Just recently, Bachmann teased the unpainted sample of HO Scale Rebecca, which will be shown in the next stream. Within a few weeks, Doug Blaine will show us Rebecca in the unpainted stage. It's taking a long time to show N Scale Emily fully painted. If that were to be shown, Bachmann would tease that too.

The stream covered all the Thomas products announced in the recent brochure, and showed the Mr. Jolly and Brendam Bay vans in their packaging, as well as the Talyllyn HOn30 Scale model in the three different liveries. No N Scale Emily update just yet.

Hopefully, if this mandate ever ends, Bachmann eventually will give us Stepney, BoCo and Duke. Class 40 is another good choice for a model series character, and another larger diesel, since he was also made by Hornby. Bachmann could do the Beau move and recycle their UK Class 40 tooling, though he wouldn't have moving eyes.

So it seems that Stanley's tooling will be 100% new, including the chassis, since his wheels aren't exactly like Thomas' despite being the same configuration.

At least Bachmann is actually willing to listen to the fans, and they continue to stray away from the infamous reboot known as All Engines Go. They're pretty much the only Thomas merchandise left that's actually good. Stanley was a popular request that's finally on the cards, and he's appeared in both model AND CGI.

But for some reason, Mattel is okay with Bachmann making model series rolling stock, but not engines, which really doesn't make sense. It's what's holding Bachmann back from making Stepney, BoCo or Duke. Bachmann knows how much we want Stepney, but Mattel just won't let them do it. Diesel was the first HO Scale model to have a CGI face, and that was before Mattel took over, while Duck was the last HO Scale model to be based on the model series.

It would be most wise that once Gordon and Emily are out of the way, Henry and Edward will get announced for N Scale. Once Diesel and Paxton are out of the way, Duck should get announced for N Scale, since he had a rivalry with Diesel in one of the earliest seasons of the show. It's already been a decade since Duck's HO Scale model hit the market, and has consistently been a popular seller since then. He was also the last engine in the HO Scale range to be based on the model series. In N Scale, Duck will be based on his CGI render, but no big deal. With Toad coming soon, Oliver shouldn't be too far off from N Scale, as he too was a popular seller in HO Scale. Since Oliver was based on his CGI render, Bachmann can easily just scale down his HO Scale tooling to work in N Scale.

The best next choices for N Scale engines are Henry, Edward, Duck and Oliver, apart from Diesel recolors like Sidney, 'Arry and Bert. For N Scale rolling stock, I'd be most happy with a generic or Spiteful Brake Van, Red Open Wagon, Coal Wagon w/ Load, Red Coaches, and a Gray Box Van.

If Sidney can't happen in HO Scale because of the eye mechanism, he could be announced for N Scale and Large Scale instead. It's been several years since Paxton first came to HO Scale, and still no sign of Sidney on the cards for any scale. N Scale would especially be easy for him, since the eye mechanism isn't an issue. With that, Sidney could become the first character in N Scale that doesn't already exist in HO Scale. Hope he could be announced with N Scale Henry in the 2024 catalog. As for 'Arry and Bert in N Scale, they would need distinctive and malicious faces, so they'd sell better in N Scale than they did in HO Scale.

If HO Scale can't get much in the 2024 catalog, due to Rebecca and Stanley, recolors like a Mainland Diesel or two, or Fernando can be possible, using Diesel's tooling. They could get their first pieces of merchandise. Narrow Gauge has Sir Handel and Duncan, with the former having no significant update just yet. If Mattel lets Bachmann do model series characters again, especially for Narrow Gauge, Rheneas' tooling can be used for Smudger, while Sir Handel's can be used for Proteus.

After Stanley, the next new tooling for HO Scale would have to be Nia. Progress has been made on Rebecca, and will likely soon be shown in the unpainted stage. The next Trainworld stream will likely show HO Scale Rebecca unpainted, and/or N Scale Emily fully painted.

With all six of the original Narrow Gauge engines (that appeared in CGI) announced, it's only a matter of time before Mattel HAS to start letting Bachmann make model series characters like Duke in order to expand the range further, with only Victor, Luke and Millie left from the CGI series. They could easily recycle Rheneas' tooling to make Smudger.

