I think the lining looks fantastic on this one. If you look at the lining on the real thing, the orange lining is very fine, with a gap between the orange and the black, so from any kind of distance (especially the kind of distance that would scale down to a normal model viewing distance) the orange is really very subtle. On models we have become accustomed to lining that is far too thick and far too bright. On the Bachmann Hall for example, I would even go so far as to say garish. I think Dapol has nailed it with this one. In fact, I’m a little sad now that I ordered an unlined version!
Purchased one and shipped over here to the States with no problems from Hattons. -005 version in BR black. So well packaged with foam liner in the box, and a 25 page manual, in 4 colors! This one says "quality" before you even remove the plastic package shell. Unlike Sam, I had no trouble on my layout with it hesitating on points. Highly detailed, great pulling power, a great addition to a layout or display shelf. You will not regret buying it.
what a model. currently i’m not a model train collector, but damn this model makes me want to become one. these beautiful models at great prices that have been coming out recently is astounding. well done dapol!
It’s easy just go buy a train set. And before you know it you’ll Hav more & more trains then You to will hav the train BUG ITS JUST THAT EASY 🚂❤️👍👍👍👍👍.
I think most model manufacturers match their orange lining to the full size, but it ends up looking way too bright on a small model, especially when the lining isn't quite to scale (it usually ends up being a bit thicker). I reckon this slightly duller colour nails it, it looks great!
Yes, Bachmann lining is way too orange, and because it's overscale it's too prominent from a distance. The Dapol lining appears to be rather finer so doesn't show up nearly so strongly. Only when you get up close to the real thing do you realise how fine real lining is. You'd hardly see it at 4mm scale.
Crikey, that is some excellent value for money! Also, I do adore that chipping system. Half my locos need fiddly tender removal and the like for chipping, this is so much more convenient. The quality of this model really is impressive. After feeling so negative about the hobby because of Bachmann and Hornby's regular forays, it's nice to see something high quality and with a good price. It's impressive that Dapol has, mostly, managed to overcome its OO reputation here. And how fitting for my favourite GWR engine. Just a shame about the torque and stoppages. One can hope that's not consistent across all models.
It sure is - Dapol are one of the few manufacturers that don't take advantage of their customers on price! Very innovative too... and more clever features than most other manufacturers offer! Fingers crossed other models run better... or that Dapol can fix these issues! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Dapol does some assembly in the UK yet it is significantly cheaper than Bachmann/Farish and equal or better quality, especiallyfor rolling stock. Peco is all made in the UK and is cheaper than bachmann too. The only conclusion is that bachmann are blatantly price skimming.
Sam when I started in this hobby Someone told me that if you look at a model at the correct viewing distance for the scale the intervening atmosphere causes the blue component of the colour to become more pronounced which makes the colours wash out somewhat. Hence the dirtier looking orange in the lining. If you think about it a distant mountain range as well as being quite small also looks quite blue. One of my other hobbies is photography and in order to print photos I have had to look at colour theory. Guess what they were right! That being said perhaps the lining could have been a touch brighter but all in all not a bad effort as I believe has been said elsewhere. Many colours are portrayed too bright as if you were standing alongside the prototype. Especially if the colour is taken from a paint chip. Just my two penny worth Sam. By the way love the TV appearances. It seems Hornby don’t bear grudges . Keep you reviews honest people appreciate it
Thanks very much for the info Mike - I've heard something similar too! Most people are saying they think the lining looks fine - so I'm happy to be guided by that! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)
A very nice looking model. The livery from my point of view is almost perfect. The colour of the green and the orange of the lining spot-on. Most GWR models have the orange lining and the green far too bright, which looks wrong on a model of this size and many never get the gap between the orange and the black line correct. I would question whether the safety valve cover should be polished, although I believe that many sheds did do this. If only the running quality matched the detail and finish it would be a near 10.
You mentioned that you might revisit this in a future video after investigating the mechanism's issues; i'd honestly love to see a compilation video showcasing some of the models that you've repaired or modified to work better (hopefully for their benefit), or even maybe a vid talking about any opinions that have changed over time, whether it be due to performance getting worse or something else that might've changed that caused you to re-evaluate. Looking forward to more videos!!
Great idea! I did have a quick look, and it didn't appear to be the pickups causing the problem... I now think it has something to do with the sprung centre axle... but not sure! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thanks to Hattons, mine has arrived (in Australia) for Christmas! Very happy to report that it has no performance issues, will haul six coaches up my 1in50 grades with ease. Dapol are to be congratulated on their superb packaging, and Hattons also, ensuring my purchases arrive undamaged.
Every time you do a review I'm hoping the model does well. I've had too many recent disappointments of models falling way short on the quality needed for the prices I'm paying. Well done Dapol for reminding us it is possible to produce a beautiful model at a sensible price. GWR isn't my region, but I've been amazed by Dapol's Class 68, I've got 4 of them now and they are the best running locos on my layout. Very petty behaviour from Hornby on this and the Genesis coaches, further tarnishing their current reputation. Here's to the smaller manufacturers give the big guys the kick they've been needing - they've been taking us for granted for too long.
Great video as always, was waiting for your review of this new loco as I knew they arrived in the shops only last week. I got two of these one with Great Western and another with GWR on the tanks. I have had a similar experience to yourself in terms of performance. Both initially ran well but I allowed them to both run in for half an hour each way and both started to squeak and squeal as well as stutter from time to time. So I investigated and I believe it was simply down to lack of lubrication. The bearings on the axles were dry and very little grease was applied to the gear train. After cleaning up the axles, cleaning the wheels and all mating surfaces on the slide and connecting rods with IPA, I applied light oil and hob-e-lube to the gear train and the performance is night and day. I slightly adjusted the pickups as well to make better contact with the wheels. No more stutters at low speeds, no squeaking and both run excellently with a typical rake of 4-5 of Hornbys Collett coaches. So If you have a spare half an hour I would definitely take the time to do this. I know not great for a brand new model you would expect it to run well out of the box there never seems to be a good ground with manufacturers for applying the right amount of lubrication. Its either dunk the thing in oil (Hornbys Praries) or none to little at all (Bachmanns 94xx). As for the Hornby models, I had two of them and they were both returned as I was very disappointed with them initially. Very happy with the Dapol model just blows it out of the water and can not wait for their Manors to arrive!
Thank you so much! Wow you got two? Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the performance - I've had many comments/messages from people having performance issues with these... glad to hear you were able to fix the problem with some lubrication though... might be worth a try for sure! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@carllawton9520 also have a look at the the two springs providing suspension to the rear pony as it also has a tendency to lift the rear driving wheels off of the track. All i did was remove the springs and trim a few coils off with a pair of snips and then stretched the spring back to length slightly. Also dramatically helped with the pickup and pulling power with all wheels making proper contact with the rails. Hope this helps 😊
Just a point Sam. All mechanisms have to overcome stiction before they can produce movement. Even if they have been run-in. Whether or not you can notice it is a different matter.
I really like the look of the firebox glow - pretty useless in an enclosed cab of course but it looks cool. If you hook up an ammeter or multimeter, you can further diagnose what's going on when it stops on points. If the current stops, it's probably pickup related; if it stays the same or goes up, something else is binding up and stopping it moving (though the motor is still trying). As an engineer I'm often curious what charts of amps and volts vs time would look like going around some layouts, but setting up the equipment to log it is worth more than my curiosity.
Yeah I'd agree with that... haha!! Though the mechanisms are way better than Mainline... just something not quite right with the wheelset and motor! :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Mainline models were not too badly designed mechanically, but they always did fall short on the quality. Twice has a mainline model's valve gear assembly torn itself to shreds when I've ran them. First time it was not repairable, second time I may have used the school's 3D printer.
@@rohanhalle580 Memories of the lovely Mainline J72. Obviously the motor was in the cab (we're going back some decades now) but the external detail was just about flawless, even now. Even alongside modern models, the little 0-6-0T holds its own. As to running, however...
Fantastic manual and mechanism. Lot's of user friendly features. Love the removable cab. Not a fan of the number plate appearing a little wonky and one of the front buffers appears to be out of alignment too. I'd weather it so the colour issue wouldn't be major. Overall definitely looks great and just a shame I don't model GWR as it's a great addition.
Yeah absolutely - Dapol produce the best manuals hands down! I need to investigate the buffers/number plate - had a few comments on those! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains The front numberplate looked wonky in earlier parts of the video - purely because I think the smokebox door hadn't been attached straight... As to the electronic gizmos, give me a realistically-modelled smokebox interior (as in the gorgeous C1 Ivatt Atlantic) over this any day.
