DRS Crewe On A Mission

Thank you both for the replies and information, it’s greatly appreciated. I must have missed that piece of information and image with the roof removed. It’s excellent to hear and see that fitting decoders will be easy. Thank you. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran and everyone at Accurascale, I hope you are all well? Just a quick question. Will your Class 31 and Class 50 models have the removable roof in order to fit a DCC Decoder or DCC Sound Decoder? If not then what will the method be to do this? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi Fran and everyone at Accurascale, I hope you are all well? I just thought I would post a constructive comment regarding the original Hattons Class 66 tooling and the improvements you are making to the tooling now that it’s yours. I have this week been working on three of Hattons models and a couple of things have crossed my mind that require improving on your model. Firstly, on the Hattons model at one end they pre-fitted some of the detailing parts and this then had to removed should you wish to fit the NEM coupling as I have by removing the bodyshell fully and undoing screws to remove said detailing and to fit the NEM pocket and coupling. This is a bit of a faff to do because you can damage the detailing parts you are removing and when fitting the NEM pocket and coupling. So just to confirm on the 66 tooling now it’s yours will they arrive with customers with NEM pockets and couplings fitted at both ends with detailing parts in a bag as the Class 37s have done, for customers that wish to fit those parts? The second point I just want to make is that during production can you ensure that all of the detailing especially grilles and fans etc, the bigger and most noticeable of detailing parts are well fitted to the models? On the FL 66587 model in ONE livery I have been working on, before I had even finished doing the bits and pieces necessary to the model one of the large bodyside grilles had come off completely and whilst I have managed to superglue it back on, it’s not something that you really want to be doing to new models. It’s the same with the grilled area on the roof, they don’t seem to be fixed that securely into position and just by gently placing your finger on them, they feel like they are going to come off too. Lastly, am I correct in thinking that now the tooling is yours access to fit a DCC Decoder or DCC Sound Decoder will be through the removable roof section as per the Class 37? If so this would be brilliant because it would save removing and refitting the bodyshell and risk damaging detailing parts, knocking them off or both. I just thought I would post this comment to try and make this Class 66 the best that it can be. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you everyone for all of the replies and information, it’s greatly appreciated. I bought some WD40 Contact Cleaner recently but the track is fairly clean at the moment and I haven’t needed to clean any wheels of locos or stock so I haven’t used it yet. When I do use it though I will post a comment on here about how I found it and what I think to it. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you to everyone for all of your replies, information and assistance. It’s greatly appreciated. The WD40 Contact Cleaner sounds excellent to use for the things that we are discussing. I wasn’t even aware that WD40 produced a contact cleaner until I started this thread, so it’s really good to know. I will definitely buy some and give it a go. It sounds like it works well and doesn’t do any harm to metals or plastics. I have just checked the price of it too and for a tenner we can get a decent sized can, so that’s also a bonus. Out of interest how long have you been using the WD40 contact cleaner for? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you to everyone for the replies and information, it’s greatly appreciated. In relation to the WD40 Contact Cleaner, can this be used on all wheels of locos, wagons and coaching stock? Also can it be used on railheads? Once applied and rubbed onto wheels of locos, wagons, coaching stock and railheads can the contact cleaner just be left on or should it be then wiped off? Also, would applying with cotton buds onto wheels of locos, wagons and coaching stock be suitable and applying to railheads with cloth be suitable? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the reply and information, it’s greatly appreciated. I will have a look on EBay for some 91%+ IPA and order some. I will continue using the cotton buds for ears because these do seem to work quite well in terms of the fibres not coming off. Thank you for all of the help. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi everyone, Sorry for the delay in replying. Thank you for all of the replies, help and information, it’s greatly appreciated. A few of the replies suggest that Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is good to use on wheels of locos, wagons, coaches and rail heads on track so I might give this a try. A quick search online shows it is available from Amazon and specific adverts say that it is suitable for modelling purposes. Can I just buy any IPA that says this or do I need to look for anything more specific on the adverts for IPA before I buy? In relation to cotton buds, these are excellent and I already use these and I have done for a few years. I use the ones meant for cleaning ears as I find that the fibres don’t come off of these and onto wheels of locos and stock and railheads easily, meaning that they don’t become stuck to and entangled onto stock and rails. Are these the best to use or would anyone advise any different types of cotton buds? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

This set is now £330. If anyone is interested send me a message. Kind Regards, Danny.

