The battle of the N Gauge Class 59s is heating up with Dapol showing EP samples of their forthcoming N Gauge model.
Both Dapol and Revolution Trains are producing N Gauge models of the first American built Electro-Motive Diesel locomotives to enter service in the UK.
The Class 59 is Dapol's latest 'Next Generation' Diesel model, incorporating a re-designed chassis and electronics. The model will have the same impressive technical specification as can be found with the N Gauge Class 50 & N Gauge Glass 68.
Smooth running 5 pole next generation motor
All wheel pickup, all-wheel drive via re-worked smooth drive low maintenance mechanism.
Die-cast chassis
DCC Sound ready, Next-18 decoder socket (recommended 6 function decoder)
Independent directional front/rear main lighting control
Switchable day/night lights (DC & DCC)
Main lamp and cab lighting override switches for DC users (Independent front/rear control)
Removable self-centring close coupling mechanism with NEM pockets
Standard NEM fitting N Gauge couplers
RP 25 wheels
Detailed body and fittings
Printed name plates (where applicable)
Accessory bag with etched nameplates and detailed buffer beam fittings
Clip-fit body for easy DCC fitting
All Factory fitted DCC Locomotives will be fitted with Dapol’s Imperium Next 18 decoder
All Factory Sound fitted models will be fitted with a Zimo Decoder and prototypical sound recording
Dapol highlight that the EP is not necessarily intended to represent a single locomotive at this stage, rather provide an overview of the model as a whole. To help give an understanding of the degree of detail diversity that is incorporated into the tooling suite Dapol have created a list below of the various physical/decorative differences that can be accommodated:
Three main versions – class 59/0, 59/1 and 59/2
Three cab front ends
Three and four Row air cooler types
Can be modelled with or without external fire bottles
Two styles of cab door handles
Rubber and metal style cabside windows
Can be modelled with or without yaw dampeners
Two types of silencer
Left and Right exhaust positions catered for in the tooling
Can be modelled with or without the Exhaust end GSMR Antenna
Various damper configurations are catered for
With or without Buckeye coupling (where applicable)
Many other details catered for
As has now become a standard feature with Dapol’s next generation N Gauge models as much functionality has been built into the model, even for the analogue modeller. A bank of switches is neatly hidden behind the exhaust system. The exhaust is held in place with 4 small clips with just the right amount of strength to hold it in place whilst still being easy enough to pop out without the worry of causing damage to the model. Because the exhaust is separate on the prototype, on the model this completely hidden.
Of the finer detailing, Dapol state:
Dapol has elected to use finely moulded roof and body side grilles on the Class 59 model. This provides a far closer to scale appearance as well as allowing for a better representation of the 3D “waffle” appearance that the grilles have on the prototype. Roof and underframe details can be seen in the photographs below.
The high level of detail on this models continues down to the bogies and into the cab. The bogies are exquisitely modelled with several versions of the bogies available to accurately portray the variations that can be seen through the lifespan of the prototype locomotives. The dials that appear in the cab of the prototype are also represented in the Dapol N Gauge version and can just be made out in the photograph below.
Dapol are modelling three cab fronts to ensure the different types of lighting arrangements are catered for in our tooling suite.
In conjunction with reviewing the EP itself the design team are also reviewing a huge number of detail parts that have arrived in the form of first shots, a small selection of them are shown in the photograph below. Unfortunately the moldings that represent the cab windows is not particularly evident in the photograph but while we are touching on the subject it is worth noting that the detail variations for the windows are all self-contained within the window moulding rather than the body shell. This gives us more flexibility as to what windows are used and potentially should a new window style ever came into existence we can incorporate this later if it is felt necessary.
Proposed Models & RRP
Dapol are proposing to produce a total of Seven Class 59 locomotives in the first production run. These are listed below:
2D-005-000 Class 59 59005 Foster Yeoman silver "Kenneth J Painter"
2D-005-001 Class 59 59103 ARC "Village of Mells"
2D-005-002 Class 59 59206 DB Schenker “John F Yeoman”
2D-005-003 Class 59 59204 National Power Blue
2D-005-004 Class 59 59104 Hanson “Village of Great Elm”
2D-005-005 Class 59 59001 Aggregate Industries “Yeoman Endeavour”
2D-005-006 Class 59 59201 EWS “Vale of York”
The recomended retail price of these models is:
DCC Ready: £160.00
DCC Fitted: £190.00
DCC Sound Fitted: £270.00
Dapol announced some time ago that it was actively looking at each of its sound fitted model projects and where possible releasing them on general release to help support our stockist network and Sound Fitted Class 59 models will be available to pre-order from Dapol stockists soon.
For more information vist the Dapol Website