Henry is inevitable for N Scale, and is the most likely to be announced in the 2024 catalog, given his commonalities with Gordon. Would be nice to have Edward as well, so as to complete the original Steam Team in N Scale. It may not take too long for Bachmann to get Diesel and Paxton out there, since they'd most likely just scale down the HO Scale tooling to work in N Scale. Diesel's tooling also has potential recolors like Sidney, 'Arry and Bert. It would be nice if Sidney could become the first character in N Scale that doesn't already exist in HO Scale. Other engines that would recycle Gordon's chassis in N Scale would include Spencer and Flying Scotsman. If Edward can't happen just yet, it would be nice if Henry and Spencer could get announced together, considering they'd both share the same chassis, but with Henry not having trailing wheels, and Spencer's trailing wheels being a bit different from Gordon's. Unlike Gordon and Henry, Spencer's body shape is streamlined, and might be an easier shape for Bachmann to make. Spencer would also bring the Special Coaches to N Scale, with hopefully a brake variant, unlike in HO Scale. For now, Henry is still the #1 priority for N Scale.

Well, with the NMRA announcements out of the way, it'll be another several months before we get the 2024 catalog.

With Diesel and Paxton coming to N Scale, that would make Sidney, 'Arry and Bert also possible for N Scale. The former has yet to be announced for HO or Large Scale, while the latter two were discontinued in HO Scale. I'd love for Bachmann to finally make Sidney. If he can't be made in HO Scale because of problems with the eye mechanism, he can still be made in Large Scale and N Scale. They fixed Paxton's eye mechanism for Large Scale, so Sidney shouldn't be a problem for Large Scale, while N Scale is too small for an eye mechanism, so his face would look perfect in N Scale too. If 'Arry and Bert were to be made in N Scale, Bachmann should give them more distinctive and malicious faces, as their faces being too similar is what got their HO Scale models to flop.

The next (partial) new tooling for N Scale has to be Henry, so I'm still hoping he can be in the 2024 catalog. As said many times before, Henry would recycle Gordon's chassis, but without the trailing wheels. Now that we're getting the Express Coaches, for N Scale rolling stock, I'd like to see Red Coaches, Red Open Wagon, Coal Wagon w/ Load, and maybe a generic Brake Van. Other new toolings for N Scale I'd also love to see include Duck and Oliver. The latter because we're getting Toad soon, so I'm also hoping we'll get Oliver at some point. If a new tooling isn't viable in early 2024, maybe we'll get Sidney alongside 'Arry and Bert. Could Sidney become the first character in N Scale that doesn't already exist in HO Scale?

For HO Scale, Bachmann would rather see how well Rebecca sells before tackling Hiro, and with Stanley announced, that's another popular request out of the way. The most possible new toolings could be Whiff or Nia, or recolors like Green Salty or Fernando. Because Fernando's tooling exists, maybe the Brazilian diesel could get his first piece of merchandise. The Works Unit Coach would be a great idea for a new rolling stock tooling.

With Narrow Gauge having a long backlog, with Duncan just being announced, along with the Gunpowder Wagons, I can't imagine the 2024 catalog would get anything for that, but I still hope Mattel would let Bachmann make Smudger using Rheneas' tooling. That way, model series engines can get back into the picture.

What I really don't get is that Mattel allows Bachmann to make model series rolling stock, but not engines, that the CGI mandate ONLY applies to engines, which is what's holding Bachmann back from making Stepney, BoCo, or Duke. It doesn't make sense. Model series rolling stock is okay with Mattel, but engines are not. Even recolors like Smudger, Splatter and Dodge, which had one-off appearances.

I feel that Bachmann announced Stanley because he was a request for many years. He has a unique white livery, played a major role in a special, and the fact that he appeared in both model and CGI. It's been six years since we got Rosie, and only now was Stanley finally announced. Another thing is that Bachmann can easily recycle Thomas' chassis for Stanley; just paint the wheels red. Just the body shell would be completely different. Recycling Thomas' chassis would be the most cost-effective way to get Stanley out there, just like how they used Oliver's wheels for Ryan. For Ryan's case, they added two extra drive wheels, and painted them to match his livery. Would be neat if Stanley had an open cab, but he probably won't if they have to hide the motor there.

So we are indeed getting HO Scale Stanley, plus four 12-ton vans in HO Scale, with one of them being a simple gray one without the wacky colors, and even Bulgy for a non-rail character. I think the most cost-effective way for them to make Stanley would be recycling Thomas' chassis and painting the wheels red. Duncan was also announced for Narrow Gauge, despite there being little to no updates on Sir Handel, along with three Gunpowder Wagons, including the D. Fusit one from Season 4.