Another great review - thank you. I'm just getting back into railway modelling (after a 25 year break!) so am trying hard to research what's best on the market. Clearly the cost of new models has shot up in the intervening years. However, in my view that makes it all the more important that manufacturers get the quality out there to customers. Your reviews are, in my opinion, very constructive and fair and so helpful. I think what is also coming through is that many of the motors used nowadays are not really 'cutting the mustard'. I remember back in the 1990s, seeing HO scale American locos and they had pretty-much nailed the motors. I had hoped the OO UK models would have caught up by now. Clearly not in many cases. Anyway, I'm certainly more informed after watching a number of your videos. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Very nice looking model. I only have the old air fix large prairie but that does have pickups to the front pony truck as well as the 6 driving wheels! Great video Cheers Dan :)
I was lucky enough to see just about all the 61xx class (known as 'tanner oners') in use on the Paddington suburban lines in the late 1950s to early 1960s, and this Dapol model really is convincing. I'm quite happy with the colour of the lining on the water tanks and coal bunker, and feel that the orange on the boiler bands is too orange. It might have been like that when the loco left the works after a repaint, but it very quickly toned down (probably a combination of smoke and oil!). The 61xx were worked hard, and cleaning (for most) was probably not too frequent! In the period I knew the 61xx, they worked trains of maroon non-corridor slam door stock -almost never chocolate and cream, which were almost exclusively used on main line trains which went beyond Reading.
Hi Sam, I am pleased that I have just found your really informative and watched your Dapol Video which was interesting. What I didn't like was your 'repeated' criticism of the Hornby equivalent, albeit that it was your opinion and it is your programme which I accept. The name Hornby is engraved into our history and 'lifelong' memories and putting out of business will not only be another nail in our coffin but will put many railway dedicated people out of work and out of the industry. Thank you and I will watch your programme with interest.
This model looks beautiful. The only minor issue I have is that the safety valve bonnet or whatever it is called (I can't remember right now but will edit the comment to be correct) has the same sort of shine that a toy train, not a model, but a toy train might have just to make it more appealing to little kids, but past that, this truly is much better than Hornby's
haha yeah - I had a feeling it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea... but the real things do look like that! To my mind, it's better than the matte paint the likes of Hornby use instead! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I gotta admit, this video makes me wish I had a OO layout because I'm only 10 minutes in and I'm already loving it -nice big tank engine (I love large tank engines) -beautiful olive green color (favorite color) -wonderful lining -great attention to detail -full of good features with a detailed owner's manual -and not too expensive
Outstanding review Sam. Some astute observations; some of which made me wonder about the wisdom of buying one of these locos. Would Sam consider doing a Part 2; Take its chassis to pieces and investigate if the pick-ups are set up correctly? Based upon the fact you noticed that it stops on points; that clearly suggests a pickup problem. Obviously you should not have to do this on a new-tool brand new machine; but valid in the interests of either proving the loco as truly outstanding or simply you got one with a flaw. The pickups are, after all bendy copper; quite unsophisticated and it’s real shame if they let it down. You also mention the possibility a coreless motor might offer better performance potential; how about donning your 3D printing genius hat, sourcing a coreless motor with correct driveshaft / overall dimensions and printing an adapter to fit it? That would be really interesting; and would show Dapol a thing or two? Thanks again!
Interesting review Sam. I am 73 and thinking of getting back into model railways for the first time in almost 35 years! The last time I built a layout it was an N-Guage one for my son which I started in 1986 and was sold off with all the locos, stock and accessories back in 2001. I am trying to decide which route to go. As space is limited - it will be on one side of my converted attic, and will be, probably, an end to end branch-line system rather than a circuit. The TT120 interests me but doesn't really meet my needs as so far Hornby seem to be concentrating on mainline express locos. This Large Prairie is much more the sort of thing that interests me (I am not interested in diesels) but there is no way I would accept a loco which regularly fails at points regardless of how good looking and well detailed it is. Your review has also put me off the Hornby equivalent!! I am enjoying your reviews so keep up the good work. I must say, N-guage may still be the route I go as I do like the level of realism one can get in a limited space whilst allowing a sensible run length.
Dapol have got the "straw" lining colour spot on. Lot of manufacturers use orange, but thats incorrect. I hope Dapols locos are a lot better than their signalling, having had a 70% failure rating of Dapol signals, some were after only a few times of use, and after the response I got from their customer service team, this really put me off their products, and the RRP (on their website) of their steam locos killed off any interest I had in buying new products from this company. This latter point can be said for a lot of the manufactures these days, but that said I did buy a pair of new N7s from oxford, and a pair of new J15's, and B17's, and 4 D16s new from Hornby (hasten to add from a model dealer and not direct from the manufacturer.) The rest of the models I buy these days are 2nd hand, either as new or very good condition, or needing some tlc or minor repairs in order to make the costs more bearable. This looks like a EXTREMELY well detailed model. Will MMM Models be doing a 1:1 model of this next April aswell? haha
That's very good to hear - and I have heard of problems with their signals being poor quality - pity about that I suppose :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Lining is not washed out. Modellers have got used to seeing their rtr models with bright overscale lining. Professional painters use a fawn colour for orange lining, so this Dapol model is in the right direction. The green too is good. I've got two of these 2-6-2T's and they run so smoothly with no sign of a wobble. Good review Sam.
Speaking as an East Coast enthusiast, I have to say that the GW 'Large Prairies' (51xx and 61xx classes) are the loveliest-looking tank engines ever to run in Britain. Aesthetically, Collett 'got it right'. As a matter of interest, 6167 (one of the London engines) was the prototype of the old Kitmaster (Airfix) model,
Great review, and very informative on the strengths and weaknesses of the model. Though I'm a Southern man and though I'm loath to buy another Dapol (after my experiences with their Class 73 - now relegated to it's box in storage in the attic), I'm really tempted with this model - How about you do another video on this model - One in which you go to town in fixing all the real faults in the mechanism, so that it is as Dapol should have released it, with a decent motor etc. Also, I loved your video on the Bachmann Brighton Southern H2, and again, why not fix it in another video, so it is as Bachmann should have released it. I also very much appreciate your comments on the current exorbitant prices of Hornby and Bachmann, especially when they have re released an old model, with out of date standards in detail and mechanisms etc, with current OTT prices. These prices are so high, that I only pay them for 'really must have' models and for everything else, wait until a retailer is having a stock clear-out and I can get it at a fair price. This is especially true since I live in the EU and have to pay some 30% higher prices due to customs duties, with VAT on top of both duties and postage. For example, I would have pre ordered the Rails/Dapol Southern D Class, but for issues with its high price (£325 for the sound version), Dapol (for my experiences with its Class 73) and for bad experiences in the past with poor service from Rails...
A gorgeous locomotive!! Five times heavier than the Hornby model!! It’s capable of pulling 25 carriages. On my Ongar Station layout, it hauls a maximum of seven.
From what I remember of the BR lining in real life, this model's is a much more realistic rendering of the actual colour than the nearly fluorescent one.
nice a fine Dapol 2-6-2 large prairie still cant believe Hornby's large prairie was terrible still happy to see the Bachmann Johnson 1p in first place LOL
Another excellent review which again, has me reaching for my credit card! On the lining issue, the real thing may have had a tendency to fade - and do we know whether the colours were consistently applied? Shame about the hesitant/slightly weak performance - I have fitted super capacitor power packs (with DCC) to a few other locomotives and it cures stalling on points -and anywhere else.
Sam, taking about Genesis, when it was delayed yet again, I cancelled my orders I had placed on the first day you could order. Then I ordered two rakes of the Hornby 4-wheelers. The LBSCR rake had carriages with light show-through. Hornby are however remedying this by painting the insides
Ahh that's a pity - delays happen unfortunately! Are Hornby taking your coaches back to paint the insides? That sounds like a very decent remedy... glad it's not just a "hit and run" situation! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam, I received my model of the prairie the other day and so far have not come across the running issues you found. May layout is dc and has insulfrog points all round, no problems there. I agree about the smoke box flicker, pretty useless on analogue. If Bachmann can get it to work in the 93XX, why can't Dapol? Regards Alan
The yellow framing lines of the livery look perfect to me; as a highlight colour, it complements the green just right, whereas the bold orange example you refer to in the cutaway, looks much too reddish-orange. These liveries tended to have a very well-balanced colour scheme in terms of colour temp, and this Dapol looks great!
Fair to say Sam you seem somewhat bruised from your Hornby large prairie incident and many of their issues and costs of other models. Sam, I would love to see you set up a video where you talk openly with Hornby and ask them about your concerns, allot of us feel the same way but they are a company that has struggled over the years and is only now recovering at any real strength they provide a good amount of employment directly and indirectly in the UK and your influence could damage those jobs, they might appreciate the right to reply, if not then we know to buy from Dapol.
