Quote from: Kemptown Branch on April 15, 2026, 10:01:35 PM

Quote from: Mulfred on April 10, 2026, 01:50:14 PMSomething I've been thinking about alot is vans within the range. Unfortunately at the moment in N scale and Large scale we have the 12 ton van however in HO theres both 12 ton van and the GWR vent van but there's an ever growing number of van variations being ticked off year after year and this leads to N and Large having one tooling for a van and their HO counterpart being a different one. But that doesn't need to be the case. We can still have a GWR vent van in N scale and maybe even Large (although N in my reason for this post.

Alot of goods trains in the show have multiple vans making up a train. See here the Mr Jolly's chocolate factory train where theres both 12 ton vans and GWR vans. Which leads me to my point. What if Bachmann introduced the GWR van into N Scale as a new tooling that they can add onto consists. I know some may say "its just rehashing old vans. Why introduced whats already in the range" but its not, its doing exactly what we do with things like Road numbers or having variations of different coloured wagons like for example the high sided wagons in NG line or Gondolas or even the gunpowder wagons.

I'm a bit late to the party on this, but here are my thoughts. While I think it would be cool to see the GWR Vent Van tooling in the range eventually, I feel like there are other types of goods stock that should be prioritized first, such as the Mail Vans, Flatbeds, and maybe even a new tooling for the Tankers before adding a 2nd Van variant, just so the range doesn't get immediately cluttered with vans. The other wagons would also provide more variety in a train than the GWR Vent Van. However, I do think this or the Salt Van would be a good option for a 2nd type of van later on, once the other types of wagons are made.

Tbf the only reason I said the GWR van is because of how much its used in the HO range. I do worry that things that are used less like Mail vans, Flatbeds, Cattle wagons and Salt Vans may suffer due to how little and infrequent the tooling is used in HO. I'm very aware Bachmann in 2026 wants to get the most out of new tooling and they love releasing multiple versions as right out the gate. In an ideal world I'd love everything from the HO line in N, I just worry about things like the Mail vans where the reuse is more limited.

Thanks for the feedback. I agree that it would be a win for both Bachmann and us fans regardless of the scale they model as its adding new 12 ton veriations to the HO line and finally adding the vent van to N or Large. In regards to the point Awesometrain77 made regarding only the vans that appeared in the show. If we were doing that then a good chunk of vans we have now would also be defunct.

The Fruit and Veg van and GW van both sell really well and have made it into all three scales at this point. The Brendam Bay and Explosives van also both sell well and none of those 4 vans appeared once on screen. So theres not really a harm in adding an additional van with the same logo but using a different tooling. More rolling stock and choice is always a good thing. Plus having the 2 would probably help boost those sales even more. Someone who is on the fence seeing just one iteration of a van may not buy it but if theres 2 vans they might think "I can make a train out of these"

I personally would rather see the GW van in N scale and potentially large rather then the same old recolours of the 12 ton van. Plus the GW vent van has been used alot within the HO range. I mean theres been 10 different versions of it so far including the Christmas set and one they were going to use in the Thomas 80th set.

The HO range now has that 12 van and GWR van so lets use them both in HO and lets try to get them both into the other scales. Lets face it sadly if they didn't do something like this for the GW van in N scale they'd probably not do it at all. I'm just trying to provide a way in which it can be done and be worthwhile for Bachmann and please us fans

One last point on this. The GW van could also be a great Troublesome Truck candidate which would be helpful if it was available to the other scales.

Something I've been thinking about alot is vans within the range. Unfortunately at the moment in N scale and Large scale we have the 12 ton van however in HO theres both 12 ton van and the GWR vent van but there's an ever growing number of van variations being ticked off year after year and this leads to N and Large having one tooling for a van and their HO counterpart being a different one. But that doesn't need to be the case. We can still have a GWR vent van in N scale and maybe even Large (although N in my reason for this post)



Alot of goods trains in the show have multiple vans making up a train. See here the Mr Jolly's chocolate factory train where theres both 12 ton vans and GWR vans. Which leads me to my point. What if Bachmann introduced the GWR van into N Scale as a new tooling that they can add onto consists. I know some may say "its just rehashing old vans. Why introduced whats already in the range" but its not, its doing exactly what we do with things like Road numbers or having variations of different coloured wagons like for example the high sided wagons in NG line or Gondolas or even the gunpowder wagons.
Here's a couple of edits which I hope can help with my point.



First one here shows what the chocolate van would look like in Grey next to the Large scale version of the van (because N scale isn't in the sample stage at time of the post) the colour being different enough to warrant us fans buying another version to have an engine pulling trains made up of both van styles.



