Well, the model I've been eagerly anticipating for years has finally arrived, and here are my thoughts on Bachmann's Sir Handel.



Ten years ago today, Skarloey was released. I still remember the excitement when he was first announced in early 2015. It came out of nowhere and immediately felt like the start of a bright future for narrow gauge modeling. Now, a decade later, we welcome the fifth member of the lineup. Each release, excluding Rusty, has shown clear improvement as the range continues to grow. Skarloey felt like the beginning of something special, giving way for engines such as Rheneas and Peter Sam to follow. Sir Handel, however, doesn't just follow. He exceeds every expectation.



This is, without question, the best model to come from the range so far. It surpasses nearly everything Bachmann has produced across scales. I hardly know where to begin. We are at an all-time high here, and it is genuinely impressive how well Bachmann executed Sir Handel.



Right away, the proportions stand out beautifully. They capture his real-world basis more accurately than the CGI render, for reasons we found out earlier this year with Bachmann's Sir Haydn announcement! No matter how you look at it though, the Bachmann Sir Handel model represents the character incredibly well.



The detailing is superb, from the rivets to the separately fitted whistle and brake pipes at both ends. Even though those pipes were not present in the CGI version, their inclusion enhances the model in a very positive way. If any engine deserved that extra attention, it was Sir Handel.


The cab design is strong as well. It does not share the same amount of blockage as Peter Sam, nor does it have closed off windows like Skarloey/Talyllyn.  Yet Bachmann still managed to add traction to the trailing wheels (or "steamroller wheels"), allowing it to increase traction and improves overall running performance.


The livery is beautiful. The shade of blue is spot-on, and the painted details such as the handrails and nameplate elevate the model visually.


The face is excellent too, perfectly capturing his CGI appearance. For those who prefer the classic model-era expression, replacing the face should be a simple and accessible modification.


As for performance, Sir Handel is appropriately smooth. His "steamroller" wheels provide excellent traction through curves and steeper grades, and he handles any sort of consist with with ease.  This was something Bachmann did with their Peter Sam model, and I'm glad they continued this with Sir Handel.


He performs just as well in reverse and over switches, which speaks to the quality of the wheels and motor. This is an engine that will not derail easily, even if he would prefer to not work with trucks...


The word "perfect" is not one I use lightly, whether for models or anything outside of the hobby. The Bachmann Sir Handel though, in my very honest opinion is just that: perfect. That should emphasize just how exceptional this release truly is. There is not a single flaw I can point to. It may be the best model Bachmann has created, not only in narrow gauge but across every scale in the Thomas ranges. It is remarkable to realize that ten years have passed since Skarloey, and now we have a nearly full and well-rounded fleet to enjoy.


I hope Duncan returns in production someday. But even if he does not, I have complete confidence that future additions will continue to meet this standard of excellence. Thank you, Bachmann, for delivering something this special. Sir Handel was worth every moment of the wait, and I look forward to whatever comes next.

A review on the figure packs are coming soon, I promise!

Quote from: TrainFan97 on November 09, 2025, 02:25:55 PMWhat's holding Bachmann back from doing new scales they haven't done before, like S and Z Scales, is that it would take resources away from what they're already doing. Having to design new track for those scales is already an expense that doesn't even include engines or rolling stock.

The bigger issue is the license to produce models in those scales. Before Bachmann can even think about track resources, they need to secure a license from Mattel to produce Thomas models in another scale. Considering how much we're still waiting on from Bachmann with everything already on their plate, I can promise you the last thing on their mind right now is launching an entirely new Thomas range in a different scale.

Although I wasn't able to attend the event at Trainland, I saw pictures and caught some of the stream earlier and it looked like a lot of fun!

Naturally, I'm most excited for Sir Handel, and I'm thrilled he'll be arriving early next year. The gunpowder vans turned out great too; I might have to grab one (or maybe two) of the D. Fusit ones.

Right behind Sir Handel, I'm especially looking forward to the DCC and sound Thomas and Percy models. These have been nearly five years in the making, but I'm so glad they're finally set to release by the end of the year. I've wanted DCC versions of Thomas and Percy for a long time, and I can't wait to run them at train shows when the time comes.  It's always a pain to run only analog on our modular setup (especially when I want to have multiple engines moving at once to make it feel alive), so I'm glad this will be resolved by our next show in January!

