NEW Accurascale Class 66 at Dean Park Model Railway | Episode 349

[@Andy1962-in-Kinross]

Absolutely spot-on review Dave. I pre-ordered mine with some trepidation having ‘experienced’ the Hatton’s 66 and issues with the Accurascale Class 55. This 66 is now the definitive 66 in my opinion. Nothing loose in the box! Runs very smoothly. I was so impressed I bought a few other models. I’ve retained my Bachmann ‘Capt. Tom’ but have now moved on my other Bachmann 66s to fund new purchases. The one downside I’ve experienced with the Accurascale 66 is the removable roof panel. If there is any movement in the roof panel sounds become distorted. A finger judiciously applied with a little pressure to the roof panel helps. It’s also worth checking the speaker retention clips… two of my models had loose clips.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Excellent info as always, Ive got the Samaritans version but i must admit i like my TMD with my 37s and 47s ticking over, Reminds me of my days working on BR in the 1970s and 80s.

[@StevenBailey-xv9rn]

I bet new 66s by accuràscale are good. I got the hja wagons coal by accuràscale in oo scale, they are absolutely brilliant. Nice one accuràscale. Love Stephen.

[@157RANDOM]

What a gorgeous model! Interestingly, the Class 66 is the only british loco I have ever seen in person. I grew up along the CN Kingston Subdivision, where the 66s were transported on their way from GMD's plant in London, Ontario, Canada. I occasionally would see the 66s being transported on freight trains going by as a kid, as I was 10 when they stopped building the inital run in 2008. I also once saw one in Halifax, Nova Scotia, ready for loading on a UK bound ship, while there visiting family.

[@GregPalmer1000]

I live in Kingston never seen any of these on the CN mainline but many have but then again II wasnt looking for them

[@157RANDOM]

@@GregPalmer1000 they weren't a common sight, I was lucky to catch a couple back in 2005 or 6.

[@GregPalmer1000]

@@157RANDOM yeh a friend of mine seen 6 in the middle of a CN freight a few years ago in Collins Bay just before the last deliveries

[@williamvanduyn698]

@@157RANDOM I saw a whole yard full in Halifax - all in rail-freight livery. At the time I could not believe what i was looking at not being up and current with the Class 66 program. :)

[@stevewood5993]

Finally a model worthy of it's real life counterpart. The Class 66 is basically a UK spec body on an EMD/GMD SD40-2 - one of the most successful diesel locos ever built.

[@johnoneill5661]

Great review of a great model 👍👍 I only have one problem with it and that is I wasn't expecting Accurascale to deliver them all at the same time, 4 of these turned up on the same day and I have been getting a lot of evil eye from the wife since.😒😒

[@Andy1962-in-Kinross]

I feel your pain. I had three days of the big parcels arriving which raised a few eyebrows. 😅

[@RedShedNick]

I had to bring them in via the back door so not to see them, thrn into the loft they went!

[@barryrigby1568]

Hi Dave. I've got 3 .They are superb. When on a heavy train have you started with F7 on (Lock Hold ) you can give it full power just like a real one and then turn F7 on and off intermittently and it pulls away just like the real thing. The accessible 37s are also superb when you use F7. The locos being produced by Accurascale and the Cavelex 56 have left the other manufacturers way behind. They have the looks and also the running performance

[@DeanPark]

Oh right!, I’ll have a play with that f7 function! Cheers! Dave

[@mrbluesky2050]

that F7 / drive lock is perhaps one of the most useful features in DCC, lets you 'drive' the locomotive and it's train in a more realistic way, both in movement and sound.

[@michaeljwright1]

Another excellent balanced review, great footage and images! looks great at Dean Park, looking forward to more content!

[@PeterColeman-b2w]

Agree fully with your review as.have the same model as well as several 37s Thoughly enjoy watching your channel every time Am using some of you ideas now rebuilding my new layout Keep up the adventure

[@DeanPark]

Hi, that’s great. We never stop improving our modelling as new kits, scenic details etc appear on the market. Enjoy!

[@talesfromthesupplydepot665]

Absolutely gorgeous model and I can understand the love for the new model, but my budget means I have to make do with a couple of detailed Lima models- not up to modern standards but I like them. I have a soft spot for the old 'red death' even if they were the beginning of the end for many of my favourite classes of traction.

[@onnomulder9775]

A very great review and video Dave!!! Well made! Thanks for sharing! Cheers Onno.

