Dapol (re)announce HST Protype train - open for pre-orders

[Red Onion]

I think I'll phone in the morning when their lines open. Really want it, especially as I moved money out my savings for it   

[CaleyDave]

Does anyone know when the doors were changed on the prototype coaches converted to "production" TF's?

I have only found pictures of the coaches after privatisation where they have been replaced with production doors but I have never seen them in blue, executive or swallow.

I have been plotting and scheming about what to do with the 4th TF coach in the coach packs as I don't need it.

I have no interest in the 2 royal train conversions.
Lab Car 10 is a possibility.

Coach numbers
10000 40000 975984 
10100 40500 977089 "Lab 21"
11000 41000 975814 "Test Car10"
11001 2903 "Queen's saloon"
11002 41001 41170
11003 41002 41174 42357
12000 42000 41172 42355
12001 2904 "Duke of Edinburgh's Saloon"
12002 42001 41171 42353
12003 42002 41173 42356

29xx Royal
100xx/400xx Buffet (Second class)
101xx/405xx Kitchen (Unclassified/Restaurant)
11xxx/41xxx First class
12xxx/42xxx second class
97xxxx Departmental

[Red Onion]

I have successfully placed my order so if anyone is still after one, it seems to be working!  Fingers crossed it works again...

[Chetcombe]

When the HST-P was released, I moaned about Dapol not taking off VAT for overseas sales as well as charging almost forty pounds for overseas postage for the loco pack and another forty pounds for the coaches (as for some reason my coach order got lost and then was considered a separate order needing two packages). I have since had a couple of conversations with their sales department and am happy to say that they have adjusted my order so I don't have to pay VAT and they will put all the orders into one package to reduce the postage.

Kudos to the Dapol sales team for their help. It took a couple of calls to get things sorted, but that is not a big issue given that we are in the middle of a pandemic.

So happy to say 'thanks' to Dapol and to put the record straight.

[njee20]

Does anyone know when the doors were changed on the prototype coaches converted to "production" TF's?

I have only found pictures of the coaches after privatisation where they have been replaced with production doors but I have never seen them in blue, executive or swallow.

Aren't these both with standard doors?

C 42355 161293 by Steven Clements, on Flickr

C 42357 161293 by Steven Clements, on Flickr

[Shiney Sheff]

Just inquisitive, this is obviously a very popular model, does anyone know how many were actually produced.

[Bob G]

Just inquisitive, this is obviously a very popular model, does anyone know how many were actually produced.

Err....ONE. It was the prototype class 252 for classes 253 and 254.

[njee20]

I assume he means by Dapol, ie how many models. But the answer is no, no one will know other than Dapol.

[CaleyDave]

Does anyone know when the doors were changed on the prototype coaches converted to "production" TF's?

I have only found pictures of the coaches after privatisation where they have been replaced with production doors but I have never seen them in blue, executive or swallow.

Aren't these both with standard doors?

C 42355 161293 by Steven Clements, on Flickr

C 42357 161293 by Steven Clements, on Flickr

Thank you!

That is exactly what I was after!
I was down the rabbit hole of trying to find pictures when they were all TF's on the Eastern. Suppose we need to thank film getting cheaper as I have yet to find a picture of them in blue or executive (converted 1982).

Yes, they are production style doors.
It is my suspicion that this was part of the conversion along with sorting the mess that was the electrical system!

You can see the inset prototype doors clearly here
https://flic.kr/p/DDk2zW

On that basis it would be better waiting for the prototype roof to be offered as spares and  sand the window frames off a "production" coach.

[njee20]

Yeah I suspect the lesser of two evils would be to start with a stock IC swallow TS and sand the window frames. Wonder if they'll do the roof as a spare. Would be good for all the loco hauled mk3s.

[Bob G]

I assume he means by Dapol, ie how many models. But the answer is no, no one will know other than Dapol.

Silly me. But I got the answer to MY interpretation of the question 100% correct!
Bob

[railsquid]

There's a full set on Yahoo Auctions Japan going for 100,000 yen (about GBP735 at the current exchange rate) with 1 bid and 3 days to go: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p800191513 

[ohlavache]

Still impossible to order on Dapol's web site. 
And no information (or so vague) from Dapol...

[ohlavache]

No news from Dapol. Neither by phone or email.
It's a shame !

[Red Onion]

I had an email from them this morning as I'd emailed them over the issues I had last night.  They asked if I was UK based and said the product is only orderable from within UK.

Worth trying to persevere in contacting them.