Amazing review Sam, really surprised to see a great quality Dapol locomotive, especially one that's better than Hornby's! Here's hoping they continue in the right direction! -theimperialdiamondspinosaurus
Just got my BR lined black which is beautifully applied with super thin grey/cream/gap/red lining on the tanks and bunker, the only let downs are the self-coloured plastic feed pipes which look very unrealistic against the black painted boiler, a bent grab rail, some obvious glue marks and the cylinders seem a little loose and droop slightly at the front but can be pushed back into place. I love the brass effect on the safety valve bonnet and copper chimney cap and there’s no intrusion of motor below the boiler. I have 2 of the new hornby ones (running fine and straight running plates) and as far as I can see it’s pretty much six of one, half a dozen of the other detail and feature wise. Both run ok, the Dapol is much easier to chip. If fitting DCC is your main goal get a Dapol one just not in mixed traffic black, if there’s a good deal going (like I got with my hornby ones - both less than the £119 I paid for the Dapol) then no issues with the hornby one in my book. 🤷🏻♂️
It runs exactly like my Dapol Mogul… such a shame! The first half of this review I was looking it up on Hattons and deciding what to buy… but the second half? I’ve already got a badly running Hornby Prairie, I don’t need two :-( brilliant review Sam! Thank you for helping me save my money
So sorry not to have better news for you Joe - it is frustrating that we still don't have a 100% reliable large prairie on the market :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Well, I will say this. I love it when model train/model railroad reviewers like Sam or even IC82 say "Hornby, are you watching?". Mainly because Hornby nor do the other companies actually watch the reviewers videos. It's a shame that they actually don't because it could really help all the model train companies out a sh*t ton. love the reviews Sam. Don't let the haters get to you. Cheers all.
The performance of both the Dapol and Hornby are really good. Not sure why you are having issues. The DCC performance is fantastic compared to the Analogue DC control.
They weren't in my experience unfortunately, and a lot of others have had problems too according to the comments. Some examples are good though, this I know to be true too! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Good evening and Merry Christmas everyone. I have found a solution, on a video by Jens 465 explaining how he fixed his own Prairie. The problem is that the pony truck axle is sprung, and pushes down on the track, lifting the driving wheels, especially on the points. The tighter the radius, the greater the problem : one time out of ten on my Piko points (radius = 908mm), and everytime on my Peco points (radius = 438 mm). You can first, and you have to, trim the peg at the upper side of the rear pony truck, but you have to go further. You have to open the truck by removing the rear coupler, then the fixation plate. Then, you can take off the rear axle, and you can see two springs below it that pushes it down on the track. Remove them, put the axle back in place, then the plate and the coupler, and put the reassembled truck in place, problem solved. It is a classical case of overengineering, as we say in France, where the best is the ennemy of the good. I don't know why they did no see this at the test stage at Dapol... Anyway, it ought not to be the job of the customer to solve this, but the one of the design bureau. That's a shame, because Dapol had done by the past nice models. And also serious blunders, class 73 anyone ?
A great model, still running smooth and strong. Dont know what the problem is over at Sam's house. The wonderful 25 page color manual that comes with this shows how easy it is to remove the cab top. Which I just did, to add a driver. Such a well-designed model. The only thing I wish they did differently on this one is make the cab vent cover opening. If it was open , you could better see the beautifully painted control panel and the glowing firebox.....
Sam! I saw you on the Hornby advert on TV it was a clip of you being pulled by the 00 gauge fleet! I got so excited and my family was like " what?" But anyway congratulations!
Thanks Sam for another honest and fair review. The direct comparison with the Hornby model was totally justified but I'm guessing we may have seen the last of you on "Hornby: A Model World". Do Hornby or any of the other manufacturers ever respond to your reviews? It would be interesting to hear their response.
Thanks for review sam ... i went out and bought one from Rails of Shedfeild and got tin of sweets thrown in which was nice I have not run it as yet but I noticed one glaring fault the brake rigging is wrong having worked on 2 large prairies 5193/5199 i have some sort idea what bits are like The model has a single pull rod set up .. which is fine for a GWR 56XX.. 0 6 2 t ... the large prairies mogul etc have 2 sets of pull rod with compensators very useful for standing on to oil up I will ask Dapol where they got the drawing from for this Its not something you see but its a blatent error
Looks excellent. I may need to pre order the revised collett and get one of these. I currently have the Dapol Manor on pre order but there is going to be a battle with those as I also pre ordered the Accurascale Manor as well, it will be interesting to see how they compare.
@@oswestryroadtmd4850 I will most likely get one I just require the running number 4150 on it as it will be another one to add to the range of Severn Valley Railway locomotives manufacturers like Rapido, Accurascale and Dapol are currently introducing.
I let you know what I think of the dapol prairie when I run mine on my layout at the Newton Abbot show on Saturday I would like to see some coaches all the very best Tom
Sprung buffers it may have, but at least one is fitted angled skywards (Bachmann are good at this too...). Shame about the unprototypical flared sidebars, yet pre-production images showed them as parallel. The top feed pipes should lie somewhat flatter on the tank top. Separately fitted doesn't always mean it's more accurate...
Bought the GWR liveried version today....... It runs very smoothly and with the centre drivers being spring loaded all the wheels stay in contact with the track. I had to take a file to the Hornby version`s chassis to make it run acceptably over points. I agree the detail and weight etc knock spots off the Hornby version.
I'm wondering if Sam uses Hornby track and points. Personally I use Peco code 75 with large radius points and I find that it's far superior to Hornby track and points
For the box, it might be due to how much less common the 6100s were in real life. For example, over here in the US, when ScaleTrains started making their C40-9s, their first run (at least, dunno if the later ones are different) used the exact same box as the rest of the Dash-9s they produced, which indicated that the locomotive was a C44-9W. Of course, there were a lot more C44-9Ws built, as only 125 C40-9s were built, all for Norfolk Southern.
Another great video Sam. I enjoyed the seeing abit of the Hornby review and seeing the Dapol review. What a pity about the mechanism, everything else was excellent. Sometimes i don't understand Hornby at all. Thank you Sam 👍
Another note. I have about two models as far as I can remember that have HAD trouble going around tighter bends or have even derailed entirely even after they run in and the solution to that is taking the center driving wheels off of the model and taking a dremel tool with a small yet course sanding bit and grind the flanges off of those center wheels being careful not to damage the part on the wheel that actually contacts the track. Then cleaning the wheels up and remove any flashing the grinding process may have caused as well as clean the wheel off as if you were doing regular wheel cleaning maintenance then put it all back together then you are good to go. It works well. Trust me.
The middle wheels are sprung a similar reason that they have a 0.1mm shorter b2b gauging - to help on curved track, in this case vertically curved at a change in slope or bank. Two points of contact (the front and rear main wheels) can always follow a curve whilst fixed, but the middle needs to raise up over a peak and drop into a trough. The shorter gauging allows the middle wheelset to float laterally on horizontal curves
Got my one of these in the Lined black the other day. Really great looking locomotive, only quality problem I had was missing a lamp iron on the front, but I'll get the spares for that once they're in stock. However I suffer from the same issues as you when it comes to running and that's what lets it down, it just runs fine, no better or worse than my Hornby Prairie. Funnily enough though Hornbys old tooled Prairie from like 15/20 years ago runs way better than both of these new tooled ones. I also suffered from one of the crank pins working their way loose while running it in and subsequently falling out while handling it. Almost lost the washer that sits between the connecting and coupling rods, was so very close to sending it back until I found the washer. Overall I was really looking forward to this and I want to like it more, but it's fairly decent, hasn't blown me away though. It is better than Hornbys at least.
That is a super model in every way. Amazing engineering... Just how models should be designed and built in this day and age. Credit to Dapol, shame on Hornby. I'd never normally want to pay over £100 for any model locomotive, but that has really tempted me, if ever I an scratch together the cash. Maybe it's time to sell some of my other locos to generate the cash!
Sam, there has been quite a lot of coming and going as to the failures of the Dapol 2-6-2 large Prairie .The latest communication offered by Dapol that i have been privy to tells me that faults do exists but they can do no more, but they add that new trailing pony trucks will be issued from India at some time. It will interesting to know who will fit them and if there will be a cost to those of us who purchased this model in good faith. I trust this will not reflect the performance of the long overdue GWR Manor many of us have been waiting for. I find it staggering that Dapol finds it necessary to state "They can do no more"----so much for faith in their product !
I personally think the lining on this prairie looks better than what's done on many other locos. I don't know if it's necessarily more accurate, but the lining has more of an almost gold look to it as opposed the the usual orange, which I think looks much better honestly. Very smart lining for a great western loco! It's funny how much better this loco is than Hornby for a good ten odd pounds cheaper. They're basically smearing mud in Hornby's face and I wouldn't have it any other way! Shame about the low torque but it's not really all that bad if you give it a smaller load of maybe 10 to 15 trucks.
I'm waiting for my two ones I have bought at Rails of Sheffield. I will test them with some points to see if I have the same problem as you. I'll let you know. Overall, I am happy to have not bought the Hornby one (GWR epoch 3), and discard the Bachmann 3MT tank from my shopping list (BR epoch 5). Not the best performer, you said it, but useable. Overall, I don't see too much operational limitations for this class of engines in the working conditions of my forthcoming layout.
@@SamsTrains Please give an update soon on running, particularly getting stuck on points. That’s probably ‘the thing’ that will put buyers (like me) off. However, if others report better running, then maybe, just maybe, the curse of the duff loco sent to Sam has occurred.
