Dapol provides update on upcoming Class 66

After some difficulties with inflated pricing and production, Dapol has taken the decision to move the tooling to one of its other factories, which has already proved a good partner and produced the OO gauge Hawthorn Leslie and O gauge GWR Railcars, 3MT and J94/Austerity.

Available to pre-order, decorated samples are now expected early next year, with the new O gauge models hopefully in shops for Christmas 2025.

Revised Specifications

• 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  

Electrical

• 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   

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 pricing

Unfortunately, as part of the factory handover, a higher price per unit for the model has had to be introduced and due to the delays experienced and post-COVID, inflationary pressures in the Far East, some of these costs have had to pass on to the modeller.

DCC Ready - £395.00 - fitted with 2 x PLUX 22 blanking plugs. Lighting control will be via switches

DCC Fitted - £460.00 - fitted with 2 x Imperium 6 PLUX 22 DCC Chips. DCC Lighting Control.

Sound Fitted - £540.00 - fitted with 1 x Imperium 6 PLUX 22 chip & 1 x Zimo sound chip & a speaker 

Deluxe Spatial Sound - £615.00

DCC Spatial Sound - using two Zimo Plux22 sound decoders to offer true stereo sound, a first for O gauge RTR. Among 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 incorporate four drive units, which will enhance the bass and treble.