I have had a Class 66 on pre order with Rails since 9th January 2024.

A project update on the Dapol website posted on 18th March 2023 states:

"The project is in advanced CAD stage, we eagerly await final CADs and will share these with you in the near future. All artworks have been completed and supplied to the factory. We expect to see models in shops in Q2 2024."

An email from Rails states that they are not expecting them until 2025:

" I think I know where the confusion arose, a little earlier this year we received a selection of Dapol class 66s which had been on pre-order.
However these were the OO gauge versions, and we are definitely being advised to expect the one on your order in 2025."

I cannot see any more recent updates on either the Dapol or Rails websites, indeed anywhere on the web.  Does anyone else know what the status is here?  Are you hearing the same or something different?  Have I missed something?.

Kind regards

Matthew

Rails's email makes no sense. There is no Dapol OO gauge 66 (about the only brand who don't do one!). Yes they're delayed insofar as they're not going to be in Q2 24, and yes, 2025 seems likely. I'm sure Q2 was a best endeavours guess from Dapol, but this happens.

They'll be here when they're ready. 

We have recently received the first test shots and should have the completed EPs very soon. Very happy with what I have seen thus far. 

Thanks @Adam1701D.

I also received the following via email from a director at Dapol this morning:

"Thank you for your email.
 
Unfortunately, trying to estimate a release date for a model that is made in China is a difficult task. Small issues in the development can lead to delays and the factories themselves can delay items for no apparent reason,  but may they may be busy or may have encountered some problems on other customers products which leads to delays throughout the factory. For the Class 66, the EP has been delayed and we now think that the finished model will be available early 2025.
 
I hope that helps and explains the difficult situation when trying to estimate release dates."

I like all my Dapol locos but I have pre-ordered the Revolution 66. The Revolution 66 is still shown as due qtr 3 2024. That's by the end of September.

Revolution's model is far more advanced I think - we've seen about 10 painted samples, I don't believe we've seen anything on the Dapol one have we? Presumably the EP coming is the first.

I imagine I'll end up with some of each, and I'm sure both will be a step change over what we have at the moment.

DM Toys are promoting a number of new continental Class 66 liveries at very low prices produced in co-operation with Dapol but at 1:160 scale. This is the Modellbahn Union leaflet which speaks only of gauge not scale.

Are they actually going to be 1:160?

I know Modellbahn Union have previously advertised Dapol products as 1:160 when they're actually still 1:148 (ICA 'silver bullets' spring to mind).

Given this would be an entirely newly tooled body and chassis, and the price is low I'm highly dubious.

There's of course already discussion about the scale on the German 1zu160 forum. But as Dapol's planned new 66 has all wheel drive and the MU 66 only has 4 driven axles and a different DCC socket (Next-18 vs. E24), I am quite sure that the MU 66 will be in 1:160 and not just the 1:148 Dapol model with Continental liveries.

The MU leaflet also doesn't mention a co-operation with Dapol. And MU made the German IC 403 EMU on their own, without having a Dapol model to base that upon.

It's not the new (as yet unseen) Dapol 66, that would be insanely cheap. It's the existing Dapol tooling, which has 4 driven axles (centre axles on each bogie are undriven) and a Next-18 socket. I'll eat my hat if it's a proper 1:160 model. It's possible it'll include some of the spec differences on the European models, improved air conditioning units on the cab roofs (which look like they are in the artwork for 66001), different headlights etc.

Edit: sorry I see you're saying it's the MU model which has the E24 decoder socket. I'll still wager it's the Dapol model with an updated PCB. Of course it could be a fully retooled model, but I just can't see Dapol devoting resource to that. I note they're doing O gauge 66s with European liveries too.

NGS Journal (received today) just says 'delivery imminent'

That's scary - I don't think we've so much as seen a decorated sample have we? I fear a race to beat 'the competition' doesn't bode well!

If it was one of the Dapol adverts they do in magazines saying "delivery imminent" I'd take it with a sack of salt. The lead times on printed publications usually mean adverts are a complete guess in terms of dates.
Think the OO toplight coaches were "imminent" in the adverts for about 3 months before turning up.

Rule of thumb, unless the shipment is in the UK and being checked over by the manufacturer theres nothing imminent about it.

Well yes, but even if we assume they submitted the advert 6 weeks ago - we've not seen a single decorated sample. That suggests to me, unless they're foregoing that step, they're 6+ months away still. Foregoing that step doesn't sound great!

Dapol gives the delivery of the new Class 66 as Q3 2025.

They had this info displayed at TINGS and also confirmed it in their TINGS Video on YouTube at that time. The TINGS video can be seen on Dapol TV, their YouTube channel. Link below for your convenience :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iVW42wJvVM&t=2s

All the expected deliveries are given for new models already announced.