I think the sprung center axle is to insure that the middle drive wheels make good contact with the rails, both in terms of electrical pickup and having some traction. On some locos the inner drive wheels don't make contact with the rails so for example, making a 0-6-0 really just a extended 0-4-0.
I've just got into the hobby and this is my first "proper" loco purchase. Have it in the Great Western livery. I was worried after watching this about it running on my modest layout but seems to work great on DC around 2nd radius and peco points. Must be luck of the draw!
Nice review Sam, the issue with the point work looks like a track issue it`s a pity your running on carpet . This allows the point to miss contact when not fixed . Keep the reviews coming ...
Not having played trains so to speak for over 50 years, I am appalled by the poor running shown and by similar comments below. Caught your Hush Hush review by chance and posted a comment on the sweet running of a veteran Hornby Castle I de boxed, and ran on some old track re discovered in an old trunk full of my 1950's trains. Since the first post I also tested a trix Britannia and a hornby diesel. All ran sweetly with old fashioned controller to boot. Point is what a lot of money for today's hobbyists to pay for poor running. Yes body detail is excellent now but surely using the loco comes first. What is going on in the motor dept?? Excellent review by the way. Brightened my day. Might just start a new layout!!
My locos spend much more time on display than running. I normally fiddle the loco/tender couplings so that they are a scale distance apart (something difficult with some of today's permanently-coupled offerings). I often wish that manufacturers would make versions without motors etc purely as display items - they would be wonderful additions to the home of a railway buff.
Thanks for the excellent review. I've just taken delivery of one of these and I'm in two minds about whether to keep it now. Would a stay- alive solve the indifferent running?
On another note. I would love to see an HO/OO model where the firebox door opens and closes when the "fireman opens" the firebox door to "shovel coal" into the firebox exposing the flicker of the "fire" inside the firebox of the locomotive and when the "fireman" is done "shoveling coal" into the firebox the firebox door on the model actually closes. Of course this would have to be on DCC sound fitted locos or on locos that are DCC sound ready. QUICK EDIT: all you really need is one of those extremely tiny motors from those little drills that are designed for taking apart model trains and for other extremely small tasks. the drill is about a little bit bigger than the size of a pen.
Really looking forward to mine - its in the mail - and thanks for the comprehensive review. I returned my Hornby one for a refund, it was so woeful. I note the comments by "GWR Azzo" re lubrication of the axle bearings which greatly improved performance on his one. What is it with motors? We've been making them for well over a century, surely it can't be hard to specify a suitable one? Or is it a quality problem that makes them so variable in performance? In which case perhaps Dapol need to find a more reliable supplier. Such a shame that a really fine model doesn't perform faultlessly.
I share the concern. All of my points are Peco set-track due to space. The only loco I have that sometimes stutters is a class 08 (0-6-0, but same pickup configuration). Hope Sam can find a fix. Dare I buy one? Probably!🙂
Hey Sam, great review! I think I might have an answer about your questions with the livery. It all comes down to where the engine was painted, really. A lot of works on BR had varying shades of green, orange, etc. it was even common in Big 4 days. Doncaster and Darlington apple green, for instance, were very different shades! Wishing you all the best.
Darlington's always was a 'bluer' shade of green than Donny. And of course, Darlington always painted their outside cylinders apple green, whereas Donny painted them black lined red...
Lining colour looks spot on to me, much better than the toy-like bright orange used by others. Quality 5*? Have a look at the buffers Sam - at least one points skywards. Also measure the driving wheel diameter - smaller than it should be meaning the gaps between wheel treads are wider - Hornby has this right. The running was poor. I suspect that pickups on one side are not contacting properly and need a tweak. Running on carpet probably isn't helping either...
The goldish orange lining honestly looks a lot better than an orange. The way it blends and works with the green (imo) works really nicely and complements each other nicely. The orange on green just seemed off and really too stand out on the green.
A cracking model. A small modification made it run perfectly - there was no upward movement on the rear pony wheels despite the springs; deepening the axle slots put some weight on the driven axle, and it now runs like a dream, given the properly sprung centre driven axle. Two things puzzle me: manufacturers seem to ignore the requirement for proper contact with the track, and don't seem to assess the finished product. Dapol nearly got it spot on. Hornby and Heljan often don,t unless all the track is laid to have undulations no greater than about 0.1mm (not mine I am afraid, but it is I believe comparatively good). I do believe reviews (even Sam's!) should take account of this, it explains a lot of poor (out of the box) running. The second point is this: I also love my (more substantially adjusted) Hornby Prairie, but why do its wheels pick up loads of dirt, requiring frequent stops for cleaning, whereas the Dapol seems to run forever? Someone needs to research this!!
Have just received mine and the running is pretty much identical, hesitant on points and speed a little inconsistent. Such as shame as everything else about the model is stunning. Would love to see if there's a fix you can do Sam!
@@SamsTrains Seems to sit straight, working really well on medium speeds, just quite hesitant running slowly. Also seems to find issues on the track which no other engine does! Thanks for the videos.
You are correct, on that centre driver, is to highly sprung, as you pushed it down, could see it...try pushing it down when running over the points, see if it runs over ok, otherwise, stunning model....
I just got this with the shirtbutton GWR roundel from TMC for...£95. If you said it was an absolute bargain at £119, I got an even luckier deal! I'm looking forward very much to getting my one, and it's all thanks to your review.
Mmmm I have a Hornby Prairie, and it has none of the mechanical or running issues that you have mentioned Sam. The torque is excellent and it easily hauls 10 coaches even around 2nd radius…..so could it be that yours is a duff model?
Just to add a personal point of view re the Prairie livery, like the Hornby version it's not dark enough, whereas Bachmann are spot on and what a difference it makes to the overall effect. As soon as I can I will post a picture of my friends Dapol.Prairie he has completely repainted and lined. What a difference it makes to a nice model.
They were interviewing a man from Hornby this morning on Radio 4. He stated that shipping costs from China had shot up enormously. When asked if that meant they'd be moving production back to the UK he stated that "the skills required no longer exist in the UK".
I think Hornby and other manufacturers should be seriously looking at robotics to assemble locos. Robotic systems could easily cope with the small parts and would be relatively easy to reprogram for new models and could mean assembly in the UK again. John
What a stupid and insulting thing to say. Obviously the shipping costs haven't risen high enough otherwise they wouldn't send out a representitve to make such idiotic comments against the UK work force.
I just bought one of these and was interested to hear you say it stumbles on points. I thought it was my track work, as mine does the same. It seems to be the rear pony wheels that fall off the track occasionally on my points. Other than that it’s a great loco. I didn’t buy the Hornby large prairie. The only other one I have is an original Airfix one. Very noisy compared with the Dapol one. Thanks for your review. Incidentally, mine doesn’t slow down on any of my curves.
I think the lining looks fantastic on this one. If you look at the lining on the real thing, the orange lining is very fine, with a gap between the orange and the black, so from any kind of distance (especially the kind of distance that would scale down to a normal model viewing distance) the orange is really very subtle. On models we have become accustomed to lining that is far too thick and far too bright. On the Bachmann Hall for example, I would even go so far as to say garish. I think Dapol has nailed it with this one. In fact, I’m a little sad now that I ordered an unlined version!
Thanks for sharing Richard - yes many have said the same as you - sounds like it's a thumbs up! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains i challenge you to make a 3d printed custom tank engine of your own design do you accept the the challenge let me know?
Sam train
Purchased one and shipped over here to the States with no problems from Hattons. -005 version in BR black. So well packaged with foam liner in the box, and a 25 page manual, in 4 colors! This one says "quality" before you even remove the plastic package shell. Unlike Sam, I had no trouble on my layout with it hesitating on points. Highly detailed, great pulling power, a great addition to a layout or display shelf. You will not regret buying it.
what a model. currently i’m not a model train collector, but damn this model makes me want to become one. these beautiful models at great prices that have been coming out recently is astounding. well done dapol!
It’s easy just go buy a train set. And before you know it you’ll
Hav more & more trains then You to will hav the train BUG
ITS JUST THAT EASY 🚂❤️👍👍👍👍👍.
That's great to hear K - Dapol did a great job on these... definitely a good place to get started in the hobby?! ;D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
the livery gives my seal of approval, the orange looks more accurate than the Bachmann small prairie.
Ahh very interesting! That's right then? Could you send me some pics? Been trying to find some good ones!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I think most model manufacturers match their orange lining to the full size, but it ends up looking way too bright on a small model, especially when the lining isn't quite to scale (it usually ends up being a bit thicker). I reckon this slightly duller colour nails it, it looks great!
@@bigben5051 is your favourite loco 5051 Earl Bathurst?
Yes, Bachmann lining is way too orange, and because it's overscale it's too prominent from a distance. The Dapol lining appears to be rather finer so doesn't show up nearly so strongly. Only when you get up close to the real thing do you realise how fine real lining is. You'd hardly see it at 4mm scale.
