Pre Grouping fan 331 Posted November 21 2 hours ago, 159220 said: I too am a tad worries about this, the body sample of 66783 is too 'orange' yet what strikes me is the packaging now seen on 66504 page is very similar to Dapol's. I have found Dapol always get the GBRf orange (well it is actually called gold by GBRf) wrong, it would seem Hattons are using the same factory so this does not look promising. I am not ordering any 66 until I can see them by my eye and not on a screen. As perhaps it shall look fine in real world settings? If the factory has actually used the Pantone spec, it should be correct. If they have matched it to the closest RAL, it is going to be too dark. I have put these questions to Hattons Dave before without reply. A manufacturer who does not want to interact with customers, gives me more hesitation to want to give that said company a penny of my disposable income. I am worried about the GBRf colours on the 66s, if wrong. I just hope and pray Bachmann shall re-tool their 66 and offer throughout their retail network! I think they learnt customer interaction with the Genesis project, there's been many changes and the additional 6 wheel full brake because of customer feedback on here and elsewhere. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris37422 162 Posted November 21 4 hours ago, 159220 said: I just hope and pray Bachmann shall re-tool their 66 and offer throughout their retail network! Seems a bit of an extreme comment to make but each to their own. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdvle 940 Posted November 21 5 hours ago, 159220 said: I just hope and pray Bachmann shall re-tool their 66 and offer throughout their retail network! The last thing Bachmann needs at this point is yet another duplicate high end model, they need to invest their tooling resources into a model where they can be the likely only option at the detailed end of the market. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atom3624 354 Posted November 21 I thought Bachmann just about got it spot on - unlike the 70 which is WAY too light despite the detail - but this Hattons 66 has quite simply moved the ball quite a lot further up the pitch, ready for Harry Kane to net it, shall we say. Al. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
7013 1,028 Posted November 21 Bachmann are highly unlikely to retool their 66 at this stage, what would be the point? Hattons have moved the 66 to its zenith really and Bachmann would be wiser pursuing other models. As has been pointed out, the Bachmann Cl 70 is a bit lightweight despite the detail, so that could be vulnerable to another retailer/manufacturer producing one up to Hattons 66 standard. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newbryford 36,384 Posted November 21 17 minutes ago, 7013 said: Bachmann are highly unlikely to retool their 66 at this stage, what would be the point? Hattons have moved the 66 to its zenith really and Bachmann would be wiser pursuing other models. As has been pointed out, the Bachmann Cl 70 is a bit lightweight despite the detail, so that could be vulnerable to another retailer/manufacturer producing one up to Hattons 66 standard. Digressing from the main item. There isn't a lot wrong with the 70 apart from the weight. As there is very little room inside the body, this can only really improved by using a much denser material than mazak, and/or replacing the moulded lower solebar/framing with a cast one There are however, ways of improving the haulage capability with careful use of magnets and steel plates. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atom3624 354 Posted November 22 As you say, digressing, and meddling to the extent of iron plates and magnets obviously works, but is a bit OTT - I suppose that is what our hobby is in the search of realism. I just found it disappointing when I had one, finding the Bachmann 66 had no problem with a big rake of bogie hoppers, but the so-called British-based railways powerhouse 70 couldn't touch it - so I sold it! Back to HATTONS' 66 - not long to go now, and can't wait - should be excellent by all accounts, and several 'unveiling video' could be interesting. If any of you out there do these, how about an 'independent comparison' between the 2, or more, particularly wrt performance - smoothness, slow, fast, load hauling? Al. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete the Elaner 1,471 Posted November 22 20 hours ago, 159220 said: I just hope and pray Bachmann shall re-tool their 66 and offer throughout their retail network! Why would they do that? There is no market for one. If you want a high quality one & are prepared to pay, the Hattons one is suitable & has stolen the market from Bachmann. If you are not prepared to pay that price & would accept a less detailed one, Hornby have a model. There seems little point in doing an 'in between' one. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
7013 1,028 Posted November 22 Just a query, is there anything different about the Freightliner Powerhaul liveried 66s and the 'normal' liveried Freightliner 66s? Or is it just to signify their different sphere of work? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Saunders 1,528 Posted November 22 6 minutes ago, 7013 said: Just a query, is there anything different about the Freightliner Powerhaul liveried 66s and the 'normal' liveried Freightliner 66s? Or is it just to signify their different sphere of work? This is just a newer livery applied on repaint and now superseded by Genesee & Wyoming house colours! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir TophamHatt 892 Posted November 22 23 hours ago, 159220 said: I just hope and pray Bachmann shall re-tool their 66 and offer throughout their retail network! So unlikely that it's not worth thinking about. Wasn't there a video about the GBRF colours? I'm sure I gleened from that they even they (GBRF) changed the colour tone. When it got sun bleeched, it seemed like no loco had the same colour tone. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atom3624 354 Posted November 22 If Bachmann retool their 66 just to 'compete at the same level' as the Hattons' 66, it will both confirm that they accept their current 66 is inferior and also consign their current 66 to the 'half-price brigade' as they won't sell any more. I don't think it's that far off, it's a superb model, just that the Hattons' 66 has moved the level higher again. The Bachmann is definitely NOT Railroad grade. It's far better than that, just not as good as the Hattons' seems to be ... Al. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adb968008 5,512 Posted November 23 A couple of close ups of the 66’s. Large Logo Blue will be in stock next month, in batch 2 (which is mostly the newer liveries G&W, Pink one etc). I do like the paint finishes on these, perhaps the DRS is a tad glossy but they’ve got these pretty much on to my eyes when looking at them in person 8 2 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernMafia 954 Posted November 23 That GBRf orange still looks too dark, it will change in different lighting conditions I'm sure, but I'm not convinced it looks right, even if it is the correct shade. Also, one end has a big gap in the front for the NEM coupling, if the front is one part, how does the lower valence bit get swapped over, if at all, for the correct solid piece? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
