Dapol announce new production run of Class 68

[NGS-PO]

Dapol have revealed a new run of their 68:

2D-022-012                 Class 68 Fearless 68016 DRS Compass
2D-022-013                 Class 68 Vigilant 68018 DRS Compass
2D-022-014                 Class 68 Splendid 68027 Transpennine Express
2D-022-015                 Class 68 Felix 68031 Transpennine Express
2D-022-016                 Class 68 Pride of the North 68006 New DRS/NTS Green




https://www.dapol.co.uk/New-N-Gauge-Class-68-Liveries-Announced

Best

Scott.

[ntpntpntp]

There seem to be a few people on the NGF Facebook group needing spare buffers for 68s, so let's hope Dapol factor in reasonable supplies of spares? 

[GAD]

They can announce away. I for one don't believe them.

I'm still waiting for the Tom Moore 66, pre-ordered in May 2020, at the time they didn't mention the long wait!

[jpendle]

These will be very welcome, especially the TPE ones. I've got two Revolution Mk5a TPE sets on order and only one loco to pull them.

Regards,

John P

[njee20]

They can announce away. I for one don't believe them.

I'm still waiting for the Tom Moore 66, pre-ordered in May 2020, at the time they didn't mention the long wait!

It stood to reason you'd have to wait for the next batch of 66s, admittedly they're a year late, but I don't really see how you can "not believe them". I'm sure Dapol are as annoyed as anyone about the delay to 66731. Just wait, when it turns up it'll called Corporal Tim Moore.

Seems a shrewd release by Dapol - hopefully the 68s will be a good match for the Mk5s. The new DRS livery looks great too, can see one of those being added to the stable!

[GAD]

They can announce away. I for one don't believe them.

I'm still waiting for the Tom Moore 66, pre-ordered in May 2020, at the time they didn't mention the long wait!

It stood to reason you'd have to wait for the next batch of 66s, admittedly they're a year late, but I don't really see how you can "not believe them". I'm sure Dapol are as annoyed as anyone about the delay to 66731. Just wait, when it turns up it'll called Corporal Tim Moore.

Seems a shrewd release by Dapol - hopefully the 68s will be a good match for the Mk5s. The new DRS livery looks great too, can see one of those being added to the stable!

Class 142 Pacer, 11 yrs IIRC, plus the J72, dropped after nearly 2 yrs wait. I sympathise with current problems due to covid but Dapol have a proven record of long delays stretching way back before that.

[njee20]

Not sure of your point, or the relevance to an announcement on a new batch of 68s? You said you "don't believe them", what you don't think they've really announced new models?

Yes, delays happen, and Dapol were guilty of land-grabbing historically, which left a load of stuff in the ether for years, the 142 being about the only one that actually appeared.

Anyway, like I say, it's irrelevant. There have been many batches of 68s, and another seems welcome.

[acko22]

Class 142 Pacer, 11 yrs IIRC, plus the J72, dropped after nearly 2 yrs wait. I sympathise with current problems due to covid but Dapol have a proven record of long delays stretching way back before that.

Not sure what what a completely new model has to do with new liveries to be honest.....

But just to cover this to clear it off the topic, so the 142 was a land grab by a former employee who left and started his own business (we all know where that went), Dapol weren't keen to do it however followed it through!

The J72 well they said years ago it was on hold (June 2016) as Farish announced they were doing one with the market size it wouldn't be strong enough to support 2 manufacturers offering this model which to be frank is understandable!
As to why they put it on hold after announcing it 2 years previous well refer to the previous of a former employee trying to land grab every class ever built!
When Bachmann cancelled the J72 in 2019 Dapol openly said that while it was back on the radar there was a back log of models they wanted to clear first and that was before the issues of the past 2 years!

So it's not like they haven't been open about issues and that's why Joel announced a while back a change in tact as to how they will announce things, and even with that when Covid hit, this bit them in the back side with delays which have been totally out of their control (even manufacturers cant tell the Chinese government what to do)

But that's enough of a diversion back to the class 68!
I am happy with another batch I honestly love the 68s and think they are a great model and the best one they have produced (ever better than the 86s which I do have a bit of a fetish for).
I spoke to the guys and girls and while another run of pre-existing liveries is simple enough I do not envy whomever has the job of the NTS livery that is complicated as it comes, but looking at the compass livery it may take a little longer than the compass livery to get a good representation of the NTS colours I cannot wait to see it!

[RailGooner]

..
Just wait, when it turns up it'll called Corporal Tim Moore.
...

[Panpa]

I am definitely going to pick up the TPE liveried Class 68 at very least. I also have two of the RevolutioN Mk5 TPE sets on order so it will be nice to be able to run them with appropriately liveried locomotives (I already have Brutus).

The Dapol 68s are fantastic locos.

[njee20]

Let down by errant handrails and a propensity to shed buffers! Having seen more pictures the new DRS livery looks great though, looking forward to one of those.

[Panpa]

Let down by errant handrails and a propensity to shed buffers!

This is true

[Adam1701D]

At least I won't have to do the vinyls for 68006 - was having a devil of a time getting the colours right.

Got a lovely 68 cutting template for doing fictitious liveries if anyone's interested.