Like Chaz and TrainFan said, Edward is the best choice for the next N Scale engine after Toby. Hopefully, the Bachmann team can take notice of our current demand for him.

I was honestly a little hesitant to mention rolling stock possibilities, but I will say that the Cattle Wagons are also very good idea worth considering along with Edward. Both options have not yet been made in Large Scale and they can help give the N Scale range a good sense of individuality before it repeats too much of what Large Scale already has. A differently-designed Troublesome Truck #3 is an interesting idea as well and I would be open for seeing it attempted, with or without the Cattle Wagon.

While a Large Scale version of Edward isn't technically impossible, I do think that the character feels more likely to be made in N Scale, considering the production costs of engines between scales and the difference of favor for engine lengths. It's a nice idea to discuss occasionally, but it would generally be better to push for an N Scale Edward at the moment.

Edward is the one that I would most certainly choose for the next N Scale engine. All things considered, it makes the most practical sense to announce him after Toby's prototype is shown off. To also have a Thomas toy lineup with Thomas, Percy, James, Toby and Edward among the first five engines produced would also be a charming treat that can make the N Scale lineup unique. After Edward is announced, Emily can easily be next.

It does feel too soon to announce most of the side characters, but recolors are fairly likely to come sooner now that I think about it. If no new engine were to be announced next year, LBSC Thomas would be the next safest bet and a good choice too.

Quote from: Chaz on May 27, 2021, 12:30:54 AM
Falcon, I feel bad for not getting to respond to your post suggestions right away, especially with how quick you've been with my posts too.  So I'll give my thoughts on the N scale engine suggestions you mentioned.

Don't worry about it, Chaz. I freely admit that I tend to give my responses fairly early-

TrainWorld has confirmed on Twitter that their next Thomas Tuesday event (that'll be on June 1st) will feature both painted models of HO Scale Daisy and N Scale James. I'm wondering if we'll end up seeing either of the two models in action at some point during the stream.

Source:
https://twitter.com/Trainworld/status/1397248027585302532

The idea of an N Scale model of Daisy does sound pretty nice, but it does seem a tad bit early to consider her in another scale and especially after it has taken some good time to get her HO Scale model finished. Still a neat idea to think of nonetheless and also a good point made with scaling her tooling down.

Most of the engines that Bachmann previously made in HO & Large Scale have fair chances of being next in N Scale and most of them have fair potential for good sales among fans, so it's very hard to make a certain guess with only four basic engines to go by.

I do happen to have a few personally hoped-for options for a new engine following Toby and I felt like sharing them along with my reasons for wanting them:

• Edward - His physique is somewhat similar to James and he seems more likely to happen in N Scale than Large Scale taking costs into consideration. If Bachmann doesn't feel ready for Gordon and/or Henry just yet, I can see Edward being an appropriate compromise that many fans would still be very happy with. The only big issue would be Mattel's treatment of him in recent years and how that affects his likelihood. Otherwise, Edward would be an easy smash-hit in N Scale. It helps that multiple fans in Japan have made their own custom models of him within the past few years.
• Mavis - She is a generally cost-effective option since her design isn't too complicated and Toby's chassis could be reused. Her HO Scale model was a hit and I could see her being successful in N Scale since we haven't gotten any merchandise of her in many years. Mavis was also the first diesel engine in HO Scale and it would make sense to follow suit with N Scale. Maybe Bachmann could make her both the first diesel and female engine in N Scale. Likewise with Edward, Mattel would be the only big issue.
• Duck - This is a bit of a left-field option, but Duck has become one of my favorite characters recently. I'm not certain about his likelihood in Large Scale (even if he isn't that big), but I would be down for seeing him in N Scale. Many people were grateful to see Duck in HO Scale and his basis was also previously made in N Scale by Dapol and Graham Farish, so I don't doubt that Duck has a fair chance at being added in the range at some point.

