If they did remake the early models with new faces as apart of the redesign, I could see them using the CGI faces due to them simply being able to ask Mattel or the studio who did the modeling for the CGI era for the 3d models for the faces. The classic series faces would take longer to recreate.
keep in mind that Bachman re uses the images of the 2008 Thomas range on packaging and in catalogs, I recently got a new Bachmann Thomas starter set and they've given Thomas a darker blue and fixed his tiny eyebrows, they also painted the tops of his frame supports (those things below his smokebox). while I do think most their Thomas range is accurate enough, some of the characters faces could do with an update.
“Wahhh there’s bigger models out there” You need to keep in mind the limitations of the scale being worked with, they’re not built to a specific scale, but given the complex gearboxes that go into these things due to the eye mechanisms, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re closer to OO, thus he’d be out of scale with HO stock, and Pinchy would make him too tall for the NMRA standards If you want Diesel 10, go make him yourself, get an old Mainline class 42 and build a claw for it, railway modelling isn’t about everything being pre-made for you, it’s about making what you want using the stuff available to you, and currently that IS what’s available, an RTR warship and a bit of time and effort
Here's my list of changes that I think would make it worth buying more Bachmann stuff than I already do: 1: Couplers. Both on the front and back of the locomotives, as well as using the more universally accepted NEM pocket system. That way people can easily swap the couplers out with either knuckles or hook and loop, or flat out remove the couplers altogether much easier and use a 3 link system. 2: No Eye Mechanism. Self explanatory, remove the moving eyes. Nobody needs them and although some people comment on them, I mostly get comments like "That's creepy", because they don't expect the eyes to move, yet they do and it freaks them out. 3: With the eye mechanism gone, I propose: Modular Faces. Take several faces from the series and 3D print or mold them, then sell them in accessory bags with every engines default face being their usual happy expression, minus certain ones like Diesel who are grumpy by default. Then with said faces, have a small magnet embedded into the faces and the engines smokebox or cab (in the case of diesels) that you can connect the faces to. Assuming it's a smooth enough connection, you won't need anything to grab onto and the magnet doesn't need to be strong, just strong enough to keep the face on. Optionally you could put 2 magnets on the side of the face and smokeboxes to prevent the faces from accidentally placing at a rotated angle. (EVERY SINGLE FACE in the accessory bag would come with their own embedded magnets and such, and each bag would be separated by character. So you'd have a Thomas bag with like his Surprised, Angry, and Sleeping face as an example, and a Gordon bag with his Indignant, Angry, and Prideful expressions.) 4: Thinner side rods and paint like mentioned in the video for the bigger engines: Speaks for itself. 5: Once a product is no longer deemed 'profitable', add that product to a new page called 'Built To Order' and if needed, mark up the price a little. That way even if an engine or rolling stock is no longer profitable, you can still let the modelers and collectors get their hands on certain models without paying hundreds to a thousand dollars for older models that aren't made anymore. 6: 5 Cont. Additionally, add their parts to their parts store page so that if something breaks we can get a replacement part for it. My old well wagon that's no longer made and is extremely hard to find is missing one of its UNIQUE couplers and the screw that holds it in place, meaning it is effectively either a front or end car, there's no placing it in the middle of a train anymore. I'd buy a replacement coupler, but to fit a standard one to it I'd need to ruin the model more than the cosmetic damage already has. Just sell the replacement parts FFS, I want to actually USE my models. EDIT: 7: NO EXCLUSIVE ROLLING STOCK!!!!! I can't tell you how much it pains me as a lower middle-class citizen to see multi-hundred dollar sets roll out with exclusive wagons or engines. This exclusivity nonsense needs to stop so that the smaller modeler can actually enjoy the product without paying out the ass for it. I got lucky finding that exclusive James brakevan at a swap meet recently, but the fact it was limited to a prior set worth around $200 is ridiculous. NOTHING in this world product wise should be exclusively linked to a particular item. Just sell all your stuff individually AND in sets. That way people can either buy the 1 item they want, or spend a little less to get several items together in a box. Consolidate don't separate!
