Splatter and Dodge, or Fernando?

[TrainFan97]

With Sidney and Mainland Diesel hitting store shelves in early 2027, and considering I've brought up these potential Class 08 repaints several times in the predictions thread, I thought it was time I give them their own dedicated thread specifically for discussing them, where we can keep discussions for the next potential Class 08 repaints in HO Scale, and possibly the last.

Which Class 08 repaint will Bachmann make next for HO Scale? Splatter and Dodge, or Fernando? Splatter and Dodge because we're getting Diesel 10, and they'd be the perfect models to compliment him, and we can have his two bumbling minions. Fernando because he was actually in the CGI series, and this would be his first ever piece of merchandise. Personally, I think Splatter and Dodge would sell a lot better, due to their nostalgia value, their association with Diesel 10, and appealing to model series fans. Fernando may be the weakest seller of the Class 08s, and possibly more-so than 'Arry and Bert. He may be from the CGI series, but didn't really leave that strong of an impression like Mainland Diesel did in Journey Beyond Sodor.

What do you guys think should be the next Class 08 repaint?

[TEHNewClearwaterFeatures]

Splodge is the logical choice in Class 08s.

[Cheeky_ULP]

I feel like just because a character appears in CGI, it shouldn't mean they get automatic priority over characters who haven't. Fernando is a prime example of a character Bachmann -could- make, but it begs the question of who the market is. He doesn't have any sort of cult following within the fandom like Paxton, Sidney, or the Mainland Diesel did, which is a common trend among characters introduced in the BWBA era; the era as a whole largely failed to make a cultural impact on Thomas fans both young and old.

Adding to that, Fernando would be "alone" in terms of merchandise; if a Thomas fan hasn't made their own custom Raul or Gabriela, there wouldn't be much incentive to purchase a Fernando, which just goes back to the previous point; not a lot of people made customs of BWBA era characters because they didn't have the same charm as the CGI characters before them.

To put it simple; if Bachmann made Fernando, I think they would be fishing for a market that doesn't exist, and that would be a waste of their time, resources, and money.

On the other hand, Splatter and Dodge I am very confident would fly off the shelves. If a Thomas fan knows who Diesel 10 is and buys the Bachmann model of him, they 100% know who Splatter and Dodge are, and will consequently want to purchase them as well. Splatter and Dodge are the perfect upsells to Diesel 10.

[RailsByRick]

Splatter and Dodge is definitely the way to go if we were to get more 08 repaints. It makes sense from a business perspective not only because they would compliment Diesel 10, but also because it's two repaints from one tooling that are almost guaranteed to be purchased as a pair at the same time. I know I certainly would.

[TrainFan97]

Bachmann inevitably will make Fernando in HO Scale at some point, solely for the fact that his tooling exists, but he should not be prioritized over Splatter and Dodge just because he's the one from the CGI series. Busy Bee James is proof that Bachmann can do engine repaints based on the model series. Mattel never outright forces Bachmann to stick with CGI models.

With Diesel 10, fans would absolutely purchase Splatter and Dodge in a heartbeat, since they're the characters most associated with him. Even though they're model series repaints, they MUST be prioritized over Fernando. Splatter and Dodge would be a much better-received announcement than Fernando. They would use the 'Arry and Bert tooling, since that doesn't have the stepladders, and their siderods would be blackened metal.

Stepney had been ignored for many years since he hasn't appeared since Season 12, but the difference is that he would require a new tooling, while the tooling already exists for Splatter and Dodge, so it's a much better investment for Bachmann. Much easier to just repaint the tooling and put a new face on it. Fernando's sales would be rather minimal compared to the sales of Splatter and Dodge. Hope Bachmann knows this and will consider announcing Splatter and Dodge in the near future, possibly the 2027 catalog, so the boss can have his two bumbling minions join him. They're going to sell like crazy. Most people who know Diesel 10 know Splatter and Dodge. Easy money is right there for Splodge, especially since people will be buying two engines at once. They must be the next pair of Class 08 shunters to join HO Scale after Sidney and Mainland Diesel. Fingers crossed Fernando doesn't get chosen over them. Bachmann wouldn't want to pass up a chance for easy money.

Many of us had given up hope for characters like Stepney and BoCo. Then again, both characters require new toolings. Diesel 10 is only the second time we're getting a diesel that isn't a shunter. First time was Daisy. With how many customs of Splatter and Dodge people have made, it's proof of how popular they are, and how easy they can be made from an existing tooling. Hope the dream that Bachmann Splatter and Dodge becomes a reality isn't too far off.

[Zorran202]

It's a given that now that we got Diesel 10 cooking, it would be interesting to see Splatter and Dodge be introduced into the range. The only thing is that they COULD'VE made it into the CGI series, but got the shaft twice unfortunately... However, if Bachmann were willing to create Busy Bee James, Spiteful Brakevan, D-Fusit gunpowder vans, and the China Clay Wagons/Ffarquhar wagons, there's a chance we can see them being made, though assuming they'd be fine with making very niche characters that haven't appeared in over 26 years...