I've stated previously that I didn't want Diesel to come too soon in the range and that's still true. We've gotten a grumpy version of his HO Scale model a few years ago and we are just about to get him in Large Scale, so I think Bachmann could use a break from him and focus on completing the original Steam Team first. Unless maybe Sidney is announced in HO Scale, I think it would be fair to say that most Bachmann fans are done with seeing multiple Class 08 models between scales for some time.

As nice as an LBSC Thomas or Origins James would be in N Scale, I feel it may also be too early for any repaints of current engines. Still something to think about if no new engines can be announced, though.

Likewise with Daisy, I'm quite happy to see that James' N Scale model is coming along nicely. He was always my favorite character in the show, so I'll be glad to pick him up later on.

At long last, we have some product updates!

Daisy is shaping up to be an incredible model, and her painted form looks quite clean and crisp. The only flaw that I can possibly think of are the solid windows, but even then, it's not a deal breaker in any way. I'm glad that Daisy is coming along very well and I eagerly await her release like many other fans are.

Things haven't been too particularly eventful as of late, so I feel like reiterating some of my hopes, as well as the hopes others', for future products across the Thomas ranges with brief positive and negative points for the Bachmann team to take into consideration. As the original show has sadly ended a few months back, we can only hope that Bachmann can produce as many great products as their budget allows while they still can.

I apologize in advance if this post seems a little long - I just want to show that there is still a variety of viable options for future products despite the franchise's current position and the pandemic.

HO SCALE
Stepney
   + Demand for the character has been consistent overtime
   + Among the few pre-HiT characters left that have not been made
   + Suitable size for HO Scale
Boco
   + Daisy now makes bogie-wheeled characters plausible
   + Among the few pre-HiT characters left that have not been made
   - Size and costs may be issues
Sidney
   + The only major Class 08 recolor left
   - Accuracy of the face may be an issue (shape and eye mechanism)
Red Express Coaches reintroducion
   + Gordon's Express Coaches reintroduction were well-received
   + Easy recolor to produce
Tar Tanker reintroduction
   + An iconic piece of classic rolling stock
   + Easy recolor to produce

LARGE SCALE
LBSC Thomas
   + Most reasonable recolor to produce next
   + Iconic livery adored by fans
Bill & Ben
   + Two engines can be made with one tooling
   + Both are just the right size for the scale
   + Plenty of rolling stock available for them to pull
Duck
   + Character was a major hit in HO Scale
   + Fan-favorite engine that feels at least likelier than Edward
   - Longer wheelbase could be somewhat an issue
Red Coaches
   + Two of the most frequently requested items in Large Scale
   + Can be reused for Toby's Museum Coaches
Troublesome Van/Troublesome Truck #3
   + A reasonable piece of rolling stock to produce
   + HO Scale Troublesome Vans have been successful

NARROW GAUGE
Sir Handel
   + Demand for the character has been consistent overtime
   + Can compliment the in-production Peter Sam
Duke
   + Iconic pre-HiT character
   - May be a little niche?
Green Carriage
   + Notable piece of rolling stock missing from the range
Troublesome Slate Wagon
   + Demand for this option has been consistent overtime

N SCALE (Lots of possibilities here)
Mavis
   + Generally cost-effective option for a new engine (Toby's chassis can be reused)
   + Seemingly likelier in N Scale than Large
   - Very few merchandise and show appearances under Mattel
Edward
   + Generally cost-effective option for a new engine (Similar to James in size/form)
   + Seemingly likelier in N Scale than Large
   - Recently treated poorly by Mattel
Emily
   + Cheaper character to produce than Gordon and Henry
   - Could make N Scale offerings too similar to Large?
Henrietta
   + Easier to make in N Scale than Large
   + Can compliment the in-production Toby
Red Coaches
   + Easy options for new coaches
   + Can be reused for Toby's Museum Coaches
Milk & Tar Tankers
   + Easy recolors
   + Iconic, successful tankers in other ranges
Ventilated Vans
   + Staple rolling stock in other ranges
   + Graham Farish tooling likely available
   + Plenty of options for colors (GW, Blue, Explosives, etc)
Mail Car
   + Easier to make in N Scale than Large
   + Can compliment Percy
Brake Van
   + Graham Farish tooling likely available
   + Can be recolored/altered later in the line

Hopefully, the team can take notice of this list and refer to it every when thinking of future products. NMRA is well ahead of us this year, so there's still time to think about announcements for that occasion too.