My next example is of the Sodor fruit and veg van. I've recreated it into a brown which would look lovely in a train with the green 12 ton versions

Plus theres at the moment still several vans untouched in N scale like the Brendam Bay van, Explosives and original blue van itself. Which can all have a slightly darker or lighter shade.



The inverse can be true for HO aswell.
HO Concepts


They'd look something like this. If Bachmann want to reuse the 12 ton van and do a Grey van with Mr Jolly on the side I don't think fans would mind. At the end of the day its using what is available to get the most variation into the range and into our goods trains and adding that new tooling into a range and giving it a purpose. In HO it'll allow Bachmann to revisit the classics with the new 12 ton van and reuse the paint schemes used on the GWR van in N scale (hopefully) so modellers of all scales can have fuller goods trains.
N Scale Concepts



And for any future vans in either range this gives Bachmann an chance to do both styles in the different scales I.e. Bakery, Fireworks, Circus so on

Very impressed with the Samples of TT7 and The China clay wagon. I'll be completely honest when TT7 was announced I genuinely thought they would just take the Grey van and stick a face on the front and tbh I'd have been fine with that but they have gone too alot of effort with this which I really appreciate. I have a few topics I'd like to raise here.

Firstly with the Troublesome truck numbering system, I do somewhat worry how that may impact other scales. For example right now if Bachmann wanted to make TT7 in N scale they totally could however with 3-6 not being available will that hamper its chances. Same with Large scale. I mean theres no written rule to say they couldn't make a Troublesome van in N or large but I do worry the numbered system may stop them.

My second point comes off the back of a conversation with Chaz. He mentioned how nice it would be if the China clay wagon was offered in additional colour schemes which I fully support, even if that means changing a 4 to a 5 to renumber them. Same with the FQC wagon that would be great if they released a couple of additional colour variations.

While I am talking about the China clay wagon. One idea that I had would be maybe Bachmann could make the removal loads available separately in say a 4 pack or something? I know alot of modellers would appreciate being able to buy the loads so they can create their own rakes. You could also apply this to the coal load and even the drums on the diesel Flatbed.

My last point is definitely out of season right now, but it would be great if by Christmas 2027 there was an N scale Thomas Christmas set. You could have the Christmas wreath van in there and maybe some variation of rolling stock used in previous Christmas sets. I know that alot of use would buy it just for the Snowplow on Thomas.

Its great to see that in 2026 we should have a nice steady stream of releases throughout the year too, not all coming out in November. Very excited to see what is next. I am extremely hyped for N scale Henry and looking forward to seeing how everything turns out

Quote from: Chaz on April 05, 2026, 11:32:54 PM

Quote from: Awesometrain77 on April 05, 2026, 07:56:55 PMTbh I feel like Duck is not much of a necessity compared to Edward tbh .

He's not, but Duck is also a very popular character in the fandom and now has a following similar to Edward's, especially since Edward hasn't been part of the main cast for almost 10 years.

Additionally, if Bachmann wants to take a break from producing another tender engine after Henry and instead tackle a smaller engine, Duck would be one of the safer options, as his HO model remains one of Bachmann's most popular sellers.

Plus looking at Duck from a tooling/chassis prospective, Bachmann knows they can reuse that if they ever want to introduce Donald and Douglas into the N scale line. I want Edward just as much as everyone else but I know tooling wise he'll be more to manufacturer and is a one and done. Theres no other 4-4-0 in the range that would reuse that. Plus if we get a smaller engine like Duck then hopefully we may also get a newly tooled bit of Rolling stock too.

Quote from: TrainFan97 on March 31, 2026, 04:45:33 PMFor some reason, Bachmann decided to skip doing a Trainworld stream in March this year. We'll for sure get a stream in April, next Tuesday at the earliest. February's was late.

Things will start getting more exciting. We're possibly going to see the first unpainted samples of N Scale Henry and HO Scale Flying Scotsman, along with Bulgy's painted sample. We still haven't been shown the samples of N Scale LBSC Thomas and Origin James. Might be another month or two before we see the painted samples of N Scale Diesel and Paxton, along with HO Scale Sidney and Mainland Diesel. It really shouldn't be much longer for those samples to come in.

We have been shown LBSC Thomas and origin James. They were at the Toy fair. Photos have been online for well over a month now and trainworld put out this reel https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWjgp33kica/?igsh=b3VxNHk3Y2kzdWN4

Quote from: Armada Starscream on March 31, 2026, 01:32:36 AMWith all of this talk of 'Arry and Bert being potentially being reintroduced, I wanted to make an argument to repaint 'Arry and Bert Models into Splatter and Dodge as well. Considering that Splatter and Dodge were themselves a repaint of 'Arry and Bert, it would be cool to also make Splatter and Dodge out of them. It would just require repainting the already existing 'Arry and Bert shells, the ones that do not have the ladders on front around the face. And since Splatter and Dodge have only appeared together on screen with the same faces, Bachmann would just have to design a single face that can be used by both characters. It would be a great way to get two new characters out quickly, especially considering that Bachmann is willing to make the Mainland Diesels.

