DapolDave

Hi Dave, Not going to get more "as factory" as the blue one on BCB (Andy's sample), which is from the production run! :-) Cheers Dave

Typical, I'm on a rail fanning photo trip of Ohio's railroad hotspots :-(

Hi Martin, I am in the process of putting Ian (Leggomanbiffo) togetehr with the WLA at the SVR to record D1062 when she comes out of winter hibernation. (might be 6-8 weeks away) Between them they should get the definitive sound recording of one of these beasts. Cheers Dave

Something 'Western" this way comes!!!!! :-) Delayed in transit through the Suez by 3 days, I'm glad to say that the Westerns are now 'feet dry' at Southampton and we hope to have them fast shipped to us for Tuesday. If this happens 'Steam' at Swindon should get their launch models about Thursday, but I'll keep you all posted tomorrow. BR Blue and BR green are very close behind these (a week I believe) so get your orders in for them now. Cheers Dave

But whatever you do, don't forget the 1inch height difference on 'certain plates' that the loco number plate doesn't have either. Did these change? Not sure myself, so probably not. Talking of nameplates, they were terrible, as the edge beading (there weren't a single 1 piece casting) would come off quite easily in fact. Cheers Dave

Hi Matt, the list is as follows; 2D-002-000 D406 BR Blue (unrefurbished) 2D-002-001 50043 BR Blue (unrefurbished) 2D-002-002 50040 'Leviathan' BR Large Logo Blue (refurbished) 2D-002-003 50037 'Illustrious' Original NSE (refurbished) DCC fitted versions alos available for the models above. And there will be, in coming months a few special editions announced for a third party too. cheers Dave

Thanks Mark, At the minute i would say apart from DCC compatibility it's no better than the current GF offering, but change what i need them to change and it should be the definitive N gauge class 50 with working lights and DCC compatibility out of the box. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, here attached are the first cad/cam pictures of the class 50 Diesel loco in N gauge. They were rushed through just before the start of Chinese New Year, and are filled with errors, which to be honest, arent hard to see. Hybrid roof, front end peaked window ledge and step height, bodyside window missing, sockets missing the coup;ling box out too far, to name but a few. Still, it's a work in progress. Cheers Dave

phew, good news Chris, i look forward to the review with anticipation. cheers Dave

It was worth the £3.62 i paid him, i can tell you However i'd like a receipt for the money please Andy as it's a legitimate Dapol expense and can be claimed back cheers Dave

Hi chaps, the D1000 models and the D1062 models all have nameplates and lift rings factory fitted as befits their very exclusive status. Hope this helps. cheers Dave

Hi guys, Just to confirm what Andy says, and add a little. The first models (D1000 Western Enterprise) dock on Tuesday witht the remote possibility that they will be with us on Friday to dispatch to Swindon immediately. However this always never runs that smoothly so i envisage we will dispatch them in time for arrival at 'Steam' around the 12-14 feb. And here's what i have been doing the last couple of days, and as much as i tried they wouldnt give me the plate to take home :-( http://www.swindonlink.com/news/brand-new-model-engine-on-offer-at-steam-swindon http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/10197104.A_rail_chance_to_purchase_a_little_piece_of_loco_history/?ref=rss As for the other Westerns, the Green and 1 x BR Blue are in transit to us getting in to the UK at the end of next week so around the 18th in the shops. The maroon were delayed slightly due to getting the colour correct and will follow probably in 6-8 weeks along with the other blue version but i'll update you all after CNY when i have a clearer picture. cheers Dave

Hi Lee, Like Cryton I'm trying hard to overcome my programming as I keep saying to myself "smug mode on" but nothing happens. Cheers though Dave

Hi Mike, Yes the catalogue is totally wrong here, listing, against my advice, Kernow's weathered models and not our own ones. Cheers Dave

Hi Chris, No doubt that 1 thing will mark the model down to about 75%? Lol Cheers Dave

