Class 66 Differences

joe cassidy · February 06, 2016, 07:49:20 PM

In reply to the OP, there was a comparative review of the Farish/Dapol 66s in the 01/06 issue of the NGS journal.

If you can't decide between the two buy the Kato one (different scale) !

Best regards,

Joe

Nik96 · February 06, 2016, 10:05:45 PM

Quote from: joe cassidy on February 06, 2016, 07:49:20 PM
In reply to the OP, there was a comparative review of the Farish/Dapol 66s in the 01/06 issue of the NGS journal.

If you can't decide between the two buy the Kato one (different scale) !

Best regards,

Joe

Cheers Joe,

I had a Dapol 66 to start and recently bought a Farish Stobart Rail 66, having chance to put them side to side its interesting to see the difference considering it's the same prototype. Things like having a proper grill on the roof of the Dapol but just moulded detail on the farish.

If i can get my hands on a copy of that article it would make an interesting read.

njee20 · February 06, 2016, 10:28:14 PM

FWIW I disassembled one of my Dapol ones that wasn't working today, cleaned everything up, reassembled and it's fine now, which is nice. Added some weight into the cab too while I was at it, which has improved haulage. Still not as good as Farish though.

Nik96 · February 06, 2016, 10:30:41 PM

Quote from: njee20 on February 06, 2016, 10:28:14 PM
FWIW I disassembled one of my Dapol ones that wasn't working today, cleaned everything up, reassembled and it's fine now, which is nice. Added some weight into the cab too while I was at it, which has improved haulage. Still not as good as Farish though.

I did notice that the Farish weight extends down into the fuel tank, is that possible to add weight into the fuel tank on the dapol?

njee20 · February 06, 2016, 11:03:41 PM

Sadly not - the chassis extends into the fuel tank. I drilled a small hole in the bottom of the cab interior, poured in Liquid Gravity and sealed the hole. Now happily pulls 28 PCAs, which it would struggle with before.

Vonzack · February 07, 2016, 10:23:19 AM

Quote from: Nik96 on February 06, 2016, 10:30:41 PM
I did notice that the Farish weight extends down into the fuel tank, is that possible to add weight into the fuel tank on the dapol?

That's where the motor sits in the Dapol, as njee20 said above, you can usually get a bit of weight into them behind the cab mouldings and just in front of the bogey towers. They are still too light for me though at 75g, the Farish at 105g provide allot better traction.

I originally bought a Dapol 66 (ND-201A) based on the extra detail it had over the Farish version and the fact that it was DCC ready. I was really disappointed though with it's lack of traction. I enjoy running prototypical length trains on our club layout and the Dapol just couldn't cope and eventually the motor gave out anyway which was another particular feature of these models.

I pretty much exclusively use Farish 66s now because of the better traction and chassis quality. Farish pretty much stick to their excellent design and adapt it for different models, rather than doing something different every time and ending up with variable quality.

I do like the fact that Dapol produce Dummy locos and their 66s are excellent.

Cheers, Mark.

Nik96 · February 07, 2016, 07:44:04 PM

The only problem I've had so far (bearing in mind the longest train is four VTG Telescopic Hoods and haulage capability isn't currently important), Is the dapol driveshaft dropped out of location on one bogie. It's not happened since but it does seem odd and was an easy fix.

Rabbitaway · February 07, 2016, 11:18:23 PM

Hi All

A little experiment with the four Dapol 66s I have

My layout has an off scene180 degree 2nd radius curve on an incline which continues rising as a straight on the scenic area. Rises 5cm over just over 2m, so a challenge for locos.

I tested the locos with 38 PCA wagons and the results as follows

1 with wheel spin and unable to climb to slope
1 with wheel spin and got there
2 climbed no problem or with very little wheel spin

I did try the locos the other way round in case there was more weight over one bogie but there was little difference

All the locos are the light DCC version although running on DC

On closer inspection of the locos I noted that the two successful locos have the courser wheels as fitted to the first batch of DCC 66s. The two with less haulage have far finer wheels

So there would appear to be quite a performance difference between these DCC version locos

njee20 · February 08, 2016, 06:40:05 AM

38 PCAs? Like I said, none of mine wouldn't pull 30 on the flat, I'm staggered yours would do a 1.5% gradient on a curve!

Rabbitaway · February 08, 2016, 06:14:53 PM

That was the result of the test

On code 80 track which may have more surface area for wheel contact

I should have tried my Farish 70 as a comparison as it is also a light loco but didn't think about it

A few steam engines do struggle particularly, WD, New 4F, V2, and Merchant Navy and will only pull fairly limited rakes

Farish 66 and Dapol 58 no problem at all with the load

One thing I have noticed is certain track cleaning solutions cause the rails to become very slippery, I used Rail Zip once and even weighted locos would not climb the incline