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Stepney and Ryan are the two most popular engines that Bachmann Thomas fans want to see made after Daisy. Thus, I thought that it would be a good idea to make a new thread discussing these two engines, giving the Bachmann reps a very clear idea of why announcing one of the two for February 2020 would be a very smart idea, even if it seems unlikely at first glance.
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Personally, I am on Team Stepney :).
The number one reason why I believe that it would be best to announce Stepney in February 2020 (and before Ryan) is that 2020, Thomas' 75th Anniversary, might be the one reason that would allow Bachmann to make an engine who has not appeared in the CGI Series. The 75th Anniversary is a time to glorify golden figures of Thomas' past, and Stepney is no exception. He is such a charming and nostalgic engine who has constantly been a popular suggestion among fans. Additional reasons have been stated by many Bachmann Thomas fans, so I'll leave this link here: https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,34526.75.html
The entire page is full of reasons as to why Stepney would be a great candidate.
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Ryan, on the other hand, is much bigger, which means that he would be more expensive to make. He also includes more small parts than Stepney, so I think that announcing an engine who would cost more money to make, and is less popular next, does not make sense. Even so, Ryan and Daisy essentially go together. Hence, the profit that would be received from Daisy and Stepney as well as the UK should allow Ryan to get announced in a later year.
Moreover, I firmly believe that an HO Stepney should be even more of a priority than Narrow Gauge Sir Handel or even an N Scale James as far as new toolings are concerned for February 2020. Considering that Sir Handel has appeared in the CGI Series, he could get announced at any other point, just like Ryan. The same can be stated for the N Scale James. The only other new tooling that currently stands in front is the narrow gauge brake van due to the amount of discussion there has been on it, and that the narrow gauge carriages have finally been revealed too.
Even if announcing Stepney in February 2020 means that he would have to be delayed like Oliver, I'm sure fans would be willing to wait. It's much better to have such a sought-after engine who has not appeared in the CGI series get announced, but then delayed because of a special anniversary, than not get made at all.
Now, if the licencor is still against producing Stepney due to the fact that he has not appeared in the CGI series, even if it is the 75th Anniversary, I think that they are forgetting that most parents of young children who are only familiar with the current characters will generally only buy a Bachmann Thomas starter set, and few of the other main engines and rolling stock. The Bachmann Thomas HO line currently has over twenty engines, most of whom have had main roles in the CGI series. And the average parent would not buy all the engines, considering how expensive they are and that there are cheaper alternatives. It is only the serious Thomas fans who will buy all the engines. In fact, one of my friends who grew up watching the late model series on television (seasons 8, 9, 10, 11) did not know who Stepney was as a kid, but because he never lost interest in Thomas, he discovered the older episodes on YouTube that included Stepney and realized how much charm there is to the episodes that involved him. He didn't grow up with the original seasons, yet he still thought they were better. That's why he even wants to see Stepney get made before any newer character, including Ryan. As a result, at this point, it's not about if the engine is currently in the show. It's about the engine itself and how many people there are who would like to see it made. From this thinking, more profit will be received, which means that more exciting products can get made later on, not just for the Thomas line, but Bachmann Trains altogether.
That's why I think that announcing Stepney for February 2020 would be a very smart move.
Lastly, here are some questions:
Are you on Team Stepney or Team Ryan? Why?
Do you agree that announcing one of the two for February 2020 is a wise move, even if it meant that the completion of the model would be delayed?
I don't think I need to tell anyone that I'm definitely team Stepney.
I like Ryan as well. But Stepney is just more of a character. Plus he's a classic.
I'd love to see him coming down the line with a few red coaches behind him.
Certain characters have such a demand that even if they have not come back and CGI I feel they have a chance. With the 75th anniversary around the corner Stepney's have never been higher. Plus we'd get a model face!
Please Bachmann, do us another favor and make Stepney next.
And while you're at it update the resin range and use Duncan's Model design.
But more on that later..... ;)
Team Ryan, as he is just too good to be without Daisy! :)
Team Ryan, I'm placing bets on Ryan cuz without him Daisy wouldn't have anyone to run the Harwick Branch Line.
I,m 100% on team Stepney cuz i've bin wanting him for a long time and the Hornby Stepney is so rare and if Bachmann made him he would have moving eyes but Ryan is new and in the CGI show and Dasiy is going to be made so Ryan is good idea but i would like Stepney.
I would say do Stepney first. Stepneys classic design is more market-able and memorable. A CGI design risks alienating the older audience (aka the people with actual money in their wallets) who are the main people who would even care about a character like Stepney. Ryan meanwhile, is a safe gamble that could be produced any time, any year in the new future and would have roughly the same outcome and reception, and only one design to pick from. Stepney is a ticking clock, depending if Mattel decides to bring him back or not.
While I do think Stepney would be the best option as the next character with a new mold, I do think that Ryan should be considered for production after Stepney. First of all, Ryan is a newer character which means he would be more recognizable to younger fans. Speaking of recognizability, if Ryan was produced, his purple livery would certainly stand out among other characters, as there are currently no purple engines in the range. Finally, with Daisy getting announced, Ryan would be a great choice to follow up on, because as we all know, they share a branch line.
While I do think Stepney is the absolute go-to next new character, I thought it would be good to mention why Ryan would be good to come after Stepney.
Team Ryan because MATTEL WILL NOT LET BACHMANN MAKE ANY CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT IN THE CURRENT SEASEASONS.
Stepney has my pick. All shared reasons considered, it's easy to see why he is an utterly perfect choice for a new HO tooling in 2020. I would hope Mattel remains open to letting Bachmann produce characters that have been gone for ages, if last year's Spiteful Brakevan is anything to go by.