It's great to see the tankers finished and the 80th anniversary vans making it out in time for the end of the year. Hopefully, these releases open the door to more new HO and OO9 rolling stock announcements in the next catalog.  Possibly even a chance for Duncan to be reconsidered too, (though I'm not holding my breath just yet).

I'm a little bummed the N scale Gordon's express coaches didn't make it this time, but hopefully we'll see those soon, along with updates on other previously announced N scale products. I'm doubtful we'll get a new N scale engine announcement in 2026 with so much still in development, but maybe things will change by the NMRA. Fingers crossed for Edward or Duck!  I'm sure we will at least get some more N scale rolling stock if nothing else.

Bumping this thread to share that the Gordon faces are complete! I just need to finish Emily before worrying about Diesel and Henry once they're released.



A quick group photo just for fun.



A shame that Gordon still has to wait for his coaches; the angry expression might stay on him for a while until Bachmann's coaches arrive...


Thank you JonoDomino!

Quote from: GordonPacific04 on October 05, 2025, 04:51:18 PM

Quote from: Kemptown Branch on October 05, 2025, 03:20:20 PMHey, does anyone know if the figures from the Railway Personnel packs can fit inside of the Narrow Gauge Engines' cabs? Thanks!

Unfortunately not, I've tried. All the HO Thomas figures are slightly overscaled.

Sadly, that is the case. I've had the figure packs for a while and have been meaning to get a review up, but life has unfortunately been a little hectic on my end, and I haven't had the time to get around to it. Hopefully, I'll be able to sometime this month.

Quote from: Zorran202 on September 06, 2025, 05:06:09 PMI certainly hope that after Edward, they can make at least Oliver (to go with Toad, since you know, at least in the TV/CGI series, it makes sense) or Duck (to make the consistent numbers from 8 onwards).

I think they'll most likely do Duck after Edward, since Duck has always been more popular and iconic than Oliver, especially in the CGI series. After Duck, I think Oliver is a pretty safe bet, given Toad's inclusion in the range and Oliver's track record as another one of Bachmann's popular sellers in HO. Either way, those three engines seem to be the most popular requests in N scale, and I can see all of them happening eventually.

A huge thank you to everyone for their insight and feedback on Bachmann adding a BR brake van to the N scale range in place of the now-canceled LMS brake van. I appreciate all of the responses, and I'm especially happy to see so many people engage with that post! I hope Bachmann takes all of this into consideration moving forward, especially since there's a clear consensus on why a BR brake van should be the next N scale announcement.

After the announcement that the N scale LMS brake van was canceled due to the cost of using the Farish tooling, I think now is the right time to revisit the idea of introducing the BR brake van instead.



I've brought this up before, but it feels more relevant than ever given that high tooling costs ultimately ended the LMS project. While some fans may have looked forward to the LMS version, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Thomas fans have always preferred the BR brake van; and still do. This post lays out why Bachmann should focus on the BR design rather than the LMS one. The BR brake van has already proven successful in both HO and Large Scale, and there's no doubt it would do just as well in N scale.  So let's look at why:

1. Greater historical and brand significance



The BR brake van has a far stronger presence in Thomas & Friends. Since Season 1, it has consistently appeared in both the model and CGI eras, making it the most recognizable and iconic brake van design associated with the brand. By contrast, the LMS van only appeared in CGI and was introduced in show much later than the BR one, limiting its long-term appeal. Choosing the BR van would clearly resonate more with fans and collectors.


2. More livery and reuse potential
The BR tooling offers Bachmann much greater flexibility. Between the model and CGI series, the BR brake van has appeared in brown, gray, purple, blue and green liveries (though the latter two never appeared on screen). The spiteful brake van remains popular in both HO and Large Scale, and Bachmann has already repurposed the tooling as a track-cleaning wagons and even a Christmas brake van in HO. This proves its versatility and wide appeal.  The LMS brake van, on the other hand, has very limited reuse potential. Beyond its standard brown scheme, there's only Bradford and red and green liveries that were only used used only briefly the Nitrogen era. That's a much smaller pool compared to the wide variety the BR design offers.

