Newsdesk: ‘N' gauge Class 59 revival
Dapol brings welcome news for ‘N’ gauge modellers by relaunching its Class 59 model. MGRs join the National Collection in Miniature range, while Accurascale HYA/IIA hopper wagons make progress in production.
DAPOL has announced that its ‘N' gauge Class 59 model has entered the tooling stage, with delivery of the finished product scheduled towards the end of 2022.
It has been some time in gestation with many seeing the July announcement as a relaunch of the all-new model. It will be the first time that a quality ‘N' gauge model of the Class 59s acquired by Foster Yeoman, ARC and National Power will have been produced. Whilst locomotives have changed hands, the Class 59 in all three of its guises continues to operate in the UK for various operators, providing a wide range of liveries for Dapol to reproduce, ranging from Foster Yeoman silver; the popular ARC mustard livery and National Power blue through to DB Cargo red and Freightliner tangerine.
The 15 locomotives are popular among enthusiasts, yet it has taken three decades of good service to see the locomotives recognised with scale models.
Two bodyshells
Tooling will produce two bodyshells covering all three subclasses of the Class 59. The original bodyshell with American style marker and headlights as fitted on the five Class 59/0 locomotives delivered to Foster Yeoman in 1985 makes up one version, whilst the later Wipac light cluster version as applied to Class 59/1s and Class 59/2s makes up the second tooling.
The bodies will be composed of injection moulded plastic with locomotive specific detailing and designed to be clip-fitted to the chassis for easy removal for maintenance and decoder fitting. Name and number plates will be printed on the body shells with etched ones supplied in an add-on detailing pack which will include bufferbeam fittings.
Sophisticated model
Dapol is incorporating the latest drive technology to the models with all 12 wheels powered and fitted with current pick-ups. The chassis is designed in diecast metal for weight, yet there will be sufficient room for lighting including controllable front and rear lighting alongside illuminated cabs, all of which can be controlled with lighting override switches when the model is operated with a DC analogue controller. A NEXT18 decoder socket is included in the electronic specification which will allow precise control of the various lighting functions.
Both DCC on-board models fitted with Dapol's ‘Imperium' NEXT18 decoder will be available (£190) alongside digital sound versions equipped with a Zimo decoder (£270). The analogue model is priced at £160.
Five models announced
A good cross-section of the Class 59 fleet is included in the first batch which will have the classic silver Foster Yeoman theme on No. 59005 Kenneth J Painter. ARC is represented by
No. 59103 Village of Mells whilst a single representative of the six National Power locomotives is represented by No. 59204.
More up-to-date is No. 59206 John F. Yeoman in DB Cargo red and Hanson Aggregates No. 59104 Village of
Great Elm. The last of the five models is Aggregate Industries No. 59001 Yeoman Endeavour.
Limited edition models have been announced by retailers including
No. 59003 Yeoman Highlander decorated in GB Railfreight livery together with G&W Freightliner No. 59206 John F. Yeoman
by Rails of Sheffield. More details can be found at www.dapol.co.uk.