Great review, Chaz! Sir Handel definitely sounds like he's a clear winner in the range. It's been essentially four years since he was announced, and from your review, it sounds like he was worth the long wait. What also is incredible was how he managed to arrive just in time for the holiday season!

On a different note: You've also got a great collection as well. My favorite picture is definitely the one with the three Mid Sodor fleet!

All in all, Sir Handel is definitely an engine that a lot of people are excited about, and it's easy to see why. It's a celebration; Sir Handel is finally out!

Quote from: Luke22 on August 14, 2025, 10:44:00 PMSo after watching their Thomas Tuesday video, it's interesting to note that they'll reuse Gordon's wheels to use on Flying Scotsman, just like how Stanley reuses Thomas's wheels. How fitting given that they're brothers, but at the same time, Gordon's chunky looking side rods look a little thick.... if it saves money to make it not too expensive, let's see how it turns out....!

From my memory, I think Matt said that Gordon's chassis BLOCK was going to be used. The Wiki states that Scotsman's CGI model reuses Spencer's wheels but Gordon's pistons. If Bachmann did just that (Gordon's main engine chassis block and pistons mated to all of Spencer's wheels), the only real new tooling for the chassis that'd need to be done is to come up with new linkage/valve gear to accomodate this setup.

As the weeks have worn on, I have come around to Scotsman and will more than likely preorder once TrainWorld has the link at the ready.

All right, a little late to the party. That's on me. Been super busy and haven't had the time to give a serious post. Now I do.

Flying Scotsman was definitely an announcement I didn't see coming at all. But it's an announcement I'm happy to see. Unexpected but welcome is the best way to put it. If Ryan, Rebecca and Stanley are anything to go off of, Scotsman will probably be one of Bachmann's best models to date. I know it'll likely be two years before we start to get him in hand, but I can already envision what he looks like, which is a good thing.

As far as packaging goes, I don't know how they'll pull off a blister pack for an engine of that size. It'll be either too tall (maybe just as if not more than Cranky or the old lighthouse) or too wide. So here's my proposal: a Collector's Edition box. In the early 90s to celebrate the real life Scotsman's 70th birthday(?), Hornby made two versions of Scotsman when he had two tenders. What if Bachmann does that for the Thomas Scotsman?



Maybe on the top of the lid is some history about the real-life Scotsman and blurbs about him in both the books and the CGI series?

Either way, I'm happy about this and will more than likely preorder him when TrainWorld drops the links.

Hey, BassTBone, I'm digging that. Can't wait to see where it goes from here!

Man, Chaz, those look awesome! Yes, I have to admit, the Graham Farish tankers in the N Scale line are my least favorite items, and it looks like you took matters into your own hands...with excellent results! Hope to see them behind some of your engines, especially the milk tankers behind Percy or Toby with Henrietta. I'll admit, I'm a little jealous. Well done!

When it rains, it pours! Another nice review, Chaz.

I echo everything you said about Emily. I feel like she and the large scale model might have more in common than people think. I know there were a few people (mostly YouTube) who were critical of Emily's speed and performance, but I personally have no issues with it. I think they did a solid job on her.

As for her coaches, I think they work. Are they perfect? No. Do I think people are too hard on them? Yes, but I can see where they're coming from. That said, when coupled up to Emily, they look great.

Yes, the future is looking bright for this range. We've got more on the way, and hopefully, we can kick it into high gear moving forward!

Great review...erm, reviews, Chaz! Great to see you back in action, too, with fun pictures as per usual.

Before I post my thoughts, may I say, I quite dig your custom model series faces on your N scale models! Lifts the look of them. While Percy and Toby looked decent, Thomas and James had a weird Botox look about them. I applaud your decision to customize them!

I received my N Gordon as a Christmas present to myself and N Henrietta as an early birthday present from a good friend at the start of the year. I echo essentially everything you said about those two. Gordon is one of my favorite characters, so I was particularly excited when he was announced. When I finally got him in my hands, I was all the more excited! According to your review, I get the feeling you were just as excited as I was!

As for Henrietta, I'm glad she exists in N scale. I don't dislike the Brenner era, and that's where I associate her having a face. As I've gotten older, I prefer the model series, but Henrietta with a face is -- for me anyway -- a nice homage to an era of the show where they really did what they could to make it watchable again.

As for Hannah, I didn't and won't get her, but I'm glad Bachmann has decided to put Henrietta's tooling to use. Hopefully Bachmann can reuse the tooling again for a potential Christmas set? There're quite a few homes who do smaller Christmas trees (I know I do), so a N Scale set would be charming and small enough to fit around an elevated table.

The N Scale range has really taken off in the last four and a half years. It's proven to be something worth investing in. I have somewhat high expectations for Henry, Diesel, Paxton and all the rolling stock with dedicated toolings. Here's to the N Scale Thomas line!