Just wanted to put the idea out there.

Never gonna happen and never should happen tbh. The Class 08 is designed to Diesel's specifications. Its was a push to get Arry and Bert out of it with all the front details that the original models and CGI renders don't have. They'd require a new Eye mechanism and then theres the major part of this problem. Their faces. Splatter and Dodge don't have the same size faces as Diesel, Paxton, Arry and Bert. They aren't even the same shape. Its considerably smaller in height and width. If Bachmann do Splatter and Dodge and made their faces the same size as Diesel then it would be extremely inaccurate to the models in Magic Railroad which They'd have to do as thats the way the moulding is designed, to which modellers would no doubt say it's "cheaping out or being lazy." Just look how much criticism Bachmann get for their HO Paxton because his face is inaccurate

I agree with Chaz. Arry and Bert were massively popular in the HiT era and still appeared right through to series 23. Hopefully if Salty sells well it will open the door for these two.

I think this could also open the door for them to be introduced in Large scale and N Scale too. We've already seen the N scale class 08s have removable ladders. Especially if in a few years theres several projects thats in the works and Bachmann want something they have the tooling for.

As for Large scale, their introduction could give a boost to that scale. It definitely could do with a couple of new engines

It shows that 13 years after they were first announced the ironworks twins are still popular. Plus they had a very short shelf life in their of being announced in 2013, released 2014 and discontinued in 2019. At this point they've been out of the range alot longer then they were originally in the line for. If there was to be a trade off then maybe discontinue the original happy Diesel, it is still crazy that we have 2 variations of Diesel with different faces in the range.

I'm back. Had a few personal life issues so I stepped away for a while. However I'm back modelling and I have thoughts.

For HO my ideas haven't really faulted. I'd still love Stephen, given that Scotsman was announced I'm gonna guess the next newly tooled Loco However will likely be a tank engine. Something cheaper and easier to make. Possibly Nia or Whiff. Maybe engines like Charlie will crop up again in discussions since the New Show is coming out. Lastly some new Figure packs

For Narrow gauge again my opinion hasn't really faulted. I still want Duncan (preferably based on series 4 if I could choose, I'd definitely prefer that too some horrid hybrid between Douglas and his model on screen) I'd still be happy for Luke, Millie or Victor too. We need something new announced since we nearly have everything that has been announced released now. Rolling stock, definitely the 4 plank wagon, Brown Brake-van and maybe some flat wagons with loads or something. Could have one with the Bike the thin controller rides, or a bell.

Now to N scale which I have alot to say about. For the engine, I think its established now Duck or Edward are pretty safe bets, maybe an outside chance of Rosie with the new show featuring her alot in the marketing plus they can reuse the tooling for Lavinder Rosie so it's probably less expensive to make. I have the most to say about the rolling stock future predictions. I think its extremely safe to bet on a bunch of recolours for the 7 plank wagon, 12 ton van and tankers (hopefully newly tooled). I can definitely see the fun fair vans being added, I hope the coal wagon with load is also added. Always been a favorite of mine. I also think its extremely safe to bet the red express coaches will be added too (which those look incredible btw) The red coaches and museum coaches seem like safe bets as well. However I've been thinking alot about how Bachmann seem to utilise newly tooled items in the range. Whenever something is released thats newly tooled we usually get 3 or 4 variations of said item. 3 tankers, 3 vans so on. So I feel like unless its a character or Bachmann can make good use of the tooling by reusing it I worry about the chances of some items. I think my main safest bet for new tooling (after the Brake-van and red/museum brake coach) is probably the Mail Car, theres been 4 variations of it in the HO range, Sodor Mail, red Mail Car, Green Mail car and the lobster van. Theres other possibilities for it awswell, they could reuse it for Topham Circus or make Brown variations or even take the lobster logo off the lobster van and just release it as a cream mail car or something. The cattle wagons may stand a chance along with the salt vans however I'm less sure given the Salt van only has the cream and sodor salt variations (along with TT5) same for the cattle wagon really.

I'd love to suggest more but I know Bachmann of 2026 is different from Bachmann 2009 where they would make a new tooling to release one item then not touch it again for years. Unfortunately I feel like if Bachmann are limited with the amount they can reuse wagon tooling they might not do it, particularly in today's world of Tarrifs, price changes and other financial factors to think about. I hope Bachmann can expand the N scale range more. I don't want it to become too reliant on existing tooling like large scale