Crikey, that is some excellent value for money! Also, I do adore that chipping system. Half my locos need fiddly tender removal and the like for chipping, this is so much more convenient.
The quality of this model really is impressive. After feeling so negative about the hobby because of Bachmann and Hornby's regular forays, it's nice to see something high quality and with a good price. It's impressive that Dapol has, mostly, managed to overcome its OO reputation here.
And how fitting for my favourite GWR engine.
Just a shame about the torque and stoppages. One can hope that's not consistent across all models.
It sure is - Dapol are one of the few manufacturers that don't take advantage of their customers on price! Very innovative too... and more clever features than most other manufacturers offer! Fingers crossed other models run better... or that Dapol can fix these issues!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Dapol does some assembly in the UK yet it is significantly cheaper than Bachmann/Farish and equal or better quality, especiallyfor rolling stock. Peco is all made in the UK and is cheaper than bachmann too. The only conclusion is that bachmann are blatantly price skimming.
Hello there I've just popped down to my model shop at picked one of the up but it br black ( No 5190) the I came to watch this and lovley review!
Sam when I started in this hobby Someone told me that if you look at a model at the correct viewing distance for the scale the intervening atmosphere causes the blue component of the colour to become more pronounced which makes the colours wash out somewhat. Hence the dirtier looking orange in the lining. If you think about it a distant mountain range as well as being quite small also looks quite blue. One of my other hobbies is photography and in order to print photos I have had to look at colour theory. Guess what they were right! That being said perhaps the lining could have been a touch brighter but all in all not a bad effort as I believe has been said elsewhere. Many colours are portrayed too bright as if you were standing alongside the prototype. Especially if the colour is taken from a paint chip. Just my two penny worth Sam. By the way love the TV appearances. It seems Hornby don’t bear grudges . Keep you reviews honest people appreciate it
Thanks very much for the info Mike - I've heard something similar too! Most people are saying they think the lining looks fine - so I'm happy to be guided by that! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
A very nice looking model. The livery from my point of view is almost perfect. The colour of the green and the orange of the lining spot-on. Most GWR models have the orange lining and the green far too bright, which looks wrong on a model of this size and many never get the gap between the orange and the black line correct. I would question whether the safety valve cover should be polished, although I believe that many sheds did do this. If only the running quality matched the detail and finish it would be a near 10.
81C was Southall. I wonder if they were one of sheds that polished the covers...
You mentioned that you might revisit this in a future video after investigating the mechanism's issues; i'd honestly love to see a compilation video showcasing some of the models that you've repaired or modified to work better (hopefully for their benefit), or even maybe a vid talking about any opinions that have changed over time, whether it be due to performance getting worse or something else that might've changed that caused you to re-evaluate. Looking forward to more videos!!
Great idea! I did have a quick look, and it didn't appear to be the pickups causing the problem... I now think it has something to do with the sprung centre axle... but not sure!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thanks to Hattons, mine has arrived (in Australia) for Christmas! Very happy to report that it has no performance issues, will haul six coaches up my 1in50 grades with ease. Dapol are to be congratulated on their superb packaging, and Hattons also, ensuring my purchases arrive undamaged.
Every time you do a review I'm hoping the model does well. I've had too many recent disappointments of models falling way short on the quality needed for the prices I'm paying. Well done Dapol for reminding us it is possible to produce a beautiful model at a sensible price. GWR isn't my region, but I've been amazed by Dapol's Class 68, I've got 4 of them now and they are the best running locos on my layout. Very petty behaviour from Hornby on this and the Genesis coaches, further tarnishing their current reputation. Here's to the smaller manufacturers give the big guys the kick they've been needing - they've been taking us for granted for too long.
That’s why we have chosen German / Austrian H0 brands…
Yeah absolutely - we need models like this to remind us what we should expect!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Yet the motors are rubbish!
not watched you for ages but you being on tv reminded me to check your channel again!
Finally a new tooled Large Prairie! Just in time for me to need one for the new layout.
A fantastic locomotive!
Finally!! Hope you like yours if you decide to get one! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I gotta know, have you had the same performance issues Sam had?
@@vidiottheowl2825 I havent got the model yet, since my layout is in its infancy I haven't really brought anything else for it
Great video as always, was waiting for your review of this new loco as I knew they arrived in the shops only last week. I got two of these one with Great Western and another with GWR on the tanks. I have had a similar experience to yourself in terms of performance. Both initially ran well but I allowed them to both run in for half an hour each way and both started to squeak and squeal as well as stutter from time to time. So I investigated and I believe it was simply down to lack of lubrication. The bearings on the axles were dry and very little grease was applied to the gear train. After cleaning up the axles, cleaning the wheels and all mating surfaces on the slide and connecting rods with IPA, I applied light oil and hob-e-lube to the gear train and the performance is night and day. I slightly adjusted the pickups as well to make better contact with the wheels. No more stutters at low speeds, no squeaking and both run excellently with a typical rake of 4-5 of Hornbys Collett coaches. So If you have a spare half an hour I would definitely take the time to do this. I know not great for a brand new model you would expect it to run well out of the box there never seems to be a good ground with manufacturers for applying the right amount of lubrication. Its either dunk the thing in oil (Hornbys Praries) or none to little at all (Bachmanns 94xx).
As for the Hornby models, I had two of them and they were both returned as I was very disappointed with them initially. Very happy with the Dapol model just blows it out of the water and can not wait for their Manors to arrive!
Thank you so much! Wow you got two? Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the performance - I've had many comments/messages from people having performance issues with these... glad to hear you were able to fix the problem with some lubrication though... might be worth a try for sure!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thanks for your advice I’ll try it on the one I’ve just purchased
@@carllawton9520 also have a look at the the two springs providing suspension to the rear pony as it also has a tendency to lift the rear driving wheels off of the track. All i did was remove the springs and trim a few coils off with a pair of snips and then stretched the spring back to length slightly. Also dramatically helped with the pickup and pulling power with all wheels making proper contact with the rails. Hope this helps 😊
Nice 2-6-2T locomotive! I like the amount of detail on it! 👍
Me too - it looks amazing doesn't it? :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Just a point Sam. All mechanisms have to overcome stiction before they can produce movement. Even if they have been run-in. Whether or not you can notice it is a different matter.
I really like the look of the firebox glow - pretty useless in an enclosed cab of course but it looks cool.
If you hook up an ammeter or multimeter, you can further diagnose what's going on when it stops on points. If the current stops, it's probably pickup related; if it stays the same or goes up, something else is binding up and stopping it moving (though the motor is still trying). As an engineer I'm often curious what charts of amps and volts vs time would look like going around some layouts, but setting up the equipment to log it is worth more than my curiosity.
Dapol seems to have taken up the legacy of Mainline; Gorgeous models, decent to sub-par performance.
Yeah I'd agree with that... haha!! Though the mechanisms are way better than Mainline... just something not quite right with the wheelset and motor! :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Mainline models were not too badly designed mechanically, but they always did fall short on the quality. Twice has a mainline model's valve gear assembly torn itself to shreds when I've ran them. First time it was not repairable, second time I may have used the school's 3D printer.
@@rohanhalle580 Memories of the lovely Mainline J72. Obviously the motor was in the cab (we're going back some decades now) but the external detail was just about flawless, even now. Even alongside modern models, the little 0-6-0T holds its own. As to running, however...
Fantastic manual and mechanism. Lot's of user friendly features. Love the removable cab.
Not a fan of the number plate appearing a little wonky and one of the front buffers appears to be out of alignment too. I'd weather it so the colour issue wouldn't be major.
Overall definitely looks great and just a shame I don't model GWR as it's a great addition.
Yeah absolutely - Dapol produce the best manuals hands down! I need to investigate the buffers/number plate - had a few comments on those!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains The front numberplate looked wonky in earlier parts of the video - purely because I think the smokebox door hadn't been attached straight... As to the electronic gizmos, give me a realistically-modelled smokebox interior (as in the gorgeous C1 Ivatt Atlantic) over this any day.
Another great review - thank you. I'm just getting back into railway modelling (after a 25 year break!) so am trying hard to research what's best on the market. Clearly the cost of new models has shot up in the intervening years. However, in my view that makes it all the more important that manufacturers get the quality out there to customers. Your reviews are, in my opinion, very constructive and fair and so helpful. I think what is also coming through is that many of the motors used nowadays are not really 'cutting the mustard'. I remember back in the 1990s, seeing HO scale American locos and they had pretty-much nailed the motors. I had hoped the OO UK models would have caught up by now. Clearly not in many cases. Anyway, I'm certainly more informed after watching a number of your videos. Keep up the great work and thank you.
That lining is actually spot on for an engine that has been out and about working for it's living, and not straight out of the paint shop.
Very nice looking model. I only have the old air fix large prairie but that does have pickups to the front pony truck as well as the 6 driving wheels!
