Dapol or nothing? A newbie query.

[Eric the Red]

Having just started in N, and now have a mini layout, I was wondering if Dapol have a virtual monopoly on locos. My theme is England 1960. I have a couple of Dapols, but I'm not over keen on the quality. Wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for something more solid and less plasticky in the gears etc.
Any ideas?

[Newportnobby]

You have plenty of choice other than Dapol in the RTR market such as Graham Farish, Union Mills and, just latterly, Revolution Trains. Union Mills do not have a website but there are plenty of pics of their steam locos on the forum (they only do steam)

Not in production any more but still to be found with a bit of searching........
Minitrix and Peco

[RailGooner]

IMO, over the last ~2 decades there's been a quite staggering improvement in detail and fidelity of models from the two main manufacturers of British Outline N Gauge - Dapol and Graham Farish. Dapol's new Class 50 and recent Class 68 are both stunning models, with much improved design over earlier models. I own examples of both and they rank amongst the very best models I own.

RevolutioN Trains have been a significant force behind recent improvements. Most of their models are crowd funded. They also work a lot in union with other smaller manufacturers to bring some exquisite models to market.

Union Mills' models are less detailed than the big two, but are hard to beat for tractive effort or pulling power. The individual can always add (or pay someone to add,) more detail.

It's worth doing a bit of research on the year/s of production for any prospective purchase. These two resources will help with that:
British N Gauge Resource
Model Rail Database of Scale Models

[martyn]

If you are using Hatton's of Liverpool for a product guide-don't.

They are involved in a long term dispute with Bachmann/Farish, and so do not show their products.

There are other suppliers who have Graham Farish availability on their website.

See also;

https://www.bachmann.co.uk/graham-farish/

and, as been said, Revolution and Sonic Models.

HTH

martyn

[Paddy]

In terms of British outline locos the choices are:

1. Minitrix.  No longer made but turn up regularly on eBay.  In the main they are built like German battleships (  ) and are very reliable.  However, fidelity to the prototype is not up to modern standards.

2. LIMA.  Forget it - out of scale and thankfully no longer made.  Ignore them on eBay.

3. Union Mills.  Made from diecast and as per Minitrix built like tanks.  They will pull anything and are very reliable and backed up by excellent customer service.  Prices are reasonable as you can only buy direct but detail is basic i.e. moulded detail only.  Can be detailed to a high standard as some modellers on this forum have shown.

4. PECO.  To my knowlege they have only ever released two N gauge RTR locomotives (neither are no longer made).  The first, a Jubilee was class leading for its time and still holds it own well.  Examples can be found on eBay.  The second was a GWR 2251 class which is also a very good model and comes fitted with a DCC decorder.  Some people do not like the tender as it is the larger GWR version which was less typical for the 2251 class.

5. Dapol.  Offer a wide range of steam and diesel locomotives.  The livery finish is very good these days and they make some very attractive steam engines.  In my own experience, the steam fleet can be somewhat fragile and it may take a few goes to get a good one.  It is sad, as you have seen they offer many desirable classes for the 1960s modeller e.g. Britannia, 9F etc.  On the other hand, their diesel locomotives tend to be very good and run reliably.

6. Graham Farish (Poole/Early Bachmann).  These models are plentiful on eBay and are similar in design to Union Mills with one big difference...  UM locos are reliable and can pull very heavy loads.  The finish on the later Bachmann/China versions is very good but once again but detail is low.  Typically they run well and some models are better than others.  A lot of the older locos have now been replaced by Bachmann with 21st century equivalents.

7. Graham Farish (Bachmann new models).  Lovely to look at, tend to be DCC compatible and run well.

8. Revolution.  New player in the market.  Designed and built by modellers for modellers.  Lovely models although I do not personally own any of their locos yet (got the GWR tank on order).  If it is as good as the rolling stock it should be a cracker.

So in summary I would say, diesels are better than steamers in N gauge (and yes I do run steam locos) but all modern stock is of high fidelity.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Hope this helps.

Paddy

[railsquid]

Having just started in N, and now have a mini layout, I was wondering if Dapol have a virtual monopoly on locos. My theme is England 1960. I have a couple of Dapols, but I'm not over keen on the quality. Wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for something more solid and less plasticky in the gears etc.

Out of curiosity, which locos do you have and which ones are you looking for?

Also why are the "plasticky" gears of concern?

[Portpatrick]

I feel Paddy has given an excellent broad summary of the different makes of British outline locos.  I have a personal dislike of Dapol;s practice of using a propshaft drive for tender engines.  They disconnect ecept with very careful handling in and out of the box and onto the track and a friend tells me the LNER Pacifics are pigs to rejoin.  The only one I have bought is the Britannia as I needed one for my layout.  It has come apart a few times but it is a decent runner and looks good.  Putting crews in these locos is less easy too.  So I retain my old Farish A3 and A4.  Some do prefer this approach to Farish's tender drive on its initial new releases.  Dapol's early tank engines (the gWR Praries and M7 notably) seem to be weak and tend to be high speed or stop.  I have found the Ivatt tank to be fine.

Some Farish steamers have very fragile valve gear.  I have found this to be especially so on the A1, A2 and B1.  In one place there is a mix of plastic and metal in a linkage - not good engineering my late father would say, and they tend to fall apart.  Mendable using either a very short 16 BA screw  or if you find the missing pin, careful use of superglue.  THey are good runners though I am told some of the more recent models (Castle?) are on the weak side.  And the A1 and A2 can struggle with a long rake of Dapol Gresely coaches - 6 or 7 optimum.

I have found their Fairburn tanks can vary.  One of my 3 is OK at lower  terminus speed but very jerky above say 40 mph.  One is passable and one is OK.   My Standard tanks have been fine.  My 4Fs are lovely.  Also the Standard and LMS 460s, and the two Moguls.
With both Dapol and Farish I would agree that dieseels are more likely to be better runners from the box and have fewer fragile details on them. 

[Paddy]

Totally agree @Portpatrick - the Dapol "prop-shaft" is an abomination!

Kind regards

Paddy