Accurascale Class 66 review

Calling all Class 66 fans, have we found our definitive model in 00 gauge?
Join me for a review of my limited edition Class 66 001 in EWS livery for a full light and sound demo
The Accurascale Class 66 is certainly a superb model and I'm extremely impressed! It's definitely a step up on the Bachmann Class 66 and addresses all of the issues with the Hattons Class 66.
▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Box and contents
3:15 - Class 66 History
7:54 - Model in detail
12:40 - Lighting features
17:59 - DCC sound functions
25:03 - EWS livery comparisons with Hornby, Bachmann and Heljan
29:43 - Conclusions
Feel free to comment and subscribe!

[@geordielad9636]

Hello Joe, I have been waiting to see someone do a review on the new EWS acc66 and what a splendid review you have done. I am very particular about colours on my locos and rolling stock, they HAVE to match. It was well known that Hattons 66 EWS was the wrong shade, too red. So I contacted Accurascale asking had they corrected the shade of EWS maroon only to get a reply "we have matched it to the real/prototype loco"!. Your showing all your EWS class 67, 90, 60, 33 etc was just what I was looking for, it really shows up the different colours especially the EWS acc 66 which is far too red. I will not be buying acc 66 EWS as it will not match my Bachmann HTAs, Seacows, Cavalex BBA & BLAs etc rolling stock. I was also very wary as regards the motor in the acc66, as I had 1 acc class 92 and 2 acc class 37 being troublesome. I also had 2 of the Hattons 66 when released, both derailing, so returned. Thank you so much for doing this video and saving me buying something I would not be happy with, Bill.

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks for watching Bill. The colour match always fascinates me. Cavalex and Accurascale have both gone fairly red. Looking at pictures the initial livery did look quite red but has obviously darkened over time in real life. Contrastingly the EWS 67 I think is too brown from Hornby 😅. The gold on the HELJAN 33 doesn't look right and the maroon on Bachmann 90 also looks slightly off! In my opinion the Hornby 60 is closest to the real thing. The motor in this 66 has been superb to be honest after plenty of issue free laps of the layout, not able to comment on the 37 but my 92 has been issue free thankfully. Cheers, Joe

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Hi Joe 👍 great review and the first I’ve seen on the Accurascales class 66. Totally agree with you on the opening cab doors and the ironic thing with the Dapol class 59 is yes the doors open but only when you take the body off as the diecast in side the loco interferes and prevents the doors from opening. The colours are crazy I think the red on both the Accurascales and Cavalex models looks too red for me. I think the Hornby class 60 probably looks right from photos I have. All the best to you and the family Andy

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks Andy! I totally forgot that some of them doors on the 59 don't even open with the chassis block! 😅 Absolutely bonkers really! Regarding colours, I think you're right. The Hornby 60 looks the closest! It's not often Hornby are the ones to get it right either! 😅 All the best to yourselves too pal Joe

[@warwickroadmodelrailway]

A great model, a gorgeous looking locomotive, waiting patiently for my GBRF version

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks! I'm sure you won't be disappointed! They're excellent models!

[@DOCTORDROTT]

good video, worked on them from new and help unload some at Newport docks, was at the docks when that 70 got bent

[@Coling92]

Got both accurascale 66 and cavalex 56, both absolutely brilliant models. Can't wait for cavalex 60 to complete my EWS trio

[@DudleyCentral]

Nice! Yeah the 60 looked great at Model World Live!

[@black.diablo.m2]

Thanks for sharing this review. I am now a new subscriber, from New Zealand. Interesting to see the difference in shades of EWS maroon across the models. The soundtrack of the engine seems to have been very well captured. I'm very keen on my example of 66171 arriving because I too like this livery, but model more of a current day era. Great review! Cheers.

