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O Gauge Class 66 Update
Sep 04, 2024
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O Gauge Class 66 Update
What's been happening?
As you may be aware from our last update (02/2023) Dapol's new design team members had taken over this project and set to work making corrections. They and Dapol as a whole has expended a huge amount of time and resources to make this model as good as it possibly can be. We have got to the stage where we now have a second re-tooled and re-engineered prototype. there are a few minor issues left to sort out but on the whole we are very please with it.
Unfortunately, we have recently had communication from the factory that we have chosen to partner us in this project that they require a significantly higher price per unit (40% higher) to complete the project. At this stage, after we have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the tooling and have bent over backwards to get the project back on track to say we are disappointed is a huge understatement.
To all of us at Dapol, this type of behavior is unacceptable and we have made the painful decision to move the tooling to one of our other factories, whom have agreed to take on the project with some new timescales for completion. The new factory has produced our incredibly popular OO gauge Hawthorn Leslie and O gauge GWR Railcars, 3MT and J94/Austerity, so we know their quality standards and attention to detail is superb and are confident they will make an exemplary job of the Class 66.
Please see below for further details.
Revised Specifications
Electrical Specification
- Operating front/rear lights (independent operation for DCC, (switched for DC use) Includes day/night mode)
- Operating ‘side’ lights (where lighting cluster is applicable)
- Cab light (independent operation)
- Detailed cab with illuminated cab control panel
- Two motors (balanced & matched) for maximum pulling power and slow speed running control
- DC control switches to be accessible via lift-off roof panel
- DCC Ready with two PLUX 22 decoder sockets - DCC Fitted Options available
- Factory sound fitted models to be fitted with RealDrive
Revised DCC Options
- DCC Ready - 2 x blanking plugs
- DCC Fitted - 2 x Imperium DecodersDCC
- Sound Fitted - 1 x Zimo sound decoder 1 x Imperium decoder - Dual speaker system
- DCC Spatial Sound - 2 x Zimo sound decoders - Quad speaker system
DCC Spatial Sound using two Zimo Plux22 sound decoders to offer true stereo sound, a first for O gauge RTR. Amongst other effects, engine sounds will now emanate from the engine end, horns will be spatial and fan sounds will come from the fan end. The two-speaker system used will also be of our own design and incorporate 4 drive units which will enhance the bass and treble and make the whole experience more immersive than has been possible before. Coupled with our `RealDrive’ feature will make this a truly realistic driving experience.
Chassis and Body Specification
- Etched grills now with added detail showing radiator equipment with engine room lighting
- Separate detail (Handrails, Handles, Grills etc.)
- Heavyweight Diecast chassis
- Diecast bogie frames
- Rotating axle centres
- Appropriate couplings attached
- O gauge society wheel profiles
- Sprung buffers
- Interchangeable front buffer beams with the option for an auto coupler to be used
- The entire buffer beam assembly can be swapped out leaving no unsightly seams on the valance
Proposed Models
7D-066-001 Class 66 66001 EWS Livery
7D-066-002 Class 66 66504 Freightliner Powerhaul Livery
7D-066-003 Class 66 66709 GBRF Sorrento MSC Livery
7D-066-004 66421 New DRS Livery
7D-066-005 66789 GBRF 'British Rail 1948-1997' BR Blue Large Logo
7D-066-006 Class 66 GBRF Biffa 'The Flying Dustman'
Revised Retail Price
Unfortunately, as part of the hand over we have had to accept a higher price per unit for the model. Normally Dapol would look to absorb these extra costs but due to the delays we have experienced and post COVID, inflationary pressures in the Far East, these costs are too much for us to bear alone and we will have to pass some of these on to the modeler.
DCC Ready
£395.00
Your locomotive will be fitted with 2 x PLUX 22 blanking plugs. lighting control will be via switches
DCC Fitted
£460.00
Your locomotive will be fitted with 2 x Imperium 6 PLUX 22 DCC Chips. DCC Lighting Control.
Sound Fitted
£540.00
Your locomotive will be fitted with 1 x Imperium 6 PLUX 22 chip & 1 x Zimo sound chip & a speaker
Deluxe Spatial Sound
£615.00
Your locomotive will be fitted with 2 x Zimo sound chips & a stereo speaker arrangement
Project Update
We envisage the following timescale to be achievable:
- Decorated samples Q1 2025
- Production complete late 2025
- In shops late Q4 2025 (hopefully in time for Christmas)
We look forward to being able to bring you more news at the soonest opportunity.
Order Any version including sound options at your
preferred Dapol stockist today
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