Great review, Chaz. I logged in for the first time in a while to tell you so! 

What I love about the new N Scale range is the care they've taken on comparative scaling. It's always been a bit hit and miss in the other scales. Gordon looks as imposing as he should be next to Thomas and Percy.

Bach-Man, Inside track,

Can we have an official statement on the cancellation of Diesel in large scale, please?

Thank you

Great review, Chaz... and great to hear about the improved performance with the metal wheels.

I want to order mine now!

He's here!

https://youtu.be/9I1zAk6BKpI

Quote from: Griffin on February 20, 2017, 05:30:08 PM

Quote from: sodorlad on February 20, 2017, 05:22:58 PM
Gordon too has arguably little to pull rolling stock wise associated with his character.

I mean...what does he have to pull in HO?

Nothing. But he did... and they are no longer in production. Another factor which doesn't bode well for Gordon's release in LS.

OO/HO Coaches are available courtesy of a rival manufacturer of course.

In theory, Gordon and Henry could work with R2 (bear in mind different terminology between G Scale track manufacturers) curves upwards, provided there is no middle drive wheel nor middle tender wheel flange - as per Thomas, James and Emily.

Also, in theory, are they really that much more expensive to produce than Emily? Design wise they are more simple and wouldn't need an alternative motor to - say, James.

However, a parent buys a starter set - the simple matter is an engine like Gordon and Henry aren't immediately compatible with this.

Gordon too has arguably little to pull rolling stock wise associated with his character.

Until the large scale climate improves - and it will only improve by us fans and consumers getting behind it, then this will limit certain releases.

Consider Diesel's character and presence in the show currently... this will also be a factor of his release in terms of projected sales - a decision not taken lightly when generally characters painted black tend to keep the shelves warm.

Don't get me wrong, I personally would have chosen Edward this year because of my sentimentality for his classic era persona  - but I still think Diesel's worth getting excited for.

How long will it take before someone starts a 2018 predictions thread..?  

I'm pleasantly surprised by the announcement of Rusty. Generally speaking, I don't think anyone saw this coming, however it makes total sense. Television series wise, Rusty was amongst the first NG characters to receive a large scale model, had a scattering of focus episodes and is in the hearts of Thomas fans old and new as being a kind and helpful, little diesel. Exactly the sort of character to promote to children in the world's current social climate.

Large scale Diesel I'm super excited for, particularly as we haven't had a 'proper' announcement for 4 years! His wheelbase will negotiate R1 curves and I know he will look fantastic... especially his side rod mechanism in this scale.  Paradoxically to Rusty, we need a pantomime villain to shakes things up in LS and generate some excitement - and prepare to see a lot of kitbashing for class 08 conversions on YouTube.

Paxton's announcement is a not so surprising, albeit a very welcome addition to the range. Our first Nitrogen character (that classic fans like, too!) in HO. Most of the tooling is on hand for him... however I don't expect to see him so quickly. Paxton's face is considerably smaller than Diesel's and the eye mechanism will also have to move, plus he'll need more plastic framing surrounding where his face will sit. I maybe wrong of course, but this isn't just a simple repaint IMO.

Rolling stock I'm not so stoked by but realistically in HO - what is there to do? If the cattle wagon resembles the one seen currently on the show, this will be my only purchase.
Spiteful brake van. I should be more excited than I am by the fan service... but meh. I will buy him but I remain hopeful for mail cars, red coaches and Henrietta for future years.
Narrow gauge, no rolling stock announcements this year, buit it's obvious the range is good hands and is being built on.

Thank you Bachmann for a cracking year of announcements. Certainly nothing to spread a 'bad atmosphere in the yard.'. Writing this, I'm hopeful the discussions for the following year can return to a more mature (in attitude) arena that the forum once was.

Mark

I can't help but think all the speculation would end if Bachmann just made a statement on the matter. At the very least it's good customer service.

EDIT: It is worth nothing that Bachmann are manufacturing USA dock tank engines (Rosie's prototype) and these are selling exclusively(?)  through Model Rail magazine. I imagine that given Toad was recycled tooling, Rosie will use elements of the dock tank.. This may explain why she's arriving sooner.

I like the vegetable one... I like the colour of the other one... But why on earth does it say GW? Why not NW, or better still, plain? Bizarre.

Next to the white of the milk tanker, it does have a yellowish hue, as does the cream tanker - but you're right, it's a little on the ivory side.

There is some nice 3D moulding of the doors, but the ice cream logo is painted over this.

Ice cream is ready, just need the weather to match!


In the process of unpacking from a move, so test run will have to wait for now!

