classy52

I can't wait and again will purchase all DRS liveried 68's to add to my DRS fleet which is looking ridiculously large, planning to build a DRS TMD in the future and probably will need to be as big as Kingmoor

Yeah agree you have to be respectful and apply constructive criticism but still leaves Dapol to cherry pick what they like to post on their forum which is the impression I got when I browsed the Dapol Digest hence why I decided not to join and just keep to RMWEB where I feel there is more open discussion. One thing, I am never rude or rough within my posts but will tell it straight as I hold no allegiance to any one company as long as they are producing quality products and learning from their mistakes which I feel Dapol are struggling with thus overshadowing their excellent products with the 68 being the perfect case in point. Also agree people shouldn't really nit pick very minor detail flaws and demand a recall which is ridiculous but the ones I mentioned were pretty major and just hope those are fully rectified in the next batch of 68's and that future models like the upcoming Class 59 don't suffer from the same fate.

You must have been hiding under a rock for the past few months and I'm quite surprised you don't know anything about the Quality Control issues with the Class 68, ok here are a few examples; 1. the blue/green swoosh on one side of the loco is completely mis-aligned thus quite a major livery error 2. yellow warning panel paint around the light clusters not exactly applied with precision 3. nameplates applied in a crooked fashion, glue marks present around the nameplates 3. Messy PCB boards in regards to wiring and issues fitting sound unless you really know what you are doing 4. Minor but a lot of reported issues of bits falling off the loco during delivery I had purchased all 3 Class 68 DRS variants thus yes I did overlook the issues because I agree it is still the best looking model to be recently released but Dapol need to take a good long hard look at their quality control before they do another batch of products. Suggest you google or search these forums for more specific details & photos on the above but they are quite well documented.

Too be honest I don't touch the Dapol Digest unless you post nice fluffy comments, I get the impression Dapol like to immune themselves from criticism and to date have got away with quite a lot of tooling & livery errors...let me see Class 73, Class 68, Freightliner MJA's and from what I've seen of the latest DRS IDA Wagons the buffer positioning seems to be off. Like to see how far Dapol push their customers over the edge before they reform their QC & tooling standards considering the technology at their disposal and the prices charged for the product.

With the quality & livery errors with the 68 would you???

My goodness the chap at Ally Pally listened to me about their lack of catalogues, I feel better now...

Yes had seen that but doesn't really tell me anything apart from a bit of a history lesson, just wanted know if Bachmann were intentionally modeling the coach pack in current day to go with 37706 or they were neither here or there with accuracy? The point is both coaches from 2012 are in WCR & Pullman livery thus different to the Bachmann representation, ok maybe I'm being a bit too pedantic but from where I'm standing I have a coach in pre-2012 livery & one in post-2012 livery which doesn't fit with my own 2012 to present modeling era...hopefully WCR re-paint 99352 back into maroon livery and take away the Amethyst name.

Yep can't argue with that but can't compare running out petrol with buying a model train, have noticed in the last 12 months the upward trend with model rail retailers especially those who sell on Ebay fleecing customers which for me is wrong especially when they have a good amount of stock to sell of a particular product...nothing like putting people off the hobby if you know what I mean. Anyway I'll say it again Culcheth are taking the piss, anyway good to see they are finding it hard to shift their 68002 on Ebay @£199.95 each, maybe people are starting to wise up.

Hi Mick, Thanks for the info, this has confirmed my annoyance with this coach pack hence the question about buying another and re-numbering. I will only model from 2012 onwards and have the Rail Guide books from 2012-2016 which I have been reviewing because as you have confirmed 99352 since 2012 has been in Pullman Umber & Cream livery and also named Amethyst but not in WCR livery which I had been racking my brain over trying to find out when it actually adorned the maroon colours. Thus Bachmann in their infinite wisdom have combined in their WCR coach pack a pre-2012 Maroon liveried 99352 with a post-2012 WCR Maroon liveried 99347 which for me doesn't make any sense and like I said have found this quite annoying. Basically the coach pack should have been 1x WCR Maroon 99347 and 1x Pullman Umber & Cream 99352 which would be an accurate representation of these 2 coaches from 2012 onwards which for me wasn't it Bachmann's selling point these were a current rake with the WCR 37706??? Cheers Steve

I know this has been a long thread and have tried to read most of it thus apologies if I'm asking a question that has previously been answered. Just want to know if the Bachmann Collectors Club WCR MK1 Pullman Coaches are suitable to be renumbered to any of the current coach stock that WCR have at the moment, I'm thinking of buying another set but not sure if they can be renumbered to match other WCR coaching stock so I can have a 4 rake instead of just the 2. As I said already have the WCR Pullman coach set & 37706 and later this year 47245 when it is released from Bachmann which will make the set eventually. Appreciate any assistance on this. Cheers Steve

Yep gone ahead & purchased these for my 68's, Steve at Railtec was also a big help as well in getting more produced thus allowing me to get 3 lots when he only had 2 in stock at the time...he's fully stocked up now if anyone is interested.