If we end up getting Ryan as a new tooling, I'll welcome him with open arms too. Either character is fine, though Stepney would be a greater choice for the long run. :)
Quote from: DucktheGWREngine08 on July 29, 2019, 08:12:09 PM
Team Ryan because MATTEL WILL NOT LET BACHMANN MAKE ANY CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT IN THE CURRENT SEASEASONS.
Well, Bachmann did make the Spiteful Brake Van, but even if your argument is that Bachmann will not make classic engines with new toolings that have not appeared in the CGI series, this tells me that you did not read what I posted above carefully. Please do when you get the chance :-\.
Anyways, thank you to everyone who has already posted who they would prefer to see made first. For those who are on Team Ryan, I completely understand that Ryan is Daisy's main companion in the CGI series, but remember that he could be made at any point, whereas Stepney is something that would be very special for the 75th Anniversary.
Lastly, let's remember that in the fall of 2014, a Bachmann Thomas fan asked Doug Blaine if Oliver is being planned for 2015: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TBl1e0wWbRU
Mr. Blaine said that there were no plans for Oliver yet, but Oliver and Toad were still announced in 2015. Therefore, as long as Bachmann acts quickly with the licensor, I'm sure that announcing Stepney for February 2020 would be possible :).
Quote from: DucktheGWREngine08 on July 29, 2019, 08:12:09 PM
Team Ryan because MATTEL WILL NOT LET BACHMANN MAKE ANY CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT IN THE CURRENT SEASEASONS.
There are better ways to express your views on this forum rather than yelling at people in your post with caps lock on. I would encourage you to think about that as well as taking the time to read Terence's post a lot more carefully about why he thinks Stepney should be made.
Anyways, definitely more in favor of Stepney than Ryan. I agree he should take priority for a new tooling over anything else Bachmann announces, with the exception of narrow gauge brake vans. Hopefully once Daisy is nearing completion or is released Bachmann would then be able to pull off another new tooling that will give them strong sales like how Daisy would and there really is no better candidate than Stepney for many reasons stated earlier including the link that was posted earlier, which also shows my in-depth thoughts for him.
Honestly, it doesn't matter to me who gets made first. I just hope we don't get Sidney.
I just looked at the wiki pages and found merchandise for Stepney and there is like nothing so it would be great if Bachmann made him.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Stepney/Merchandise
Honestly, I think both engines are great and both would probably do great sales if announced, but I feel Stepney is the direction Bachmann should take. His popularity with Thomas Fans and those at the Bluebell Railway are very high and not to mention in terms of designs, Stepney is pretty simplistic. Ryan however is much more detailed as he's designed a lot more accurately to his real life basis. To be honest, I feel the demand for the Bluebell Engine alone is reason enough to make the model, but that's just me.
If Mattel strictly wanted Bachmann to only make characters that appeared in the CGI ceries, we wouldn't have gotten the Spiteful Brake Van.
Another thing Mattel needs to realize is that most collectors of Bachmann Thomas models are adults who grew up with the classic series. Most kids would just be okay with a Thomas set alone, while the people who actually have money are the ones who start collections. With the 75th Anniversary on the horizon, there is no better time for Bachmann to make Stepney. His Hornby model is hard to find without costing a phenomenal amount of money. Ryan would be great to fall back on if we can't get Stepney.
If BoCo ever comes back, there's a good chance his CGI render would benefit, like Daisy's. Stepney, on the other hand, would most likely suffer the same render problems as Oliver, and it would make people not want him, so it's best that Bachmann makes Stepney before CGI ruins him, and have him made based on his model series design.
Not only is Stepney a real-life engine, which would appeal to serious modellers with (grand)kids looking for Thomas models to run on their layouts, but the success and subsequent prices of the discontinued Hornby Stepney prove that there is a highly lucrative market for a model of the character in HO. I think Bachmann would be unwise to lose the opportunity of a 75th anniversary to release this highly revered, classic series engine.
Personally I'd love to see either Stepney or Ryan, and I can see good reasons for making either of them. But it think it's more important in some cases to encourage Bachmann to produce characters which have some meaning behind them instead of a character whom the fans dont care for. Stepney or Ryan would both be great additions, but there are sooo many new characters now that I wouldn't want to see made (like the international engines) as they are just poorly implemented and not well recieved, so I do hope bachmann doesnt feel the need to introduce a character like that.
Sorry if that's a little off topic and rambling, I just thought it would be important to stress that point.
Very happy to see that many people are interested in seeing Stepney announced next! Really hoping that we don't just get a repaint such as the LBSC Thomas announced in February 2020 as the HO locomotive :/ Stepney and the Narrow Gauge Brake Van are the two new toolings that will make February 2020's new product announcement grand!
Come on, Bachmann! Let's make the 75th Anniversary strong by announcing Stepney in February 2020! We are rooting for you! :).
Quote from: TerencetheTractor525 on July 31, 2019, 04:25:54 PM
Very happy to see that many people are interested in seeing Stepney announced next! Really hoping that we don't just get a repaint such as the LBSC Thomas announced in February 2020 as the HO locomotive :/ Stepney and the Narrow Gauge Brake Van are the two new toolings that will make February 2020's new product announcement grand!
Come on, Bachmann! Let's make the 75th Anniversary strong by announcing Stepney in February 2020! We are rooting for you! :).
My thoughts exactly! I don't care if Stepney ends up getting delayed, as long as he gets announced. Just another recolor like Sidney would be disappointing, if we don't get another new tooling announced, but I understand that new toolings aren't cheap. In this case, it's the 75th Anniversary, which would be a big deal. Especially if Stepney gets made in his model design, his sales will be off the charts.
