Dapol really should have come to Peterborough and used E10731 at Overton (formerly Ferry Meadows). They could have popped over to mine for a cup of tea at the same time 

I thought I'd post this image to show what can be done (quite easily) to the blue/grey sleepers to improve their look. A strip of 6mm masking tape aligned with the bottom of the coach windows and some RailMatch BR blue paint and I ended up with this result.

Holy thread revival Batman...

The latest batch of Dapol's Mk3 sleepers appear to be arriving in shops. Intercity Exec ang Intercity Swallow only at the moment - others loco hauled liveries due next year (spring?).

It'll be interesting to see if the livery application is better than the original batch. Fingers crossed.

The Swallow and Executive Sleepers (and other Mk3 loco-hauled coaches) are going out to retailers now. I hope you agree the finish is MUCH better.

The bad news is that the remaining Mk3s have been put back to May next year. It was either that or delay the 56 and 87.

The latest batch of loco hauled Mk3s in Intercity Swallow and Intercity Executive arrived last week. I'm please so say that the new colours used are a vast improvement:


From the top:
Farish Mk2F in Intercity Swallow
Dapol Mk3 Sleeper in Intercity Executive
Farish Mk1 BG in Intercity Exec(?)
Dapol Mk3 Sleeper in Intercity Swallow from the first batch.

As you can see, there's a huge difference in the lower bodyside band for the two Mk3s. The silver windows really lift the model too. The latest batch of Mk3s no longer look out of place against the Farish models.
.
The lower body side on all four coaches should match, with a little difference between the upper bodysides exec vs. Swallow

For reference:
Intercity Executive:
Roof & upper body - Storm Grey (aka Executive Dark Grey)
Rail White
Rail Red
Executive Light Grey

Intercity Swallow:
Roof & upper body: Falcon Grey
Rail White
Rail Red
Executive Light Grey

I'm more than happy with the colours Dapol are now using. Time will tell if they manage to maintain the match across different batches ad different models.

Anyone want three Mk3 sleepers from the first batch?

Huraah! Huge improvement. Still can't decide whether to fix the red/white on my LSL charter rake or replace as they seem to have got everything 'right' (insofar as it ever is!) now!

Is there any chance that Dapol will release the body shells as a spare part in the future, I think there many of us that would rather swap the shell out (think revolution and the 320), as a cheaper option, then trying to unload/sell the old batch.

No chance. Can't see it would be cheaper anyway given there's a (small) residual value in the old ones.