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
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