I firmly believe if they had modular magnetic faces and updated their models to reflect the increased price tag in recent times, then it would actually be worth it to buy their stuff more often. The only reason I bought what I did before was because it's Thomas and Friends and it's cool, it was literally my ENTIRE childhood and is still a prominent figure in my adult life as well now that I'm an HO scale modeler. The only issue with it is that their coupler system and pricing could use a bit of a tweak. They're too expensive and without being a modeler from the EU or paying out the ass for shipping fees, you can't run them with anything else in the US because of the "international" style couplers. If it was really "international" it would be a NEM pocket on each engine, tender, and rolling stock, not an irreplaceable coupler that only works with other TAF products. They also need to make their couplers more widely available. Since each engine and rolling stock effectively has a unique coupler fit 7 times out of 10, it's impossible to just buy the coupler parts container and slap on a new one to replace it. At that point the distance would be too close or too far, making the models look off, or it would be so close that the train physically wouldn't couple up because certain engines like Donald and Douglas have their couplers stretched out to reach further. And lastly on the topic of Item 1: Why the fuck did Thomas and Percy NEVER come with front couplers? They're literally the original 2 Shunter engines for the Northwestern, SHUNTER, ENGINES. They REQUIRED front couplers, why are they absent?! Bachmann Explain! Why the fuck does Gordon, Henry, and Spencer have a front coupler but not the shunter engines?! Why does Edward have one but James doesn't? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
My biggest request is to add couplings to the front of Thomas, Percy, and James. As far as other improvements, I would increase Cranky’s size by 50% to be to the right scale.
I have the new Bachmann 00 gauge models of Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, Percy, the Troublesome Trucks, Toby, his carriage Henrietta, Bertie, Terence and Sir Topham Hatt. I love them the way they are, I wouldn't change anything about them. The only model I would wish for is Lady from Thomas & the Magic Railroad. OK, so the faces of the engines aren't quite right. Doesn't bother me, I love the models I have for what they are. Please, let's just be grateful that Bachmann are providing us with the models, so we can enjoy playing with them.
I honestly do think they ought to bring back some sets like "Gordon and the Express" or "Salty's Dockside Delivery". I also think they should that involves an engine with the red branchline coaches, as I feel there's not enough train sets that have passenger train themes. Also if they did make a Great Western engine set, what if it included Oliver, Toad and S.C.Ruffey and a few other troublesome trucks maybe?
I actually kind of like the shorter Henry tender, like the TVS gave him an enormous gyatt tender which is especially noticeable when hes in front of literally any coach or truck
If there was anything I would want for them to change I would just ask them to make all the engines have their own sets. I mean like Percy with his mail cars, Emily with her coaches and gordon with the express
I think really the only engines that "need" revamps are Thomas, Percy, and James. A very original thought, I know, but still. I think the rest of the engines are all "good enough" to where I'd rather Bachmann put effort into getting Duncan un-canceled than making Gordon's siderods 1mm thinner. I'm not sure about Percy and James, but Thomas' motor is infamously prone to dying. They all at least need redone faces and added front couplings, and ideally more reliable motors. Thomas also needs the space between his tank extensions and splashers removed, or at least blacked out, and they should all have open cabs (why does James not have open windows?!). I'd also like to see Percy's chassis reworked; as it is he's basically sitting on a giant brick which just looks really cheap. Maybe it's not as visible in person but in the official images it looks pretty bad. Like another commenter said, even CGI faces would be preferable to the early HiT era 2D promotional art style. I actually love that art style a lot because of nostalgia, but the fact is that it just doesn't translate to 3D since it's literally designed to be a minimalist 2D interpretation of a physical 3D model, that being the original model series faces. And then Bachmann used it as reference to make another 3D model face instead of just using the original 3D model that the 2D art was based on??? It's like when you translate a sentence from English to Chinese and then back to English and now it means something completely different. I like your general idea for sets, having stronger theming instead of just the ol' reliable Annie+Clarabel and then "uhhh idk here's percy and two trucks." I think some that would be cool would be Oliver, Scruffey, and Toad, or Bill/Ben and the upcoming china clay cars, they could maybe include some exclusive green ones if they're only generally releasing the red version. To be honest they don't even need to make whole sets if they're not including scenery, just themed bundles at a slight discount would still be very enticing. Although, I think Bachmann should still make *at least* one full set with a different HO engine available. As it stands, the "best" way to get into the line is one of the whopping 3 Thomas sets, and considering the fact that he's arguably the worst engine Bachmann makes, I think a lot of people are going to get off on the wrong foot and not want to buy more of the line. I think Emily, Duck, Edward, Paxton(or Diesel but I hate his faces), or Stanley would all be good picks since they're not that big or expensive while still being popular characters that show off some of the best quality of the line, and you can pair almost any rolling stock with them.