That rumor of Mavis being discontinued has honestly gotten annoying. There really isn't much evidence that she is a 'poor seller' and she's managed to stick around for the longest time between catalogs, which may indicate that sales are at least decent enough for her to be maintained. If she were introduced in either Large or N Scale, I imagine her sales would also be good, especially for the factor of a new engine in either line.

I'm still not 100% sure about introducing Diesel or Emily so soon. Giving both the Large and N Scale lines similar lists of items would alienate the average consumer, and one line would undermine the other based on its price points. One of the advantages of N Scale is that certain ideas can be made that were previously deemed impossible or too expensive for Large Scale. That being said, I hope that there can be enough introductions of engines (and rolling stock) that aren't already in Large Scale before at least Diesel is introduced. I'd be open for Emily since she's part of the Steam Team, but I'd also want her to come a little later.

Characters like Mavis, Edward, Gordon or Henry being introduced within the next few years would help the N Scale line stand out, as the former two haven't been made in Large Scale yet and the latter two are highly unlikely for the same scale. Others like Duck, Oliver or Bill & Ben would also be good options, but I imagine they'd come later and it's better to complete the original Steam Team first.

Relevance aside, Mavis would be one of the easier choices to make after Toby if a new engine is absolutely needed in 2022. She'd be generally less expensive to make in N Scale than Large, and Toby's chassis can be reused to save money. It's hard to say whether she would happen that soon, but the factor of an engine as potentially easy to produce as her is still something to think about. Hoping that they'll base her body off the original Model Series design that they used for HO Scale instead of the GCI one with its tacky headlamp.

Edward is somewhat similar in shape to the currently in-production James and is a smaller engine than Gordon, Henry and Emily, so I can see him being made based on the factor of lower costs despite what he's been through in the show recently. Likewise, he'd be much cheaper to produce in N Scale than Large.

I feel moderately convinced Gordon and Henry could come next along with the Express Coaches. They'd be much welcomed in the event they are introduced, but depending on how much longer the pandemic is still active, the one thing that can possibly prevent them from being made are potentially hefty costs that may be challenges to overcome. Part of me imagines that Bachmann would want to err on the side of caution and introduce the Express Coaches first while holding off on Gordon and Henry for about a year.

To reiterate myself, I'm personally hoping for a regular Brake Van to be made first. It wouldn't be much fun to go through the hassle of importing one overseas as a result of it being skipped immediately for Spiteful Brake Van. And again, I don't want N Scale offerings to just repeat what is already present in Large Scale.

It's generally very difficult to determine what direction the N Scale line may go in for the future. - there wasn't much rolling stock in the latest batch of announcements and the pandemic is still complicating manufacturing processes. I'm guessing that Bachmann may mainly focus on expanding their rolling stock for a certain period of time before introducing a new engine. If they just had to make someone new, I'd recommend Edward or Mavis since both are only in HO Scale right now (and have been good sellers in that line), and their manufacturing costs may be less severe. Pretty much any engine can come next, but I hope that Bachmann can provide at least one that isn't already in Large Scale.

Another great post with intriguing analysis!

The Milk Tanker and Brake Van have been two of my most hoped-for pieces of rolling stock for quite some time now, so I'm hoping for them to be confirmed for this year's NMRA. I'm also hoping that Bachmann is willing to let the standard Brake Van come first and be sold for a few years before introducing Spiteful Brake Van - I don't want them to immediately skip a regular version of it for this scale in favor of a recolor.

The Tar Tanker and Coal Wagons are also great options to go by. They're easy to make and they would be easy sellers, both likewise with the Milk Tanker.

Henrietta most certainly seems more likely in N Scale than Large, all things considered. I would love to see her sometime soon and released alongside Toby, at least if he were to release in 2022.

