The rise in popularity for ‘O’ gauge ready-to-run is set for steep increase with the arrival of Dapol’s Class 08 diesel shunter. MIKE WILD reviews this 0-6-0 shunter and assesses it abilities on the track.
Ready-to-run ‘O’ gauge has been gaining momentum rapidly over the past 18 months, but the arrival of Dapol’s new Class 08 diesel shunter could be the catalyst for a spike in sales for the scale.
Until now we’ve mainly been used to seeing main line diesel locomotives at prices which, to fair, aren’t suited to everyone’s pocket. Equally, you really needed something more than a shunting yard to really make the most of these locomotives which many modellers only have space for at home.
Dapol’s Class 08 is set to change all that. Digital Command Control (DCC) ready, it comes in at a shade under £200 and is the type of locomotive that any layout from the smallest shunting yard to the largest main lines can find a home for.
It is an exciting prospect and one which the modelling community has been itching to get a hold of – and that has been shown following its arrival with Class 08s appearing in every corner of the internet and even with those with no plans to build an ‘O’ gauge railway too.
One thing is for sure – this is a great lo…