a facelift, they are nice engines, but they don't compare to the wonderful detail shown on the Large Scale Thomas models, this detailing could make the HO models so much better.

Also instead of just new faces, maybe some different paint in places such as Percy's bunker and James' smokebox side, wheels, and axle boxes on his tender. maybe an actually mounted whistle, rather than a moulded whistle, on James' cab roof

that's just my two cents

[Cupix the Azelf]

Seriously... who DOESN'T want Bachmann 'Arry and Bert?

[Cheeky_ULP]

the HO Thomas, Percy and James models could do with a facelift, they are nice engines, but they don't compare to the wonderful detail shown on the Large Scale Thomas models, this detailing could make the HO models so much better.

Also instead of just new faces, maybe some different paint in places such as Percy's bunker and James' smokebox side, wheels, and axle boxes on his tender. maybe an actually mounted whistle, rather than a moulded whistle, on James' cab roof

that's just my two cents

Well when I say revisions, I mean entirely new, more accurately proportioned locomotives for those three, not just touch ups to the current tooling.

Seriously... who DOESN'T want Bachmann 'Arry and Bert?

I really could care less if Bachmann made those two. I think their resources could be spent on making more interesting engines.

[ThomasFan247]

One thing that always drove me nuts about Bachmann's James is the fact of how big and bulky he is. In accordance with the TVS, he should not be taller than Gordon, and he should basically be Edward's size, especially his width, which contributes to the problem of his buffers not being placed close enough to the outer edge of his running plate.

[SodorAdventures]

One thing that always drove me nuts about Bachmann's James is the fact of how big and bulky he is. In accordance with the TVS, he should not be taller than Gordon, and he should basically be Edward's size, especially his width, which contributes to the problem of his buffers not being placed close enough to the outer edge of his running plate.

  Same! James always kinda confused me. I never quite felt the Arrogant James that was shown in the model. I think revisions of this model, if they should decide to revise any, James first TF247, is Edward your fav. engine? My fav. is him.

[thomasj219]

Yes me too, James never really captured the sleek train he realy is, he is too boxy.Hopefully they can fix that. New face would be nice.

[ThomasFan247]

One thing that always drove me nuts about Bachmann's James is the fact of how big and bulky he is. In accordance with the TVS, he should not be taller than Gordon, and he should basically be Edward's size, especially his width, which contributes to the problem of his buffers not being placed close enough to the outer edge of his running plate.

  Same! James always kinda confused me. I never quite felt the Arrogant James that was shown in the model. I think revisions of this model, if they should decide to revise any, James first TF247, is Edward your fav. engine? My fav. is him.

He's one of my favorite Bachmann locos, but Thomas will still always be my favorite