Quote from: njee20 on June 15, 2021, 06:04:55 PM
I don't profess to be an expert on the class, but is the Dapol one that bad? I thought it was a good model. Certainly not one that is crying out for improvement IMO, particularly with a new batch just announced and therefore demand sated.

The old Farish 56 is dismal, but I do wonder if it's more likely they're doing things the other way around and they'll re-use some elements of the 56 as a starting point (the bogies were never that bad - and could be a decent starting point), rather than the other way around.

Certainly the 56 is a very long way down the list of locos I'd recommend to Farish, for what little that's worth.

From my understanding the Dapol model isn't bad.

It's more a case that Dapol keep shooting themselves in the foot and doing number / livery combinations which should have steel cabs or even a different cab design at each end.

Plus I seem to remember they didn't / don't always get the "grid" correct on numbered Romanian / U.K. build versions.

Besides that, I like the model.

Especially how cheap they could be picked up at shows.

Sigh, remember those?

Skyline2uk

They've certainly announced the Transrail one which has mismatched cabs, which they don't tool for, but I still don't think it's an obvious model to have two decent ones on the market. We shall see. Frankly I'll be annoyed if Farish invest the effort in that, rather than a 90, 59, retooled 66 or any number of other options.

the hornby 56 is supposed to be very good. therefore i can't see bachmann making one in oo to compete with the hornby one.  i think that reduces the chance of them making one in n gauge. they aren't a massively popular class either so not sure they would sell many.

having said all that if farish really did want to duplicate an existing dapol diesel in n to reclaim a class for the farish brand then i suppose it would be a decent shout - if they have the chassis and bogies done for the 69.

i cant see the farish class 69 arriving before 2024 tbh anyway.

i quite like the look of the real 69s although not the livery on 69001.


tim

I really think we'll see within the next 12 months. Just a feelin'. 

I'm not a fan of the Dapol 56 - some shape issues round the cab and lots of detail issues. Being better than the terrible Farish 56 isn't saying much.

If you are doing a 69 then you'd be mad not to do a decent 56 given that you can share the chassis IMHO! The 56 has a lot of potential liveries if you get the details right.

Quote from: Dr Al on June 15, 2021, 09:59:36 AM
The obvious question here is, with the chassis and commonality of parts, will this mean a competitor 56 will appear next to Dapol's model?

Cheers,
Alan

As has been noted elsewhere there are more alterations which would suggest that a 56 is not a feasible option. But who knows what Farish are cooking up behind the scenes.

Quote from: njee20 on June 15, 2021, 08:21:02 AM

Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on June 15, 2021, 07:35:08 AM
Interesting that Class 66's don't meet current emissions rules but their engine's do ?.

NGM

Yep, as PLD said, it's more nuanced than that. Article about it here.

While more nuanced in some respects its a lot simpler in some respects and honestly GBRf have played a blinder on this...
SO the ten engines were ordered and preregistered in the UK prior to the cut off date for 3A emissions standards, as such while not been on a loco the engines existed before 3A emissions standards were superseded.
If GBRf tried to use refurbished engines that wouldn't be allowed but as these are new engines they have "grandfather rights" which is why they have been sat in bubble wrap for near on 5 years, and was always the plan it was just a question of which class will be the donor and when!

Of course there is the obvious differences to a 66 but for the most part these are tier 2 class 66s, and while there is a slight cost saving on a new build it's not been that much cheaper, however the cost saving long term when you include maintenance etc is substantial, these are for all intent and purposes a class 66 with a few differences making the parts (with the exception of bogies and a few other bits) very much ready to come by and very cheap by rail standards.

Traction package wise there is only a few changes, so the coolant system used the radiators off a 67 instead of 66 to save space but truth be told knowing first hand how powerful the cooling system is on a 66, using the smaller class 67 system will just mean a longer run time on the fans which is no big issue as normally the AC power for them is just dissipated when the fans aren't running so there is no real loses there.
Plus there is a software change to the computer controlled traction package but that's to be expected due to ride characteristics its the same on 66/6s compared to all other class 66s in service (well apart from the DB HVO versions).

The proclaimed brake changes are more a case of compacting the whole frame which is rather spaced out in the 66s to something more snug but all the components are the same and then software changes for the different on bogie configurations although the pressures are the same as on the 66s and well every other loco truth be told.