I'm personally not a fan of Hannah so I'd rather not see her, but I would still like to see Henrietta's basis reused as a unique coach for this scale's Christmas set. Both depicted concepts look good and I'd gladly buy a Christmas set if either option was used.

The Red Coaches suggested by GigaPK are also a good option. I can see these coming sooner to N Scale than Large likewise with Henrietta, though their basis are less complex in this case. Regardless, they're a good idea worth considering within the next few batches of announcements. They'd be cheaper and more appropriate to announce and produce at the moment than the Express Coaches, with James coming to the line and neither Gordon nor Henry confirmed yet.

The Mail Van may be a bit difficult to handle compared with other options, but I can see it happening sooner than the Express Coaches as well with Percy already released. It could easily be the first piece of N Scale rolling stock with bogie wheels.

It's safe to assume that most people have gotten tired of seeing the 'Sodor' wagon recolors within the past few years, so I hope that they can be simmered for a long time. Bachmann is better off making more iconic and regular pieces of rolling stock first (Express Coaches, Mail Van, etc)

I'm honestly surprised that Bachmann didn't have a Box/Ventilated Van in N Scale among the latest announcements. A Graham Farish tooling of it likely already exists, so I can see Bachmann recoloring it in blue and Great Western coats to start out.

So in summary:
Rolling Stock I'd Like For NMRA 2021

• Milk Tanker
• Tar Tanker
• Coal Wagon
• Brake Van

Rolling Stock I'd Like For 2022

• Henrietta
• Red Coaches
• Blue Ventilated Van
• Great Western Ventilated Van
• Mail Van (maybe?)

There is not much that I am anticipating out of this year's NMRA, but I do hope that it can make up for the relatively low list of new N Scale rolling stock from the latest batch of announcements. Besides the Break Van, I'm anticipating a few easy and reasonable recolors to be announced this summer. We might get more unique pieces of rolling stock next year.

Ah, I see exactly what you mean. I knew that prices have not gotten any better model railroading within the last twelve years, but I didn't figure that Large Scale sets were among the many areas affected until now.

Large Scale is a range inherently more expensive to produce for than any other scale, whether or not it's a Thomas product being produced, so careful and crucial decision-making must be made on what products to make or keep around. That being said, I can imagine that most previously-sold sets in the range haven't been worth the prices of admission, let alone the prices of manufacturing.

The future of Bachmann's Large Scale products as a whole has been a subject of debate for quite some time - though Diesel, Paxton and a handful of new non-Thomas locomotives are signs of hope on one hand, the gradual increases in price tags and depletion of starter sets are discouraging on the other. I just hope for now that the team is still able to make the most of each Large Scale range for a little longer.

I don't blame Bachmann for wanting to discontinue their Large Scale Thomas sets with unfortunate yearly inflation and declining sales in mind. As much as I would want the Thomas, Annie & Clarabel starter set to come back, I think I'd also be okay with buying a non-Thomas set and going from there.

Thanks for the insight, Rusty. Remembering changes made to the scale overtime should give us something to think about while discussing possible future products.

Has anyone besides me noticed that all three of the G/Large Scale Thomas starter sets have been stealthily discontinued? None of them are present in neither the 2021 catalog nor the G/Large Scale Thomas section on TrainWorld's website. This decision could be based on the chance that they probably weren't selling well, but it does concern me as someone who has been vying to get into the scale recently. Now there's not much of an ideal place to start other than buying a non-Thomas starter set, or accumulating track and rolling stock on separate terms.

With the range finally getting more new items, I would hope for starter sets to come back sometime soon - particularly Thomas and/or Percy's. As much as I would want one featuring Diesel to promote a new engine, I'm not sure if any sets with characters besides Thomas or Percy would sell well on any given scale nowadays.

Tuned into the evening's TrainWorld stream, where a few pieces of new information were shared.  For those who missed it, TrainWorld may likely upload it in its entirety on YouTube later.