Great video
Cheers Dan :)
I've always been a big fan of the Large Prairies and this model looks worth it! Great video as always! :)
I don't blame you - it sure does look lovely! Thank you so much!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I was lucky enough to see just about all the 61xx class (known as 'tanner oners') in use on the Paddington suburban lines in the late 1950s to early 1960s, and this Dapol model really is convincing. I'm quite happy with the colour of the lining on the water tanks and coal bunker, and feel that the orange on the boiler bands is too orange. It might have been like that when the loco left the works after a repaint, but it very quickly toned down (probably a combination of smoke and oil!). The 61xx were worked hard, and cleaning (for most) was probably not too frequent! In the period I knew the 61xx, they worked trains of maroon non-corridor slam door stock -almost never chocolate and cream, which were almost exclusively used on main line trains which went beyond Reading.
Hi Sam, I am pleased that I have just found your really informative and watched your Dapol Video which was interesting.
What I didn't like was your 'repeated' criticism of the Hornby equivalent, albeit that it was your opinion and it is your programme which I accept.
The name Hornby is engraved into our history and 'lifelong' memories and putting out of business will not only be another nail in our coffin but will put many railway dedicated people out of work and out of the industry. Thank you and I will watch your programme with interest.
This model looks beautiful. The only minor issue I have is that the safety valve bonnet or whatever it is called (I can't remember right now but will edit the comment to be correct) has the same sort of shine that a toy train, not a model, but a toy train might have just to make it more appealing to little kids, but past that, this truly is much better than Hornby's
haha yeah - I had a feeling it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea... but the real things do look like that! To my mind, it's better than the matte paint the likes of Hornby use instead!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I gotta admit, this video makes me wish I had a OO layout because I'm only 10 minutes in and I'm already loving it
-nice big tank engine (I love large tank engines)
-beautiful olive green color (favorite color)
-wonderful lining
-great attention to detail
-full of good features with a detailed owner's manual
-and not too expensive
I bought one of these and it is working flawlessly
Outstanding review Sam. Some astute observations; some of which made me wonder about the wisdom of buying one of these locos. Would Sam consider doing a Part 2; Take its chassis to pieces and investigate if the pick-ups are set up correctly? Based upon the fact you noticed that it stops on points; that clearly suggests a pickup problem. Obviously you should not have to do this on a new-tool brand new machine; but valid in the interests of either proving the loco as truly outstanding or simply you got one with a flaw. The pickups are, after all bendy copper; quite unsophisticated and it’s real shame if they let it down. You also mention the possibility a coreless motor might offer better performance potential; how about donning your 3D printing genius hat, sourcing a coreless motor with correct driveshaft / overall dimensions and printing an adapter to fit it? That would be really interesting; and would show Dapol a thing or two? Thanks again!
Interesting review Sam. I am 73 and thinking of getting back into model railways for the first time in almost 35 years! The last time I built a layout it was an N-Guage one for my son which I started in 1986 and was sold off with all the locos, stock and accessories back in 2001. I am trying to decide which route to go. As space is limited - it will be on one side of my converted attic, and will be, probably, an end to end branch-line system rather than a circuit. The TT120 interests me but doesn't really meet my needs as so far Hornby seem to be concentrating on mainline express locos. This Large Prairie is much more the sort of thing that interests me (I am not interested in diesels) but there is no way I would accept a loco which regularly fails at points regardless of how good looking and well detailed it is. Your review has also put me off the Hornby equivalent!! I am enjoying your reviews so keep up the good work. I must say, N-guage may still be the route I go as I do like the level of realism one can get in a limited space whilst allowing a sensible run length.
I can see a lot of care has been put into this project
Dapol have got the "straw" lining colour spot on. Lot of manufacturers use orange, but thats incorrect.
I hope Dapols locos are a lot better than their signalling, having had a 70% failure rating of Dapol signals, some were after only a few times of use, and after the response I got from their customer service team, this really put me off their products, and the RRP (on their website) of their steam locos killed off any interest I had in buying new products from this company. This latter point can be said for a lot of the manufactures these days, but that said I did buy a pair of new N7s from oxford, and a pair of new J15's, and B17's, and 4 D16s new from Hornby (hasten to add from a model dealer and not direct from the manufacturer.) The rest of the models I buy these days are 2nd hand, either as new or very good condition, or needing some tlc or minor repairs in order to make the costs more bearable.
This looks like a EXTREMELY well detailed model. Will MMM Models be doing a 1:1 model of this next April aswell? haha
That's very good to hear - and I have heard of problems with their signals being poor quality - pity about that I suppose :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Lining is not washed out. Modellers have got used to seeing their rtr models with bright overscale lining. Professional painters use a fawn colour for orange lining, so this Dapol model is in the right direction. The green too is good. I've got two of these 2-6-2T's and they run so smoothly with no sign of a wobble. Good review Sam.
Speaking as an East Coast enthusiast, I have to say that the GW 'Large Prairies' (51xx and 61xx classes) are the loveliest-looking tank engines ever to run in Britain. Aesthetically, Collett 'got it right'. As a matter of interest, 6167 (one of the London engines) was the prototype of the old Kitmaster (Airfix) model,
Great review, and very informative on the strengths and weaknesses of the model. Though I'm a Southern man and though I'm loath to buy another Dapol (after my experiences with their Class 73 - now relegated to it's box in storage in the attic), I'm really tempted with this model - How about you do another video on this model - One in which you go to town in fixing all the real faults in the mechanism, so that it is as Dapol should have released it, with a decent motor etc.
Also, I loved your video on the Bachmann Brighton Southern H2, and again, why not fix it in another video, so it is as Bachmann should have released it.
I also very much appreciate your comments on the current exorbitant prices of Hornby and Bachmann, especially when they have re released an old model, with out of date standards in detail and mechanisms etc, with current OTT prices.
These prices are so high, that I only pay them for 'really must have' models and for everything else, wait until a retailer is having a stock clear-out and I can get it at a fair price.
This is especially true since I live in the EU and have to pay some 30% higher prices due to customs duties, with VAT on top of both duties and postage. For example, I would have pre ordered the Rails/Dapol Southern D Class, but for issues with its high price (£325 for the sound version), Dapol (for my experiences with its Class 73) and for bad experiences in the past with poor service from Rails...
As December starts, and Sam’s Winter intro Is used, you know it’s nearly Christmas.-Das Mann
Honestly, the loco looks so good in the thumbnail, when I first saw it I thought it was a O gauge model
For Dapols quality control with the terriers this is gorgeous
Aww the winter intro returns!
It certainly does!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Yet another one for my ever growing list. Thanks Sam 👍
A gorgeous locomotive!! Five times heavier than the Hornby model!! It’s capable of pulling 25 carriages. On my Ongar Station layout, it hauls a maximum of seven.
Yes! Who doesn’t like a holiday show and tell!
From what I remember of the BR lining in real life, this model's is a much more realistic rendering of the actual colour than the nearly fluorescent one.
nice a fine Dapol 2-6-2 large prairie still cant believe Hornby's large prairie was terrible still happy to see the Bachmann Johnson 1p in first place LOL
i went to the dapol factory and dr who exibit in langothland about 18 years ago in wales didnt know they still made things mind blown!
Another excellent review which again, has me reaching for my credit card! On the lining issue, the real thing may have had a tendency to fade - and do we know whether the colours were consistently applied? Shame about the hesitant/slightly weak performance - I have fitted super capacitor power packs (with DCC) to a few other locomotives and it cures stalling on points -and anywhere else.
Sam, taking about Genesis, when it was delayed yet again, I cancelled my orders I had placed on the first day you could order. Then I ordered two rakes of the Hornby 4-wheelers. The LBSCR rake had carriages with light show-through. Hornby are however remedying this by painting the insides
Ahh that's a pity - delays happen unfortunately! Are Hornby taking your coaches back to paint the insides? That sounds like a very decent remedy... glad it's not just a "hit and run" situation!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam, I received my model of the prairie the other day and so far have not come across the running issues you found. May layout is dc and has insulfrog points all round, no problems there. I agree about the smoke box flicker, pretty useless on analogue. If Bachmann can get it to work in the 93XX, why can't Dapol?
Regards Alan
Always a good day when Sam posts! Thanks form the states!
Thank you so much Nicholas - hope you enjoy it! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
The yellow framing lines of the livery look perfect to me; as a highlight colour, it complements the green just right, whereas the bold orange example you refer to in the cutaway, looks much too reddish-orange. These liveries tended to have a very well-balanced colour scheme in terms of colour temp, and this Dapol looks great!
Fair to say Sam you seem somewhat bruised from your Hornby large prairie incident and many of their issues and costs of other models. Sam, I would love to see you set up a video where you talk openly with Hornby and ask them about your concerns, allot of us feel the same way but they are a company that has struggled over the years and is only now recovering at any real strength they provide a good amount of employment directly and indirectly in the UK and your influence could damage those jobs, they might appreciate the right to reply, if not then we know to buy from Dapol.
