CAPITAL LAUNCHES BY DAPOL

Dapol has lifted the veil on its third 'next generation' diesel locomotive for N gauge at the London Festival of Railway Modelling at London’s Alexandra Palace on March 18/19, with a further Autocoach announcement for OO gauge and update on its anticipated GWR ‘Toad’ for O gauge.

NEW ‘66’

The manufacturer’s latest Co-Co model of the most-numerous diesel-electric locomotive Class in operation in the UK presently, promises a re-designed chassis, electronics and a newly-tooled body. The manufacturer has said that models will also be sound-capable.

Nine liveries spanning the eras of the Class are promised in its first batch of models, with the locomotives expected to arrive with stockists in Q2, 2024. RRPs are expected to be £172.80 for DCC-ready, £205.20 for DCC-fitted and £291.60 for DCC sound-fitted. Speaking about the new model, Dapol's Neil Morrlle said: "This model will incorporate our new iron-cored five-pole motor offering excellent slow-running and exceptional pulling power with reliability and robustness." Models will be fitted with a five-pole motor with all-wheel pick-up, and all-wheel drive, while a Next-18 decoder socket (recommended six-function decoder) will be standard. The full specification of this latest model can be read on World-ofRailways. Liveries promised are as follows:

• (2D-066-001) 66001 DB Red

• (2D-066-002) 66096 EWS

• (2D-066-003) 66531 Freightliner Original

• (2D-066-004) 66528 Freightliner Powerhaul Madge Elliott MBE - Borders Railway Opening 2015

• (2D-066-005) 66706 GBRf Nene Valley

• (2D-006-006) 66734 Jubilee Pink Platinum Jubilee

• (2D-066-007) 66779 BR Lined Green Evening Star

• (2D-066-008) 66428 DRS Plain Blue Carlisle Eden Mind

• (2D-066-009) 66846 Colas Rail