Hi guys, Just to let you know that I have asked for spare air pipes, brake rigging( which is quite loose) lift rings etc to be sent from China immediately so that they are ready for the product launch. I've also asked that after this initial batch spare lift rings will be in each accessory bag within The Western packaging. Cheers Dave

I have pictures of the rail track and NR and the private owner versions in the Fens, north Wales, Rugby etc but not too far north, although they probably did, I cannot confirm oooooop top. Cheers Dave

Hi everyone, The first proper cad/cam is through for the N gauge Southern Schools class locomotive so i've put them here for you to look at. cheers Dave

Hi guys, you can tell its coming up to CNY with the rush of revised cad/cam's etc that come through from China . They have just come in so i havnt checked them over yet, in fact your getting a better peak at them than i will today. Here below is an updated set of JA and JB cad pictures for you. I'm thinking now that i get the steps (bogie, and cab front etc photo etched in steel so that they can be fine enough and have the non slip design on the face. As mentioned on another part of the forum, i'd rather 'design properly' than 'design clever', and i'm a fan on the detail and se our expanding range of models being as good as it is possible to make in terms of detail etc for the price, so please express your opinions. plain or fancy? Enjoy and feel free to comment. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, Here's an unexpected update from China this morning. Enjoy. cheers Dave

Dear Stu, Very rude of you to call any modeller that hasn't got the technical knowledge you have 'plebeians' , as you would find, should you care to look, a 'broad church' of modelling knowledge out there in this regards. Dapol will never take this rather poor view, but will, when we understand that we have inadvertently caused confusion, as we did with customers and stockists alike with the initial models of both types being released at the same time, endeavour to try and make customer purchases easier. I would hope that other modellers both on this forum and not, can see this. I'm afraid that you do not have any idea of the amount of confusion buffered and non buffered MK3 coaches have caused in our initial releases. This has been problematical due to, as I'm sure you remember, there only being 'buffered MK3 coaches available from Farish previously (granted with the option to remove them if required). This is a simple expedience to stop that, and I'm sure that most modellers can see this virtue and understand that we are trying to be helpful, not, as you quite wrongly allude, dismiss them as, as you poorly put it, 'plebeians'. Our current production list has been published (see above), as buffered MK3 coaches have yet to be confirmed and ordered from China. Not 'later' but regards Dave

Eeeeek, I missed the virgin HST buffet from the list, sorry. There are no Mk3 HST coaches in the current production batch, or the next I'm afraid. Some will come though, but with CNY looking a bit strange staff wise in China, I wouldn't like to say when we can fit them into a production schedule. Cheers Dave

Apart from twin packs, there are no buffered Mk3 stock in this production. This was done to avoid potential (what is and what isn't buffered) problems. The list published previously here is accurate for (apart for the twin packs) non buffered HST Mk3 coaches. I'll worry about buffered versions for the next production runs after Chinese New Year, giving time for the HST ones to soak through the market. If I didn't, you'd be stunned at the confusion buffered and non buffered stock make with the public and stockists alike. Hope ths helps Cheers Dave

Hi, As you can imagine, getting items made before Chinese New Year is fraught with problems, and things get moved around a bit. I know they are pushing on getting the Westernsmentioned in my earlier mail built and finished and shipped before CNY, The weathered ones, the WLA one and The Lord and Butler one will be subject to getting deco samples produced and accepted before production, hence the delay. As for which maroon? I got a Heljan Western and used that for an exact colour match. Cheers Dave

And why would that be Nick? Different factory's, different shipping agents, different shipping ports! As for delivery dates, Desert Sand Western Enterprise for Steam ( they have a few left by the way) is currently on a ship due to dock on the 5th Feb, BR blue, green are at the docks awaiting loading as of Tuesday Loco maroon is in production. The others are pending and I hope to have the clean ones ready to ship before CNY, with the weathered ones, which still need the weathered production samples shipping here for approval, in about 2 months. Hope this helps Cheers Dave