N Scale is getting Diesel and Paxton, which ended up being chosen over Henry. I think the reason for this was because of how well they did in Large Scale, and Bachmann already has two tender engines coming, and they'd rather see how well Gordon and Emily sell before doing another tender engine like Henry and Edward. Although Diesel and Paxton were chosen over Henry, they will be the first side characters to join N Scale, with other recolor options like 'Arry and Bert, Sidney, Mainland Diesels, or Fernando possible. With no eye mechanism being an issue, Paxton's face will look a lot better in N Scale than it did in HO Scale. It's also nice that we are indeed getting the Express Coaches to go with Gordon. I was rather hoping for N Scale Henry, but Diesel also had demand, and was too a popular request, complete with a versatile tooling.

With only a few more days left, here's what we might get:

For HO Scale, another new engine tooling, which could be Nia, Stanley, or Whiff, or a recolor like Sidney or Fernando. No idea for rolling stock, but Chocolate Syrup and Toffee Tankers would be appreciated.

For N Scale, Henry, and possibly Express Coaches to go with Gordon. Those are my biggest hopes, especially N Scale Henry.

It may not quite be time for Large Scale modelers to pack it in just yet, but it's really getting there.

Regarding Large Scale, I don't know if Edward is necessarily ruled out just because he was demoted from the main cast, and mistreated by Mattel in recent years. Gordon and Henry would be too big and costly, given their sheer size. At least N Scale is getting Henrietta for Toby. Edward seems much more likely for N Scale than Large Scale, especially once N Scale gets Henry, leaving Edward as the only one left of the original main cast. If Large Scale was to get anymore engines, they could make Bill and Ben, which would require only one new tooling. For recolors, they could still do LBSC Thomas and Origin James, maybe even 'Arry and Bert, although the latter two were discontinued in HO Scale. It may not be time for Large Scale modelers to pack it in just yet, but I feel we could be getting there very soon.

For HO Scale, it really seems like the most likely new tooling would be Stanley, since he appeared in both model and CGI, has a unique white livery, and played a major role in a special. He can even recycle Thomas' chassis, but with the wheels painted red. I still would love to see Diesel 10 as the next larger diesel like Daisy, although the claw raises concern, Doug Blaine himself has never said specifically that Diesel 10 can't happen because of it. After all, Bachmann does make rail cranes, and electric engines with pantographs, but they never tried putting a posable claw on a diesel engine before, which would really make Diesel 10 a first, and an ambitious project. Diesel 10 has been a request for quite some time, and it wasn't until we got Daisy when larger diesels came into the picture. The claw would be the only hard part, but there may be ways to get it to work, even if it may not be perfect.

And if HO Scale can't get a new tooling, there's always recolors, including Sidney and Fernando. Although I mention Green Salty, we still haven't gotten the reintroduced Salty in stock yet. Sidney and Fernando would be repaints of Diesel's tooling, but they would have to fix the eye mechanism for Sidney after Paxton's face came out disproportionate. Splatter and Dodge were dropped from the CGI series twice, and it wasn't until less than a year ago when James Lafiteau (EpicLafiteau on YouTube) finally brought Splatter and Dodge to life in full CGI in "You're a Mean One, Diesel 10" although it's unfortunately not official canon.

With N Scale Gordon fully painted, and Emily soon to be shown fully painted, it is time to announce another N Scale engine, with Henry being the top request and the highest in demand. We may not start getting side characters until we at least get Henry then Edward. For rolling stock, I'd be okay with Express Coaches, Red Coaches, or more faceless open wagons, including the Red Open Wagon, and Coal Wagon w/ Load. The Mail Car would be perfect for Percy. Don't know if we'll get a generic brake van, considering Toad is the first brake van in the range.

Apart from Henry, other characters that can recycle Gordon's chassis include Spencer and Flying Scotsman. For side characters, the favorites are Mavis, Diesel, Oliver and Duck. Mavis would recycle Thomas' chassis like Toby. Since we're getting Toad, Oliver must be planned. Diesel would be the versatile tooling for a lot of potential recolors, including Paxton, Sidney, as well as the discontinued in HO Scale, 'Arry and Bert. Sidney has yet to be announced for HO Scale, but with no concern for an eye mechanism, he'll be much more likely for N Scale once Diesel is on the cards. Sidney or Flying Scotsman might become the first N Scale engine that doesn't already exist in HO Scale. We know Gordon is the first N Scale engine that doesn't exist in Large Scale, due to his sheer size.