First impressions
IMMEDIATELY upon unboxing the APT-P models which were announced in Hornby’s centenary year, the first impression is that Hornby has finally nailed InterCity executive livery, particularly the light grey colour.
Supplied in card packaging with lift-out sleeves, the APT-P models are quite secure for transport, but one wonders if something a little more exciting could have been done with the packaging for what is Hornby’s current prestige model, together with a booklet containing the information printed on the exterior sleeve instead of a basic instruction leaflet. What is good to see is the lack of plastic packaging and in the case of both train packs, none had experienced any damage during transit in their boxes.
A pair of train packs were released in early 2022 to join the add-on trailer packs and the additional Non-Driving Motor vehicles which were first released in 2021. The add-on trailer packs extend the train packs to make up authentic seven-car plus seven-car formations equalling 14 in total length, which equals about four-metres of model.
Unless one has a large layout, running the trains in shortened formation is quite acceptable and indeed, the prototypes were operated in various lengths during testing. It certainly was challenging enough to demonstrate the impressive length of the brand-new APT-P in the studio.
Five-car train pack
Nos. 370003 and 370004 are presented in the five-car train pack (R3873) decorated in an early version of InterCity APT livery with a is motorised allowing the five-car train to be operated straight from the box.
