Future Thomas & Friends product suggestions and predictions

[Coaltronn]

Paid way to much money on Ebay to pick this duo up

I concur with Chaz and Mulfred. I would gladly purchase the Yellow Diesels if they were reissued.

Here are the prototypes from around early 2014:


If Bachmann saw this through to the end, they'd be a day 1 purchase from me. It keeps the same face plate, but makes them distinguishable from each other to tell them apart.

[Chaz]

Thank you, everyone, for the strong feedback! I really appreciate all the insights and thoughts. Hopefully, Bachmann can address this by reintroducing 'Arry and Bert at a later date. I agree that it would be too soon to bring them back while Sidney and the Mainland Diesel aren't out yet, but once Bachmann announces one or two more new engine toolings after Flying Scotsman, that would be the perfect time to reconsider adding 'Arry and Bert back into the line.

[Armada Starscream]

With all of this talk of 'Arry and Bert being potentially being reintroduced, I wanted to make an argument to repaint 'Arry and Bert Models into Splatter and Dodge as well. Considering that Splatter and Dodge were themselves a repaint of 'Arry and Bert, it would be cool to also make Splatter and Dodge out of them. It would just require repainting the already existing 'Arry and Bert shells, the ones that do not have the ladders on front around the face. And since Splatter and Dodge have only appeared together on screen with the same faces, Bachmann would just have to design a single face that can be used by both characters. It would be a great way to get two new characters out quickly, especially considering that Bachmann is willing to make the Mainland Diesels.

Just wanted to put the idea out there.

[Coaltronn]

one area that I would like to see Bachmann move towards is Crowdfunding. If it is not financially feasible for them to carry a whole new line but they want to satisfy the fans with some repaints like a arry and Bert/splodge then why not a kick starter? if you don't get the funding and hit your target then don't run it but at least we know you tried?

I propose this because of Brandon Sanderson and how he crowd funds his books and his fans get the things they want. obviously a motorized model is different then a book.

One can dream of different pathways to obtain all the models. I created splatter and dodge from two diesel Bachmann Models. although its serviceable it would be nice to have official models.

[RailwayRoundhouse]

I have to agree, Splatter and Dodge would be both practical and very fun additions to the range. Not only would they only need the one face between them or be using an existing tooling, but I feel the liveries of both diesels will gel well with the other models in the range.

Please take notes Bachmann!🙏

[Mulfred]

With all of this talk of 'Arry and Bert being potentially being reintroduced, I wanted to make an argument to repaint 'Arry and Bert Models into Splatter and Dodge as well. Considering that Splatter and Dodge were themselves a repaint of 'Arry and Bert, it would be cool to also make Splatter and Dodge out of them. It would just require repainting the already existing 'Arry and Bert shells, the ones that do not have the ladders on front around the face. And since Splatter and Dodge have only appeared together on screen with the same faces, Bachmann would just have to design a single face that can be used by both characters. It would be a great way to get two new characters out quickly, especially considering that Bachmann is willing to make the Mainland Diesels.

Just wanted to put the idea out there.

Never gonna happen and never should happen tbh. The Class 08 is designed to Diesel's specifications. Its was a push to get Arry and Bert out of it with all the front details that the original models and CGI renders don't have. They'd require a new Eye mechanism and then theres the major part of this problem. Their faces. Splatter and Dodge don't have the same size faces as Diesel, Paxton, Arry and Bert. They aren't even the same shape. Its considerably smaller in height and width. If Bachmann do Splatter and Dodge and made their faces the same size as Diesel then it would be extremely inaccurate to the models in Magic Railroad which They'd have to do as thats the way the moulding is designed, to which modellers would no doubt say it's "cheaping out or being lazy." Just look how much criticism Bachmann get for their HO Paxton because his face is inaccurate

[Awesometrain77]

Arry and Bert would be nice to see Bachmann usually does one or two locomotives announced per year . For example in 2022 Rebecca and Salty or 2024 Sidney and Mainland diesel .

To ensure they sell . Why not give Arry the face he had but with less stubble and Bert having a new angry face . This saves a lot of money as instead of making a new locomotive, you're bringing back two .

[Chaz]

'Arry and Bert being a 2-in-1 deal would be one of their biggest advantages. Again, it would probably be too soon to reintroduce them right after Sidney and the Mainland Diesel, but if Bachmann decides to introduce a new character like Hiro at the NMRA this year (or next), and then wants to take things a bit easier afterward, reintroducing 'Arry and Bert would be a much more practical choice on their end.

Hopefully, N scale can also have two engine announcements in one year; perhaps as soon as 2027, assuming they can release the LBSC Thomas, Origin James, and the Diesel and Paxton models by then. They haven't done that since the Emily and Gordon announcements in the 2022 catalog and NMRA announcements respectively, so it would be a real treat if they announced Edward early next year at Amherst and Duck at next year's NMRA.

[Awesometrain77]

Tbh I feel like Duck is not much of a necessity compared to Edward tbh .

Like my idea is they do Arry and Bert this year for the NMRA or Q3 announcements .

And next year do Diesel 10 but the risk in doing him would be countered with the release of Arry and Bert who would likly be affordable and therefore good sellers. Diesel 10 I am sure will sell but if Bachmann needs some safety release right before him I'd say these two are a good option .

[Chaz]

Tbh I feel like Duck is not much of a necessity compared to Edward tbh .

He's not, but Duck is also a very popular character in the fandom and now has a following similar to Edward's, especially since Edward hasn't been part of the main cast for almost 10 years.

Additionally, if Bachmann wants to take a break from producing another tender engine after Henry and instead tackle a smaller engine, Duck would be one of the safer options, as his HO model remains one of Bachmann's most popular sellers.