3. Cost efficiency

Now, let's say Bachmann is still restricted to reusing Farish toolings, the BR 20-ton brake van by Farish is actually cheaper than the LMS option (BR is £29.95 while LMS is £32.95 on Bachmann UK's webstore). That makes BR brake van not only the more iconic and versatile choice, but also the more cost-effective one if they revisit Farish toolings. Any modifications needed like removing some of the separately fitted details would still likely cost less than sticking with the LMS brake van tooling.

Conclusion

Releasing the LMS brake van was always going to be a niche move with limited appeal, and now we know it's also the more expensive route. By contrast, the BR brake van is a lot more iconic, versatile, and cost-effective—the obvious choice for N scale. In my brutally, honest opinion, there is absolutely no reason for Bachmann to revisit the LMS brake van when there is so much more going for the BR version. It's already worked in HO and Large Scale, and it will work in N scale as well—if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

It's frustrating that the N scale range has gone this long without a generic brake van, with only Toad available. Toad is a niche character, especially since Duck and Oliver haven't been announced and likely won't be for at least a few years. Fans deserve the more common and recognizable brake van design to complete their goods trains, because as the Spiteful Brake Van himself once said:


it's "essential."

I strongly believe the BR brake van should be Bachmann's top priority for the next piece of rolling stock in N scale, or at the very least the next choice of brake van included in the range. Hopefully, this post helps influence that decision.

What do you think?

The funny thing is, Bachmann didn't even bother adding the number 12 to their N scale Emily model, despite it being introduced long after Emily received her number at the end of the CGI series. I don't know if that's a detail they plan to include in a future revision of the Emily models, or if they'll just skip it altogether since the appeal would be limited; it only appeared in the second half of the final season of the show. 

Granted, I know it carried over into the rest of the merchandise since then and even into All Engines Go, but I'd still argue that doesn't necessarily widen its appeal much, especially since All Engines Go is already becoming less relevant now that it's over and Mattel seems to be shifting merchandise back toward the CGI seasons this year.

I'm surprised Diesel hasn't been added to the Bachmann Europe line yet. They seem to announce new engines bi-yearly, so in 2026 they'll likely announce more. I could see Diesel and Emily being next, as Emily is another engine I'm surprised hasn't been included yet.

Quote from: Awesometrain77 on August 12, 2025, 11:45:04 PMI hope we see Paxton and Diesel but that's hopeful thinking at this point they are super behind with n scale .
Henry we would be lucky see by 2027 .
Rather than Edward for 2026 what about Sidney . To have a new character but also not getting to ahead by having yet another class 08 .

I'd rather not see Bachmann introduce another engine repaint in N scale next year after announcing the LBSC Thomas and Origin James this year. I think once Bachmann makes progress on some of the previously announced engines, (hopefully before too long), they can finally introduce Edward in N scale in 2026. After Edward and Duck, I would personally be fine with Bachmann taking a breather and introducing another engine repaint in N scale, such as Sidney.

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on August 04, 2025, 12:05:11 PMThe only thing I disagree with is the normal brakevan. I'm just unsure Bachmann would lead with another faceless one out of the gate after the LMS one, especially considering neither the HO or G ones are on the market. Makes more sense to me from a business perspective that they would lead with Spiteful. But a normal BR one would be welcome, and I think voicing that interest now is definitely the right call. One in which I support.

Bingo. Just encouraging the demand for it and showing the potential, which is why I recommended the purple livery; to give it more contrast compared to previous offerings in HO and large scale.

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on August 04, 2025, 12:05:11 PMI want to add one more potential character I think would happen either alongside Cranky or soon after. Bertie makes sense to me to happen to test how non-rail vehicles do in the line. I know you mention Cranky filling that role, but Cranky is kind of a different beast entirely. So it makes sense to me they'd either do both together or one soon after the other to get a wider test. Bertie serving as a test for smaller vehicles, while Cranky serves more as a test for additional accessories and buildings.

Funny thing is, I was originally going to go with Bertie (and Harold). Cranky made more sense the more I thought about Bachmann possibly wanting to replicate additional accessories, especially if they plan to reuse the upcoming five-bay roundhouse for Tidmouth Sheds. The reintroduction of the HO Tidmouth Sheds and the recent announcement of Knapford's reintroduction also influenced my decision to go that route. I also wasn't sure if they'd release just one vehicle like Bertie on his own in N scale, or introduce him in a pack with others like Harold and Terence. So admittedly, I wasn't sure how they'd approach it; not that a multi-character pack would be a dealbreaker or anything.