I'm team Stepney all the way. He's a very underrated character all around. And after Hornby discontinued the Thomas and Friends version of their Stepney, you'd be lucky to find one floating around on ebay for under $200.00. If Bachmann released their own Stepney, it would be a massive relief to everyone that they don't need to buy Hornby's dodgy new terrier (I bought two, trust me, very dodgy pickups and build) and Bachmann could get a leg up on Hornby.
I would enjoy seeing Bachmann handle Stepney. The Hornby one I own is quite good, though I'd loved to see one more accurate to the one seen in the television series. But that's just my opinion.
Yes, I would definitely like to see Stepney made for next year. Even if he's not relevant to the show anymore, it would be unique to release him in time for the 75th anniversary. ;D
And Ryan would be great to see too, seeing that he was introduced in a anniversary special!
Stepney would honestly be a really great engine to own. He wasn't seen a whole lot, but is insanely popular among Thomas fans. One thing I like about Stepney that I feel really sticks out is his color. He's one of the only engines in the show with a color scheme so unique, and I believe it will surely stick out to many fans of Thomas, young or old. The other thing is the fact that his basis looks exactly like the one you'd see on the bluebell railway. As you said about the 75th anniversary approaching, having an older character which (in most cases) represents the bygone era of the models would be really neat. Older characters (such as the spiteful breakvan and Duck) seem to be a hit with fans who grew up with the show, so having Stepney in the line up would surely be great to see
This is a really interesting post! It's really hard to decide who to pick between Ryan and Stepney, both are great characters with great designs! But I feel like both would be great for Bachmann to make! But Stepney himself, is one of many favorite characters of mine, and I know many other fans feel the same way about him too! I think with enough effort, Bachmann can do it! You guys can do it! ;)
I'd much prefer Stepney over Ryan, as it seems you guys do too, due to the fact that he's a classic character and Hornby retired him years ago before the whole range was retired. Profits would be better, and we would be willing to pay however much money necessary to finally be able to own a Stepney model.
Introducing Stepney instead of Ryan would be more favorable among bachmann and train fans. Older, model series characters are more sought after. I can say without hesitation that Stepney would sell more than Ryan. Many other terrific points and arguments towards releasing Stepney have been said countless times already. It makes the most sense to create Stepney as the next standard gauge engine.
Personally I would like to see a accurate television series model of Stepney In the H0 Range so that Thomas fans old and new can learn about the background as Stepney as a character and along with having him come out on the 75th anniversary of the Thomas and Friends franchise in 2020 but for the year after I believe Ryan should come out in 2021 the following year.
Also, with Bachmann now being able to sell in Europe. Consideration of modelers will (or should) be taken much more into account. There's an incredible market for it out there. I mean, the Bluebell railway would love it.
This could be a very lucrative time for Bachmann and for us as old fans.
I think Stepney is a better option than Ryan because he is a classic character. However, since Daisy was announced Ryan would also be a good option.
The classic characters, and RWS characters for that matter, have always been first on my list to own from any retailer. Stepney would be a beautiful model and I agree that he would most likely be less expensive to make than Ryan. Seeing as Hornby had made Stepney, Bachmann should take this route as well and make a TV series accurate version of him for us "older" fans. Ryan would make a great model too but I definitely am hoping for Bachmann to consider the classics first and foremost with their plans to release Daisy.
Honestly Ryan has more of a chance to be made cuz Bachmann just said they were releasing Daisy in 2020 and they are in the CGI show but I really REALLY like Stepney and would want him more.
TerrencetheTractor525 has brought up some excellent and valid points for the announcement of a model in early 2020 upon the arrival of the 75th anniversary of Thomas and Friends. I'd like to second the fact that many parents are not going to be purchasing many Bachmann Thomas products aside from the Starter sets and maybe a engine or two like Percy and James. This is why I'd like to take a minute to acknowledge and thank Bachmann's awarness of what the teen and adult Thomas collectors would like to see as evidenced by the fantastic narrow gauge range( a little off topic but what from I see these items also appeal to traditional Narrow Gauge modelers too as they can be easily converted into the real Talyllyn engines!) and items like: the Spiteful Brakevan, Scottish Twins, and the forthcoming Daisy. If Bachmann have produced these items many of which would not appeal to Parents and Children and the sales of these items have been sufficient then I feel Stepney would be a great choice to commemorate the anniversary. The Thomas and Friends Stepney model that was produced by Hornby has been off the market for many years now and is a rare site to see 2nd hand, often fetching prices that are not affordable. I'd like to see Stepney be produced by Bachmann so that Thomas fans, especially in the US, have a chance at getting a engine which is easily recognizable within the confines of the Thomas and Friends show and the real world. Ryan would be a nice addition to the range though among the collectors who I presume are buying many of the character released Stepney would have much wider appeal.
My pick would absolutely be Stepney, as it would be a cost effective and more universal way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the franchise. Stepney has a wide appeal amongst modelers in and outside of the Thomas fandom, and is still beloved by several modern generations of Thomas fans. His release would also inspire several people who do not normally purchase Bachmann products to start their own Thomas and Friends collection.
Ryan is still a good model nonetheless but his size and details will make him a very complicated and expensive model to produce. As someone who has spent hours cad designing models of Ryan I can say with confidence that he would take a lot of time to design and mold due to all the complicated tubing, shapes, etc... He would be better suited for after the 75th anniversary.
Hey everyone first post here!
