New run of Dapol Britannias anounced

[Dr Al]

I disagree, of course they could.

Their history of similar models made that unlikely. The 9F, another very similar sized BR standard, has several tenders tooled, including the two virtually cosmetically identical to those used on the Brit - BR1G (Brit has identical apart from cab handrails BR1A) and BR1C (Brit has virtually identical BR1D....).

Indeed, if Dapol wanted to cheap out, they need only retool the drawbar to couple up a 9F BR1C tender.....

....like I did.

But this is all a mute point - they are tooling it. I personally give modellers much more credit - if Dapol slapped a BR1A on them I think many *would* be wise to it being wrong.

Cheers,
Alan

[njee20]

A mute point eh? Sure people would be rather loud if they got it wrong. 

Agreed though, it's good they are tooling for the differences. Someone can add a another day to the "days since last pointless mistake" counter at Dapol HQ!

[Bigmac]

i did read they have a metal chassis.  Same as the 9F metal chassis ?

[martyn]

No, it is metal, and enables a realistic load to be hauled. Mine are happy with 10-12 on when hauling passenger trains, or about 35 wagons-I don't run longer trains than that.

Biggest failure is the loco-tender power wires, they are fragile and need adjusting in position to get better longevity.

Martyn

[martyn]

Provided that they do tool a new tender top (and indications are they will), then I'm surprised there is not more comment on 70000 in all black.

It only wore this livery from about 5th January to the end of January when it was released to trials and traffic in passenger lined green.

One for the collectors?

If they don't retool the tender top, there could be some cheap models going in the future 

Martyn

[Newportnobby]

i did read they have a metal chassis.  Same as the 9F metal chassis ?

The 9F has not and will not have a metal chassis (see https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=53992.msg712320#msg712320)

[martyn]

i thought Bigmac might have been sarcastic! 

martyn

[Dr Al]

i did read they have a metal chassis.  Same as the 9F metal chassis ?

The Brits have always had metal chassis frames, and a large tungsten boiler weight, and coupled with traction tyres this gives ample traction.

The tyres can be a pain, not intrinsically in terms of design; rather misuse - I've lost count the number of oily tyres I've seen that have expanded and gone oval. Keep oil away from them at all costs folks!

Cheers,
Alan

[Newportnobby]

I must have missed that if so, as the Brit does have a die cast chassis as pointed out by Alan

[Dr Al]

To be a total pedant nobby, technically the chassis is not a die cast block like Farish use. These, as all the Dapol models of the time, have metal flat plate frames (just like a real loco!) separated by plastic frame spacers.

Here's what they look like - genesis of a Brit if you like:


Truthfully, the metal in terms of weight here is relatively small; the larger boiler weight as compared the 9F (whose boiler is smaller diameter) combined with the tyres (which 9Fs don't have) are the main contributors to differences in haulage.

Metal frames certainly don't warp or suffer twists and suchlike in the mouldings that some of the 9Fs do.

Cheers,
Alan

[Newportnobby]

Thanks for the correction, Alan. I was just going by the description on Rails website.

[Roy L S]

I would certainly be more interested in a high capacity tender variant as I think all the Annesley Brits were.

I must respectfully disagree as regards punting more Brits out with just a name and number change - enough people definitely would notice the wrong tender, some ,locos only ever ran with the high capacity variant, and "near enough is good enough" to that degree just doesn't work these says.

Roy

[honk843]

Hi,

Some  interesting comments but I am surprised no one has mentioned the fact that all the "new" models are being produced in Analogue (DCC ready) form only -- If I have got it right from Dapol, Hattons and Rails website. Bearing in mind the new M7 and the fact that Dapol had hitherto produced both digital and analogue models have they looked at their figures?
Britannia was of course also black at one time in preservation and probably plenty of colour photographic evidence of the fact.

[martyn]

I don't follow locos in preservation, so I stand corrected if it did run in black then.

However, Dapol paint the ends of the pony truck and tender wheel axle boxes yellow; this was not done until the end of their lives (RCTS History) and photos seem to bear this out. Yellow axle boxes would seem to be only correct with the late BR crest, not the early-unless, again, possibly in preservation.

Martyn

[Bigmac]

i thought Bigmac might have been sarcastic! 

martyn

i was--being as the 9f re-run was advertised as having a metal chassis, which was subsequently shown to be incorrect.