Differences in the electrical set up is again to do with space while the 66s were designed from ground up with all the control systems at the number 1 end, the 69s have been retro fitted  so its a case of fit it where there is space as such extra wiring to connect all the electrical control cabinets but the system is essentially identical to a class 66 for how it works.

But enough of the technical stuff.... 69001 oh dear god if they were pushing for brash and just ugly they have won this years award! I mean the flags on the side are well no offence to our american members (I am a dual national) but the sides look like something we would see on a UP loco, and the attempt with the whiskers just screams wrong! Thankfully 69002 looks a lot more understated and workmanlike just to see what the other 8 come out like!
Will I get a model of number 1 errr pass number 2 of course its retro and less of an eyesore!

Whilst it wouldn't surprise me if a class 56 were to follow from the 69 I can't see it being a high priority in either OO or N Gauge from Bachmann/Farish.

The Dapol 56 has some body issues and they struggle to get the combination of body types and liveries to match. There's a new batch of Next18 fitted class 56s due Q4/2021 - Q1/2022 which I'd guess will probably have sold out long before we see an EP1 of the 69.

Steven B.

Those talking about a new 56 in this thread, might be interested in this announcement from Cavalex https://www.cavalexmodels.com/cavalex-class-56 although it's only an OO announcement.

I did ask the question about an N gauge version and was told to "Watch this space!!" read into that what you will, but it does look like Cavalex have catered for most of the body anomalies between the Livery variations.

Would be great to see them shrunk to N, especially if they are as good as the photos of the EP's are showing.

Cheers

Neal.

If they release that in N I'll buy everyone on this thread one!*

Given they've never released an N gauge model, but have quietly dropped everything they've announced, or in the case of the 91 they couldn't even be bothered to start a thread on RMWeb to even pretend they were continuing. With the Dapol one out there too? IMO it would be a poor choice anyway.

I'd love to be wrong, because it would be great to see them enter the N gauge market.

I don't get their claim about unique liveries either - surely all of those have been done before. It's literally all the most obvious liveries to do I'd have thought.




*everyone whose name is Nick, and lives in Sussex

Quote from: njee20 on June 18, 2021, 02:23:16 PM
If they release that in N I'll buy everyone on this thread one!*
*everyone whose name is Nick, and lives in Sussex

Kent is close   

Quote from: njee20 on June 18, 2021, 02:23:16 PM
If they release that in N I'll buy everyone on this thread one!*

*everyone whose name is Nick, and lives in Sussex

My name starts with an 'N', is that close enough 

Regards

Neal.

Quote from: njee20 on June 18, 2021, 02:23:16 PM
I don't get their claim about unique liveries either - surely all of those have been done before. It's literally all the most obvious liveries to do I'd have thought.

I think it's the combination of Romanian/Doncaster built locos and different liveries that haven't been done before (and I'm guessing then only by Hornby with their newer release to current standards rather than the older Mainline/Dapol version).

Steven B.

Yeah, maybe. It says "whilst also releasing liveries never seen in 4mm scale", which is a bit tenuous if they mean "accurate represtations of a specific member of the sub-class in a certain livery". Time will tell! Two potential 56s to not be delivered in N 

Quote from: ntpntpntp on June 18, 2021, 02:35:55 PM

Quote from: njee20 on June 18, 2021, 02:23:16 PM
If they release that in N I'll buy everyone on this thread one!*
*everyone whose name is Nick, and lives in Sussex

Kent is close   

Corr, dodged a bullet there didn't I!? Should've thought more carefully before I said that!

Quote from: njee20 on June 18, 2021, 02:23:16 PM
Given they've never released an N gauge model, but have quietly dropped everything they've announced, or in the case of the 91 they couldn't even be bothered to start a thread on RMWeb to even pretend they were continuing. With the Dapol one out there too? IMO it would be a poor choice anyway.

I'd love to be wrong, because it would be great to see them enter the N gauge market. 

I contacted them a few weeks ago and was reassured about the N Gauge 225 project, and I've seen other comments here and there on Facebook and Twitter regarding the project. I believe the last time I saw anything was 4 weeks ago, quite publicly on Facebook, where they stated that the N 225 was still going ahead. Other N-related news is also due in the next few months, apparently.

Having worked for small manufacturers (not in this industry) before I kind of get why they'd want to lay low and knuckle down - especially if there's nothing material to show for a while. As a consumer, I find the lack of information and clear dialogue disheartening, but I totally get it from their point of view.