But for the record, I would wholeheartedly welcome Bertie. I'd love to have him and other vehicles in N scale too. Introducing one of them alongside Cranky would make for a great announcement. I'd be all for it.

Quote from: Zorran202 on August 03, 2025, 12:08:57 PMI was about to say, wasn't the green cattle van the official #3 since the HO scale one was the 3rd Troublesome Truck made in the range? But yeah, I would love to see them release more troublesome trucks for the N scale range, to see whether or not the trucks made in HO can be replicated, if not made better ala Toad style.

Speaking of Toad, I'm surprised Oliver hasn't been thought of, since they're the duo that goes together, unless if it's just getting the other main characters out of the way first...., but that's just me...!

Also regarding the tankers (if they get to them), wouldn't they also have the advantage in this scale due to how flat the front and back of the barrels are? I'd say it'd be easier to apply the faces onto them 🤔

They did use a cattle wagon for Troublesome Truck #3, but I don't think there's any "official" rule that the next one in N scale needs to be a cattle wagon. If anything, I'd encourage them to go a different route to provide more contrast with the HO version. I even remember large-scale collectors wanting a Truck #3, and Bachmann used their box van tooling for that; same logic could apply here. More Troublesome Trucks are always welcome, as many modelers say: "You can't have too many."

As for Oliver, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. I was going to bring him up, but you're right; it likely comes down to fans wanting Bachmann to finish the main cast before moving on to side characters. Even with Toad already in the range, Duck continues to get far more requests, probably because he's a more iconic and popular character than Oliver. That said, I wouldn't rule Oliver out for a future release after Duck.

Regarding the tankers, as I mentioned before, the main issue is that the faces would need to be smaller since the Farish tankers are much smaller than other N scale rolling stock.  As JacobSK pointed out, these haven't sold well, and it's not hard to see why. I think adding a Troublesome Tanker in N would be a great idea, regardless of which tooling they use. But, if they want it to sell well, it's worth the investment to develop a newer, more accurate tanker tooling in N and introduce it alongside other variants like milk and tar.

Speaking of, thanks Jacob for the in-depth feedback on my N scale post! I think Toby's Museum Coaches would also be a fun addition in N scale. Late 2027 might be a good time for those or the red express coaches—ideally after Bachmann expands the freight stock in the range. Either way, I'm glad to see ideas and feedback for the N scale line still going strong.

Quote from: Mulfred100 on August 01, 2025, 04:26:35 AMGreat suggestions Chaz. I can definitely see those happening, in 26-27. Maybe with another van recolour or museum coaches or the Red Express coaches added in aswell to utilise existing tooling in the case of the 12 ton Van and Express coaches and eventual tooling with the museum coaches. I also wonder how Bachmann may tackle adding more troublesome trucks to the N scale line. Weather they'll go on order of HO or maybe branch out. Tooling is there for Tt6 and 7, so will Bachmann wait to introduce tooling for 3-5 or will they maybe make a tanker or 12 ton van troublesome truck first. I'd definitely love to see Cranky in N scale. I definitely can see him being a good first non rail introduction before characters like Bertie or Harold.

Given the reception to the reintroduction of the red express coaches, I feel a bit silly for not including them in my earlier post. I'm sure those will be a big hit with fans, alongside the red branch line coaches. But more than anything, I'd really love to see Bachmann expand their freight stock. Particularly with a BR 20-ton brake van and the coal wagon with load.

As for an N scale Troublesome Truck #3, one of my biggest issues with Bachmann using the Farish tankers is that they're too small compared to the other stock in the range. I could definitely see them using the box van tooling and labeling it something like "Box Van: Troublesome Truck #3," possibly even reusing the same illustration as HO Troublesome Truck #7 in the catalog. Or maybe giving it a model-era face for bonus points and more of a contrast to the HO model and in a different color:



Either way, would love to hear further thoughts on my earlier N scale post.

Quote from: JLK2707 on July 31, 2025, 05:30:06 AMWould you ever modify the Bachmann N Scale Henry to the old shape of his?

Probably not, but I imagine that some fans will probably get on that as a custom project if they decide to buy a second Henry.  At the moment the only thing I would change on Henry is the face, otherwise I plan to keep Henry as is.