Admitted to the Eastleigh Arlington Works paint facility on Tuesday 28th March 2023, 37611 has today been noted in Rail Operations Group livery. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you very much for the quick reply, it’s greatly appreciated. Yes if I can’t manage to sort it out I will send you an email. Thank you for the help. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi all, So my model of 37423 in DRS Basic livery arrived yesterday afternoon. In general and on the whole I’m really pleased with the model but there are a few niggles, one which is more noticeable and significant than the others. The first niggle is that one of the warning flashes near to the cab end is creased and not flat on the paintwork, the second niggle is that their is a small mark to the blue paintwork towards one of the cab ends. The third niggle and this is the most noticeable and significant is that when I have tested the loco on my few pieces of track on analogue (as it hasn’t got sound or any other decoder fitted yet) it wobbles. It’s not a huge wobble but still noticeable. It only wobbles when moving back and fourth on the test track and when sat stationary it doesn’t fall off of the track. All of the wheels appear to be sat correctly on the track, so I’m unsure what the issue is because I can’t see anything obvious. Is this normal and is anyone else experiencing this? On a more positive note the basic directional lighting features all work, obviously I can’t test cab lighting, console and engine room lighting as it isn’t fitted with a decoder yet. All of the detailing that came fitted to the model was still attached when I opened it, so hopefully this shows that this issue has been addressed from the niggles in this area with the Class 55, so this is excellent. Another huge positive is that the livery application is superb when considering the Basic livery on 423 sits on top of the bodyside grilles. The model was well packaged with bubble wrap and a large cardboard box. The box that the model comes in is excellent as it is quite thick and there are layers of foam to protect the model. I also really like the amount of information booklets and sheets supplied with the model, with precise and accurate information presented to buyers. For example, informing buyers of in what circumstances and where to lubricate the model and using what products. This is especially useful to people like me who have gained more locos in recent years, especially Accurascale locos and therefore more locos to maintain and I am getting to the point where more locos are starting to need more maintenance. The tea stains on the back of one booklet is a really nice touch and nod to reality and authenticity. Their is also a large detailing bag which I have yet to open that supplies many extra parts for buyers to fit. Something I also like is that their is no ridge or seam on the noses. The lift off roof to access lighting switches and fitment of a decoder is fantastic, because it’s so much easier than the traditional way of separating the chassis and bodyshell, undoing screws and in the process detailing parts of the model then falling off. It’s also good because the roof doesn’t easily just fly off, it has to have some force applied as it’s a magnetic system that’s used, so no one has to have the worry of the roof just falling off. So on the whole I’m really pleased with the model, I would just like to try and get the model to run without wobbling. If anyone from Accurascale can help with the slight issue of wobbling it would be greatly appreciated. I hope this information is of use as feedback to both buyers and Accurascale themselves. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well? I wonder if anyone can help me please? What does everyone use to clean wheels of locos, wagons, coaching stock and track? I ask because I have been using Tec Tane Contact Spray from a DIY shop for the past few years but I’m just wondering what other people use and if any better products are available out there? I’m just wanting something that is safe to be used on models and something that will remove dirt easily without having to be generously applied to wheels and track because I am mindful that this can do more harm than good. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

This model is still for sale if anyone is interested. Kind Regards, Danny.

This model is still for sale if anyone is interested. Kind Regards, Danny.

This model is still for sale if anyone is interested. Kind Regards, Danny.