Amazing review Sam, really surprised to see a great quality Dapol locomotive, especially one that's better than Hornby's! Here's hoping they continue in the right direction! -theimperialdiamondspinosaurus
Just got my BR lined black which is beautifully applied with super thin grey/cream/gap/red lining on the tanks and bunker, the only let downs are the self-coloured plastic feed pipes which look very unrealistic against the black painted boiler, a bent grab rail, some obvious glue marks and the cylinders seem a little loose and droop slightly at the front but can be pushed back into place. I love the brass effect on the safety valve bonnet and copper chimney cap and there’s no intrusion of motor below the boiler. I have 2 of the new hornby ones (running fine and straight running plates) and as far as I can see it’s pretty much six of one, half a dozen of the other detail and feature wise. Both run ok, the Dapol is much easier to chip. If fitting DCC is your main goal get a Dapol one just not in mixed traffic black, if there’s a good deal going (like I got with my hornby ones - both less than the £119 I paid for the Dapol) then no issues with the hornby one in my book. 🤷🏻♂️
It runs exactly like my Dapol Mogul… such a shame! The first half of this review I was looking it up on Hattons and deciding what to buy… but the second half? I’ve already got a badly running Hornby Prairie, I don’t need two :-( brilliant review Sam! Thank you for helping me save my money
So sorry not to have better news for you Joe - it is frustrating that we still don't have a 100% reliable large prairie on the market :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Well, I will say this. I love it when model train/model railroad reviewers like Sam or even IC82 say "Hornby, are you watching?". Mainly because Hornby nor do the other companies actually watch the reviewers videos. It's a shame that they actually don't because it could really help all the model train companies out a sh*t ton. love the reviews Sam. Don't let the haters get to you. Cheers all.
The performance of both the Dapol and Hornby are really good. Not sure why you are having issues. The DCC performance is fantastic compared to the Analogue DC control.
They weren't in my experience unfortunately, and a lot of others have had problems too according to the comments. Some examples are good though, this I know to be true too!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Good evening and Merry Christmas everyone. I have found a solution, on a video by Jens 465 explaining how he fixed his own Prairie. The problem is that the pony truck axle is sprung, and pushes down on the track, lifting the driving wheels, especially on the points. The tighter the radius, the greater the problem : one time out of ten on my Piko points (radius = 908mm), and everytime on my Peco points (radius = 438 mm).
You can first, and you have to, trim the peg at the upper side of the rear pony truck, but you have to go further. You have to open the truck by removing the rear coupler, then the fixation plate. Then, you can take off the rear axle, and you can see two springs below it that pushes it down on the track. Remove them, put the axle back in place, then the plate and the coupler, and put the reassembled truck in place, problem solved.
It is a classical case of overengineering, as we say in France, where the best is the ennemy of the good. I don't know why they did no see this at the test stage at Dapol... Anyway, it ought not to be the job of the customer to solve this, but the one of the design bureau. That's a shame, because Dapol had done by the past nice models. And also serious blunders, class 73 anyone ?
A great model, still running smooth and strong. Dont know what the problem is over at Sam's house. The wonderful 25 page color manual that comes with this shows how easy it is to remove the cab top. Which I just did, to add a driver. Such a well-designed model. The only thing I wish they did differently on this one is make the cab vent cover opening. If it was open , you could better see the beautifully painted control panel and the glowing firebox.....
Sam! I saw you on the Hornby advert on TV it was a clip of you being pulled by the 00 gauge fleet! I got so excited and my family was like " what?" But anyway congratulations!
Thanks Sam for another honest and fair review. The direct comparison with the Hornby model was totally justified but I'm guessing we may have seen the last of you on "Hornby: A Model World". Do Hornby or any of the other manufacturers ever respond to your reviews? It would be interesting to hear their response.
Thanks for review sam ... i went out and bought one from Rails of Shedfeild and got tin of sweets thrown in which was nice
I have not run it as yet but
I noticed one glaring fault the brake rigging is wrong having worked on 2 large prairies 5193/5199 i have some sort idea what bits are like The model has a single pull rod set up .. which is fine for a GWR 56XX.. 0 6 2 t ... the large prairies mogul etc have 2 sets of pull rod with compensators very useful for standing on to oil up
I will ask Dapol where they got the drawing from for this
Its not something you see but its a blatent error
Looks excellent. I may need to pre order the revised collett and get one of these. I currently have the Dapol Manor on pre order but there is going to be a battle with those as I also pre ordered the Accurascale Manor as well, it will be interesting to see how they compare.
I remember having a chat with you about this loco I will be collecting my early crested green prairie friday.
@@oswestryroadtmd4850 I will most likely get one I just require the running number 4150 on it as it will be another one to add to the range of Severn Valley Railway locomotives manufacturers like Rapido, Accurascale and Dapol are currently introducing.
I let you know what I think of the dapol prairie when I run mine on my layout at the Newton Abbot show on Saturday I would like to see some coaches all the very best Tom
haha yeah I've ordered both Manors too... it'll be a fascinating battle... wonder which will arrive first?
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I have ordered the Dapol Manor being boring I will be the early crest lined green livery
Sprung buffers it may have, but at least one is fitted angled skywards (Bachmann are good at this too...). Shame about the unprototypical flared sidebars, yet pre-production images showed them as parallel. The top feed pipes should lie somewhat flatter on the tank top. Separately fitted doesn't always mean it's more accurate...
Bought the GWR liveried version today....... It runs very smoothly and with the centre drivers being spring loaded all the wheels stay in contact with the track. I had to take a file to the Hornby version`s chassis to make it run acceptably over points. I agree the detail and weight etc knock spots off the Hornby version.
I'm wondering if Sam uses Hornby track and points. Personally I use Peco code 75 with large radius points and I find that it's far superior to Hornby track and points
For the box, it might be due to how much less common the 6100s were in real life. For example, over here in the US, when ScaleTrains started making their C40-9s, their first run (at least, dunno if the later ones are different) used the exact same box as the rest of the Dash-9s they produced, which indicated that the locomotive was a C44-9W. Of course, there were a lot more C44-9Ws built, as only 125 C40-9s were built, all for Norfolk Southern.
Another great video Sam. I enjoyed the seeing abit of the Hornby review and seeing the Dapol review. What a pity about the mechanism, everything else was excellent. Sometimes i don't understand Hornby at all. Thank you Sam 👍
Another note. I have about two models as far as I can remember that have HAD trouble going around tighter bends or have even derailed entirely even after they run in and the solution to that is taking the center driving wheels off of the model and taking a dremel tool with a small yet course sanding bit and grind the flanges off of those center wheels being careful not to damage the part on the wheel that actually contacts the track. Then cleaning the wheels up and remove any flashing the grinding process may have caused as well as clean the wheel off as if you were doing regular wheel cleaning maintenance then put it all back together then you are good to go. It works well. Trust me.
The middle wheels are sprung a similar reason that they have a 0.1mm shorter b2b gauging - to help on curved track, in this case vertically curved at a change in slope or bank. Two points of contact (the front and rear main wheels) can always follow a curve whilst fixed, but the middle needs to raise up over a peak and drop into a trough. The shorter gauging allows the middle wheelset to float laterally on horizontal curves
Got my one of these in the Lined black the other day. Really great looking locomotive, only quality problem I had was missing a lamp iron on the front, but I'll get the spares for that once they're in stock.
However I suffer from the same issues as you when it comes to running and that's what lets it down, it just runs fine, no better or worse than my Hornby Prairie. Funnily enough though Hornbys old tooled Prairie from like 15/20 years ago runs way better than both of these new tooled ones.
I also suffered from one of the crank pins working their way loose while running it in and subsequently falling out while handling it. Almost lost the washer that sits between the connecting and coupling rods, was so very close to sending it back until I found the washer.
Overall I was really looking forward to this and I want to like it more, but it's fairly decent, hasn't blown me away though. It is better than Hornbys at least.
That is a super model in every way. Amazing engineering... Just how models should be designed and built in this day and age. Credit to Dapol, shame on Hornby.
I'd never normally want to pay over £100 for any model locomotive, but that has really tempted me, if ever I an scratch together the cash. Maybe it's time to sell some of my other locos to generate the cash!
Sam, there has been quite a lot of coming and going as to the failures of the Dapol 2-6-2 large Prairie .The latest communication offered by Dapol that i have been privy to tells me that faults do exists but they can do no more, but they add that new trailing pony trucks will be issued from India at some time. It will interesting to know who will fit them and if there will be a cost to those of us who purchased this model in good faith. I trust this will not reflect the performance of the long overdue GWR Manor many of us have been waiting for. I find it staggering that Dapol finds it necessary to state "They can do no more"----so much for faith in their product !
That's a reasonable price. Looks amazing too and I'd buy one over the Hornby one. Great video.
Was waiting for this review, as I have been waiting for these a while now. Looks great, the price is right and ordered one!
Thanks a lot Ollie - good choice - fingers crossed yours is a good runner!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I personally think the lining on this prairie looks better than what's done on many other locos. I don't know if it's necessarily more accurate, but the lining has more of an almost gold look to it as opposed the the usual orange, which I think looks much better honestly. Very smart lining for a great western loco!