Hi Sam, Really appreciate the effort to show me, and others, how do this piece of work and with your excellent photography I will give it a go...and yes the wheels look so much better thus I'm sold. Cheers Steve

You lost me at dismantle and remove...as for the rest no way I'm doing that to 3 68's for some dotted transfers lol

Like the brake disc transfers but for an idiot like me how easy or hard is it to take the wheels off the bogie to put the transfers on? Just taken a quick look at my 68 loco and it wouldn't appear easy and to me looks like you have to dismantle each bogie, would love to hear anyone's advice on the matter. Cheers Steve

Ordered 2 bottles off eBay last night for just over 7 quid delivered thus will give it a go...now just have to get over my fat fingers when trying to apply the nameplates etc..

Thanks Andy, will look into this as you said nameplates can be removed or re-positioned at will. Btw love your work on the loco's, only just came across this thread earlier and found it very interesting and will continue to follow...

Sounds similar to Plastic Magic, Deluxe Materials had a stand at Ally Pally last weekend and demo'd this to me using the Pin Flow applicator and must say it was exceptional being totally clear and zero runs which I'll use for the detailing bits. Will look into Krystal Klear for the nameplates in case I stuff it up thus need to wipe away the mistakes and yes plenty of time to get them in position and straight...thanks for the advice.

Hi Andy, Not sure where to ask this within RMWEB but what is the best adhesive to use to apply etched nameplates, numbers, crests etc.. to modern image loco's? Never done this before and have a whole load of them to apply and I want to start doing this as well as applying the detailing bits that come in the accessory bags, I have already purchased Plastic Magic adhesive with a Pin Flow applicator from Deluxe Materials to do the tiny plastic detailing but not sure what to use for the etched stuff for the body of the loco's. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Cheers Steve

I actually don't have anything wrong with the function keys controlling the lighting. Ok last night wasn't a good time to test my relatively cheap 68002 with Sound from the Dapol stand at Ally Pally as I was a bit tipsy after having a few beers when I got home & having a headache from walking around all-day as well, anyway what I realised today with a clearer mind is that at the No:2 end I think the light bulbs have sunken lower than the lenses hence why I couldn't see any active lights or them changing to the functions on the controller, I can just see them light up upon closer inspection. The other thing I noticed my valance at No:1 end is in the bag & not fitted thus I think I was sold a returned item (obviously) and the previous owner had taken off the body and probably did some fiddling and when putting the body back on has misaligned the lighting at one end for whatever reason this may have occurred, anyway the lighting functions appear to be working ok but can't be bothered right now to fix the lighting alignment at No:2 end.

Hi Nick, Thanks mate, will take a look. Cheers Steve

I purchased 68002 Intrepid with Sound today at the Dapol stand at Ally Pally and wait for it...the price...£200, I nearly fell over backwards and had to ask twice that it had sound & making sure it was only 200 notes and then my credit card just flew out of my wallet lol... Anyway, I have just done a brief test and I may have the same issue with the light functions, F21 Parking Mode switches both cab lights on but No:1 end still has the forward lights on but doesn't have reds on both ends as stated in the doco, the other thing I noticed I can't switch off the lights using F0 but my Halo's work and I'm using a Gaugemaster Prodigy DCC02 Advance. Have got a massive headache from being at Ally Pally all-day thus will do a more extensive test tomorrow and compare with my Biff fitted 68005 and come back to this thread with further info.

I can do their livery on the next batch of 68's...I'll be cheap

Yes no problem will do, have my ticket thus defo will be there this weekend. Yeah I fancy the 800 IEP in GWR but it is expensive plus I'm not really into passenger workings just yet, just freight and charter atm (have the full rake of Northern Belle, Royal Train & WCR). I am actually looking forward to Hornby's Colas 60 & DB 67 but they will be the only 2 loco's I will be buying from them this year, I have a lot of pre-orders for modern Bachmann loco's especially for those special Rep Commissions for the DRS & Colas 47's and the Locomotion Class 66 Evening Star and also now both Rails Class 66's Freightliner Poppy & Maritime One. Busy year for my wallet.

MGR don't get me wrong I really do try to support Dapol thru my purchasing of their products, recently 2x Class 68's and not to mention the myriad of intermodal wagons & containers I have from them which for me they do the best in my opinion. I also have the 5 Wagon MRA Side Tipper and currently in the process of building up my IOA's & JNA's from Dapol so yes I do identify with their quality products rather than just Bachmann taking all my money, sorry Hornby but you have regressed further in 2017 as far as modern image is concerned as a result of your Steam fetish. Yes agreed I will give feedback in the Dapol Digest and probably let them know face to face at the London Festival Alexandra Palace this weekend if they have the time to hear customer's feedback especially around the content of the Dapol Club and catalogue situation.

Yes you are spot on, 2012/13 & 2014/15 were full sized catalogues but nothing since then. I was a Dapol member until Feb this year but decided not to renew for a number of reasons such as no new catalogue, 15% online shop discount really gets you nothing due to poor online selections and the Club Model that never materialises in 00...I think it was supposed to be a Class 59??? Here's a bit of stretching the truth from their website... "A new members pack will include your collectors club magazine binder (have never received one), the latest issue of the club magazine, a collectable Dapol branded gift (have never received one), a complimentary copy of the latest catalogue (not received one for 2 years). You will receive a quarterly magazine and news of club exclusive club offers throughout the year. All this for an annual payment of just £25." ​I have also not renewed my Hornby membership due to poor value and both don't come anywhere near Bachmann for membership benefits which I have always renewed, anyway digressing thus apologise.