[@DudleyCentral]

Many thanks for subscribing! The colour match always fascinates me and it seems to vary with many of the popular liveries. I love the sound on it, think it captures the essence of the 66 well. I'm sure you'll be very happy when you receive 66171, they are superb models Cheers, Joe

[@BritishRail60062]

Great video there. I do agree with you about the modern era being treated really well. Especially with the Cavelex Models Class 60 coming as well as a possible second run of their Class 56's in the future. Exciting times ahead.

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks! Yeah it'll be interesting to see how they top the Hornby 60 which was a very good model although slightly dated now

[@andydavidson9440]

Thanks for the review Jo it is the first I have seen on the Accurascale. Got a Bachmann 66 with its lights! Slightly out of era for me, but I could not resist the GBRF Evening Star as it feels like a moment in railway history. If this 66 is a match for the Cavalex 56, I will be very happy 😃

[@DudleyCentral]

Yeah it's absolutely superb, you won't be disappointed!

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

Hi Joe- Great review and I am eagerly waiting for mine !!! Cheers Kev

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks Kev! I'm sure you won't be disappointed! ☺️

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Hey, Joe! Very grand to see a new video. Your review makes me want one. lol The detail and coloring are just so brilliant and outstanding. As you said, even the packaging is top notch. Great sound and running! Great review!

[@DudleyCentral]

Thank you very much! Yes I'm extremely pleased with it! Cheers, Joe

[@DudleyCentral]

Nice! Bet that was a sight to see when they turned up!

[@mattsolomon2909]

Great video and thank you for sharing ! Makes me consider one… I couldn’t help notice a buzzing coming from Your mic, if you ever get that in the future there are things in most video editors namely premier pro, that can remove that from the audio 🙌

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks! What that buzzing actually is is a fluorescent light! I've converted half of the loft to LED but it's certainly on my hit list on jobs to do!

[@simondean5998]

Ordered all the 66 models from accurascale

[@DudleyCentral]

Nice! I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

[@StormmyStormmy]

Very nice loco, is it still a Hatton’s class 66 or has it been totally refurbished? I have a Hatton’s 66 with Legomanbiffo sound file and a EM2 speaker, it sounds totally amazing, it’s a shame there’s no large logo BR livery with yellow cab ends, the speaker on this model is an EM1 which is the smaller brother to the EM2, access to the decoder is excellent in my opinion, I may invest in a Accurascale class 66 in the future as I have a Harry Needle class 37 and a Porterbrook class 55 also a Network Rail yellow livery class 31. I’ve seen a mocked up class 66 in network rail yellow livery which looked amazing in my opinion, thanks for sharing this video with us.

[@DudleyCentral]

Cheers! I've been reliably informed the body sides are Hattons tooling but everything else is totally refurbished. I'm sure the large logo one will come out in time as I'm sure it will be on many people's wish lists!

[@StormmyStormmy]

@@DudleyCentral I asked Accurascale if it would fit the Hattons chassis a few years ago, I thought that was a result because I’d like to purchase a DB Schenker red livery body so I can fit it to my Hatton’s chassis, I asked recently with the new release and was told it’s been totally retooled and won’t fit! There’s no chance they will produce a few shells in the old tooling for spares, maybe Bachmann will upgrade their class 66 tooling in the future and give Accurascale a run for their money.

[@newdurhamjunctionmodelrail9236]

Awesome review mara I can't wait to receive my 4 I've got on order starting with prostrate cancer

[@DudleyCentral]

Thank you! Ahh you really won't be disappointed, that livery looks fantastic! Which other three did you go for?

[@newdurhamjunctionmodelrail9236]

@@DudleyCentral x2 gbrf and climate hero

[@DudleyCentral]

​@@newdurhamjunctionmodelrail9236 nice! I think the climate hero one looks very cool!

[@christinerobottom9444]

Received my samaritans version brilliant just ordered GBRF version nice vlog

[@smallrails6831]

I want one thanks. Regards Bernie

[@DudleyCentral]

Cheers Bernie!