Honestly, just some cgi faces would boost sales, even if it isnt classic, they would fit well with the new engines and figures, they should also paint the gap in thomas' tanks to the splasher black, which they can do, cause they did it on the LBSC thomas
1:07 Bachmann are being picky with the engines that do not appear in the tvs series because they think newer fans dont care about the older characters like Stepney, Murdoch, and Molly.
I think you mean *everything* in the Bachmann Thomas range because it’s the same cheap tat I bought 20 years ago for $70 each which is now at least 3x times that now
You could just put darker paint on them but I would like to see a season 12 Thomas face on him for a anniversary but all in all this video shows what Bachman could be doing
I think the reason why Bachmann makes the colors so bright is because it appeals to kids more but that's just my thought, and I like the brighter colors too and the model series was the best
your forgetting bachmann is a model train company and doesn't really care about the fans of TTTE as they also do American and a small line of brittish trains
I recon that Bachman should make face packs that contain removable faces for the characters, then you wouldn’t have to 3-D print them and paint them.
That Salty set was such a banger
Kato actually made an official bachmann thomas face replacement
Oh fr?
Where is this...
@SodorProductions I have images of it and TerencetheT525 on Twitter made a post with one
Thomas’s colour scheme did have a dark shade with his 2015 70 Anniversary celebration model
Was a 1 time thing sadly.
If mattel didnt give bachmann restrictions,imagine what bachmann could do... edit:HOW DO I HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIKES AS COMMENTS edit:nvm
I am not trying to be smart just saying imagine
fr
Mattel should never have given Bachmann trains any restrictions in the first place
@@FortheloveofThomas84 well mattel does own the franchise so-
Oh nah fr tho,@@FortheloveofThomas84
Don’t hate me but I love the Bachman Thomas face and the Percy face
Ehhhhhhhh
Bro come on ok i know about Thomas's face but not percys
Is it because of nostalgia? Or you just happen to actually like it
If they did remake the early models with new faces as apart of the redesign, I could see them using the CGI faces due to them simply being able to ask Mattel or the studio who did the modeling for the CGI era for the 3d models for the faces. The classic series faces would take longer to recreate.
keep in mind that Bachman re uses the images of the 2008 Thomas range on packaging and in catalogs, I recently got a new Bachmann Thomas starter set and they've given Thomas a darker blue and fixed his tiny eyebrows, they also painted the tops of his frame supports (those things below his smokebox). while I do think most their Thomas range is accurate enough, some of the characters faces could do with an update.
Bachmann should also give front couplings to all of their engines
Especially Thomas, James and Percy.
I just wish they would make a diesel 10 one, with instead of moving eyes it was a moving pinchy moving side to side.
Impossible, NMRA standards wouldn’t allow them, Pinchy would make him too tall and so he wouldn’t fit beneath standard tunnels, bridges, etc
You’d need to use taller clearances for Diesel 10.
@@Hacksworth_SidingsI don’t buy that explanation,
Superliner and container stack cars are way taller than he would be.
