Human figure pack discussion thread

[RailsByRick]

After looking at the photos of the Doug figure that Chaz has shared (see "Farewell Doug" thread) it looks like these will be oversized for OO, and certainly way out of scale for HO. I placed a OO scale figure from Bachmann Branchline in the cab of my Gordon, and the figure's head can just barely poke out from the bottom of the side window. In Chaz's photo, the Doug figure can be seen through the window from about the chest up.

Now, in the "Railway Personnel" pack (the one which Doug is included) there are three taller figures, one of which is "Doug". I have a theory that they were intentionally made much taller to look more appropriate in the engine's cabs- most notably Gordon and Henry, as a standard OO figure looks too small in the cab.

Hopefully Chaz can confirm this and elaborate more if he'd like.

[Chaz]

I've been behind on a lot of things lately, but I really wanted to get around to finally taking the time to giving an in-depth review of the Bachmann figure packs. Sorry I'm over a year late but I've had to juggle work, life, and even working on writing a book.  But you know what they say... Better late than never.


Back to the figure packs.  When these were first announced, I was genuinely excited. They felt like one of the most innovative and surprising announcements Bachmann had made in years. This is especially noteworthy considering Bachmann had previously stated that figures would never be introduced due to choking hazards. Yet here we are; just as Bachmann once denied plans for the narrow gauge engines or DCC and sound-equipped Thomas engines, only to later deliver them.

I'm simply glad these figure packs exist at all, but like everything else, they deserve a fair and balanced review. So, although I'm over a year late (sorry Rick!), here are my thoughts:




Before breaking down each pack, I want to talk about the overall strengths and weaknesses of the figure range, starting with the strengths:

1. Closer to Scale



These figures are much closer to proper scale than earlier attempts. In the past, if you wanted a Sir Topham Hatt or other characters on your layout, the options were not ideal. You either had the large HO Sir Topham Hatt from 2002 (which works really well for G scale), an ERTL figure or used unrelated figures like LEGO. These new packs finally feel authentic to the Bachmann Thomas line.



2. Versatility Across Systems


^{(Before anyone gets worried, I do have a spare push along RWS Thomas still in its packaging, I was just lucky enough to come across another earlier this year..!)}
They're not just for OO layouts; they work surprisingly well with Trackmaster, Wooden Railway, die cast and other toy ranges. While not perfectly in scale with toys or HO/OO models, they're versatile enough to bridge the gap.



3. Diversity of Figures



Bachmann deserves praise for including a wide variety of characters. Beyond the well-known Hatt family, we also get railway staff, farmers, and schoolchildren.  There's some genuine diversity in gender and race in some of these figures. This feels far more natural and inclusive than some of Mattel's more forced approaches in recent years, particularly during BWBA.



4. Fine Details



The painted faces, buttons, logos, and accessories like oil cans or purses are impressive: details rarely attempted at this scale. The Blue Mountain Quarry logo on the narrow gauge crew, or Farmer Trotter's shovel, are small touches that bring the figures to life.



5. Unique Poses



Not every figure is standing stiffly with arms at their sides. Lady Hatt holding her purse, the narrow gauge driver with his oil can, or even Farmer Trotter with his shovel add personality and variety to a scene.


So while there is a lot of positive things I can say about these figure packs, they are far from perfect.  So here are some areas on what I personally feel does not work:



1. Bases and Pegs



Bases are practical for figures: they keep figures upright and are even removable. But once removed, the feet have visible pegs, which hurts realism and complicates layout use. To make them work seamlessly, modelers have to sand down the pegs and create new clear bases and glue them down to have them stand up without falling down. Personally, I would have preferred either no bases at all (with flat feet) or transparent bases instead of the dark green.


2. Scale Issues



While advertised as OO/HO compatible, the figures run slightly oversized compared to true scale. This may have been intentional to allow for painted facial features and clothing details, but it creates an odd mismatch next to standard figures. For modelers who prize accuracy, this is a drawback.

So while the figure packs do have their flaws, including some fans may find subjective, I think the pros on these figure packs outweigh the cons and I feel that these will help add life to many modeler's layouts.  Now let's get into each pack!



The Hatt Family:



This pack is a standout. Sir Topham Hatt looks far more accurate than the 2002 figure, and including Lady Hatt, the grandchildren, and even Dowager Hatt was a pleasant surprise. Dowager, in particular, became more prominent in the CGI era, and her inclusion makes the set versatile. These figures can also double as generic passengers.



Although not a part of the figure packs I did want to touch on Sir Topham Hatt's car real quick. It is another highlight and a very appropriate addition to go with the figures.  It sticks out with painted details on the radiator, wheels, and trim. It feels authentic to both the model and CGI eras and will look great in a wide range of layouts or scenes.

Railway Personnel:


This set is packed with charm; especially the figure based on Doug Blaine, which is a thoughtful nod. The signalman's long gray coat, the station master with his pocket watch, and the variety of shades in the uniforms give them individuality. These are perfect for layouts featuring sheds, stations, or yards.

Farmers and Animals:


The animals are repaints of existing Bachmann livestock, but they blend well into the Thomas range. The farmers themselves are nicely contrasted, and Katy the sheepdog is a real gem — faithful to her TV counterpart and full of personality. While both the farmer packs are more niche, they're perfect for countryside layouts and farm scenes.

Teacher and Schoolchildren:


Another fun pack with plenty of versatility. The teacher was even reused as a passenger in CGI episodes, which adds authenticity. I also appreciate the diversity among the children, including small details like glasses. These figures double well as background passengers for stations.

Narrow Gauge Personnel


Perhaps my personal favorite. Released the same year as Skarloey's 10th anniversary in the Bachmann range, this set feels especially timely. Mr. Percival and his wife are excellent additions, while the narrow gauge drivers and workmen help bring life to OO9 setups. Like the railway staff, this is a pack many modelers will likely buy multiples of. The spare Mr. and Mrs. Percival figures work really well as passenger figures too.

Final Thoughts:



Bachmann went above and beyond with these figure packs. They're not flawless by any means, but the level of effort, detail, and inclusivity shines through. They add a much-needed human element to layouts and collections, something fans have wanted for decades.

I truly hope these aren't a one-off release with only these six packs and no further expansion. More packs featuring passengers, a brass band, or even Sodor celebrities would be welcome. These figures prove that Bachmann is willing to innovate and take risks once thought impossible.

Thank you, Bachmann, for bringing these figure packs to life. I look forward to seeing where you take them next.

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I managed to get all the figure packs. I actually got two of the Railway Personnel packs because I intend to give drivers and firemen to all the engines who have open cabs. Now, if I were to modify my figures to have clear stands, would plexiglass be the best material to use?