Sculpting samples for N Scale James and HO Scale Daisy were finally shown off! I was coincidentally anticipating one of them to be present in the hours that preceded the stream. While Daisy's face was not shown off, both her basis alone and James' are shaping up to be quite promising. I cannot wait to see them both painted later on and I eagerly await getting my hands on them!

Ryan was also briefly mentioned - though the team is aiming to release him later in the year, there is a slight chance that he could be pushed back to 2022. It's too early to tell at the moment, so we'll just have to wait and see how that plan plays out.

It was a pleasant stream to watch as a whole and what they shared in it was quite pleasing. I would love to see them host another stream like this, whether it'd be after the NMRA announcements or next year's catalogue.

Both options mentioned by TrainFan are pretty good picks. Both have near-even appearance counts and both have pretty much no models of their basis on the market, so I can imagine either of them being fairly successful based on the latter alone.

If I personally had to pick one, it'd be Timothy mainly since he's generally had more merchandise appearances than Norman and he's been a more crucial character in his appearances. I've only seen Timothy in Tale of the Brave, but I did like him in it, so I'd be open to seeing an HO Scale model of him. I've hardly seen Norman in the modern Thomas media I've watched, so I'm not as sure about him.

My issue with Sidney is whether Bachmann is willing to take the time to perfect his face, primarily with how it's shaped - it's not a complete square/rectangle like Diesel and Paxton's are, and I'm not sure how difficult it would be for Bachmann to change the shape of it. I know for sure that fans outside the forum wouldn't want to buy Sidney if he had an inaccurately-shaped face.

I'll admit that Hiro is a bit of an ambitious suggestion. Taking his potential manufacturing and sales prices into consideration, I wouldn't anticipate him anytime soon.

Your input on Sir Handel was very well-put and summarized perfectly why he should be next in the Narrow Gauge line. I, too, wholeheartedly believe he should be next above all else and I would 100% buy him if he were announced and produced. Can't account for much about the newer open wagons, but depending on how the box van refreshes go, I might see myself wanting the wagons too.

These in-depth posts are honestly really good and I'm curious on what you think of possibilities for other lines.

Bill & Ben do feel fairly likely to come next, the more I think of it. They're ripe for Large Scale treatments in the senses that their sizes conform to manufacturing eligibility and the range coincidentally offers more then enough wagons/trucks for them to pull. The recent welcoming reception of Diesel and Paxton should be an incentive to announce two engines simultaneously with a new tooling again. With that said, Bill & Ben would be the wisest choice of an engine duo to introduce next - they're just the right size and they would likely be successful in Large Scale since they were already very successful in HO Scale. I know I'd certainly be open to buying them if they were announced.

This is a small suggestion, but if they end up announced and made, I would hope that their wheels are colored black like their Classic Series and HO Scale models are, instead of red like they are in the GCI series. I personally always found that to be a bit of a weird and distracting design choice. If Diesel's silver side-rods are anything to go by, future Large Scale engines based on Classic Series characters should have their aesthetics maintained from original counterparts (besides the additions of CGI faces).

As much as I have wanted Mavis for a handful of reasons and over a long period of time, I've grown increasingly uncertain about the possibility of her for the fact that she just isn't a relevant character anymore. It doesn't help that it's been about eight years since she last had any merchandise in any capacity. If by any chance she is announced at some point in the future, it would be a pleasant surprise and I'd definitely be interested, but for now, the considerable barrier of relevance makes it hard to see her being announced for a long time.

The same can be said for Edward, though one can argue how much worse he's had it long-term despite his recent mistreatment. Edward was still getting merchandise after Mattel's takeover begun and he was appearing in the show much more often than Mavis. Mattel's hardcore attitude about Edward today, however, is still something worth thinking about while mentioning the idea of him and I do feel like it's also a barrier that may unfortunately prevent him from being announced in the future as well.

Right now, however, Bill & Ben make for a safe option to anticipate for a brand-new Large Scale tooling. If a recolor were to come next, I would hope for LBSC Thomas to be chosen.