“Wahhh there’s bigger models out there”
You need to keep in mind the limitations of the scale being worked with, they’re not built to a specific scale, but given the complex gearboxes that go into these things due to the eye mechanisms, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re closer to OO, thus he’d be out of scale with HO stock, and Pinchy would make him too tall for the NMRA standards
If you want Diesel 10, go make him yourself, get an old Mainline class 42 and build a claw for it, railway modelling isn’t about everything being pre-made for you, it’s about making what you want using the stuff available to you, and currently that IS what’s available, an RTR warship and a bit of time and effort
@@bladeobrian2144 stop whining and listen to the facts 💀
2:13 um... I don't think Henry is doing so well
Brilliant ideas! I love the changes
"Your not smart"
7:55 You are right. Cranky is too happy looking. Anti depressant Cranky.
Here's my list of changes that I think would make it worth buying more Bachmann stuff than I already do:
1: Couplers. Both on the front and back of the locomotives, as well as using the more universally accepted NEM pocket system. That way people can easily swap the couplers out with either knuckles or hook and loop, or flat out remove the couplers altogether much easier and use a 3 link system.
2: No Eye Mechanism. Self explanatory, remove the moving eyes. Nobody needs them and although some people comment on them, I mostly get comments like "That's creepy", because they don't expect the eyes to move, yet they do and it freaks them out.
3: With the eye mechanism gone, I propose: Modular Faces. Take several faces from the series and 3D print or mold them, then sell them in accessory bags with every engines default face being their usual happy expression, minus certain ones like Diesel who are grumpy by default. Then with said faces, have a small magnet embedded into the faces and the engines smokebox or cab (in the case of diesels) that you can connect the faces to. Assuming it's a smooth enough connection, you won't need anything to grab onto and the magnet doesn't need to be strong, just strong enough to keep the face on. Optionally you could put 2 magnets on the side of the face and smokeboxes to prevent the faces from accidentally placing at a rotated angle. (EVERY SINGLE FACE in the accessory bag would come with their own embedded magnets and such, and each bag would be separated by character. So you'd have a Thomas bag with like his Surprised, Angry, and Sleeping face as an example, and a Gordon bag with his Indignant, Angry, and Prideful expressions.)
4: Thinner side rods and paint like mentioned in the video for the bigger engines: Speaks for itself.
5: Once a product is no longer deemed 'profitable', add that product to a new page called 'Built To Order' and if needed, mark up the price a little. That way even if an engine or rolling stock is no longer profitable, you can still let the modelers and collectors get their hands on certain models without paying hundreds to a thousand dollars for older models that aren't made anymore.
6: 5 Cont. Additionally, add their parts to their parts store page so that if something breaks we can get a replacement part for it. My old well wagon that's no longer made and is extremely hard to find is missing one of its UNIQUE couplers and the screw that holds it in place, meaning it is effectively either a front or end car, there's no placing it in the middle of a train anymore. I'd buy a replacement coupler, but to fit a standard one to it I'd need to ruin the model more than the cosmetic damage already has. Just sell the replacement parts FFS, I want to actually USE my models.
EDIT: 7: NO EXCLUSIVE ROLLING STOCK!!!!!
I can't tell you how much it pains me as a lower middle-class citizen to see multi-hundred dollar sets roll out with exclusive wagons or engines. This exclusivity nonsense needs to stop so that the smaller modeler can actually enjoy the product without paying out the ass for it. I got lucky finding that exclusive James brakevan at a swap meet recently, but the fact it was limited to a prior set worth around $200 is ridiculous. NOTHING in this world product wise should be exclusively linked to a particular item. Just sell all your stuff individually AND in sets. That way people can either buy the 1 item they want, or spend a little less to get several items together in a box. Consolidate don't separate!
I firmly believe if they had modular magnetic faces and updated their models to reflect the increased price tag in recent times, then it would actually be worth it to buy their stuff more often. The only reason I bought what I did before was because it's Thomas and Friends and it's cool, it was literally my ENTIRE childhood and is still a prominent figure in my adult life as well now that I'm an HO scale modeler. The only issue with it is that their coupler system and pricing could use a bit of a tweak. They're too expensive and without being a modeler from the EU or paying out the ass for shipping fees, you can't run them with anything else in the US because of the "international" style couplers. If it was really "international" it would be a NEM pocket on each engine, tender, and rolling stock, not an irreplaceable coupler that only works with other TAF products.
