O Gauge Class 66 Update - Decorated Samples

We are delighted to announce that we have received a full set of decorated sample body shells and that we are now in a position to share images of them with you. 

7D-066-001 Class 66 66001 EWS

7D-066-002 Class 66 66504 Freightliner Powerhaul

7D-066-003 Class 66 66709 GBRF Sorento MSC

7D-066-004 Class 66 66421 New DRS

7D-066-005 Class 66 66789 GBRF British Rail (1949-1997 BR Blue Large Logo)

7D-066-006 Class 66 66783 GBRF Biffa

Project Update

The design team have reviewed two new EP's prepared by the new factory commissioned to produce the O Gauge Class 66 and have found them to be very good indeed. The body shells have all been evaluated and any necessary feedback has been provided to the factory for any potential improvements. One such improvement is that only if the prototype has its name plates as part of its vinyl wrap/paint job will plates be printed on the body side of the model. If the prototype is adorned with physical cast plates then the model will not have plates printed on the side. etched plates will be provided in the accessory pack for the modeler to fit.   

On a more technical note the New DRS livery model has been fitted with our spatial sound system, this really is something to behold, if you get a chance to come to Guildex in September make sure you pop across to the stand to hear it in action for yourself. Neil our Marketing Manager and Jack of Rails of Sheffield did try to capture the spatial sound on camera but there isn't really a way to do it justice.

Production of these models will be starting soon and we expect them to be in shops possibly by the end of the year but in all likelihood will arrive in the new year (2026)

Please see below for full specifications and pricing details

Pre-order at your preferred Dapol Stockist

Decorated Samples Starting to Arrive

These two decorated EP samples have arrived today (24/03/25). The design team are busy getting to work testing them out. so far the results have been very promising with smooth and quiet running with a large amount of grunt for hauling heavy loads on any layout.

We expect to take delivery of the outstanding samples in the coming days and weeks. When they are all here we will take some proper photographs and share them with you all.

What's been happening? 

As you may be aware from our last update (02/2023) Dapol's new design team members had taken over this project and set to work making corrections. They and Dapol as a whole has expended a huge amount of time and resources to make this model as good as it possibly can be. We have got to the stage where we now have a second re-tooled and re-engineered prototype. there are a few minor issues left to sort out but on the whole we are very please with it. 

Unfortunately, we have recently had communication from the factory that we have chosen to partner us in this project that they require a significantly higher price per unit (40% higher) to complete the project. At this stage, after we have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the tooling and have bent over backwards to get the project back on track to say we are disappointed is a huge understatement. 

To all of us at Dapol, this type of behavior is unacceptable and we have made the painful decision to move the tooling to one of our other factories, whom have agreed to take on the project with some new timescales for completion. The new factory has produced our incredibly popular OO gauge Hawthorn Leslie and O gauge GWR Railcars, 3MT and J94/Austerity, so we know their quality standards and attention to detail is superb and are confident they will make an exemplary job of the Class 66.

Please see below for further details.

Revised Specifications

Electrical Specification

• Operating front/rear lights (independent operation for DCC, (switched for DC use) Includes day/night mode)
• Operating ‘side’ lights (where lighting cluster is applicable)
• Cab light (independent operation)
• Detailed cab with illuminated cab control panel
• Two motors (balanced & matched) for maximum pulling power and slow speed running control
• DC control switches to be accessible via lift-off roof panel
• DCC Ready with two PLUX 22 decoder sockets - DCC Fitted Options available
• Factory sound fitted models to be fitted with RealDrive   

Revised DCC Options

• DCC Ready - 2 x blanking plugs 
• DCC Fitted - 2 x Imperium DecodersDCC 
• Sound Fitted - 1 x Zimo sound decoder 1 x Imperium decoder - Dual speaker system 
• DCC Spatial Sound - 2 x Zimo sound decoders - Quad speaker system

Chassis and Body Specification

• Etched grills now with added detail showing radiator equipment with engine room lighting
• Separate detail (Handrails, Handles, Grills etc.)
• Heavyweight Diecast chassis
• Diecast bogie frames 
• Rotating axle centres
• Appropriate couplings attached
• O gauge society wheel profiles
• Sprung buffers
• Interchangeable front buffer beams with the option for an auto coupler to be used
• The entire buffer beam assembly can be swapped out leaving no unsightly seams on the valance      

Proposed Models

7D-066-001 Class 66 66001 EWS Livery

7D-066-002 Class 66 66504 Freightliner Powerhaul Livery

7D-066-003 Class 66 66709 GBRF Sorrento MSC Livery

7D-066-004 66421 New DRS Livery

7D-066-005 66789 GBRF 'British Rail 1948-1997' BR Blue Large Logo

7D-066-006 Class 66 GBRF Biffa 'The Flying Dustman'

Revised Retail Price

Project Update

We envisage the following timescale to be achievable:

• Decorated samples Q1 2025
• Production complete late 2025
• In shops late Q4 2025 (hopefully in time for Christmas)

Order Any version including sound options at your 

preferred Dapol stockist today