As much as I would love to see Ryan made to go along with Daisy for the 75th anniversary Stepney would make the most sense. As he is one of the few remaining classic characters we need from the first 4 seasons.
Plus with the level of detail Bachmann has been going to recently I'm sure a Stepney model would look fantastic!
Have to admit I am surprised that lots of new members have joined recently only to just post in this thread. But hey if it means supporting Stepney, the more the merrier I say! It seems that the demand for Stepney has definitely increased a lot more the moment Daisy got announced and it clearly shows how popular a model of Stepney would be and how much of a following this character has despite not being in the CGI series. It's also nice seeing lots of different perspectives behind why he should be made too, so more power to him.
Extremely happy with the amount of people who on board with seeing Stepney announced next! At this rate, it would be rather disappointing if Bachmann does not announce him for the 75th Anniversary.
Every episode Stepney stars in is brilliant after all ;D. For instance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yHoSMEf2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPGQtz1lvZU
I have been waiting for a while to post my thoughts in this thread, but I might as well speak up, since everyone else is. I would also really like Bachmann to do a model of Stepney. It would be the perfect way to celebrate the 75th anniversary, plus it would fit in really well with the recently released Rusty model. I would love to see Stepney announced for 2020.
Ever since Daisy was announced a month ago, the demand for Stepney is higher than it ever was. In other words, skyrocketed. Maybe after Stepney gets announced, the demand for BoCo could also increase, possibly to this level.
With this much demand for Stepney, it would be foolish of Mattel to not let Bachmann make him. That would just be saying no to our money. If Mattel approves Stepney, that means Bachmann can still make characters who have yet to appear in full CGI, and in their model series designs. The two strongest model series characters are Stepney, and currently to a lesser extent, BoCo.
I saw someone mention how detailed Ryan is, and he could be hard to make, despite sharing the same branch line as Daisy.
Bachmann if the fans(us)want a character that we will pay MONEY for make us happy with a character we want.
I love both characters. It's hard to choose one as both are some of the best the Thomas franchise has to offer. However, I would rather Bachmann produce Stepney over Ryan. Stepney is a real locomotive, and an iconic one at that. I would love to see kids be introduced to this engine via the Thomas character, which has been done so in the past. Stepney is the gateway to real-world locomotives; he is beyond a fictional character and enables the illusion that Sodor could exist in real life. I think kids would like Stepney. He would be nice and small--not as expensive as other engines--and his yellow and green color scheme would be sure to gaunter attention. Not only would his small size be more cost efficient to produce, it would allow for a Terrier model to be made and retooled for later usage. Considering that Bachmann plans on introducing their Thomas line to the UK next year, I'm sure Stepney could not only serve as a warm welcome but a reminder of the heritage behind the Reverend's original railway stories. Kids in the UK would especially live Stepney as they would recognize him beyond the show and direct them towards real life engines. Stepney not being in the current show actually works in his favor, as when I was a kid characters like D199 and Culdee that were only seen in the books only amplified my interest in them and encouraged me to research them. I know Hornby has made this character in the past--I actually own the little guy--but he's become virtually impossible to find or get at a cheap price. I think Stepney could sell well and would make a great addition to the line.
As much as a model of Ryan would be amazing, I'm thinking Stepney's model would be best since the Hornby version is very rare to find (So I'm team Stepney)
I Think Stepney whould probably be the best decision for Bachmann to make! :)
I just agree with a bachmann Stepney.
Definitely want bachmann to make Stepney;)
I'd personally be happy with both engines. However, if I had to pick one, I would vote for Stepney. My reason is that he's a popular nostalgic character, and, as mentioned before, he is a real engine, which I think might add an appeal to any rail enthusiast.
While Ryan is one of my favourite CGI era characters, there's no doubt that it should be Stepney who should be announced for the 75th anniversary year. He's such a popular and iconic character and it would be stupid for bachmann not to consider making him. Furthermore, I think it would help to raise awareness for his real life counterpart, who at the present moment is having problems regarding his future as a running steam locomotive.
Great point, but I'd rather just have both.
Definitely Stepney, they need to finish the classic engines
I'm team Stepney all the way. I have been waiting for a while for Bachman's to release an HO Stepney model.
I would have to be on Team Stepney, even though i would be happy with either.
I feel like Stepney is more of a iconic character.
There's not much I could add on to this that hasn't already been said, but I'm on team Stepney.
Just as he's one of the very few classic characters left and I really would like to see them wrap off the golden age of Thomas before moving onto nothing but new characters. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Ryan, but Stepney should be first, no doubt.
I think one of the reasons that every Thomas fan wants Stepney is because Mattel has done the disaster of Big World Big Adventures and all fans want somthng that they will make them know that,its not over for Thomas and friends and Stepney is the perfect engine.
Exactly! With the amount of people who want to see Stepney made, I really hope that we won't just get a Green LBSC Thomas and/or Black James for February 2020's HO engine. :-\
Stepney would be a much more exciting announcement for the anniversary! :)
I personally hope Stepney gets made. I have much more of an affinity towards classic series characters, however I understand that Mattel would probably rather them make models based on characters that are currently on the show. That being said, as other have mentioned, it is the 75th anniversary and Stepney would be a much more cost effective model to produce, so there are some factors working in his favor.
The only standard gauge engines from Seasons 1-4 that Bachmann hasn't made yet are BoCo, Stepney and The Diesel/Class 40. BoCo can be considered after Stepney, as the second large diesel, plus Hornby never made him. The only problem with Class 40 is that he was a one-off character, with Bowled Out as his only speaking role, although Hornby did make him. Technically, Bachmann UK does have Class 40; the locomotive. Not really a character I'd expect anytime soon. BoCo is still possible after Stepney.