[travel_is_fun]

I agree, Duck is still highly requested character like Edward. If Toad and the GWR van were able to get added to n-scale, what is preventing Bachmann from announcing Duck?

Also, has anyone noticed how long HO Duck has been sold out from Bachmann's webpage? Maybe that could be the reason for Bachmann to introduce Duck to N-scale. Hopefully he'll be added soon.

I think that if Bachmann wants to be consistent with announcing new tooling announcements, they would bring Edward into the lineup for this year's NMRA. If that happens, Edward's price tag is likely to be on par with Gordon and Emily due to tooling configuration, making him one of the most expensive models.

[Mulfred]

Tbh I feel like Duck is not much of a necessity compared to Edward tbh .

He's not, but Duck is also a very popular character in the fandom and now has a following similar to Edward's, especially since Edward hasn't been part of the main cast for almost 10 years.

Additionally, if Bachmann wants to take a break from producing another tender engine after Henry and instead tackle a smaller engine, Duck would be one of the safer options, as his HO model remains one of Bachmann's most popular sellers.

Plus looking at Duck from a tooling/chassis prospective, Bachmann knows they can reuse that if they ever want to introduce Donald and Douglas into the N scale line. I want Edward just as much as everyone else but I know tooling wise he'll be more to manufacturer and is a one and done. Theres no other 4-4-0 in the range that would reuse that. Plus if we get a smaller engine like Duck then hopefully we may also get a newly tooled bit of Rolling stock too.

[Chaz]

Also, has anyone noticed how long HO Duck has been sold out from Bachmann's webpage? Maybe that could be the reason for Bachmann to introduce Duck to N-scale. Hopefully he'll be added soon.

Funny you should mention that... in today's New Model Monday, Bachmann commented that Duck will be arriving back in stock soon, along with James (both normal and origin versions), Henry, Oliver, and Emily, as well as a lot of rolling stock.

But yes, it is very encouraging to see Duck's popularity continuing to be as strong as ever. I also like the idea of them introducing a smaller engine in N scale, like Duck, while opening up the door for more new rolling stock toolings, such as a BR 20-ton brake van and a new tanker tooling.

[Zorran202]

Hi guys! It's been a while since I've been on here, but seeing that the old thread got "Thanos snapped", I'll pick out the models I want to see happen (including reintroductions):

HO/OO:

Whiff: a character with a unique basis, BUT perhaps the advantage like Mavis or Toby in that he doesn't require siderods to power the wheels, so probably be something for Bachmann to think of. As well as he checks off appearing in the CGI era, until Season 22. However I wouldn't be surprised if maybe how they attach his glasses as a separate piece or not might be the issue....

Stephen: to accompany the blue, open coach that's been announced, he'd be interesting to make. However, they'd have to make him like Beau, the only HO scale character to not have moving eyes since he'd be so small.

Glynn: same as Stephen if he gets decided as the alternative red character we've yet to see outside of James and the upcoming Mainland Diesel.

Hector: a rolling stock character as an alternative that Bachmann can think about. I mean we've been getting S.C.Ruffey even though he's not in the show after his appearance in Season 4, heck even the Spiteful Brakevan made his appearance in 2018/2019 even though he never appeared again after Season 2. Plus if they need a Hopper Truck, they can utilize this and alter it a bit for the next batch of faceless hopper trucks.

Gordon's Special Coaches: like with Toby's Museum Coach that only appeared once in Season 9, so too have Gordon's Special Coaches (hilariously they never bothered to keep) only in Season 10. If Bachmann need to have some repaint on rolling stock, this can help get some variety into the range since there's only the regular green express coaches, red express coaches, and then there's Spencer's Coach (but no brake coach).

Spencer's Brake Coach: weird they only made a composite coach, but no brake coach for Spencer, another bit of variety/add-on to Spencer's coach.

Reintroductions:

Seeing Arry and Bert be reintroduced into the range would probably be a better idea since with the likes of the Mainland Diesel + Sidney being released later on in the future, as well as Diesel and Paxton existing in the lineup, might as well go for these two WITH a few tweaks here and there: change Arry's face and remove the stubble on him and keep Bert's on so that way it's easy to tell who's who...

N Scale:

IF they make Edward, the numbers 1-7 will be complete. Afterwards, it'll be all down to which one they want to go with, whether Duck (popular character, as well as the next numbered engine after Toby), Donald & Douglas (if they want to dabble in making twins), Oliver (to accompany Toad), Rosie (as another female engine), Bill & Ben (alternative to Donald and Douglas), Mavis (another diesel, also similar situation as Toby being one with side plates), Salty (another diesel, but red-ish), AND Daisy (a diesel with a different chassis to the other characters).

009 Scale:

Luke: another alternative that doesn't need to worry about "accuracy" of their real-life basis (looking at you Duncan). The only thing is that they'd probably have to make a semi-cabless variant IF they plan on making Peter Pan (the real life basis of Luke).

Victor: it'd be interesting if he gets made as an alternative for Sir Topham Hatt's engine of the narrow gauge range.

Millie: female, also another engine at some point in the future IF they make Stephen and/or Glynn in HO/OO scale.

[Cheeky_ULP]

I think with Bachmann embracing the Bachmann UK vent van for recent products including Troublesome Truck #7, it would be refreshing to see the range switch over to the Bachmann UK 7-plank wagon tooling for newer wagons going forward. These are a bit shorter than the ex-Mainline toolings that Bachmann currently uses, and as a result look more accurate to how 7-plank wagons look in all eras of the TV series.



To add, it would be a good segway to introduce some CGI style Troublesome Trucks. The CGI era has lots of wacky and silly faces for them that would stand out from the current selection of trucks. There's also lots of new potential load possibilities that could be given to the trucks.



I personally think something like this would give the trucks in the range a breath of fresh air.