After deciding to build a small layout I was thinking about the locomotive stock and would require a few Class 66s. I see Dapol and Farish produce this class so is there anything I should know or are both models capable and reliable.
Thanks for posting. Are you modelling a depot, rail served yard, diorama? What space have you? I would read reviews and this forum is the place for opinions
Both perfectly acceptable models imho - I have a mixed fleet of both of them
Farish quality seems to be a bit better, but you do pay a bit more for it
Thanks for the replies. Looking along the lines of a logging siding a mini Chirk.
As ever when comparing the two brands, Farish have the better (and more reliable) mechanisms, while the Dapol finish and detailing is slightly better. You pays your money and you takes your choice!
Cheers, NeMo
Quote from: NeMo on June 21, 2019, 08:03:03 PM
Farish have the better (and more reliable) mechanisms
In fairness I can't disagree with that - I've had a couple of absolute dogs from Dapol, but no issues to date from Farish in a combined fleet of about 30 class 66s
Just to add some caveats to this debate:
1) Both Farish and Dapol models have been around long enough now for both to have been updated:
A) Early Farish models of the 66 (including EWS 66135 which I have) have solder tab PCBs making them DCC "Friendly" rather than ready with a DCC plug. These models can also suffer from Farish split-gear syndrome (mine has twice), I believe this maybe related to it being the last U.K. designed model (could be wrong on that?).
B) I think early Dapol 66s (don't have one) are also DCC "friendly" rather than ready, but they certainly do have what appear to be over-scale lamp-irons on their cabs (big white L-sections sticking out).
Both manufactures have since addressed these issues.
2) As a general rule Dapol seem to have released far more liveries than Farish for this loco.
Skyline2uk
Quote from: Skyline2uk on June 21, 2019, 08:34:10 PM
B) I think early Dapol 66s (don't have one) are also DCC "friendly" rather than ready, but they certainly do have what appear to be over-scale lamp-irons on their cabs (big white L-sections sticking out).
The earliest Dapol 66 are positively DCC unfriendly. They have no solder tabs let alone a socket, 6 pin or otherwise. I believe they are just about convertible to DCC but its a major operation and really not worth the bother. It wasnt that long before they brought out dcc ready 66s, with 6 pin decoder sockets.
cheers
Kirky
Quote from: kirky on June 21, 2019, 08:38:29 PM
Quote from: Skyline2uk on June 21, 2019, 08:34:10 PM
B) I think early Dapol 66s (don't have one) are also DCC "friendly" rather than ready, but they certainly do have what appear to be over-scale lamp-irons on their cabs (big white L-sections sticking out).
The earliest Dapol 66 are positively DCC unfriendly. They have no solder tabs let alone a socket, 6 pin or otherwise. I believe they are just about convertible to DCC but its a major operation and really not worth the bother. It wasnt that long before they brought out dcc ready 66s, with 6 pin decoder sockets.
cheers
Kirky
Cheers Kirky
As I said, I don't have one so thanks for enlightening me :thumbsup:
Skyline2uk
Early Dapol 66s were sometimes reported as running slow and/or hot, suffering from stiff factory grease and stiff gearing which needed stripping and fettling. I can certainly confirm that was the case with the first Dapol 66 I had. The later model doesn't seem to have had the same problems.
No experience of Farish 66s.
As a continental modeller I have a couple of Kato 66s, fine models but of course to a slightly smaller scale than Farish or Dapol (and not in British liveries).
If it were me and I wanted maybe just one 66 as a "pride of the line", I'd consider a CJM. My CJM 59 is lovely hand crafted model, much more powerful than the mass produced models. Expensive of course, has no lights and I believe is not particularly DCC friendly without some work to make space for the decoder. Not an issue for me though :D
Quote from: ntpntpntp on June 21, 2019, 09:15:43 PM
If it were me and I wanted maybe just one 66 as a "pride of the line", I'd consider a CJM. My CJM 59 is lovely hand crafted model, much more powerful than the mass produced models. Expensive of course, has no lights and I believe is not particularly DCC friendly without some work to make space for the decoder. Not an issue for me though :D
certainly the cjm 66 can be converted to dcc. But Chris of CJM prefers to do this himself and will charge I think £50 including the decoder. I believe he fits Lenz minis. Undoubtedly the best 66 in terms of reliability and pulling power. But as ntpntpntp says, no lights!
cheers
Kirky
Hi All,
My view is Farish mechanism is better,but Dapol detailing is better and they do more varied livery options.
What I will say is that Dapol are in the process of doing some retooling work for next 18 on a lot of the models, what alteration and improvements this will mean I don't know time will tell!
Chris at CJM is looking to retire so I wouldn't got that route.
Farish are heavier and have better haulage capacity, plus 6 driven axles.