A few points to consider:

There were no new engine announcements in 2014 or 2016.
Winston is a physically small model... And he is delayed indefinitely.
The price hikes of Thomas large scale, at least in the UK, have been extreme.
Most new rolling stock released have been repaints.
The new box van tooling is a pretty simple mould and is already being replicated into four liveries.

I don't mean to sound negative. I'm a huge LS fan and have all the models. However, the above facts suggest to me that the profit margins of LS Thomas aren't huge - and this is probably due to demand and sales.

The difference between Henrietta and a repainted truck is simple. People will only buy ONE Henrietta - and probably only people who bought Toby - and even then not everyone will.

Yes, it makes sense to us all emotionally but that doesn't necessarily make business sense. And yes, we have a HO version and people only buy one of those too - however the price point appeals to parents who can reasonably collect every model for their kids, generating more units sold. However, maybe she doesn't sell so well. Bachmann surely base LS production on what sells in HO.

Of course I would love a Henrietta but I think repaints are far more likely for the foreseeable future. At a push, maybe a mail van or the red coaches.

I'm going to take the centre ground on this...

I think Chaz is probably right with his speculation. Mattel have obviously had a hand in this year's product choices. I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing though and rolling stock wise, there is arguably not much that hasn't been explored already - bar perhaps hoppers and brake van variety

I remember the last time we had this much rolling stock announced... It was the year that included the well, 6ton and br wagons. The difference was these were based from TV pieces. They are now discontinued, including other iconic pieces, like the coaches. I don't think this is a coincidence.

Us guys that take time to post here are just a fraction of the consumers of the Thomas range. Parents whose kids probably experienced Thomas from season 8 or 13 onwards are the main client. Therefore it's no surprise we have gimmicky releases. They sell well in other Thomas toy ranges, so it's no surprise Bachmann are taking a punt on them.

The lobster car can be seen in Take and Play:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjD1oCVwPXKAhXIJJoKHYO-D1oQjhwIBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FThomas-Friends-Trains-Metal-live-lobster-Jet-Fuel-Tanker-Kid-Toy-%2F252157774818&psig=AFQjCNFwnyL2AjOlQ82cHN6H234QBtC-mQ&ust=1455479059165001&rct=j

I would rather the Bachmann version a van than a tanker.

The fruit and veg van can be seen in Trackmaster:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjD1oCVwPXKAhXIJJoKHYO-D1oQjhwIBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FThomas-Friends-Trains-Metal-live-lobster-Jet-Fuel-Tanker-Kid-Toy-%2F252157774818&psig=AFQjCNFwnyL2AjOlQ82cHN6H234QBtC-mQ&ust=1455479059165001&rct=j

I presume they will use the ice cream wagon tooling for this and for the other LS vans too. Shape wise not much variety, but at least Bachmann are exhausting the design options in one year, rather than drip feeding over the next 3, like they did with the tankers and wagons.

I would still love Henrietta, the mail and the red coaches in the LS future.

I imagine the LS explosive van to be this design from the HiT era;
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/2/22/ThomasAndTheFireworkDisplay15.png/revision/latest?cb=20150419171602


Last year, it was the 70th anniversary... I take the release of Skarloey and Oliver as a love letter to the fans. This year, it's business as usual. Though do remember we have Rheneas!

Rosie, from a design point of view, is an interesting character choice. Yes, her personality isn't fleshed out, but she does have a presence in the CGI era. At ThomasLand UK, she is branded EVERYWHERE next to Thomas. She obviously has sales power - I will buy one!


On a last general note, I've been a member of the Bachmann forum for nearly a decade. Both the behaviour of posters AND the reactors is putting me off visiting... I hope the atmosphere can change. We should all think before we post... Let's not be unnecessary and also not unnecessarily cruel.

I used a stanley knife to prize off the face.

I painted over the decals and the existing number with enamel paint.

I used a transfer to renumber him... Works a little bit like a temporary tattoo with water and friction.

Quote from: Jacob Wilson on December 19, 2015, 06:01:01 PM

Quote from: sodorlad on December 19, 2015, 05:45:53 PM
https://youtu.be/i4rXVIAOW9c

A very quick test video!

He runs so well. Very pleased.

Brilliant video. Thank you for posting that. I have 2 things to mention here:

No. 1: How did you make Neville's face?

No. 2: Are the Wagons that Skarloey is pulling, the out of the box models?

.

Neville's face is from a Trackmaster model. It needed filing down a little at the back, as did smokebox on the Hornby Q1 model I used, to get a flush result. By the time he was repainted and numbered, it's a great model.

And yes, Skarloey is indeed pulling the Bachmann wagons.