They also need to make their couplers more widely available. Since each engine and rolling stock effectively has a unique coupler fit 7 times out of 10, it's impossible to just buy the coupler parts container and slap on a new one to replace it. At that point the distance would be too close or too far, making the models look off, or it would be so close that the train physically wouldn't couple up because certain engines like Donald and Douglas have their couplers stretched out to reach further.
And lastly on the topic of Item 1: Why the fuck did Thomas and Percy NEVER come with front couplers? They're literally the original 2 Shunter engines for the Northwestern, SHUNTER, ENGINES. They REQUIRED front couplers, why are they absent?! Bachmann Explain! Why the fuck does Gordon, Henry, and Spencer have a front coupler but not the shunter engines?! Why does Edward have one but James doesn't? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
This is peak!!
3:59 Percy after his Walter white blue crystal binge colorized
6:12 they did sell the cattle wagon separately before the set from 07 to 14 and then brought it back for the Thomas set
Thank you! I didn't know!
It would be interesting to see these items actually get remade, I'm now even inspired to make edits of them lol.
I’d love to see that.
I really wish Bachmann would make a model of Arthur.
Don’t we all.
Imagine if Thomas fans sell their 3-D printed faces out for Bachmann online. And then the company of Bachmann or Mattel would have some competition.
Kato and Mattel have partnered to make a thomas face replacement only available in japan though
This is exactly why we don’t do that.
My biggest request is to add couplings to the front of Thomas, Percy, and James.
As far as other improvements, I would increase Cranky’s size by 50% to be to the right scale.
Why James? Percy and Thomas I want the same, but James doesn't shunt.
@@LindseyTate13 he can still pull trains tender first. The plus Edward, Henry, Gordon, Emily, Spencer, Daisy and Rebecca have front couplings anyway.
Honestly, I’d be fine with CGI faces for the original 3 if they were done well
I have the new Bachmann 00 gauge models of Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, Percy, the Troublesome Trucks, Toby, his carriage Henrietta, Bertie, Terence and Sir Topham Hatt. I love them the way they are, I wouldn't change anything about them. The only model I would wish for is Lady from Thomas & the Magic Railroad. OK, so the faces of the engines aren't quite right. Doesn't bother me, I love the models I have for what they are. Please, let's just be grateful that Bachmann are providing us with the models, so we can enjoy playing with them.
I can say from experience that insides of bachmann locomotives are absolute units. The take up almost all available space in the body’s.
I honestly do think they ought to bring back some sets like "Gordon and the Express" or "Salty's Dockside Delivery". I also think they should that involves an engine with the red branchline coaches, as I feel there's not enough train sets that have passenger train themes.
Also if they did make a Great Western engine set, what if it included Oliver, Toad and S.C.Ruffey and a few other troublesome trucks maybe?
This issue with Toby having a cab is it would show all the wires and motors, especially with the eye mechanism.
So why not do a version without moving eyes? Or maybe just buy a Rapido J70 and turn it into Toby.
@@joshuaW5621im not the one who wanted an open cab Toby 😭🙏
You forgot that Henry's tender is to small
I actually kind of like the shorter Henry tender, like the TVS gave him an enormous gyatt tender which is especially noticeable when hes in front of literally any coach or truck
His tender is kinda accurate to the height of the brass model from season 10, despite Bachmann releasing Henry the year season 9 came out.
@SlantTrimreal don't say brain rot
If there was anything I would want for them to change I would just ask them to make all the engines have their own sets. I mean like Percy with his mail cars, Emily with her coaches and gordon with the express
I think really the only engines that "need" revamps are Thomas, Percy, and James. A very original thought, I know, but still. I think the rest of the engines are all "good enough" to where I'd rather Bachmann put effort into getting Duncan un-canceled than making Gordon's siderods 1mm thinner.
