Today Dapol announce the final specification for their new Q1 steam locomotive.
QUOTE This locomotive is currently in production and will be formaly released on Saturday 15th September at the N gauge 40th anniversary show at Kettering . All Dapol stockists will have their allocation for sale at the same time.
As many of you will know from our previous updates, we expected our Q1 to have an excellent haulage capacity. However this was based on pre-production engineering samples and not an actual production locomotive. The first production sample has now been built and tested and we are delighted to advise that its haulage power was greater than expected. It managed 17 Dapol Autocoaches behind it on our flat test track. This equates to 50 Dapol Dogfish wagons!
The locomotive features a raft of details that make it our best steam locomotive yet. Added hand rails, separate customer applied white headcode discs, deliciously fine rivet detail, a removable coal load, see through darkened boxpok wheels, 6 PIN NEM 651 DCC ready socket (needs a DCC chip to run on DCC, but runs as you would expect on standard DC control) and also has numbered tabs on the circuit board to allow the DCC modeller to 'hard wire' their own choice of DCC chip if required.
It has a powerful tender mounted motor that transmits the power through to the locomotive, allowing the traction to be right at the front of your locomotive where it really should be, freeing up boiler space for ballast weight and allowing a scale tender to be fitted. The tender runs on pin point bearings with almost zero friction due to the bearings being located within steel 'cups' which also transmit electrical power to the motor.
The locomotive has darkened pickups (where visible), and also has 12 wheel electrical pick up.
An NEM coupling socket comes as standard, as you have come to expect with Dapol and a choice of couplings are included with the engine, including our chain and shackle option.
Oh and the best bit? We can announce this magnificent engine will have an RRP of £89.95
Remember, we are only producing 1000 BR examples, in 4 running numbers (250 of each number) - so get your order in early to be assured this wonderful model.
Innovation in 'N'? Dapol makes it happen!
Happy modelling
Gary