This model is now available for just £110. If anyone is interested send me a message. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the reply and information, it’s greatly appreciated. So basically anything that moves apart from the brushes and commutator can and should be lubricated. The moving parts to be lubricated, is the E-Lube lite oil that I have already used for the driving wheel axles ok to be used for these parts too? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the reply and information, it’s greatly appreciated. If the lubricant which was applied at the factory during production has solidified how will I remove it? I’m thinking that I will attempt to remove the solidified lubricant first before applying fresh lubricant. Thank you for the link to the service sheet. Sorry for the daft question but where else apart from the driving wheel axles should I apply the lubricant to? Looking at the service sheet I can see the motor which is part one on the diagram, the motor bracket labelled as part three and the driveshaft as part four. Which part/s should I apply lubricant to? Also is the E-Lube I have already used for the driving wheel axles ok to be used on these parts too? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help me please? I’m going to try and explain my situation the best that I can. As many of you know I have been buying models for a few years now. In recent years I have become more conscious of cleaning the models specifically the wheels of locos and more recently applying E-Lube to driving wheel axles of locos. I use Tec Tane Contact Spray to clean the wheels of locos, wagons and coaches. I do this by spraying a small amount on a cotton ear cleaning bud and just gentle rubbing each wheel to remove the dirt. I have always found that this seems to remove dirt easily and thoroughly and has never damaged any locos to my knowledge provided its used in small sprays. At the end of last year I bought a tube Hob-E-Lube Lite Oil Product Code HL654 from Woodland Scenics because I had read an instruction leaflet that came in with a Bachmann Class 20/3 loco saying that if the driving wheel axles on locos appear dry and no lubricant is visible then to apply a small amount of E-Lube to each driving wheel axle. I haven’t used this E-Lube on any of my locos or stock before, I have just used the contact spray I have mentioned above to remove dirt from the wheels of locos and stock. I have recently used the E-Lube by Woodland Scenics on a Bachmann Class 57/3 diesel as it makes a bit of groaning sound when running at slower speed steps, so I thought as I have owned the model for seven years and it has recently come out of the display cabinet having not been used for two and a half years or so, that this may cure the noise. I have applied a small amount of E-Lube using a toothpick to each driving wheel axle on the loco and then I turned the loco upside down for a day or so, so that the E-Lube didn’t drip back out and I didn’t run the loco. After a day or just over I put the loco back on the track and tried running it hoping that the noise may have reduced or gone completely. I have ran the loco in both directions and light engine and with a wagon load attached to attempt to bed in the E-Lube and nothing has changed. The groaning noise is still there and is noticeable when the loco is running at slower speeds for example speed steps three and four. Please can anyone advise on what to do or if I am doing anything wrong? Do I need to apply the E-Lube to other areas of the model as well as the driving wheel axles on locos? If so where do I need to apply it? Or have I bought the incorrect type of E-Lube, for example should I have gone for something more heavier and not the ‘Lite Oil’ E-Lube that I have used? Also is the Tec Tane Contact Spray I am using to clean the wheels of locos and stock ok to use, and it won’t have caused the groaning noise on the loco? I have used this particular contact spray for years and as far as I am aware it has never caused any problems and always seems to have cleaned the wheels of locos and stock well. Or should I be using another product to clean the wheels of locos and stock? Any help would be greatly appreciated because I am trying to get better at cleaning and maintaining my stock, I just lack the knowledge in certain areas. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Thank you for the reply, it’s greatly appreciated. That is what I meant. So their isn’t any further Class 37s in this batch and their isn’t any retailer Limited Editions/Exclusives in this batch? Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

Another excellent announcement Accurascale. I know that many of us have been waiting for the announcement of the second batch of 37s. Just a quick question, apart from the eight models announced today, 37714 for the Heavy Tractor Group which was announced a while ago, and one Accurascale Exclusive to be announced is this all of the models that will be in the second batch? Are there no retailer Limited Editions/Exclusives in the second batch? I ask because I’m going to wait until all of the models for batch two are announced before pre-ordering any as my mind may change on which models to buy with the funds I have. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards, Danny.

You’re more than welcome and the list is really useful. It’s good to be able to access all of the liveries and variations listed in one place. I’ve just thought about Freightliner 66413. This is the one that is a different shade of orange to the other FL 66s. It’s a lighter shade of orange than the others. If I remember correctly this was the first 66 to be repainted and it was undertaken at Crewe LNWR. Update: 66413 carries the nameplate ‘Lest We Forget’ and a crest with a poppy on saying ‘Thank you’. Keep up the excellent work. Kind Regards, Danny.

You’re more than welcome and yes it certainly has been useful. Even as a follower of the 66s I didn’t realise just how many different liveries, variations and special liveries their is now. I have also just thought of another livery. GBRf 66723-66732 inclusive carried the First ‘Barbie’ Purple livery. And another one is some of the ex DRS but Freightliner operated 66/4s ran around in DRS Debranded Blue with the original ‘block’ type Freightliner logos on the cab ends and cab sides. I can’t remember which specific locos looked like this but I know that it did exist because Bachmann produced 66418 in this condition for Kernow. Kind Regards, Danny.

Yes I believe 66614 is the only exception, but this was unique/a one off and not applied to the fleet as standard. The large Powerhaul style decals on the bodysides are not applied to any other member of the Freightliner fleet that wears Freightliner Green as far as I am aware. The image of 66614 is excellent because it shows what I mean in relation to the updated/new Freightliner logos on the cab ends and cab sides. These updated logos have been applied to many members of the Freightliner fleet during refurbishment. Yes it did and Bachmann and Hattons have never produced this livery either, so this would also be a good choice for Accurascale. I don’t think I mentioned this earlier because I think it was already on the list. Kind Regards, Danny.