34theletterbetweenB&D 9,315 Posted November 23 Bogie footsteps. There seems to be a somewhat random distribution of alignments with the bodyside step, in the above most useful selection of photographs posted by adb968008. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Black Hat 1,449 Posted November 23 33 minutes ago, SouthernMafia said: That GBRf orange still looks too dark, it will change in different lighting conditions I'm sure, but I'm not convinced it looks right, even if it is the correct shade. Also, one end has a big gap in the front for the NEM coupling, if the front is one part, how does the lower valence bit get swapped over, if at all, for the correct solid piece? Going to say that I think shade for 66756 looks ok and as I have said before you need to check the GBRf 66s carefully as they were painted in batches. The main ones will be 66740 as that should be different to 66756. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
7013 1,028 Posted November 23 I do not know enough about 66s to comment on shades of yellow/orange or the alignment of foot steps etc. However looking at the detail on the bogies and the variations according to operator these locos look like they are going to be hugely popular. I have two on order and will be pleased as punch when they arrive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary_lner 27 Posted November 23 4 hours ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said: Bogie footsteps. There seems to be a somewhat random distribution of alignments with the bodyside step, in the above most useful selection of photographs posted by adb968008. It's quite possible the ones on show today arnt the final production samples. In the photos that Dave posted on the previous page of final production samples they look to be in line. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sirwilliamfrs 20 Posted November 24 (edited) 21 hours ago, SouthernMafia said: Also, one end has a big gap in the front for the NEM coupling, if the front is one part, how does the lower valence bit get swapped over, if at all, for the correct solid piece? It's all in here and looks like a brilliant idea! http://images.hattons.co.uk/mediaimages/General instructions - pdf.pdf Edited November 24 by sirwilliamfrs 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
john new 928 Posted November 24 (edited) 19 minutes ago, sirwilliamfrs said: It's all in here and looks like a brilliant idea! http://images.hattons.co.uk/mediaimages/General instructions - pdf.pdf So if I’ve read that right only one coupling enabled end is supplied plus a blank. How do we order the second coupling and slotted air dam so as to have a coupling at both ends? Edited November 24 by john new Typo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
franciswilliamwebb 86 Posted November 24 2 minutes ago, john new said: So if I’ve read that right only one coupling end is supplied . How do we order the second coupling and slotted air dam so as to have a coupling at both ends You've not read it right, fortunately, you get two of each. One of each on the loco and one of each separately. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James Makin 4,036 Posted November 24 I was looking at them in the display cabinet yesterday, very shiny and exciting! My eyes were all over the EWS 66005 I’m shortly going to buy, from first impressions, the bodyside EWS lettering looked *perhaps* a little ‘skinny’ compared to the bulk of the number digits though, but probably subjective and easily sorted with some new decals as part of the renumbering process anyway! We don’t want every layout having a 66005 otherwise, doh! I was in in-depth mid-thought on this lettering topic when a friendly Hattons staff member saw me gazing lovingly up at the cabinet containing my next purchase and I had to stutter out some random words that hopefully sounded something like ‘it looked good in the plastic’ Looking forward to it lads 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilux5972 1,662 Posted November 24 Did anyone get any close up images of the Royal Scotsman bodies? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilux5972 1,662 Posted November 24 4 hours ago, sirwilliamfrs said: It's all in here and looks like a brilliant idea! http://images.hattons.co.uk/mediaimages/General instructions - pdf.pdf Looking at the images in that link, the buffers and piping are all part of the air dam moulding? Or am I missing something. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YesTor 463 Posted November 24 (edited) On 24/11/2019 at 13:43, James Makin said: My eyes were all over the EWS 66005 I’m shortly going to buy, from first impressions, the bodyside EWS lettering looked *perhaps* a little ‘skinny’ compared to the bulk of the number digits though, but probably subjective... Agreed on the EWS lettering looking 'thinner'/lighter than the number font. This was raised several months ago when the pre-production shots first emerged, so if it is still the case on the production sample of 66005, then it seems as though this was not corrected, ignored, or deemed to be correct as it stands. I'm glad that someone else has picked-up on it though. I'm in a similar mindset with regard to the 'Barbie' liveried GBRf versions in that the bodyside GBRf text and loco numbering appear somewhat 'slender'. I did mention this again to Dave at Warley, although he is adamant that having worked from official GBRf spec that it is indeed correct. While I agree that the GBRf text on 'Barbie' livery is/was somewhat 'thinner' than the text/logo of GBRf's current livery, I'm still not entirely convinced that it's quite as slender as it is now portrayed on the model, which to my eye still appears somewhat too thin. Benefit of the doubt etc... although I'm happy to be proved entirely wrong of course. Al Edited November 27 by YesTor 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites