Accurascale Fran

9 hours ago, Adi said:

When are they due out 

Hi @Adi,

We’re currently awaiting decorated samples which the factory are currently working on. Once we have them in hand we will provide a full update as we will have a full picture then.

Cheers!

Fran

14 minutes ago, atom3624 said:

Thanks McC.  Slightly heavier and a real heavyweight, as she should be on the model circuit, for the rakes typical of the Class 66.

 

Al.

Hi Al,

The preproduction locos pulled the heaviest train on making tracks and I believe that it was the only loco that could pull it single handed and not double headed. It did mile after mile on it without any mechanical issues.

9 minutes ago, 47423 said:

Any likely hood of any spare 66001's becoming available ?

Hi @47423,

Yes, we should have some once the rest of them arrive with the main shipment in a few weeks. The stock that arrived last week only covered pre-orders. 
 

Cheers!

Fran 

Hi @WCML100,

That's correct. It's a massive project but we should have something to show later this year.

Cheers!

Fran 

4 minutes ago, Harlequin said:

This is a great initiative.

 

Does the shipping calculation include transport from the factory to the UK?

 

Do you have plans to push carbon neutrality out through the whole business, including manufacturing?

 

Hi Phil,

The first step is from our warehouse to customer, though we're actively looking at other parts of the journey, with the trip from the far east obviously being the worst offender in the delivery chain. 

Yes, the plan is to go carbon neutral and we are looking at how this can be achieved. To be frank about it, we are just trying to get ourselves ahead of the curve here, as (and not to go down a political road here) it's obvious that there will be a significant push for all companies to achieve this through legislation in the medium to long term as a business compliance and requirement. It is going to take some working out, but better to be prepared for such things! 

Cheers!

Fran 

53 minutes ago, classy52 said:

Hi Accurascale,

Just wanted to ask if you will have Class 66 parts available for purchase in the future for those who, like myself, have the previous Hattons 66's where retro-fitting is a possibility?

I'm primarily referring to parts such as sand pipes, cab/cab front hand rails, grills, bogie steps/step handrails but more importantly the axle boxes as they look even more refined than the previous Hattons offering and would assume they can be used on the Hattons 66 as replacements or if some go missing.

If you could advise that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Steve  

Hi Steve,

As our Stephen says above, yes we will have spares. However, as some of the areas of the 66 are completely redesigned (bogie area around axleboxes and caps etc) as well as body to chassis arrangement, not all parts will be compatible with the Hattons model I'm afraid.

Cheers!

Fran 

Hi everyone,

We've been asked to provide a quick guide on replacing the front valance, so here you go!

https://www.accurascale.com/blogs/lets-get-involved/fitting-your-class-66-front-valance-bufferbeam

Cheers!

Fran 

15 hours ago, ERIC ALLTORQUE said:

I would think the Chinese assembly team are the stars of the show using their skill to build the models,especially the one who gave the ultimate sacrafice and assembled the purple deltic.....:) the trick is keeping them together as the skill base gets better.

Hi @ERIC ALLTORQUE,

Absolutely, and very well said. I think it's always important to recgonise their skills and contributions. These are essentially hand made, with very little in the way of automation or even mechanisation. As I've said many times in the past; they're simply the best model makers in the world. The level of consistency they achieve in the fit and finish of the models is just mind blowing.

Cheers!

Fran 

Hi @Cheekyharry,

Many thanks for your kind words and thanks, but the stars of this show are @Steve Purves, @Pixie and of course the staff from Hattons on the original design. I just get the brilliant job to tell you all the story with it.

I'm delighted that everyone is enjoying their locos though!

Cheers!

Fran 

4 hours ago, P.C.M said:

I finally received my MK2b today and it's a very good model but I think the Trans Pennine  blue is too dark. I know it was mentioned a few pages back that it's a good match but I think the   Bachmann MK2s are  a better match to the real thing from pictures I looked at. I will have to paint the roof too as I am pretty sure they were not blck on the real thing.

Hi @P.C.M,

Some photos to highlight the shade of our blue and demonstrate black roof colour. Both photos credit and copyright of Tim Rogers.

Cheers!

Fran 

17 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

 

So that should be in time for weathering before DEMU Showcase in June.

Hi Mick,

Look forward to seeing it weathered up in person at Showcase!

Cheers!

Fran 

14 hours ago, 50025 said:

This is what I remember best 50003at St Davids.

 

Fran, when are you going to put us out of our misery and announce the next batch? 🤣

Hi @50025,

We will be announcing batch two at the end of this year.

Cheers!

Fran

Hi everyone,

Im sure pulling power will be up to scratch as the heaviest trains on Making Tracks were trusted to our preproduction samples, no other locos could cope with the loads day in day out.

The 66 features our all new Accurathrash speaker rated at 8 ohms, along with a sugar cube speaker in line with the set up with the rest of our sound fitted models.

The first 66001 models should start arriving with modellers from today! 

Cheers!

Fran

9 hours ago, NickL2008 said:

 

Wonder if that includes 37714? HTG have said "late April" with the models being shipped early May?

 

NL

Hi Nick,

I can confirm that it includes 37714 as the whole batch is made at the same time.

Cheers!

Fran 

42 minutes ago, Bryn_Bach_Railway said:

Very exciting to hear the first ones are here!, I think I know the answer but I’ll check just incase. For those of us who’ve ordered 001 in the same order as some of the other 66’s, I’m assuming 001 will be held and so that each order is sent out in its entirety in one?. Also is there any updates for the pre-mapped DCC decoders? Really looking forward to these now they’re that little bit closer!

Hi @Bryn_Bach_Railway,

That is correct re your order mixed with other 66s, but if you (or anyone else reading this) email us at sales@accurascale.com with your order number we can split it out for you and send 66001 separately. 

We have the decoders being programmed at the moment. I will have an update on them later this week.

Cheers!

Fran 

Hi @Bryn_Bach_Railway,

Well spotted!

As reported elsewhere, production of our Class 66 run 1 is now complete and the majority are on the high seas and due with us in approx. 7 weeks time.

So, if that's the majority, then what about the rest of the stock?

Well, we can confirm that a limited supply of Accurascale Exclusive 66001 arrived at our warehouse last week! We have enough to cover the pre-orders of this loco, and we shall begin distributing them later this week after our usual checks and packing is complete!

Cheers!

Fran 

11 hours ago, nightstar.train said:

Will the red and gold pseudo LMS Coronation livery ever be made? It might be like the purple deltic, some people hate it but enough people love it to sell out easily. Would make a great exclusive. 

Hi Tom,

We may have been having a most epic internal argument about the viability of doing it. Some are for, some are not sure. We'll see where we end up with it!

If more people lend a voice to the "for" cause here then it might help win the argument.... 

Cheers!

Fran 

14 hours ago, Melton Works said:

Who would like to see an Accurascale Hoover in revised NSE livery?

Hi @Melton Works,

Our second production run is your friend. Watch this space...

Cheers!

Fran 

16 minutes ago, JN said:

@Accurascale Fran

Just letting you know you (Accurascale) have used an incorrect spelling on your website. 'Onllywn Colliery' should be Onllwyn Colliery.

Hi @JN,

Doh! Many thanks for that. Fat fingers on my part. Now amended!

Cheers!

Fran 

10 hours ago, DIRTY DIESEL said:

3rd & 4th radius, also noticed a binding sound as the coaches start on my incline, if rolling the coach down the incline (without a loco) the coach will stop dead as the incline levels out. 
I’ve also slackened the bogie screw off without any effect. 

Hi @DIRTY DIESEL,

Please feel free to drop our tech support team a message at support@accurascale.com and they might be able to offer some helpful info into curing the issue for you too.

Cheers!

Fran 

Hi folks,

Another interesting aside with coreless motors. We recently had a meeting with ESU and one of the topics discussed was our coreless motors for the Buckjumper and beyond. ESUs main man spoke of coreless in very glowing terms, and explained how all his HO locomotives (high end, high premium!) now all have coreless motors. This includes their  smallest Deutz shunter, through his stunning 4-6-4 tank loco all the way up to their latest large diesel and electric locos. They no longer use can motors at all.

Of course, their locos are all DCC sound fitted, but shows the confidence in the coreless design among the premium continental manufacturers. As @Islesy said, don’t pin your opinion on what was a fundamentally flawed model to begin with, but look at the excellent models on the market which utilised the design successfully, both domestically and abroad.

As for the buckjumper, I’m awaiting some details and I will then have an update, likely in mid-late April, all going well.

Cheers!

Fran

1 hour ago, Krieghoff said:

Hi Guys. 
any updates yet on the flickering light fix for the Mk5 DVT. Im aware that one os being looked into albeit DCC only. 

Hi @Krieghoff,

We don’t have full details yet but hope to launch the decoder next 1/2 weeks with a Late May delivery date being advised. As stressed previously if operating on DC please contact support and we will do our very best to assist as much as we can.

As ever, when I have full details on this (or anything else!) I will be sure to post them on here and let everyone know.

Cheers!

Fran

1 hour ago, richscylla said:

And @Accurascale Fran, my "months" comment was based on when I remembered them arrived, turns out it was Feb 24th people started posting theirs so maybe only a month. 





 

Hi Richard,

The issue I had with your comment was that you suggested that were doing it deliberately on retailers.
 

I addressed why it has taken as long as it has to get them all out there in my answer, which is a legitimate question.

As I explained, we are always happy to discuss these things, just without people adding baseless narratives to our responses. 

Cheers!

Fran

24 minutes ago, wombatofludham said:

No offence taken so long as you are working up an 80 Class.

You thought I'd stopped pestering you about that didn't you....

We always like being pestered about good ideas. Who knows, once the NIR Mark 2s sell out our test case will be complete!

Cheers!

Fran