Quote from: [email protected] on August 08, 2026, 04:14:32 PMOne of my concerns is that, will the chassis of the new version of Thomas still work with the snow plough that comes with the holiday sets?

Thinking about that part because if they implement the new hook-n-loop couplers for the fronts of Thomas and Percy, I can see where the question stems from. IF they have the foresight to include an extra bit for the screws to tap into the updated running board, MAYBE it might be possible, but we shall see...

Gordon and Henry are LONG overdue for their large scale models.

If we finally get another Narrow Gauge engine announced in the 2027 catalog, it will most likely be Luke, or Smudger. At least Bachmann has the tooling for the latter. I'd be okay with Smudger if we can't get Luke. He'd be the first engine in the Narrow Gauge line to have a model series face.

I mentioned in the Splatter and Dodge/Fernando thread that if Bachmann does make Splatter and Dodge, they could see if it's possible to modify the front end tooling to where there's no wiring connecting the headlamps to make the front ends simpler, which can also be applied to 'Arry and Bert if they get reintroduced. Though I feel Splatter and Dodge could get announced for HO Scale, while 'Arry and Bert would most likely get announced for N Scale before Bachmann considers reintroducing them to HO Scale. N Scale needs new toolings like Edward and Duck, and the highest priority for an engine repaint in N Scale can be 'Arry and Bert, with the modified front ends, no stepladders, and different faces with 'Arry having little or no stubble. N Scale can also get Busy Bee James at some point; just not yet.

The most likely engines for Large Scale are Sidney, Mainland Diesel, Origin James, Stanley, or at a stretch, Edward, if Bachmann is finally ready.

The N Scale rolling stock we need most is the logoless green coal wagon, plus a brake van or two, and for me personally, an HO Scale rolling stock we need is a separate wagon with an ore load.

There is little hope BoCo would ever get made unless he returns in the reboot. I hear Stepney is finally returning.

Quote from: Zorran202 on August 09, 2026, 11:58:21 AMI thought I read somewhere that for Thomas and Percy that they were just gonna reuse their chassis to keep costs down(?).

I mean don't forget their Large Scale counterparts, because Percy in that line has counterweights to them. The N Scale Percy, not-so-much, but we'll see how things go...

This is a good point, and shows that there is precedent to a Bachmann Percy having the correct wheels. Hopefully they remember that.

I thought I read somewhere that for Thomas and Percy that they were just gonna reuse their chassis to keep costs down(?).

I mean don't forget their Large Scale counterparts, because Percy in that line has counterweights to them. The N Scale Percy, not-so-much, but we'll see how things go...

Quote from: jlkhalaf2707 on August 08, 2026, 10:31:05 PMI hate to burst people's bubbles, but what if Duncan never ends up happening? Also, they don't need to discontinue the current HO scale Henrietta, they just need to add a face to her. Also, if Toby ends up getting the spark arrestor in the reboot, along with being painted chocolate and blue, that would be nice. Same with blue Donald and Douglas.

I mean Diesel for Large Scale was initially canceled, but then brought back into the range, alongside Paxton. Never say never. And hey, if they ever pull a Beau where they just make it based off of the basis, as well as Sir Handel where they based him more off of Sir Haydn, nothing is impossible.

I hate to burst people's bubbles, but what if Duncan never ends up happening? Also, they don't need to discontinue the current HO scale Henrietta, they just need to add a face to her. Also, if Toby ends up getting the spark arrestor in the reboot, along with being painted chocolate and blue, that would be nice. Same with blue Donald and Douglas.

excellent. thank you, sir. i do indeed have the bumble bee. just tore it down and scrubbed everything in preparation for the conversion to battery power. making a brand new layout from scratch including making my own tracks. it is a lot of fun.

I don't know if I would call these concerns, more observations. Even if the new Thomas has a wider smokebox saddle and molded funnel, I would still consider it an upgrade from what is currently being manufactured if it resembles the N scale and Large Scale models. That said, if Bachmann can manage to make a narrower saddle and separate whistle piece, I would be a very happy customer.

Thanks for bringing this up, Cheeky_ULP. There's so many concerns with the new Thomas and Percy that it's hard to address them all at once but this is a big one. I would hope that since the 2002 Thomas has separate whistles that the new one would do the same, but obviously that's not a guarantee. Separate whistles is the way to go.