Like everyone else, I'm on Team Stepney, and hope he gets announced in February 2020. Even if he gets delayed, it's good as long as he gets announced. It will be more than worth the wait.
I think Daisy's announcement has restored everyone's faith in Bachmann. Earlier this year, people were predicting doom and gloom for the HO range. The fact that we're actually getting a character that so many people asked for.
Along with Peter Sam, Daisy is a big indicator that Bachmann still understands what their core consumers want out of new characters and that's something to be appreciated.
Like many others, I'm on Team Stepney and I hope both the series licensor and Bachmann staff can do the right thing next February by announcing him at the very least.
Im easily team Stepney, and it would also be a smart choice on bachmanns part to make him. We see people spending up to $500 for a Hornby stepney, even if its used, so Bachmann would easily profit off of it :p
Honestly I would say that Stepney would be my most anticipated engine for them to release. He's a popular character, cost effective to make, and i'm sure he would sell out in a heartbeat.
While thinking about it more, I completely agree. As Stepney is a classic engine, seeing him announced during Thomas' 75th Anniversary would be such a pleasant surprise to the point where if he is the only thing that gets announced for the HO line in February 2020, I would still be ecstatic. I will even state that if this means that nothing will get announced for the narrow gauge line next Feb, I would be perfectly fine with that.
I'll second that
I'll most definitely be the third.
Just call me Gordon because I'm number 4. ;)
I'll take responsibility of being James since I'm the fifth. :P
Just call me Percy because I'm #6!
Call me Toby, as I'm number 7 ;)
Call me Duck cause I'm 8 however this thread is not the Great Western way
Team Stepney He is 144 years old and should be made for H0
I wish I could be Thomas but I will have to be Donald #9 I will ninth that :P
I'm 10th
I think the point is made.
Guys I just found two good reasons why Bachmann should make Stepeny first off Thomas wood(back in 2018) made a s.c.ruffy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=Wood2018RyanandS.C._Ruffey.jpg
and the second is that Thomas wood also made Jeremy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=2019woodjeremy.png
And cuz they are classic characters and Stepney is a classic character there is more of a chance of hem getting made.
Quote from: thomas fan on August 26, 2019, 10:29:40 AM
Guys I just found two good reasons why Bachmann should make Stepeny first off Thomas wood(back in 2018) made a s.c.ruffy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=Wood2018RyanandS.C._Ruffey.jpg
and the second is that Thomas wood also made Jeremy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=2019woodjeremy.png
And cuz they are classic characters and Stepney is a classic character there is more of a chance of hem getting made.
I wouldn't call Jeremy "classic". Not in CGI yet, yes. "Classic", no.
Call me crazy, but I honestly think I'd prefer to see Ryan first. Don't get me wrong, I love Stepney. Ryan just seems a bit more relevant in regards to the brand, and his character is much more developed than Stepney's.
Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on August 28, 2019, 09:16:12 PM
Quote from: thomas fan on August 26, 2019, 10:29:40 AM
Guys I just found two good reasons why Bachmann should make Stepeny first off Thomas wood(back in 2018) made a s.c.ruffy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=Wood2018RyanandS.C._Ruffey.jpg
and the second is that Thomas wood also made Jeremy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Wood/Gallery?file=2019woodjeremy.png
And cuz they are classic characters and Stepney is a classic character there is more of a chance of hem getting made.
I wouldn't call Jeremy "classic". Not in CGI yet, yes. "Classic", no.
Ok maybe Jeremy is not a classic character but I have never seen him in the CGI show but for some reason they made him when the last time he was seen on TV as a character was season 12.
I am extremely pleasantly surprised with the amount of attention this thread has been getting. I'm also happy to see that those on Team Ryan would even like to see Stepney made. That's why I still think that Stepney should definitely be the next engine that Bachmann announces.
And while I know that there is controversy over when Stepney could be announced, I'm sure that most fans can agree that there is not another product Bachmann could realistically announce that would be more of a wonderful way to celebrate Thomas' 75th Anniversary than Stepney, even if he gets delayed. ;)
What if they both get made at the same time? That would actually be amazing.
I definitely also agree that Stepney should be made first, for all reasons stated across the thread. It would be perfect for the 75th anniversary.
Just both at the same time!:)
I really hope that Bachmann make Stepney for all of the people wanting him cuz at this rate if Bachmann did not make him there would be sad fans less money for Bachmann.
And Another plus side to making Stepney is that they could make a real A1X(Stepney's bases)really hope they do it for the 75 anniversary and the fans thanks for reading.
thomas fan
Honestly I would like to see stepney, but Ryan personally makes more sense to me. I don't think that bachmann would make any characters that aren't relevant in the show anymore. Because once you look at the lineup, all the characters bachmann has released over the years are still relevant in the show. (The only possible exception would be BoCo because they could just use Daisy's chassis). But characters like Stepney, Arther, or Murdoch are nostalgic but a bit more obscure. The statement that "fans want him" isn't a good enough reason in my books. But hey, I'd love to be wrong.
Quote from: AnAverageThomasFan on September 19, 2019, 04:35:59 PM
Honestly I would like to see stepney, but Ryan personally makes more sense to me. I don't think that bachmann would make any characters that aren't relevant in the show anymore. Because once you look at the lineup, all the characters bachmann has released over the years are still relevant in the show. (The only possible exception would be BoCo because they could just use Daisy's chassis). But characters like Stepney, Arther, or Murdoch are nostalgic but a bit more obscure. The statement that "fans want him" isn't a good enough reason in my books. But hey, I'd love to be wrong.