[@mitchellbeardshall6305]

Great video, can i ask what control system you use as i have a 66 but struggle to get some of the functions to work? Cheers

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks! I use an NCE power cab

[@user-wo6qn3vf9n]

What should it's scale weight in OO gauge be?

[@DudleyCentral]

I've had some number crunchers suggest it's should be 287g but don't hold me to it! 😅

[@user-wo6qn3vf9n]

Got the answer from an old model railway book, your answer was pretty close. You multiply the prototype weight by 2.49 for OO so a class 66 at 126t is 312g, you're the only one to come up with an answer so congratulations.

[@DudleyCentral]

@@user-wo6qn3vf9n nice one! ☺️

[@VauxhallRailfan]

I wonder whats up with the different lighting functions, because my DCC system (lenz starter set) has 9 function buttons only, and its limited to 9 functions. I see all the options for cab lights, marker lights, etc. are all higher than F9. (Hopefully that makes sense) but the lights do just turn on without having to press a Function button, right?

[@tonyrobinson362]

Check your controller instructions there is a way to get upto around 28 functions abit like the NCE controller.

[@VauxhallRailfan]

@@tonyrobinson362 hi, i did check the manual, and it states that you can only address up to 9 functions, so im not sure if there is a way around it.. its a very primitive DCC controller, it can only handle 4 locos, and the display just has the directional arrows, and 4 locomotive symbols. So you cant really create bigger numbers by using 2 buttons.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Get a NCE controller if you can they aren't cheap but nothing is, Take care.

[@airvisualltd3838]

interesting they still look like they are having trouble with the roof grill not staying on, mine is OK thankfully but can see yours needs gluing

[@DudleyCentral]

I'd not noticed to be honest, dot of glue will do the trick though! 😊

[@moorlandmodelrailwayandy]

Hi Joe great review of the accurascale 66. I've got 2 on order can't wait to get them on the layout cheers Andy

[@DudleyCentral]

@@moorlandmodelrailwayandy thanks Andy! Which 2 have you gone for?

[@moorlandmodelrailwayandy]

@DudleyCentral hi Joe I've gone for the orange freightliner and the prostrate cancer one.

[@DudleyCentral]

@@moorlandmodelrailwayandy nice, they both look really cool liveries, really like the prostate cancer livery to be fair and it's for a great cause too!

[@Gatherleymodeller.]

I have an accurascale class 92 and 37 but no 66 😢

[@DudleyCentral]

Nice! Will you be getting a 66?

[@Gatherleymodeller.]

@@DudleyCentral hopefully at my local model railway shop 🤞

[@DudleyCentral]

@@Gatherleymodeller. Nice! Fingers crossed for ya!

[@tonyrobinson362]

Are you going to weather them?

[@DudleyCentral]

Probably, but very lightly as it would have been brand new on my layout setnin then late 90s

[@tonyrobinson362]

Nice don't go overboard like some do with the windows, I worked on BR as a secondman and we never had filthy windows like some model, Take care.

[@irishsixtysixfanGbrf66739]

Have 66763 on order just dcc ready as the sound fitted version comes in at €270 here in Ireland

[@DudleyCentral]

I'm sure you'll still be really pleased! I believe sound fitting is fairly straightforward should you choose it down the line

[@irishsixtysixfanGbrf66739]

​@@DudleyCentral I can use the one I have in my class 66 from hattons so I am not paying massive amount of money for the sound decoder

[@irishsixtysixfanGbrf66739]

66s also ended up in France German romania and eygpt

[@DudleyCentral]

Blimey! Didn't realise they made it to Egypt! 😅

[@westhoover]

accurascale is more like vitrains totally wrong

[@DudleyCentral]

Thanks for commenting

[@northernblue1093]

Pity the comment didn't make any sense

[@DudleyCentral]

@@northernblue1093 yeah made no sense to me either 😅

[@RedShedNick]

​@@northernblue1093Agreed I was and am confused!