Great review, Mulfred! I got my 12T van in last week, but am waiting to open it and various N scale stuff next Wednesday for obvious reasons. I have some Bachmann Mainline UK 12T vans, so I only bought one gray van. It'll go nicely with those and my other rolling stock. Your review has definitely got me pumped!

I also hope we get some more variants with this tooling. I'd personally love to see (although it may be a pipe dream) a plain green van, myself. Same livery as the Fruit and Veg van, but without the logo. I'd snatch that up without flinching. Maybe even the dark blue livery that the Brendam Bay van is in, just again, without the logo? Again, I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat.

Anyway, I'm definitely excited to rip open the package for my 12T van! Merry Christmas, mate!

Great review as always, Chaz! Always enjoy seeing your pictures as well.

I still feel...and cannot believe we're almost ten years out, Skarloey still holds up. I got mine in 2021, and I'll never get over how great and surreal is to have him. He paved the way for OO9 modeling and for the better. Each model, I feel, got better following him...with the exception of Rusty, but that's just me. Took something good and made it better.

Onto Talyllyn. I have no immediate plans to pick the model up at this time. Your review definitely help get my expectations in check. As far as the front portals go, it is disappointing, but if one is handy with customizing, I'm sure they could open them up and bring some life to the model. From what I've been told, apparently waves of Skarloey following Peter Sam had the back trailing wheels powered. Does your Talyllyn model have powered trailing wheels?

Either way, your review was indeed informative and will hopefully help board members decide if they want to add this model to their collections. I know it's been selling out fast here and in the UK and rightfully so. Seems like a fun model indeed.

Can't wait for your review on N Gordon, either. I got my package from TrainWorld, but am waiting to...erm...christen it at Christmas.

Sir Handel looks amazing! Glad to see that they're making serious headway. With all the little details of Sir Hadyn present, in addition to the fact Bachmann can clearly use the tooling/casting for that loco, it also makes Sir Handel well worth the 3 year wait. Itching to see the painted sample!

With that in mind, I think Rheneas, Peter Sam and Rusty can all be reused in some fashion to make Dolgoch, Edward Thomas and Midlander, but all with some minor retoolings. Rheneas and Peter Sam would both need new die cast casting for their smokeboxes to accommodate more accurate funnels, while Rusty's radiator will need to be replaced altogether for Midlander. I think it can work that way.

Sorry for the slight detour, onto Sir Handel! Expectations are high for his release!

Quote from: Chaz on October 24, 2024, 05:57:11 PMGreat seeing pictures of each of the figure packs as well!  Anyone have a favorite pack that's coming out soon?

Personally, besides the low-hanging fruit that is the Hatt Family, I'm looking forward to the Railway Staff. That'll liven up anything, be it a layout or static display. Also a fan of the Narrow Gauge Personnel. That was one I was pleasantly surprised by.

Wow! Color me impressed with Stanley. I seem to remember Doug saying while the cab is open, the floor is raised, like Ryan. This isn't a dealbreaker for me. Everything else ticks all the boxes. His face is also spot on as well. I preordered him from TrainWorld the day the link came up, and I'm glad I did. Looking forward to getting my hands on him, for sure. Well done, Bachmann! Looking forward to finally getting the shipping notice.

And he's already in the store , too. Always a good sign!

IF everyone saw on Facebook, a HQ image of Stanley was posted there. That gives me a better idea of what to expect. I think he looks great! Him having Thomas' wheels don't bother me. Stanley seemed (to me) on the short side in CGI, so the Thomas wheels give him some added height, closer to his model series counterpart.

I haven't seen a thread for Stanley, so let's get one going!

Cannot believe he's got a prototype almost one year to the day that he's been announced. Talk about progress. It appears he has an open cab, too. Unexpected, but appreciated. The question I have is: will he recycle Thomas' chassis? Or will he have one unique to him? I imagine his wheels will be new. I can see plenty of OO model makers using Stanley's wheels to kitbash a more accurate OO Thomas.

Thought I'd showcase two custom models that I commissioned a friend to do for me last year.

First, we have Percy. I'm not the biggest fan of the regular Bachmann Percy, so I asked my friend to recycle the chassis on top of a new bodyshell. I couldn't be happier with the results!



Here's Oliver. Same story as Percy:



Meanwhile, engines 1-5 plus Donald & Douglas had some custom faces added to their models, which I think improve the looks greatly:








I also have Toby, Duck, Emily, Bill & Ben, Diesel, Daisy, Mavis, Salty, Red Rosie, Ryan and the narrow gauge engines, but nothing has been done to them, they're just fine the way they are.

I'm quite proud of my collection. Even though my models are display pieces, if I get the opportunity to run them, you bet I would!

Hope you all enjoy!