Class 66 in OO Gauge - New Announcement

[atom3624 472]

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.

[Pete the Elaner 1,713]

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.

[7013 1,102]

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?

[Mark Saunders 1,656]

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This is just a newer livery applied on repaint and now superseded by Genesee & Wyoming house colours!

[Sir TophamHatt 1,104]

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.

[atom3624 472]

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.

[adb968008 5,955]

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

[SouthernMafia 977]

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?

[34theletterbetweenB&D 9,619]

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.

[The Black Hat 1,487]

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. 

[7013 1,102]

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. 

[gary_lner 27]

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.

[sirwilliamfrs 20]

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, 2019 by sirwilliamfrs

[john new 996]

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, 2019 by john new
Typo

[franciswilliamwebb 89]

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.

[James Makin 4,265]

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 

[Hilux5972 1,790]

Did anyone get any close up images of the Royal Scotsman bodies?

[Hilux5972 1,790]

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. 

[YesTor 511]

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, 2019 by YesTor

[john new 996]

4 hours ago, Hilux5972 said:

Looking at the images in that link, the buffers and piping are all part of the air dam moulding? Or am I missing something. 

 

I would see that as a positive, not negative, but I am sure others will have a differing perspective. Hopefully if it is one moulding that is one less fiddly small bit to knock off. I don't have the luxury of a permanent layout (it sits in the spare bedroom between family stop over visits) so small, vulnerable, bits can be problematic.

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by john new

[Hilux5972 1,790]

1 hour ago, john new said:

 

I would see that as a positive, not negative, but I am sure others will have a differing perspective. Hopefully if it is one moulding that is one less fiddly small bit to knock off. I don't have the luxury of a permanent layout (it sits in the spare bedroom between family stop over visits) so small, vulnerable, bits can be problematic.

 

I agree that it would be a positive. Just replace the whole thing in one go, rather than remove the buffers and all piping and refit to the other part.

[sirwilliamfrs 20]

On 24/11/2019 at 12:48, john new said:

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?

 

I still find it odd that Hattons refer to the obstacle deflector as an air dam. If the loco was capable of 150 mph plus...then maybe....! 

[Vecchio 2,184]

just was at the Hatton's page for another pre-order when I noticed that since pre-ordering the class 66 almost all details changed - well my name is the same , but new phone number because of new job and credit card changed for some fraud reasons.... quickly updated everything, otherwise no loco will be at my doorstep 

so guys - it is quite some time since Hatton's announced the 66 - have you updated your details??

[stock_2007 182]

4 hours ago, Vecchio said:

just was at the Hatton's page for another pre-order when I noticed that since pre-ordering the class 66 almost all details changed - well my name is the same https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/emoticons/default_tongue.png, but new phone number because of new job and credit card changed for some fraud reasons.... quickly updated everything, otherwise no loco will be at my doorstep https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/emoticons/default_angry.png

so guys - it is quite some time since Hatton's announced the 66 - have you updated your details??

The men makes a very good point

[ellocoloco 31]

The concept of removable 'air dams' is fairly standard.............I would expect the units to come with all hoses and scale couplings on Hattons new 66. Attaching them with screws is a nice idea. Others I have seen are clip fits which can weaken over time.

 

LHS Hornby ALCo DL500S HE3109    Extra buffers attached

RHS Roco EMD J16CW/AC R43833