I'm not sure about Percy and James, but Thomas' motor is infamously prone to dying. They all at least need redone faces and added front couplings, and ideally more reliable motors. Thomas also needs the space between his tank extensions and splashers removed, or at least blacked out, and they should all have open cabs (why does James not have open windows?!). I'd also like to see Percy's chassis reworked; as it is he's basically sitting on a giant brick which just looks really cheap. Maybe it's not as visible in person but in the official images it looks pretty bad.
Like another commenter said, even CGI faces would be preferable to the early HiT era 2D promotional art style. I actually love that art style a lot because of nostalgia, but the fact is that it just doesn't translate to 3D since it's literally designed to be a minimalist 2D interpretation of a physical 3D model, that being the original model series faces. And then Bachmann used it as reference to make another 3D model face instead of just using the original 3D model that the 2D art was based on??? It's like when you translate a sentence from English to Chinese and then back to English and now it means something completely different.
I like your general idea for sets, having stronger theming instead of just the ol' reliable Annie+Clarabel and then "uhhh idk here's percy and two trucks." I think some that would be cool would be Oliver, Scruffey, and Toad, or Bill/Ben and the upcoming china clay cars, they could maybe include some exclusive green ones if they're only generally releasing the red version. To be honest they don't even need to make whole sets if they're not including scenery, just themed bundles at a slight discount would still be very enticing.
Although, I think Bachmann should still make *at least* one full set with a different HO engine available. As it stands, the "best" way to get into the line is one of the whopping 3 Thomas sets, and considering the fact that he's arguably the worst engine Bachmann makes, I think a lot of people are going to get off on the wrong foot and not want to buy more of the line. I think Emily, Duck, Edward, Paxton(or Diesel but I hate his faces), or Stanley would all be good picks since they're not that big or expensive while still being popular characters that show off some of the best quality of the line, and you can pair almost any rolling stock with them.
Honestly, just some cgi faces would boost sales, even if it isnt classic, they would fit well with the new engines and figures, they should also paint the gap in thomas' tanks to the splasher black, which they can do, cause they did it on the LBSC thomas
1:07 Bachmann are being picky with the engines that do not appear in the tvs series because they think newer fans dont care about the older characters like Stepney, Murdoch, and Molly.
Bachmann old shape Henry would be cool.
I think you mean *everything* in the Bachmann Thomas range because it’s the same cheap tat I bought 20 years ago for $70 each which is now at least 3x times that now
Bachman could be better tho
0:45 I agree old faces old faces old faces
You could just put darker paint on them but I would like to see a season 12 Thomas face on him for a anniversary but all in all this video shows what Bachman could be doing
Other than updating the faces, Bachmann Thomas and Percy need front couplers cuz they shunt!
I even hope they make more improvements to Lionel. So far, the only engine on their online store is Thomas.
I hate the LARGE eyebrows on the thomas, I prefer on old smaller ones
Bachmann needs to make Old Slow Coach
I think the reason why Bachmann makes the colors so bright is because it appeals to kids more but that's just my thought, and I like the brighter colors too and the model series was the best
0:42 I think those promo faces appeared a few years before HiT bought Thomas. Sorry for correcting you btw.
All I need to change now is the face on the boxman Thomas they already reimproved it to not have wires
Boxman 🤣
I think they should add different faces along with the engine..
That is true about the face
Hornby should bring back their range. It was better thsn this garbage face range.
Totally.
Peak!!
Sorry to tell you this, but if Bachmann is gonna redo models or make new models, the Model Era will not be touched.
I'm aware. I make videos for FUN.
I would love Toby to stop being so slow.
Agreed for james!
Yes!
you forgot gordon and henrys tenders
How will Gordon’s tender need to be improved?
@ it doesn’t have the correct black thing on the back
someoune should show this to bachmann
It's Toby's eyebrows not the face
yay
❤
Even hornby did a better job then Bachmann
your forgetting bachmann is a model train company and doesn't really care about the fans of TTTE as they also do American and a small line of brittish trains