Future suggestions/predictions thread

[DustyMarie53!]

What I don't understand is why Douglas affects Duncan's chances so much. This is still the thomas range, bachmann Duncan even in his unpopular CGI form would be viable and popular-at the very least for another smooth 0-4-0 chassis. We've seen them take controversial cgi routes for characters before as well. (Oliver seems to still be going strong)

If the narrow gauge range only sees profit for toolings that can be reused outside of thomas now then I'm scared for its future..

I think a big part of it is the cost. It ran the same price point as Handel who is just Hayden. And thus was tooled to be recolored that way from the jump. While Douglas and CGI Duncan are so different that's just not viable and thus there's not the cross appeal and thus it makes less sense to do it now. But also. It's Duncan. He'd sell regardless with fans. But it worries me they think fans aren't enough to carry that.

Where would that leave Duke or Mighty-Mac if we ever branch out to model only characters, since they already have basies are they not viable?

What about Victor, who's basis is standard gauge?

Where does he stand?

I haven't even committed to the 009 range yet even though I want to but the worry there might just. not be all the characters even from cgi is a bit disheartening as a potential customer. And I know I'm not the only one. I hope Bachmann considers this. Do the safer bets of Luke and Millie first if we have to. That's what I'm expecting. But still do Victor and show accurate Duncan one day

[harrison05]

What I don't understand is why Douglas affects Duncan's chances so much. This is still the thomas range, bachmann Duncan even in his unpopular CGI form would be viable and popular-at the very least for another smooth 0-4-0 chassis. We've seen them take controversial cgi routes for characters before as well. (Oliver seems to still be going strong)

If the narrow gauge range only sees profit for toolings that can be reused outside of thomas now then I'm scared for its future..

I don't how because they are the same model, but some how the Bachmann model looks much better than the show model...

I think a big part of it is the cost. It ran the same price point as Handel who is just Hayden. And thus was tooled to be recolored that way from the jump. While Douglas and CGI Duncan are so different that's just not viable and thus there's not the cross appeal and thus it makes less sense to do it now. But also. It's Duncan. He'd sell regardless with fans. But it worries me they think fans aren't enough to carry that.

Where would that leave Duke or Mighty-Mac if we ever branch out to model only characters, since they already have basies are they not viable?

What about Victor, who's basis is standard gauge?

Where does he stand?

I haven't even committed to the 009 range yet even though I want to but the worry there might just. not be all the characters even from cgi is a bit disheartening as a potential customer. And I know I'm not the only one. I hope Bachmann considers this. Do the safer bets of Luke and Millie first if we have to. That's what I'm expecting. But still do Victor and show accurate Duncan one day

Like Dusty said I have yet to commit to 009 range yet also, Duncan was going to be my first jump into the line. I personally think because Duncan is so popular I think the fans alone with would have carried his sales alone, but also kinda worried me how Bachmann didn't have faith in the fans in this case...

[CandygramforMongo]

On some of the other Bachmann groups I've looked through on Facebook and such, one of the more interesting suggestions I've been seeing from some collectors is Connor. Their reasoning being that they were able to release Beau by repurposing their existing 4-4-0 tooling, and that they're now releasing an NYC Dreyfuss Hudson of their own.

I'm not sure how feasible that may be financially since the Hudsons are much more expensive and more complicated tooling wise than the 4-4-0s, among other things. Then again, stranger things have happened. After all, I never in a million years thought we'd get Beau. He was so unique that it was the second time I broke my rule of RWS engines only (alongside Salty) and got him. 

[TrainFan97]

I'm pretty sure Bachmann confirmed a while back that Connor is not feasible using the Dreyfuss Hudson tooling, solely because there isn't a way to add his face.

[harrison05]

I think that was confirmed in a Thomas Tuesday.

[harrison05]

I think that was confirmed in a Thomas Tuesday that Connor can't be made...

[MrNormalDraws]

I'm pretty sure Bachmann confirmed a while back that Connor is not feasible using the Dreyfuss Hudson tooling, solely because there isn't a way to add his face.

Yeah, Connor needs a completely new tooling as it differs from the real prototype.

[JLK2707]

You can still make a Connor model, even though a Bachmann one just is not possible.

[CandygramforMongo]

I must've missed that Bachmann confirmed Connor's unfeasibility. I haven't been able to view much of the Thomas Tuesdays recently. Like I said though, I didn't think it was possible to make him anyway.

[Drfizwuz]

I believe they should add Lady next

[RailwayRoundhouse]

I believe they should add Lady next

I'd adore a Bachmann Lady. Tooling wouldn't be too costly, could likely reutilise the chassis from either Percy or Bill/Ben and her purple livery would be a nice colour contrast to the rest of the engines. It also would be a nice tribute to the late Britt Allcroft. I certainly hope Bachmann give this some consideration!

[TrainFan97]

Although Lady only appeared in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, and a dream in Calling All Engines, some would still like Bachmann to make Lady as tribute to Britt Allcroft. After all, there would be no TV Series, let alone a Bachmann Thomas range, if it weren't for Britt Allcroft.

[harrison05]

Bachmann Lady would so hard and be the perfect tribute to Britt god rest her soul.

[Chaz]

So in New Model Monday, it was confirmed during the Q&A portion* that the catalog has the wrong image for the large scale Tidmouth Milk Tanker. It's actually meant to be the one used in the model seasons, which took me by surprise.

So this brings a new question to the table... could we possibly see more rolling stock based on the model seasons, despite there being CGI versions available? Most notably, some reintroductions of the mail car and oil tanker that have been replaced with the newer CGI logos?





Either way, this really does open the door for more possibilities with variants from both the model and CGI seasons getting some representation, with both options being available.

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lWKUsxRdM8 Timestamp: 1:14:10-1:14:35