I am guessing that the deal will not effect Bachmann.  They have to pay royalties to produce Thomas products now as long as they continue to pay royalty fees they can still produce their products.  Bachmann will simply have to cut a check to Mattel.
Just my .02
-Art

Kendall,
This was a very simple conversion, one of the easiest I have done.  It's a great little project and any Thomas fan will really appreciate it for the holidays  If you don't have a PR3 programmer you can mail the decoder to me and I'll load the thomas sounds on it for you at no charge.  Just follow the steps laid out in the other thread.  The steps are exactly the same with a non sound decoder just 4 wires to solder and you're all set!!!
-Art

I'm not really a fan of Bachmann decoders.  I have a few models with DCC onboard and they ran unreliably with their Bachmann factory decoders.  I wanted sound anyway so I put in Digitrax SDH164D sound decoders.  

To answer your question though, any hard wired decoder that fits in thomas will do.  I installed an N scale Digitrax sound decoder in my HO Thomas (SDN144PS).  It has an itty bitty speaker but it fit nicely inside Thomas's tender area.  I drilled a few holes on the back of his tender box so the sound could come out.  It's not really loud but I was able to make custom sounds using my PR3 programmer.  I got the sound clips off Youtube from Thomas episodes.  He makes his trademark toot toot for the horn, he says "bust my buffers" and "I'm a really useful engine" and has the other traditional 0-6-0 steam engine sounds.
-Art

Here is the thread about my conversion:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,18602.0.html

Quote from: MetaDude27 on November 25, 2011, 12:51:43 PM
Thanks for the info. I also wanted to send in my Annie coach because I accidently chipped two corners of her roof off. However, since she is a piece of rolling stock, I'm not sure what would be required to have her repaired (e.g. a repair fee of some sort). Has anyone ever sent in rolling stock for repairs? If so, what did you have to do?

That I don't know.  I looked online to see if they sell replacement parts but I only see listings for engines not rolling stock.  That may not be covered under warranty.  I suggest you call The Bach-mann and see what he says.  Chances are you can buy a replacement roof for her for just a few dollars.
-Art

I guess with the Thomas line (plastic drive gears and inexpensive engines that wear out) it is better business practice to send a new one to keep the customer happy. Again, that is always "The Bachmann's" call. Even though the cheaper bachmann models don't really last, at least they have a spectacular lifetime warranty.  If I get a "cheap model from the competition and it's engine goes up in smoke chances are I will have to replace it myself.
-Art

Quote from: MetaDude27 on November 25, 2011, 11:27:12 AM
So instead of repairing the old model, they just replace it with a new one? I was wondering because I plan to send in my Edward and Henry for repairs.

If the parts are still manufactured, then they will repair it.  If the model parts have been changed to a newer style and not available then "The Bachmann" will send you a new replacement. If it's easier for them to just replace the engine then they always have that option.  My GS4 SP Daylight broke, it was the older style so for $40 they sent me a DCC onboard model.
-Art

Haha I read this thread expecting to read that someone had added a smoke unit to Edward.  Funny how the mind jumps to conclusions.  Glad he is behaving again for you.  At least you know you can send him back for a replacement at anytime.  Bachmann sent me a replacement for my broken GS4 it took about 2-3 weeks.
-Art

Here is a youtube video of my Bachmann Thomas in HO scale with Digitrax custom sound project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvwtbeC0Gyo
This would be a great christmas present for the avid Thomas fan with DCC. This was a very simple DCC conversion it only involves 4 wires to solder then stuff the decoder in and drill some holes in the tender area and stick the speaker (with it's adhesive) to the back wall of the tender.  Piece of cake!
-Art

Quote from: Edward the Great on November 23, 2011, 08:04:01 AM
He means is the place where the light is supposed to come out transparent so that the light doesn't have to be right in the lamp and the answer is NO. It is a solid paint color. (Both front and back) 

Thanks for the reply, someone on another forum did it with a surface mounted LED.  I sent him a PM to see exactly how it was done.  Maybe he will post a closeup pic for me as well.
-Art

Quote from: ThomasFan247 on August 26, 2011, 01:19:43 PM
I bought a DCC Thomas equipped with lights from trainbuddy.com a while back (I do NOT recommend this site, by the way) and what they did was wired the light to the decoder and ran the wire through the body and under the footplate, and then ran the light up into a hole drilled under the lamp. It wasn't noticeable unless the model was turned over.

Is the plastic inside the light housing clear so It can emit light that comes from underneath the footplate?
-Art

I found a sound clip of Thomas saying "Ha Ha Ha.....Bust my Buffers" from a youtube video of "Pop goes Thomas".  I will add that to my custom Thomas sound project.   I realize that these sound clips are copyright protected but for my own personal use it should not be a problem.  I think there would be a market for a sound equipped Thomas with DCC.
-Art

Ok, I stopped at my LHS today and bought a Bachmann Thomas engine in HO scale. I also purchased a Digitrax N scale SDN144PS sound decoder. When I got home I heated up the soldering iron and soldered 4 wires with shrink wrap drilled a few small holes in the back of Thomas's tender and stuck the itty bitty speaker that comes with the decoder to the back wall of the tender. I used my Digitrax PR3 programmer and soundloader and used the BR class "light prairie tank" sound project and added a wav file of thomas's horn to the project. Downloaded the sounds and Thomas is happily running around my shelf layout. I was worried that the tiny speaker would be insufficient but it is perfect! Thanks to another forum for the decoder suggestion. He needs a little break in time but the horn brings a smile to my face everytime.  He could still use a headlight and taillight in the future. Perhaps a bit of extra weight too. This will be great when my nieces and nephews come for a visit. This was a very simple conversion only 4 wires to solder from the Bachmann circuit board to the decoder.  Bachmann was kind enough to leave plenty of wire to make the connections easy.  Here is a youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDSbVQgVfec to show how to make the conversion (without sound).  Next I gotta find a sound clip from youtube of Thomas saying "Bust my Buffers" and add that sound.
-Art

Mr. Bachmann, I am wondering when we might expect to see your HO scale FNA nuclear flask wagons here in the states.  I see them available  in the UK but not here.  I would like 3 for xmas please.

Quote from: jerryl on October 13, 2011, 07:33:26 PM
  Where did you get the idea for the shade of blue to use?  I'm ready to paint my version that I made from a Mantua pacific.  The color I was thinking of using is pretty close to what you have. I know it was a lot darker than the Lionel ones & a little darker than the IHC version. Too bad there aren't any color pictures around.
  How did you get interested in the Comet, do you live in NJ?

I went to home depot and looked at the paint colors available.  The colors I chose just looked good to me.  I used this picture as a reference.

Yes I live and grew up in NJ.  I live pretty close to where the Blue Comet derailed due to a bad flood in Chatsworth NJ.
-Art

I got my 4-6-2 back together and repainted her in Blue Comet colors.  All is well. 
Here is a picture:

Now my only issue seems to be with the bachmann decoder.  When I run the engine it works properly for a short time then stops responding to DCC input from my NCE power cab.  It just continues going at the same rate no matter what I want it to do.  Could this be a decoder issue?  I tried to clean the wheels and contacts but that did not seem to help.  All my other DCC engines respond perfectly.  To me it's not really a big deal if it's a crummy decoder because in the next 2 weeks I am going to swap it out for a decoder with sound.  Just wondering if anyone has run across this issue.  BTW my 4-6-2 spectrum is the latest model from Bachmann came with DCC onboard.
-Art