Fernando on the other hand: the only way I can see them greenlighting him is if they make the other Mainland Diesel #2 based off of him too because he too shares a same, if not similar, facial build plus the hazard stripes, so that's something. Heck, the only BWBA era characters currently made is Beau, Rebecca, and the Troublesome Truck #6 (purple tanker from Kenya, Africa), so chances are there, but I agree they definitely should not be made yet if there's other surprises that we can look forward to later on... nothing is impossible these days...

[travel_is_fun]

About that. Just because Diesel 10 will be part of the lineup, doesn't mean that Splodge will be added to the range. They're one-off characters that never returned after TATMR. Like, hardly anyone in this current generation knows who they are and I'm quite tired of seeing these 08 shunting diesel being reused with jacked up prices.

PS: I already have Splodge. Just kidding, it's Arry and Bert.

[TrainFan97]

About that. Just because Diesel 10 will be part of the lineup, doesn't mean that Splodge will be added to the range. They're one-off characters that never returned after TATMR. Like, hardly anyone in this current generation knows who they are and I'm quite tired of seeing these 08 shunting diesel being reused with jacked up prices.

PS: I already have Splodge. Just kidding, it's Arry and Bert.

All that may be true, but we can never say never. Bachmann is known to surprise us. Though it doesn't help that Splodge could've been in the CGI series, but got shafted from two specials.

Another thing is that Smudger and Proteus have been consistent requests for Narrow Gauge, and are one-off characters as well, but their toolings exist. They're still possible too. The one time we did get a one-off character was Beau, from Big World Big Adventures.

Bachmann never said characters like Splatter and Dodge will never happen.

[Zorran202]

About that. Just because Diesel 10 will be part of the lineup, doesn't mean that Splodge will be added to the range. They're one-off characters that never returned after TATMR. Like, hardly anyone in this current generation knows who they are and I'm quite tired of seeing these 08 shunting diesel being reused with jacked up prices.

Going by that logic, the Spiteful Brakevan, S.C.Ruffey, and Beau who also appeared in one episode/movie and never seen again, yet they were made. Granted, the first two are rolling stock, which would be easier to make and Beau appeared in the CGI era. Heck, we never expected Diesel 10 to be made because of Pinchy being the factor, but here we are. I mean, we'll see how this goes about whether or not they'll show up in the range. I'm curious if they do greenlight them, that'll prove they can make characters even from the past era too...!

[TrainFan97]

We'll see if Matt Stern mentions the possibility of Splatter and Dodge in the Trainworld stream. They're becoming high in demand ever since Diesel 10's announcement.

After all, we did get the Spiteful Brake Van, which only appeared in one Season 2 episode. Granted it was rolling stock. Bachmann could do the same with engines if their tooling exists. As long as there's Class 08 characters to chose from, Bachmann can continue making them.

[Luke22]

The chances of Splatter and Dodge are there because Bachmann have made Arry and Bert models that don't have the stepladders on them, though the only thing that they need is a different face, maybe even the different sized faces because while the model series variants of them are small, Arry and Bert's faces became "Diesel" sized as it were, slightly bigger in other words. However, like Sydney, they can be adjusted to their face size easily as Bachmann did with the latter model.

[DustyMarie53!]

Splodge are an interesting case because they're actually some of the notoriously worst sellers in Thomas toys (only falling behind the likes of Whiff). But the good news is those statistics shouldn't effect Bachmann and I'd love to see models of them.

[sodor_modelmonger]

I agree that splodge makes sense and would easily be approved, but the thing is they actually require a fair amount of changes to the diesel tooling.

Like arry and bert (since they used the same models) splodge doesnt have the wiring connecting their headlamps at the front - arry and bert are erroneously molded with them in the bachmann lineup. Its not a huuge deal, but i do think without the complicated paint job of the hazard stripes camoflauging it, it would be alot more noticeable and clog up their comparatvely simple front ends.

Splodges faces are also much smaller than diesels/arrys/berts, and if any of you have every taken the physical face off of the model in person youll know that theres alot of relief molding to accept the faceplate, so its very noticeable if you replace the face with anything smaller. This is why paxton's faceplate has the green border infill attached to it, because his narrower face wouldve revealed the gaps (yes his face was also stretched to fit diesels eye mech- but this mainly changed the height of his eyes, his face is still slightly thinner than diesels, necessitating the green infill) However, this problem does seem to have been fixed with sidney and the mainland diesel, so it may be that each character actually has a slightly differently tooled body. I guess the question then is would splodge be considered good enough sellers to retool the body front again - or would they take the easier route of having a filled in area around the face like paxton. Because with two new diesels coming shortly, having 7 nearly identical shunters in the range may get a bit competative.

[TrainFan97]

If Bachmann does make Splatter and Dodge, they may or may not have to remove the front wiring connecting the headlamps, if possible. 'Arry and Bert got molded with them. If it's possible to change the tooling to where there's no wiring connecting the headlamps, Bachmann can also rerelease 'Arry and Bert with the new front ends, and different faces, with 'Arry having little or no stubble. The new 'Arry and Bert will sell a lot better with the new faces and front end tooling. I think Splatter and Dodge will happen in HO Scale first, since we got Diesel 10 announced recently, while 'Arry and Bert could get announced for N Scale before Bachmann considers reintroducing them to HO Scale, or announcing them for Large Scale. I can definitely see Large Scale getting Sidney and Mainland Diesel not long after their HO Scale models hit store shelves.