DAPOL CLASS 86 REVISITED

Dapol's ‘N' gauge Class 86 was released in late April 2010 and has been released in a variety of liveries including Virgin Trains, Rail Express Systems, Freightliner and InterCity ‘Swallow'. A special edition collection in 1970s BR blue was offered by C&M Models too. The first models were fitted with Sommerfeldt pantographs which were soon replaced on later releases with a posable plastic pantographs produced by Dapol which included the Stone Faiveley type and a slightly over-size Brecknell Willis type. The pantographs were also sold in blister packs for those wishing to replace the Sommerfeldt one.

The model was well received at the time and 11 years later, stands up well when viewed against later

‘N' gauge releases. Its all-wheel drive system together with split axle current collection and removable bogies was not a typical standard with British outline ‘N' gauge at the time, yet produces some very fine performances.

It has turned out to be a reliable model which lends itself to repainting and detailing projects as this article demonstrates. It is simple to dismantle and strip for painting projects and its moulded detail is sufficiently defined to take model paints which are thicker than average. It remains a firm favourite on the author's ‘N' gauge West Midlands layout.

EWS No. 86261 is one of the earlier releases of the Dapol Class 86. Dapol produced its own model of the Stone Faiveley pantograph after fitting the models with Sommerfeldt ones. The body shell captured the shape and character of the Class 86 well. The powerful all-wheel drive chassis with its split-axle current collection makes the Class 86 an excellent performing model and as good as current ‘N' gauge models.

West Coast Main Line passenger locomotives were released in the form of InterCity No. 86213 and Virgin Trains No. 86229. Both are from the first batch of models and are shown with the Sommerfeldt pantographs fitted from new.

Freightliner green was applied to one model which was numbered as a Class 86/6, No. 86621. While the TDM equipment was moulded, the plates covering the holes where the original Class 86 multiple working jumpers had been removed are not modelled.