It's funny how much better this loco is than Hornby for a good ten odd pounds cheaper. They're basically smearing mud in Hornby's face and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Shame about the low torque but it's not really all that bad if you give it a smaller load of maybe 10 to 15 trucks.
I'm waiting for my two ones I have bought at Rails of Sheffield. I will test them with some points to see if I have the same problem as you. I'll let you know.
Overall, I am happy to have not bought the Hornby one (GWR epoch 3), and discard the Bachmann 3MT tank from my shopping list (BR epoch 5). Not the best performer, you said it, but useable. Overall, I don't see too much operational limitations for this class of engines in the working conditions of my forthcoming layout.
Please do Oliver - I'd be interested to know! You did well to avoid the Hornby - I wasted the money I spent on mine!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Please give an update soon on running, particularly getting stuck on points. That’s probably ‘the thing’ that will put buyers (like me) off. However, if others report better running, then maybe, just maybe, the curse of the duff loco sent to Sam has occurred.
I think the sprung center axle is to insure that the middle drive wheels make good contact with the rails, both in terms of electrical pickup and having some traction. On some locos the inner drive wheels don't make contact with the rails so for example, making a 0-6-0 really just a extended 0-4-0.
I've just got into the hobby and this is my first "proper" loco purchase. Have it in the Great Western livery. I was worried after watching this about it running on my modest layout but seems to work great on DC around 2nd radius and peco points. Must be luck of the draw!
Nice review Sam, the issue with the point work looks like a track issue it`s a pity your running on carpet . This allows the point to miss contact when not fixed . Keep the reviews coming ...
Not having played trains so to speak for over 50 years, I am appalled by the poor running shown and by similar comments below. Caught your Hush Hush review by chance and posted a comment on the sweet running of a veteran Hornby Castle I de boxed, and ran on some old track re discovered in an old trunk full of my 1950's trains. Since the first post I also tested a trix Britannia and a hornby diesel. All ran sweetly with old fashioned controller to boot. Point is what a lot of money for today's hobbyists to pay for poor running. Yes body detail is excellent now but surely using the loco comes first. What is going on in the motor dept?? Excellent review by the way. Brightened my day. Might just start a new layout!!
Thanks a lot G - you're absolutely right - vintage locos make a mockery of modern ones when it comes to reliability!!
Merry Christmas - Sam :)
My locos spend much more time on display than running. I normally fiddle the loco/tender couplings so that they are a scale distance apart (something difficult with some of today's permanently-coupled offerings). I often wish that manufacturers would make versions without motors etc purely as display items - they would be wonderful additions to the home of a railway buff.
Thanks for the excellent review. I've just taken delivery of one of these and I'm in two minds about whether to keep it now. Would a stay- alive solve the indifferent running?
On another note. I would love to see an HO/OO model where the firebox door opens and closes when the "fireman opens" the firebox door to "shovel coal" into the firebox exposing the flicker of the "fire" inside the firebox of the locomotive and when the "fireman" is done "shoveling coal" into the firebox the firebox door on the model actually closes. Of course this would have to be on DCC sound fitted locos or on locos that are DCC sound ready. QUICK EDIT: all you really need is one of those extremely tiny motors from those little drills that are designed for taking apart model trains and for other extremely small tasks. the drill is about a little bit bigger than the size of a pen.
Thanks Sam ,For another excellent review & I will be placing my order with great eastern models tomorrow . Thanks again
Thanks so much Steven - that's good to hear, enjoy!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Really looking forward to mine - its in the mail - and thanks for the comprehensive review. I returned my Hornby one for a refund, it was so woeful. I note the comments by "GWR Azzo" re lubrication of the axle bearings which greatly improved performance on his one. What is it with motors? We've been making them for well over a century, surely it can't be hard to specify a suitable one? Or is it a quality problem that makes them so variable in performance? In which case perhaps Dapol need to find a more reliable supplier. Such a shame that a really fine model doesn't perform faultlessly.
I was seriously considering, until the running issue as my layout is a little complicated, lovely loco just the same, great review 👍
I share the concern. All of my points are Peco set-track due to space. The only loco I have that sometimes stutters is a class 08 (0-6-0, but same pickup configuration). Hope Sam can find a fix. Dare I buy one? Probably!🙂
Yeah... I wouldn't fancy this if you have a complex layout... unless mine's just a really bad example of course!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hey Sam, great review! I think I might have an answer about your questions with the livery.
It all comes down to where the engine was painted, really. A lot of works on BR had varying shades of green, orange, etc. it was even common in Big 4 days. Doncaster and Darlington apple green, for instance, were very different shades!
Wishing you all the best.
Thank you so much for sharing - it sure is a complicated but interesting topic!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Darlington's always was a 'bluer' shade of green than Donny. And of course, Darlington always painted their outside cylinders apple green, whereas Donny painted them black lined red...
Interesting issues but still a great locomotive, one for the list I think.
Lining colour looks spot on to me, much better than the toy-like bright orange used by others. Quality 5*? Have a look at the buffers Sam - at least one points skywards. Also measure the driving wheel diameter - smaller than it should be meaning the gaps between wheel treads are wider - Hornby has this right. The running was poor. I suspect that pickups on one side are not contacting properly and need a tweak. Running on carpet probably isn't helping either...
The goldish orange lining honestly looks a lot better than an orange. The way it blends and works with the green (imo) works really nicely and complements each other nicely. The orange on green just seemed off and really too stand out on the green.
A cracking model. A small modification made it run perfectly - there was no upward movement on the rear pony wheels despite the springs; deepening the axle slots put some weight on the driven axle, and it now runs like a dream, given the properly sprung centre driven axle. Two things puzzle me: manufacturers seem to ignore the requirement for proper contact with the track, and don't seem to assess the finished product. Dapol nearly got it spot on. Hornby and Heljan often don,t unless all the track is laid to have undulations no greater than about 0.1mm (not mine I am afraid, but it is I believe comparatively good). I do believe reviews (even Sam's!) should take account of this, it explains a lot of poor (out of the box) running. The second point is this: I also love my (more substantially adjusted) Hornby Prairie, but why do its wheels pick up loads of dirt, requiring frequent stops for cleaning, whereas the Dapol seems to run forever? Someone needs to research this!!
The lining looks almost yellow/gold in colour. It’s looks a great model loco
Have just received mine and the running is pretty much identical, hesitant on points and speed a little inconsistent. Such as shame as everything else about the model is stunning. Would love to see if there's a fix you can do Sam!
Ahh pity to hear that Phil - it's got me perplexed really... are the wheels on your example sitting to one side?
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Seems to sit straight, working really well on medium speeds, just quite hesitant running slowly. Also seems to find issues on the track which no other engine does! Thanks for the videos.
You are correct, on that centre driver, is to highly sprung, as you pushed it down, could see it...try pushing it down when running over the points, see if it runs over ok, otherwise, stunning model....
the performance kinda reminds me of your “Britain’s Ugliest Locomotives?” video when you run the Sentinel
Hello Sam! Great review and a wonderful model! Cheers! 👍
I just got this with the shirtbutton GWR roundel from TMC for...£95. If you said it was an absolute bargain at £119, I got an even luckier deal! I'm looking forward very much to getting my one, and it's all thanks to your review.
I see you’ve removed your hand from the thumbnail! We shall miss it very much. Lovely model and a very good review!! Keep up the wonderful work. ;D
Mmmm I have a Hornby Prairie, and it has none of the mechanical or running issues that you have mentioned Sam. The torque is excellent and it easily hauls 10 coaches even around 2nd radius…..so could it be that yours is a duff model?
That's good news Chris! I do know that not all of them are bad, but many of them are!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Just to add a personal point of view re the Prairie livery, like the Hornby version it's not dark enough, whereas Bachmann are spot on and what a difference it makes to the overall effect.
As soon as I can I will post a picture of my friends Dapol.Prairie he has completely repainted and lined. What a difference it makes to a nice model.
They were interviewing a man from Hornby this morning on Radio 4. He stated that shipping costs from China had shot up enormously. When asked if that meant they'd be moving production back to the UK he stated that "the skills required no longer exist in the UK".
I think Hornby and other manufacturers should be seriously looking at robotics to assemble locos. Robotic systems could easily cope with the small parts and would be relatively easy to reprogram for new models and could mean assembly in the UK again. John
What a stupid and insulting thing to say. Obviously the shipping costs haven't risen high enough otherwise they wouldn't send out a representitve to make such idiotic comments against the UK work force.
I've been contemplating getting one of these. Judging by the score you gave, I'm gonna get one.
It'll be nice to compare it to my Lego one I designed
I just bought one of these and was interested to hear you say it stumbles on points. I thought it was my track work, as mine does the same. It seems to be the rear pony wheels that fall off the track occasionally on my points. Other than that it’s a great loco. I didn’t buy the Hornby large prairie. The only other one I have is an original Airfix one. Very noisy compared with the Dapol one. Thanks for your review. Incidentally, mine doesn’t slow down on any of my curves.