(Blows dust off the thread.)

James is an antihero, he's portrayed like a brash teenager. I guess many people have gotten used to that one-dimensional paint snob he was reduced to S8-16. He's a flawed, but 3-dimensional character. Same with Oliver how believes he's some so-called hero.
One character I was really happy to return this season was Duncan. He makes the NG railway more fun. Plus you kinda get a feel of his personality better this season.

As with the new characters well, Marion is my favorite this season, in fact she may already be one of my favorite characters.

Samson however, well I know the character's portrayal leaves fans mixed, but personally I enjoy how he's utalized as a character. I'm glad there's a rude/arrogant type character out of the new characters introduced S17-18 era.

I really do like how most of the characters that have been portrayed this season are more cocky now. 

I've been thinking the same idea for a while.
Take-N-Play Scruff with Bachmann Trucks for scaling compassion.


Scruff in the CGI Series

I would say the scaling comes pretty close

I assume if you add the gandy dancer, the footplate would be lower than the Take-n-Play chassis.

Hope this helps

It's obvious that Marion would be crossed off the list. I guess Stephen would be off the list too. I agree Sparks with Porter's scaling, it would make it impossible to fit hook-loop couplers, so I guess Porter would be considered out of the question, that is if Arc could fix his render.

So that would bring us down to Paxton and Hiro.

Paxton has become a fleshed out character since BMM. I would be happy to welcome him.
With Hiro, he would make a great addition, and be an undeniable buy.

Can you please not quote my post just not to clog up this thread?  

I've thought that since the classics choices are becoming much smaller, now would seem like a good time to look into the CGI characters,  I know, Winston is generally mixed, but we've grown fond of several others of them. The current team behind the show has brought back old faces, but they also have created likable characters in S17-18. We can shine some light here.

Paxton

Well this character seems to be inevitable, since he can be considered a economical rehash. But we older fans have grown to like him since BMM.  

Hiro

Out of all of the CGI characters this is personally my Number 1 top pick. Since "HOTR" I've enjoyed Hiro as a character as well as his oriental design, he's a very popular character with the older fans. He's had great roles since S17-18. He makes a great association with both the classics and new characters. He's a well-developed character, and would probably be a extraordinary seller, he would probably sell by bucketloads.  

Porter  

Fans from all-around seemed to have grown to like him. Maybe it's his personality or that he's been portrayed realistically since his debut. He would go great with Salty, Cranky Bill/Ben. There's the Brendam Warehouse, so Porter would complete a Dockside layout.
However, my biggest drawback would have to be is that he suffers from being underscale, his buffers literally don't lineup with other trucks.

Example


Stephen

This character, we all have grown to love. He's grounded in actual history, plus his sense of humor is what makes him extremely likeable. He really captures the RWS essence, however he's doesn't have much association with other characters, and he's based in Ulfstead Castle.

Marion

OK, OK, I'm highly doubtful this is possible, but I'll say I really adore Marion as a character. She's lively, intelligent, and abit over-the-top.  But like Harvey's crane, her shovel is the obstacle, but if it happens she would make a great addition with Bill/Ben and others.  She is going to make alot of appearances in the future.

Throwing some ideas here, so please discuss your thoughts.

I think Oliver is gonna be a CGI/Model hybrid, like Diesel. The CGI details and face are fine, but the scaling really does come into question.
I'm pretty sure they would go for the model scaling.

Oliver next to Duck, for comparison.

That looks great. I'm curious, can it be used to clean off the weathering? If you happened to weather them.

Quote from: DoggySporty on March 12, 2015, 04:49:16 PM
Oh well, at least the other models still look great.  Personally I'd rather James be capable of pulling more than three trucks before having a repaint, but that's just my opinion.  Bill and Ben are still my favorite models!

I suggest using light oil on the axles of rolling stock, as well as cleaning your track and wheels. 

I found this thread and I was thinking why not revive it?

I think Hiro would be one of my top choices. I'm aware of the pricing, but I think he would be an exquisite addition.

I enjoyed Hiro in "HOTR" and dispite his portrayal in S13-16, I'm really glad his character was redeemed in S17-18. He's had great roles ever since. Unlike Winston, which people are mixed about.  He's an admired character by the older fans. I'm sure most  of us would welcome him into the range.  

Please feel free to discuss your thoughts over the character.  

Watching that interview again, I gotta say,  I felt that the interviewer was quite rude to the rep.

After thinking about it, selecting a new character or rolling stock is a matter of economics and which would have a wide appeal. The rep said that the company wouldn't produce something with limited appeal like they said about Old-Shape Henry, so they will not produce characters like Derek, Lady, Class 40, Old Slow Coach, and other one-offs or characters that had little or allotted screentime.

We should also realize that Bachmann is aiming it's appeal towards the younger audience. So I don't have high expectations with characters like Boco or Daisy, they wouldn't have the same appeal to the target audience as it would to us.  I also highly doubt that they would make Murdoch and Arthur, as well.  Characters like Donald/Douglas, Bill/Ben, Salty, and Duck, and the recently released buildings, especially the upcoming Red Branchline Coaches should be considered a blessing and that the range has 19 engines to choose from.

They would aim for characters that are currently in the show. They would probably rehash Diesel into Paxton, or aim for big icons like Hiro, he's an admired character not just by the Japanese, he's also favored by other fans outside of Japan, I've seen parents from the US and UK say that their kids favor Hiro, as well as they themselves say they that also find fondness in him. I also must include that we older fans too, enjoy Hiro as much as the younger ones. So I would expect that he would sell by bucketloads.