While I do still think that Stepney would be the best choice for 2020 to celebrate the 75th Anniversary, I do see where you are coming from. It's great to see that you would like to see Stepney too though!
As for Boco, after seeing that Daisy is going to have moving eyes, I definitely agree that Bachmann should consider making Boco at some point. Bachmann must have put a high amount of thought on how to incorporate a moving eye mechanism within a long, bogied diesel, and I don't think that it would make sense to put in all that effort into constructing this new moving eye mechanism just for Daisy.
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/BoCo
Boco would also provide contrast to the range. He would not only be one of two bogied diesels in the range, but he would also be the only bogied diesel that is meant to pull long freight trains. Seriously, what kid would not want to see a long diesel with a face pull a long freight train? However, that's all I will state about Boco as this thread is really not about him ;).
Ultimately, I would be very happy if Stepney or Boco got announced next year. However, given the amount of people who stated that they would like to see Stepney, I still think that he would be the supreme choice.
I would like to see both Stepney and Ryan be produced by bachmann actually. Ryan's a very nice character to come out of the CGI series. Although I find it a bit silly to compare the two. Ones a classic character, and ones a CGI character. I'm sure both will be made at some point.
Honestly if you ask me, I can't really decide which one I would want more. I agree with both picks.
I think Stepney would be perfect to announce next year for the anniversary being a classic character and all. And while I'm indifferent to him as a character, I known a lot of other people want him and he has a good design.
As for Ryan, he fits overall imo considering he's in the current show, has a unique design as well, and would be perfect to release after or close to Daisy.
Basically my final stance on it is that I'm on Team Stepney for a 75th anniversary announcement. If he's not announced next year, then I'd switch to being on both sides (mostly on Ryan's side tho).
Also btw I did Bachmann Stepney and Ryan concepts on my Twitter as well as a poll between the two. Go check em out if you want.
https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1177613904421064704?s=21 (https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1177613904421064704?s=21) - Stepney
https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1176567007338041344?s=21 (https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1176567007338041344?s=21) - Ryan
Hope you enjoy!
Streak, your Stepney concept is truly incredible. It is easily my favorite out of the concepts you have done so far and looks spot on to how I can picture a Bachmann model of him. You also succeeded in making me want Bachmann to make Stepney even more, and I have a feeling I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Great job!
Both concepts look phenomenal! The fact that Bachmann's official account liked one of them is both astounding and another big indicator that the team is listening to us this year.
The road to Toy Fair 2020 has been an exciting one so far and it will only continue to build excitement among the fans from here.
Now seeing those concepts makes me want both engines to be announced but maybe Bachmann will surprise us and make them both but we will just have to wait and see.
After two hundred and sixty eight votes, my Stepney VS Ryan poll on Twitter came to a close. The final results were Ryan with 35% and Stepney with the winning 65%.
https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1177613910821588992?s=21 (https://twitter.com/streaksmeargle/status/1177613910821588992?s=21)
Now this is only a little over 250 votes but it's clear that Stepney is very popular with the casual Twitter audience.
Of course, many people do want Ryan as well and he'd be a great model for Bachmann to make. But it's clear that most want Stepney first. Understandable considering he's an iconic classic character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGmpr52R2FY
Would highly recommend giving this a watch, especially the Bachmann Team! ;D
I still firmly believe that there is not anything else Bachmann could announce next February that would receive as much hype as an HO Stepney.
#HOStepneytheBluebellEnginefor2020
Let's make the 75th Anniversary the best it can be!
Lovely video indeed. I now have a better appreciation for the character! I hope bachmann will make Stepney, but if they don't, there are loads of Hornby Stepney Era 2's on eBay.
I'm not really understanding the argument on how Stepney would be "perfect" for the 75th anniversary. I mean he only had 5 episodes with a major speaking role. Plus he's not even in the show anymore. Unless he's brought back, it's probably highly unlikely that we'll get bachmann Stepney. But like I said, I'd love to be wrong. Now with Ryan, he's very relevant in the show and has appeared in a movie.
The 75th Anniversary is a time to glorify great figures of Thomas' past, and I don't think that there would be anything more special to announce than Stepney. For the younger audience who may not be familiar with Stepney, they could always find out who he is through the web using the Thomas Wiki, YouTube, etc. Besides, we should remember that most kids who are very young would generally not own every Bachmann Thomas engine to begin with due to their expense. The avid fans are the ones who buy every quality engine that gets made. Thus, why not switch things up a bit and announce an classic engine that would not only be wonderful to see for the 75th Anniversary, but also be an extremely great seller, as classic engines like Duck proved to us. After all, based on every poll throughout social media, Stepney has had more of a following than Ryan. Plus, due to his smaller and simpler design, he would be less expensive to make. The reasoning is self explanatory if you ask me :P.
To add to what Terence said, Duck was announced and released before coming back to the series as well, and I a lot of people were excited when he was announced.
Fair enough I suppose.
To also add to what TerencetheTractor525 and TrainMan2001 said Donald and Douglas were released in 2011 and 2008 was the last year they were seen in the show till 2016,Bill and Ben were released in 2010 and the last time they were seen in the show before they were released was 2008 and then were seen in 2014 so I think that Stepney has a very good chance of being made for the 75 anniversary really hope they make him thanks for reading :)
thomas fan
In short, it'd be fair to say that just because a character hasn't been in the show for a long time doesn't mean they should be ruled out. Though I wasn't part of the community at the time the two pairs of twins were announced, I know for a fact that the news about Duck pleased a lot of fans back in 2012.
