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N Gauge BOB/WC EP Update
Sep 16, 2024
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N Gauge Battle of Britain / West County Update
We are delighted to show the First Engineering Prototype for the Battle of Britain West Country Class locomotive in N gauge.
We have spent an age to ensure that the shape and characteristic of the locomotive have been faithfully captured and that the subtle differences that existed across the class have been incorporated into the tooling suite
The eagle eyed amongst you, may have also noted that we have varied from the original specification in that the boiler is now injection moulded plastic rather than diecast. We have done that primarily because the super-fine cover plate, small rivet detail and superb rendition of the cab backhead structures could not be recreated with sufficient finesse in diecast.
To compensate for the reduction in weight of the body we have beefed up the diecast in the chassis and the whole locomotive now weighs in at an impressive 102g. Moreover, we have now designed the weight to give the model a lower more planted centre of gravity and have focused the mass over the main driving wheels to give excellent adhesion and tractive power.
The redesign has also allowed us to introduce the new fire-box glow feature we first unveiled on our new Mogul GWR.
SR Version EP
Prototype
The Southern Region West Country and Battle of Britain classes with their 4-6-2 wheel arrangement were also known as Light Pacifics or informally as Spam Cans due to their unorthodox appearance. The class was designed by Oliver Bulleid and developed to be cheaper and easier to build using much of the innovations developed during wartime.
The Battle of Britain Class and its sister, the Merchant Navy Class were the first to use welded steel in the manufacture of many key components, which reduced weight and building time. In all 110 were built between 1945 and 1950 and continued into service until the end of the steam era on the Southern Region in 1967. Due to some initial design limitations, fifty of the class were rebuilt during the late 1950s, after which they resembled the rebuilt Merchant Navy Class. Twenty of the class survive into preservation.
Dapol will initially be modelling the as originally built locomotive, the rebuilt variant will follow in a later run.
Our first Next Generation Steam model, with entirely re-designed chassis and electronics. This model will also incorporate our new locomotive mounted motor offering excellent slow running and exceptional pulling power with reliability and robustness.
Specifications
- Powerful new coreless motor mounted in the locomotive boiler
- Robust locomotive to tender connection with electrical pick up from all locomotive driving wheels and tender wheels
- Heavy diecast chassis with weight balanced low down and over the driving wheels offering superb traction and pulling power
- The overall weight of the loco and tender is 102g. The loco without tender is 81g
- Highly detailed injection moulded locomotive and tender body with exquisite plate and rivet detail accurately recreated
- Partial chassis compensation for smooth running and to aid electrical pick up
- Many prototype specific details including three cab types, two tender versions, long and short smoke deflectors
- Superb dicast wheels· Firebox glow effect
- Standard NEM fitting N Gauge couplers
- Printed name plates
- Accessory bag with etched nameplates and detailed buffer beam fittings
BR Version EP
Proposed Liveries
2S-034-001 Battle of Britain ‘Fighter Command’ 21C164 SR Malachite Green
2S-034-002 Battle of Britain ‘Spitfire’ 34066 BR Green Late Crest
2S-034-003 Battle of Britain ‘229 Squadron’ 34063 BR Green Early Crest (Revised Running Number)
2S-034-004 West Country ‘Okehampton’ 21C113 SR Malachite Green
2S-034-005 West Country ‘Watersmeet’ 34030 BR Green Late Crest
2S-034-006 West Country ‘Exeter’ 34001 BR Green Early Crest
2S-034-007 Battle of Britain ‘Winston Churchill ’ 34051 BR Green Late Crest
2S-034-008 Battle of Britain ‘92 Squadron’ 34081 SR Malachite Green "British Railways"
Recommended Retail Price
DCC Ready
£215.00
DCC Fitted
£250.00
Sound Fitted
£330.00
Project Update
The EP samples are currently being reviewed by the design team and they are preparing their feedback comments to help the factory make any necessary changes and improvements. we anticipate these models will be in shops Q3 2025
Pre-Order your model at your preferred Dapol stockist
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