Or if they are trying to grasp the female audience they would go for Rosie since she's very recognizable and is still making appearances in the TV Series, and would have a better appeal to the female perspective of the aimed audience than Daisy or Molly.

If we are gonna see Flying Kipper Vans, they're most likely gonna be repaints, as with Paxton.  If they're gonna make new engine tooling, they would aim for prominent icons. The rep said they not making Oliver for the time being.  So I'm expecting rehashes and repaints in the upcoming future.

Whether or not, you like it if Bachmann happens to make CGI characters instead of finishing up the classic characters. People really need to let go of nostalgia and move on.  It's the least economical way of thinking that the company can do. Just be very grateful for S17/18.

Why still complain over the CGI Series? After all, Oliver has returned to the series still in his original personality. Besides his CGI face isn't really much different from his model face. Same with Rosie, if they happen her. I mean her model and CGI face are very similar.

We got most of the classic characters with very few left; Oliver, Boco, and Daisy. Along with many  CGI characters with potential for the future lineup like Hiro, Paxton, the S17-18 characters.
Sure, there are no new engines this year, but can't you admire the buildings from this year's lineup? Also, aren't you happy that the Red Branchline Coaches are announced?

I honestly wouldn't mind if they rehash Diesel into Paxton. Given that he is a likable character.  

I agree with BassTbone, complaining about Bachmann not making Oliver isn't gonna release him any sooner.    

Quote from: Chaz on July 02, 2014, 11:44:35 PM
I saw on Walther's that the red coaches price is up, with the brake coach being 34 dollars at retail.  

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-76039

With the fact that pricing and manufacturing has gotten more expensive in recent years and the fact that production has been slow, I recently compressed my "prediction" list to just Oliver, Stepney, Toad, and the coal loader in HO and Mavis and Henrietta for large scale.  I'm hoping that the future is bright for the Thomas range regardless, as there is potential for popular additions as mentioned on most of our posts, but I think a long list of characters with minimal contributions to the show and "re-releases" are out of the question.

Watching Oliver in CGI made me realize how unique of a character he is. I would like a Bachmann Oliver. Even so, they should make characters like Rosie and Stanley since they've popular characters as well.

Hiro would make a fantastic seller, he's a very iconic character and he also has depth to his personality. He is very popular with older and younger fans.  Heck, even Japan has recently built a life-sized replica of him for their DOWT events.

I know there's some unpopular characters like Charlie and the Logging Locos,  you and I would agree that we wouldn't want to see them made.

I'm a fan of the classic series, but when it comes to CGI characters. Hiro is a definite yes.

After watching "Toad's Adventure," I've forgotten how unique of a character Oliver is. People complain he's conceited, but he's been "puffed up in his smokebox" in the classic series as well. Oliver's character seems to influenced on whatever surrounds him. I actually prefer him this way as it makes him a less generic character.

Oliver and Toad's CGI voices sound like characters from some classic Disney animation. I'm not sure who, but I've heard several characters with accents very similar.

Quote from: Chaz on March 26, 2014, 04:35:10 PM

Quote from: Nykrivas on March 26, 2014, 03:07:54 PM

First off I will say this;
Stepney would be so pointless at this time, since alot of online retailers still have the Hornby one in stock.

Hornby making models has never stopped Bachmann from producing the same character at a different time.  Bachmann even made Spencer before Hornby did, so it's hard to compare those two companies in that department (it's like comparing apples to oranges).  So Stepney wouldn't be a "pointless" addition at all.

Just curious, what rolling stock and other additions are you interested in besides locomotives?

I'm not saying Bachmann shouldn't make Stepney, I just don't think now wouldn't be the best time. Hornby Stepney is relatively easy to find online, right now for the time being. 

Character Ideas:

Oliver-It's very obvious, he has the highest demand.

Boco- He's an enjoyable character and quite popular.

Rosie- She's a very popular character, and at least she wasn't forgotten like most of the Season 9-12 characters. Another female engine to the Bachmann range would be great.

Stanley-He is a resourceful character and very likable, plus it's nice that he was brought forth into CGI.

Whiff- Yes, he was a controversial character at first, because of his basis. But his personality is likable, in CGI he became better-developed. Out of all the characters in "MIR," he was the best one, he was a character you would of never thought to be the hero.  And yes, I also like his glasses, they remind me of "TUGS."

Hiro- He's "Number 1" on my list. Read my post in another thread.

Quote from: Nykrivas on March 26, 2014, 02:18:53 AM
Everyone wants Oliver, but to be honest I wouldn't be hyped up about it if he was announced.
I have my eyes set on the "Japanese Steam Giant."  Bachmann Hiro would be extraordinary.
When the TV Series had the CGI switchover, I was topsy-turvy at first, but "HOTR" was a good way to open up the CGI Thomas World. I've quite enjoyed the movie.
Hiro has impressed me beyond words and I don't remember the last time a character has done that. Both his character and basis are very exquisite. He's a well-developed character with potential, and he's very popular with both older and younger fans.
He would be Bachmann's highest seller, possibility. Japan has a huge liking for "Thomas," and imports of the Hiro model would be high.

I might be the only one that doesn't have high hopes for Oliver, but that doesn't mean I won't buy him.
The "Master of the Railway" is without doubt the "Number 1" on my list.