I Finally Tried Hornby's APT | Was It Worth It? | Unboxing & Review

Thanks for watching!

0:00 Intro
4:18 Unboxing
10:50 Prototype Info
12:11 Detail
21:08 Mechanism
26:53 Performance
30:48 Train Assembly
34:48 Haulage
42:28 Ratings
48:21 Summary

[keithrichardhallam]

I remember a set in the local model shop window back in the '80s with a note - "Works better than the real thing."

[GDGRailway]

Just for clarity on your introduction, the APT-P was rarely run as a 14-car double set. The 14-car consist was just done a few times for press and promotional shots etc.
Much more common was to have a shorter (2 or 3 passenger car) set on the southern end and a 5 or 6 passenger car set on the northern end. Sometimes with one and sometimes with two NDMs. There is lots of info on formations on the 25kv APT site.
I think Hornby promote the 14-car formation because they want to sell more coach packs, but it is misleading to portray that as the regular service formation. Hope that helps.

[iainhenstridge]

Is it just me or is the driver figure the spitting image of Frankenstein’s monster?!
The new model is nice, but as far as a 5 car set goes, I can’t see that it’s massively better than the 1980s Hornby model, a hot rod that can be picked up for around £110 used. The new pantograph is way, way more realistic, but the old one, whilst not capable of DC catenary running, was sprung metal and would run under the wires OK.
I think the value for money of the new one is still stretching it, even at discounted prices.
I’m not sure that lighting is really needed. Most real trains barely register their internal lighting from the outside and therefore it seems a bit superfluous to me at least.

Loved the video though Sam. Top work, as usual!

[ianjeffery]

Not many people (apart from Pete Waterman!) have the space for a 14-car train, but a 7-car set would indeed look good on a large layout with sweeping curves...only at the discount price, though.

[derekloudon]

My engineering brain was going wild trying to work out the possible tilting mechanism and when you showed it ……….wow! So simple and effective, very clever indeed Hornby well done!

[TATICMOOR]

I bought the DC APT 7-Car set about a year after launch. On the large layout at my local club, the APT struggled to get up a 1-2% incline on the overpass bridge. So soon after that, I bought the extra-powered NDM. After this second purchase, the performance and traction of the APT on the overpass were great. Then last year when the double coach packs fell below the fifty-pound margin, I purchased one to two packs per month until I made up the 14-Car set. It only gets run as a full-length train on the club's large layout for now or via an extensive-sized exhibition layout, but boy it is a sight to see running at its full length. Next year I may upgrade it to DCC Sound, but for now, I am happy with the APT as it is and how it looks. If you would like to try your set with a second NDM Sam, you can have a loan from one of my two and a coach pack to make up a 7-car unit to test them out. Better still you can borrow my 7-car set with two NDMs to test out against your 5-car set side by side, just ask me anytime. Oh, btw, it was a great review, better late than never, (even with a modern timetable) lol.

[pwinter]

I presonally think the power car should've been an absolute monster. Givene the slowing down and the struggling of pushing the coaches. Maybe it could've been a little bit faster but thats just me.
Great video no matter what sam!

[brianartillery]

15:40 - Nice to see British Rail giving the job of driving the APT to the Frankenstein creature. Spot on for the 'Suspicions Confirmed' department. 😆😆😆

[zoomer]

Hi Sam, not sure if you will read this amongst the hundreds of comments but here goes. I was amazed when Hornby announced a new APT and after being duped by DJM to support an all bells and whistles APT, I was desperate to get something worthwhile. Unfortunately I got a full set of the earliest run, with huge barrel capacitors in the coaches that didn't work and awful plastic couplings at the power cars. Worse still a lot of the intermediate coaches had to be sent back as the bogie frames had been moulded squint, causing the coaches to ride at all different heights. Also with the draggy pickups, there was no way a single power car and a dummy NDM (as advertised initially) was sufficient for the 7 car set, nevermind the full 14 car. I decided to bite the bullet and re-engineer my model, with through wiring, low friction axle pickups and DCC sound. Whilst doing this I chose to super detail the interior with tartan prints on the seats and details on the buffet and a more realistic paint scheme. It has taken me all this time on and off since release in 2020 to get a model I'm happy with. I was angry and disappointed with Hornby with their initial run and of course no option of swapping for the improved second run versions, as who would want them! Hope you enjoy your model, as I certainly didn't.
Best wishes
Neil.

[tobyytlai]

I remember when the first batch was released, the giant capacitor was totally visible and was ridiculed by everybody. It's nice that they fixed it, but the reputational damage likely impacted the sales of the second batch

[kennethmcintyre]

Loved your presentation. My family an I travelled on the inaugural trip in December 1981. My son, four at the time was the youngest on the trip. It was an amazing experience and still have all the memorabilia handed out to passengers. We made an unscheduled stop in the Lake District to pick up Isla St Clair, co-host of the BBC programme The Generation Game. Still have the original APT set and may consider buying the new version.

I bought the 5 car set from AJM Railways. I bought the rest of the coaches from Hattons and the second DMU. It cost me $1, 500 NZ or £750 UK 🇬🇧 I'll need 4 dcc decoders. It was expensive, but I wanted to treat myself. It runs well as a 14-car set and it looks very impressive but once the seats are toned down, or the interior is improved, and fitted with passengers it'll look even better. I like it.

[nigelm]

Inside the NDM looks much heavier (more metal above the motor) than the 1st release with 8 pin dcc, and the magnetic coupling are an improvement.

[Last-Knight]

I was torn between this APT by Hornby and the APT-E by Rapido. Glad I went for Rapido as it has plenty of power, the tilt mechanism is brilliant and the DCC sound of the turbines is tremendous. Only downside is its rather long snout. Sticks out a long way as it goes around curves so had to 'adjust' a few things on my layout to get it to go round without hitting anything. Would be nice if you could do a comparison review Sam!

[TheAreotrain]

I am honestly surprised about not having the whole train wired together as that is a huge advantage with ensuring good pickup and smooth lighting. I have a Con-Cor Electroliner that has an 8-pin electrical connection between cars and uses bearing pickups. The wheels roll freely that way and the train can run with no issues on dirty club track even with an undersized motor that is connected to only one truck.

[StormmyStormmy]

Very good in-depth review of an iconic train set, the first time saw an APT set was in Cheltenham Model centre many years ago, it was an eye opener that stuck with me so when I got back into the hobby at the end of 2021 after a few decades away I knew I had to buy a set, I have the 2nd run model which could have been better but it has potential, Sam’s set is the 3rd run with most of the issues with the 2nd run addressed, I’m going to upgrade the lighting and interior on mine when I get time, I don’t believe another manufacturer will ever produce the APT in 00 gauge and this 3rd run will be the last so take advantage of the discounted coaches and accessories while they are available, thanks for sharing.

[jamestalbot]

I picked up the 7 car a while ago in a sale and I've added a few extra pairs. The 7 car pack second motor car is a dummy, but I found on 3rd and 4th radius curves it ran fairly smoothly. The original issue didn't have the magnetic couplings for the NDMs though! If you even feel rich or brave enough though, the Rapido APT-E is something else. Much more complex inter-car couplings though.

[Ash-]

I thought a HST power car looked odd running solo but an APT power car on its own is a very bizarre sight!

[SueBobChicVid]

15:38 Frankenstein's monster is the driver! Look at that brow! I think his neck electrodes are still hooked up too.

[Madonsteamrailways]

Well!! That’s the Advanced Passenger Train!! It’s a very pretty train with a central power carriage!! And the five car train pack is pretty prototypical.