And not since Duck have we seen an engine announced that wasn't part of the current show, so on top of the other reasons everyone else has shared, Stepney would work wonders as a 75th anniversary engine.
I'm kind of torn between either Ryan or Stepney, I do kind of lean more towards Stepney! Stepney has gotten some serious attention recently! I'm not just talking about the character but the actual loc has been getting attention even with a new model by Hornby. I think it would be nice to see Bachmann come out with Steppers for the T&F range! 🙂
I'd prefer Stepney over Ryan if I had the choice however both are nice tank engines and again if take either of these over Stanley or Sidney. I'm not sure if people have read that Sif posted on Facebook yesterday an article about the 75th anniversary and the two specials that Stepney, city of truro and Ballard will be part of the specials. I'm intrigued to see how Stepney will be designed if this is true. Surely if he is it would give his chances a slight boost
So, there's whispers that Stepney could be returning next season. I'll believe it when I see it. Not much is known about the specials yet.
What!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?were did you hear this. ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
it's just a rumor as of now. Stepney, Duke, and/or BoCo make the most sense to come back next year tho
I am all for seeing Stepney, BoCo, and Duke return. However, while making CGI models of them, I really hope that the licencor studies the models from the model era of the show carefully, especially in Stepney's case. The last thing that I would want to see is a CGI Stepney with odd proportions, just like Oliver and Duncan. This is why it would be wonderful if Duck's situation happened again with Stepney, which is to announce Stepney before his CGI model is revealed.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/5/58/BowledOut4.png/revision/latest?cb=20180905190252
After all, I would really love to see a classic series face on Stepney. That would certainly make the model extra special for avid fans :).
Hello to All:
I agree with Terrence that Stepney would probably be the most deserving engine from the classic era to be announced for the 75th Anniversary Year 2020. They have said that they plan on honoring the classic era specifically. So my vote is for Stepney The Bluebell Engine which has long been one of my favorites.
Photo 1
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/921/tVxqj2.png) (https://imageshack.com/i/pltVxqj2p)
If Bachmann is planning any 75th Anniversary announcements for Narrow Gauge I cannot think of a better choice than Duke aka Granpuff. I know it would be a stretch because he is a tender engine, but there is no more fitting classic engine than Duke.
Photo 2
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/921/fb0mms.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/plfb0mmsj)
In any event we will all have to be patient and wait until February 2020 to find out.
After having free service dropped by Photobucket, Flickr, and Tiny Pic, I have now moved over to Imageshack which is offering a one year unlimited photo posting for $18.99. Seems to be easy to use so we shall see how this works.
Grandpuff
Hi all, new to the forum here. Of Ryan or Stepney I would prefer Bachmann to make Stepney, based on the model series of course ;D He is easily a fan-favorite, and I think announcing him next year would be a great way to celebrate the 75th Anniversary!
Hello! I've never posted on the Bachmann forums before (though I've read them intently), and this is a topic I really wanted to weigh in on! Stepney vs. Ryan; I love them both, but Stepney is the easy choice to me, especially for the 75th anniversary, and I'll explain why:
1. His Significance - Stepney is a very special character. Unlike most of the engines in Thomas and Friends, many rail enthusiasts will know that Stepney is based on a real locomotive. In the heat of modernization in the British Isles, Stepney was rescued from scrap by the Bluebell Railway, and essentially served as the "founder engine" for one of the most famous preserved steam railways of all time. He is famous, not just in the Thomas Fandom, but in rail fan circles too.
Because of Stepney's real world fame, his appearance in the Television Series was a momentous occasion for the show. He is perhaps the most notable "celebrity guest appearance" in all of Thomas and Friends. Seeing as his introduction was such an important milestone for Thomas, I think releasing him for another Thomas milestone, the 75th anniversary of the franchise, makes perfect sense!
2. He's a gateway into the hobby - As mentioned earlier, Stepney essentially serves as a mascot for the Bluebell Railway, and railway preservation in general. Now that Bachmann is selling their Thomas models in the UK (CONGRATULATIONS BACHMANN!!) this could not be better timing for Stepney. Stepney would SELL OUT in the Bluebell Railway gift shop. I can easily imagine many parents who love the Bluebell Railway for its rich history buying their child a Bachmann Stepney as a gateway to the railway hobby in general, as Stepney is a real engine with deep ties to a real railway, but he is also a character from Thomas and Friends! The perfect intersection between general model railroading and Thomas fandom! Don't underestimate the Bluebell Railway connection, it WILL help sell this model!
3. He's a fan favorite – In the decade or so that I've spent in this fandom, I've seen a LOT of "favorite character lists". There are a lot of popular engines, but some appear a lot more often than others. They're an unusual bunch; James, Diesel 10, Duck, Duncan, Bill and Ben, and Stepney all come to mind. And let me tell you, Stepney is the DEFINITION of a fan favorite. For many reasons. People identify with his small size and underdog story, the fact that he's a real world engine, his debut episode Rusty to the Rescue is on countless Top 10 lists (and seeing as you've made Rusty recently, people will be dying to recreate the episode with your Stepney), and perhaps most importantly, Stepney was only a visiting engine, meaning that his limited appearances gave him intrigue and left fans wanting more.
Now as for Ryan... He's got a pretty cool design, and he would go well with Daisy. But while Ryan is well liked, Stepney has a whole FANBASE all his own. Ryan simply hasn't been around long enough to build a reputation like Stepney's. He's still a relatively new character, and while he is in the current show, they have done little with him. I'd love to see a Ryan from Bachmann one day, but I don't think he's as high a priority as Stepney, a character whom fans have been wanting a decent model of for literal decades. Ryan is a great character, but when it comes to celebrating the 75th anniversary of this franchise, who is the better choice? An engine that has existed for five years, and whose introduction was fairly run of the mill, or a real world rail icon who joined the franchise before the TV Series even STARTED, and has been winning the hearts of railfans and Thomas fans alike before Ryan was even thought of?
