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I have 2 66, both sound fitted locos. The colas one has ran fine from day one, the only issues being the axle box on one of the centre wheels etc on one bogie keeps throwing out as soon as the loco moves, it doesn't fall off, just hangs out by about 3mm. It can be pushed back but soon pushes out again. It seems the centre wheels et has more play in it from side to side, which causes the axle box to throw out. If I move it wheels etc side to side it does just that. On my other 66, same issue, but I have a wobble mainly at one end. On the dcc concepts rolling road I can see that one of the leading wheelsets seems not to be fully in contact with the rollers and furthermore it also runs out of true, this seems to cause the wobble. Now one strange thing that happens is that when running on the RR in one direction only at a moderate speed, the motor will suddenly slow down for around a second, then resume normal speed. When it does this, a high pitched noise comes from the motor. It does this around every 2 to 3 minutes of running, only one direction though, the faster I run it the more often it will suddenly slow down. It run perfectly fine in opposite direction and the sound is unaffected when it happens. I've also noted that at low speed steps, between 1 and 5..It is very jerky in the direction that has the above issue, in the opposite direction it's fine. I use an NCE power cab control system and have tried it on speed steps 28 and 128. In normal operation, to get the loco moving I wind the controller upto around 6, this allows a pretty gentle start. In the hattons manual it says not to alter any cv settings as they could effect or prevent programmed cv setting from working correctly.

i dont know if its been mentioned in the past, I cant see it anywhere, but regarding liveries and the forthcoming release of the paddington bear version, the in service units have the waistline silver stripe lower down the body, just on the part where the body curves inwards. The first version, although in the correct place for that model, the Hornby paddington bear has carried it over, which is incorrect from the prototype. I let the Hornby FB page know (with images) and they said they would pass it to the design dept. I would guess its probably to late for the next release though.

Ive also noticed, but not seen if anyone else may have, but the silver waistband line decal is too high, being just below the windows. On 'in service' units its placed just where the body curves inwards towards the bottom. Also on the 1st class driving car, there are 2 'disabled' labels by the rear door. So yes, from my original post i do hope the next batch will have the changes corrected as noted here and in Model rail mag.

The Dapol 68 drs was an error with the livery application, now all sorted with new batches. I hope the next batch of 800's will feature the correct colour doors, first class logo, CCTV door cameras ( i think thats what they are ) by the destination displays are black (not grey, but nothing a touch of paint cant sort out) and also the application of coach seating lables by the doors....little niggles, but that said, its a start that can be improved on, i will certainly get one when it does

Will Hornby do a re-release (second batch) with the standard GWR grey doors as per the standard fleet.

also noticed, as it caught my eye, the chiltern ones in my pics and on many you tube vids also dont have the small handrails below the cab window by the red connector sockets.....never a dull moment i guess.

The photos i have are from when they were first introduced, i have one of 10,that shows none fitted, not even fixing brackets for future fitment, but looks as it they were fitted at a later date then.

Received my 68002 on saturday...had the issue of one wonky nameplate, so took the knife to it, and repositioned it correctly. On another note, regarding the Chiltern version, on photos i have of the real thing, they do not have front cab handrails above the buffers, but the models do..anyone noticed this !!