[@davidstrains4910]

Great video overall on this 66 here Dave, for me personally it’s not a model I’m going to be picking up right now simply because I already have the predecessor Hattons version in GBRF intermodal livery and for me the minor upgrades that have been made to the Accurascale one are not really enough for me to pick one up right now, saying that though I always open to one of a livery is done that I really like so it’s not a model I have completely crossed off it’s just right now I’m not up for one, talking of my Hattons one yes I have had a couple of issues like the odd axlebox falling off, paint chipping off on the door handrails but in recent years it’s been a very reliable model for me, I mainly use it on my rake of 8 GBRF IIA biomass wagons from Accurascale. Good that you bring the Bachmann one up, I do have one myself and amazingly it’s in a livery that Hattons didn’t do in their original batch,my bachmann one is in DRS Stobart Rail livery, quite surprising that hattons didn’t do that one considering that they did pretty much every other livery on their 66, talking of the bachmann I still like mine, it’s not as detailed as the hattons or accurascale but it is reliable, mine has been a stalwart of my collection for years now, it was the first 66 I got. Overall Accurascale model is good, I don’t deny that but as I say with my hattons one being good the minor upgrades that Accurascale have made are not really enough for me to buy right now, if a livery becomes available that I really do like it may be added to my fleet, I’m now looking at getting my Hattons one sound fitted and maybe doing my bachmann one as well, an overall good video on this loco here Dave.

[@BritishRail60062]

I have to admit. Although Class 66's are relatively benign to me and I am neutral with them in terms of the real things. I really like the Accurascale model and they have done a fantastic job. Have you seen their Class 60 models yet Dave? I am sure a few triple grey ones would be right at home on Dean Park. Here is a like from me buddy.

[@DeanPark]

The 60’s are at the tail end of the main era I model, which is 84 to 90. With some stock from 82/83 creeping in. So I’ll be adding one, 60001. As this was the first once and sneaks into my era. I do like the 60’s and I’m sure the models that will appear will be amazing.

[@RedShedNick]

​@@DeanParkAh yes Dave but are we forgetting a little matter called Cavelex! Another war of comparisons?

[@JJthrashing]

Lovely 66 but can’t justify the prices, only for the serious modelling folks with deep pockets, great review as always 👍

[@RedShedNick]

Hi Dave, excellent channel big sub from me, i also love the now definitive class 66, and for me the best sound as it comes, i found the Hattons sound too bass for my liking good though it is. I picked 66763 up earlier, my dear friend Jim at the Locoshed in Manchester, kindly kept them all for me, so collect whenever I want, with some swaps of coarse. Cannot wait for an update on the second batch of liveries and i think they will be doing Br large Logo 66789, as Hattons also did. As i know its a very popular livery. A great review and really enjoyed, cheers Nick.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Nick. Glad you enjoyed watching and I too would be interested in the large logo retro livery in a second batch! Thanks for subbing 🙏 cheers. Dave

[@RedShedNick]

​@@DeanPark👍👍

[@FlyingScott]

Excellent comparison between the Hattons model and the Accurascale upgrade, few reviewers so far have made such direct links. I only ordered mine, a DRS one, but a few hours ago. Must admit I chuckled at seeing your example suffered the plague of your average Hattons 66: A missing axle box!

[@DeanPark]

Those axles boxes!!! Aargh! Lol

[@GarthDavies-cd5oh]

An excellent model but the wrong era for me. Having a music background ,I have to say that this is the first diesel loco I have heard that actually sounds something like the real thing with the tones being near right.. Many others in my view fail and the analogy I will use here is like comparing music from an old transistor radio to that coming from a digital DB radio .A great review Dave and another excellent model from Accurascale and keeping the prices reasonable. A nice touch by Accurascale is the charities they support from producing models like these. A BIG well done to them .

[@peterbradford5987]

That’s a great Loco. Great video too.

[@danielbrooks3452]

I would have thought Accurascale would have got the colour correct with the EWS offering. Bachmann's marron is near enough spot on

[@RedShedNick]

Agreed Mathew too light! And dont start me off on 66415 limited edition, the Tangoed livery, it's far too light, they copied Hattons 66623, which should have been in the deeper Orange, they didn't recearch properly, ironically the box art is absolutely spot on!!

[@DeanPark]

I always thought Bachmann EWS was in a more faded worn shade. With accurascale being what it was when it was out shopped. The maroon/red was striking when first painted! Most people remember seeing it after it had been in use for a while. The ews red used here is no less vibrant on Bachmann’s new ews 37. And both look good to me!

[@nickg2762]

Few comments Dave, 66769 has a seven point handrail - the Hattons/Acc model only has floating details to represent that. The running number font on the cab is too large. The moulding around the light clusters is a bit suspect too, it shouldn’t have that lip, and it should have rivets between the LEDs. In general the nose end shape isn’t quite right - it wasn’t on the hattons tooling and Accurascale haven’t made any changes to rectify this. The same can be said for the exhaust on the roof, compared to the Bachmann example it is a lot wider leading me to think it’s the wrong shape. These are all things pointed out when the Hattons tooling came out, so it’s strange to see the Accurascale model get praised so highly when so little has been done to rectify the tooling discrepancies.