Speaking of the Bluebell Railway, I wonder if it would be possible if Bachmann could take measurements of the real-life Stepney locomotive, and make the HO model using those measurements, just as they did for the narrow gauge line through the Talyllyn Railway. It may be a good solution if specific measurements of the classic television series model are not available. Plus, Stepney is a real engine.
Also, for anyone who missed it, here is a video on the history of Stepney in real-life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGmpr52R2FY
The amount of attention the video has gotten is amazing, as it has only been out for about two months and already has over a thousand likes. Speaks for itself really ;).
Measurements of all the TV series characters exist, both model and CGI, so there's no reason they'd need to do that. To add, it'd just defeat the point of doing Stepney as people remember him on-screen.
That's good to know, and of course. My hope is still to see Stepney based completely on the model series, just as engines like Duck. Yet, seeing that Duck was the last time we got a Bachmann model that had measurements that were clearly based on the engine from the model series (not including resin buildings), I was not sure if Bachmann got rid of all the measurement references from that era. Thus, basing Stepney on the measurements of the real-life engine would be something to resort to in case the measurements from the show are no longer available. Would certainly prefer that over not seeing him made at all.
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:51:06 AM
Measurements of all the TV series characters exist, both model and CGI, so there's no reason they'd need to do that. To add, it'd just defeat the point of doing Stepney as people remember him on-screen.
Stepney's proportions in the show are exactly the same as his real world basis. In fact, he's literally just his real world basis, but with a face slapped on. Nothing there would defeat any purpose.
Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on December 09, 2019, 11:05:49 AM
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:51:06 AM
Measurements of all the TV series characters exist, both model and CGI, so there's no reason they'd need to do that. To add, it'd just defeat the point of doing Stepney as people remember him on-screen.
Stepney's proportions in the show are exactly the same as his real world basis. In fact, he's literally just his real world basis, but with a face slapped on. Nothing there would defeat any purpose.
They are close, but they are absolutely not 1:1. No engine in the entire show is a 1:1 representation of their basis, not even engines like Molly or Ryan. There will always be certain discrepancies in terms of proportions to simplify the design for the purpose of toys, make a face fit more suitably, etc. The closest exceptions I can think of might be Derek, Neville and Dennis, but they're the odd ones of the bunch.
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:02:23 PM
Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on December 09, 2019, 11:05:49 AM
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:51:06 AM
Measurements of all the TV series characters exist, both model and CGI, so there's no reason they'd need to do that. To add, it'd just defeat the point of doing Stepney as people remember him on-screen.
Stepney's proportions in the show are exactly the same as his real world basis. In fact, he's literally just his real world basis, but with a face slapped on. Nothing there would defeat any purpose.
They are close, but they are absolutely not 1:1. No engine in the entire show is a 1:1 representation of their basis, not even engines like Molly or Ryan. There will always be certain discrepancies in terms of proportions to simplify the design for the purpose of toys, make a face fit more suitably, etc. The closest exceptions I can think of might be Derek, Neville and Dennis, but they're the odd ones of the bunch.
I would really count removing details as "changing proportions". Which proportions on the Stepney show model are different than the basis?
Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on December 10, 2019, 12:40:58 PM
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:02:23 PM
Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on December 09, 2019, 11:05:49 AM
Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on December 09, 2019, 12:51:06 AM
Measurements of all the TV series characters exist, both model and CGI, so there's no reason they'd need to do that. To add, it'd just defeat the point of doing Stepney as people remember him on-screen.
Stepney's proportions in the show are exactly the same as his real world basis. In fact, he's literally just his real world basis, but with a face slapped on. Nothing there would defeat any purpose.
They are close, but they are absolutely not 1:1. No engine in the entire show is a 1:1 representation of their basis, not even engines like Molly or Ryan. There will always be certain discrepancies in terms of proportions to simplify the design for the purpose of toys, make a face fit more suitably, etc. The closest exceptions I can think of might be Derek, Neville and Dennis, but they're the odd ones of the bunch.
I would really count removing details as "changing proportions". Which proportions on the Stepney show model are different than the basis?
The most blatant example is that on the real "Stepney" locomotive, the side tanks are thinner and longer, while on the TV Series Stepney, his side tanks are wider but shorter. The funnel on the real "Stepney" also has a flared base, while the TV series Stepney is straight. The splashers are also radically different, as the TV series Stepneys splashers are downright gigantic compared to the real one. The cab windows are also in slightly different positions, much higher on the real locomotive.
Point is, there's no reason to measure the real locomotive when they have instant access to the props measurements. The only time the Bachmann Range has ever used a real locomotive for reference is Skarloey (and even certain details there are up for debate), which was more appropriate as there are no RTR Taylyllyn locomotives on the niche OO9 market.
Those are very good points, and believe me, I would prefer for the Bachmann model to be based on Stepney from the classic model series than real-life. Yet, at the end of the day, I just really want to see an HO Stepney announced to commemorate the 75th Anniversary, and especially before the possibility of a CGI model with excessively odd proportions is made.
And as stated before, I am sure that fans would understand if announcing Stepney in 2020 means that it will take a few years for him to be released, as Daisy and Peter Sam are the current focus. We just hope to see him announced sooner, rather than later :).
What other classic series characters can you see Bachmann making, or do y'all eventually think that they will make a transition to CGI series characters only?