Dapol are light, can't pull as much and have 4 driven axles.
If buying secondhand, or even older new stock, check that the Farish versions have the newer 6 pin decoder socket, saves all that soldering. There is very little room for a wired decoder in the Farish version and although I have now wired around 5 66's some have been a nightmare to get going (eg runs fine with body off after decoder fitting, won't run at all with the body on).
Most Dapol versions, except for the very early ones have a 6 pin decoder socket.
Regards,
John P
I have got the Bachmann 66 " evening Star", I will buy the Bachmann " British Rail" ( 66789 ) but I will have to get the " Flying Dustman " ( 66783 ) Dapol from Culcheth models . The Bachmann 66789 is going to be some time as they have no date for release.
Hattons have " Evening Star " for £89.50.
Farish for me. Significantly better haulage, finer detail, run better.
Quote from: njee20 on June 22, 2019, 09:00:36 AM
Farish for me. Significantly better haulage, finer detail, run better.
Agreed
Two dozen plus Dapol 66s. Only one has a problem, which I bought as a nonrunner on ebay. One GF 66 which sounds like a washing machine full of rocks and is relegated to test-track duties.
About 15 of each here. One Dapol non-runner, one Farish with cooked PCB. Meh.
Gradually replacing with Farish, having originally bought Dapol because of easier DCC compatibility versus older Farish.
I have a mixture of Dapol and Farish 66's.
Dapol:
Against: Early ones are noisy and not DCC friendly.
For: Later ones two variations of pcb boards with 6 pin sockets.
All have NEM coupling sockets. Final drive by shaft to universal joint on top of bogie.
Farish:
Against: Early ones have solder tabs for chip. No NEM couplings. Final drive, worm gear to straight cut gear on top of bogie. I bought one which had chewed up the top gear because of this, no doubt used on small radii.
For: Later ones have dcc sockets.
Geoff
One point to consider is spares and repairs. I recently asked DCC supplies about gears for a Dapol 66 and pick ups for a Dapol Voyager. Told they didn´t have spares but Dapol were looking at producing spares but only for current or future production runs, Not a lot of good to me or anyone else unless they buy brand new in the future. This is where I could split to two other Forum; Unhappy thread and Train Surgery. I´m looking to see if any other Dapol or Farish gears will fit the 66 and the same with the pickups for the Voyager. I stripped the 66 bogies and found that some of them were a bit rough and one split a la Farish. Picked up ballast I feel. I got the gears moving again but they weren´t turning the worm gear. Don´t really know where to go from there but I would gladly pay someone to sort them if they could somehow get/make suitable parts.
Dave
@David Asquith (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=973) For replacement gears where the original spares are no longer available I use MikroAntriebe in Poland. Not cheap but you can specify exactly what you need, so worth doing if you really want to get a model running again. There may well be other firms which will do the same, but I was told about this firm by another modeller quite a few years ago now. I've had replacements for Arnold and Minitrix gears made over the past few years.
http://www.kkpmo.com/search_gearwheels.php (http://www.kkpmo.com/search_gearwheels.php)
Thanks for that Nick. I´m not sure I want to spend too much time, effort or money on the 66. I was going to try and repair it and then swap this one - DB Schenker livery and another Stobart livery for a Farish J94 and a diesel NR loco if I could. Maybe I´ll just sell them as spares or repair.
Thought just crossed my mind. Would DCC supplies be interested in commissioning gears from http://www.kkpmo.com/search_gearwheels.php (http://www.kkpmo.com/search_gearwheels.php)
Dave
Dave
I have a Dapol 66 with a split axle gear on each bogie.
Look at my posts in train surgery under heading "Do Dapol locos split gears" Dr Al has suggested that I try Farish 16 tooth type 2 as the standard Farish gears have a too big axle hole. I have not got around to ordering these from BR Lines to try and see if they fit.
The other option is to try class 73 gears but I have not checked them for fit or teeth number, all other Dapol loco do not use gear on steel axle type wheel sets as far as I am aware
Yes, most annoying that Dapol do not carry spare gears for the 66, as like you I got a no from DCC Supplies
Only had few of each but found the Farish version much better, both smoother, quieter and much more pulling power. I had the same issue on all the Dapol model's andcthat was ghry all lost the red LED at one end within days of getting them, and it was the LED not the diode on the PCB which is also known to blow. Because of the way the LED is glued into place and the non availability of spares, even though these were brand new models rendered them unreparable and had to be replaced, and the LED failed on the replacements within days as well, I ended up replacing them with Farish versions.
Thanks guys, I have now used the pickups from the 66 in the 220 so the 66 is now spares and repairs. Motor, chassis and body (DB Shenker) available if anyone wants them.
Dave