[@DeanPark]

It’s mounted to the cab at 5 points (two floating) and the other two are down at the light clusters. I can pick faults in any model, but as an upgrade from the hattons one it is a highly detailed and impressive model. In comparison to the bachmann model this hattons/accurascale model is far superior. Having spoken to Accurascale prior to my video, as I had a few queries on my own. They said that they rectified the issues that plagued the hattons one, but had to work around the existing tooling to a degree. You’ve got a few choices when it comes to the 66. Stick with the outdated Bachmann model, risk a second hand buy of a hattons one with all of its issues, buy a rail road one from Hornby. Or get the accurascale one. Or do without. For me, it’s the accurascale one as it was a charitable version. I didn’t claim it was perfect, but it’s (so far) the definitive class 66. Maybe Bachmann will surprise us and retool their one.

[@nickg2762]

@@DeanPark Thanks for that David, I agree that it’s a good model with a few faults. Hopefully if Bachmann do release a new Class 66 it will be even better!

[@tobyytlai]

66793 and 66794 have to be somewhere down Accurascale's pipeline

[@ferrari355101]

Hi Been a subscriber from the early days of your channel and like your reviews so keep them coming. Reference to Accurascale 66 l was initially disappointed with the sound compared with Hattons Biffo Sound!? However adjusting cv 196 bass and cv 197 treble levels the Accurascale sound and Hattons sound are both to a equal standard despite different speaker installations.

[@DeanPark]

Ah great to know about the cv changes. I wasn’t aware that those were the cv’s for doing that. What is the cv for general volume?

[@ferrari355101]

Hi again Maximum value is 32 for both . As l like them loud l set both my Accurascale 66’s to 32 not everyone ‘s choice!?

[@RedShedNick]

​@@ferrari355101oh horray! Your a star thanks so much was wondering, i also live the full volume oh god i do, cheers for that.

[@ferrari355101]

@@DeanPark Forgot to mention overall volume is cv 63 0 to 192. As l said before l like it loud so 192,32,32 set!? Folks on RM recommend 180,25,25! Hope this helps.

[@Leathersladekitchen]

Are you sure the NHS one is Bachmann. To the best of my knowledge (and I have one) it was a Hornby limited numbers model

[@DeanPark]

I am 100% sure. As I bought it from the collectors club. The Hornby version is a basic railroad with no lights etc.

[@flippop101]

May I congratulate you first on your channel. It’s superb, as is your layout! It’s not in my nature to be negative concerning fellow railway modellers or the hobby in general, but but am I right in thinking that releases for modern image locomotives are restricted to basically 4 classes? Is that not a trifle dull with 57s, 56s, 60s 66s?

[@DeanPark]

Hi, thanks. 🙏 locos operating today are generally limited to the 60,66,69 (ex 56’s). And some AC locos. It’s certainly not as exciting as the BR days when there were literally dozens of class of loco, belching diesel fumes into our air. They smelled great, sounded great, but perhaps not great for the environment. That’s why I mainly model the BR days. More exciting.

[@flippop101]

@@DeanPark it’s very kind of you to take the trouble to reply. I studied in Scotland, lived in Glasgow and remember the blue fumes of days gone by. I loved Queen Street! But as you say, today there are more relevant and pressing concerns. Look forward to more from Dean Park! Cheers!

[@tonyrobinson362]

​@DeanPark Hiya you can still see cl 20s at Peak forest on occasions.

[@tonyrobinson362]

​@@flippop101 Now don't go woke we loved the fumes at Eastfield and Polmadie good days for us lads from East mids.

[@flippop101]

@@tonyrobinson362 l‘m partial to a bit of clagg myself. Don’t go woke, some of the locos I drive burn coal!

[@gazclass58]

Brilliant video of the accurascale 66 dave. How did it get on with your incline on the layout pulling?

[@DeanPark]

It pulls up the incline with ease. With a full rake of TEA behind it. And these wagons aren’t light!

[@BobbyNomad]

Evening Dave, Bob here from the Black Isle. This might be a long shot but I've got to try. I've been trying to get my hands on an Accurascale Class 66 Prostate Cancer edition since I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer a couple of weeks ago but Accurascale are sold out and those on ebay are stupid prices. Then I remembered you did a review on it a little while ago. Would you consider selling it? I've been following your YT for a year or so since getting back into the hobby after 61 years out of it and even started a YT page last week to document my progress attempting to build a layout - Nomad Railway - As I say, it probably a cheeky request, but would you sell it? Best Regards, Bob Creamer (ex from Edinburgh but don't hold that against me)

[@DeanPark]

Hi Bob. I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I wish you all the best with your treatment. I bought the class 66 prostate one as it’s a cause very close to me, having had family members being diagnosed and beaten prostate cancer. Therefore it’s a very special purchase for me. If you keep an eye on eBay, I’m sure they will start to pop up for sale. Best wishes. Dave

[@BobbyNomad]

@@DeanPark 2 at the moment on eBay both grossly overpriced. I think I might go for one though as I just must have one. You know what it's like when the bug bites! Chears again Dave - Keep up the great work.