It really TILTS! | Hornby Class 370 APT-P Review

[@markwood4194]

I’ve still got my 1980 version, which my mum surprised me with that Christmas. £80 in a sale, my mum always liked a bargain. I thought it was pretty amazing then, and I’m still happy with it now.

[@Firefox1701d]

I have the 5-car set from the 80's - purchased my from Beatties model shop, Maneage street in Helston, Cornwall. The only problem I had was the motor which was replaced. I went to a local club, where I live now, with a friend who also had the early 5-car set and we were given the okay to race each other. By god did they go - we actually got them to run at full speed (having checked station and other clearances) and they both ran exceptionally well with no derailing. Unfortunately, I am awaiting a move before I can start on my layout, so it will remain boxed till then. Good review of the updated version.

[@GDGRailway47712]

I went on the APT-P once from Glasgow Central to Euston.I think I was 5 or 6 at the time and it did make me feel sick. I also did buy a 2020 5-car pack as the five was named City of Derby (which is where I lived for a while). It does have problems running indoors but not outside.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

That must have been quite the experience, at least you can say you've been on the APT. Strange that the model runs better outdoors.

[@GDGRailway47712]

@@LittleWicketRailway I think its the wires for the 8-pin decoder that inhibit the tilt and cause the power cars to derail. There is a fix for it I've yet to get around to. The outdoor track is minimum 1m radius so it doesn't tilt that much outside.

[@kirktonroadjunction193]

Purchased the 2020 7 car set and 4 coach packs when it was first released, I had it on preorder with Hornby and at a cost of nearly £900 it wasn’t cheap. Wasn’t happy with it and I did give Hornby feedback on all its faults and where it could be improved. When the updated version was released in 2023 I couldn’t justify nearly £900 again, however I managed to buy the updated 7 car set and 4 coach packs from Rails of Sheffield in their sale for £550. Although it’s still not 100% perfect, it is much improved and I’m more than happy with it now. The APT is a train I’ve always wanted in my collection and now I have one that I’m proud off, just not sure what to do with my 2020 version now.

[@TimberSurf]

I am not miffed by the 2020 version, recently got 9 car second hand (1980) set for £100! Though obviously will need some work to make it DCC

[@michaelwolak3098]

I have the early version of the apt and it quite easy once you get the shells off, you need three decoders one for the power and two for lighting , you can get the lighting kit from hobby trax, as it’s a ringfield motor it’s quite straight forward

[@kintyjunction5044]

You can get sound decoder for apt-p from roads and rails if that helps I got mines for both NDM powered cars it’s nice to hear what it finally sounded like. It’s more closer to the class 91 loco which was part of the inter city 225. I also have the older 1980 model which I did extensive work including repaint to the original prototype as they were grey which was wrong colour and added lighting think I might have them up in my KZbin

[@RG-Models86]

The APT was just before my time, so I don't have the love for it as I do for the old class 43 HST. Great video, Rob 👍.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Thanks! Yeah, it looks very sci-fi to me.

[@waynemeakin]

I bought the 7 car from Rails a fornight ago for £345. Love it.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

It's a nice set. Wish I'd got the 7 car version.

[@waynemeakin]

@@LittleWicketRailway I went in for the 5 car but they were all at their warehouse where unfortunately there is no collection point. As it happened, they did have just 1 of the 7's that I was very easily persuaded into buying. I'm glad I did. 😁

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

I did get mine when the sale was for the original release. TBH Ive done exactly what Chris did it his interiors, hid the capacitors, fitted magnetic couplings and added a few more coaches. The 8 pin does not bother me in the slightest, the train runs beautifully.

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

Nice review and I didn't know that the 2020 release was upgraded.

[@StormmyStormmy]

Hi, very good review of an iconic train pack, unfortunately Hornby cut corners on the second run because they wanted to rushed the set out, the interior is a classic example of underdevelopment but there are a few videos of upgrades you can do to enhance your set, I’m going to upgrade the lighting with Esu units with onboard decoders, the development coach in the 7 car set has great interior so why didn’t Hornby continue the interior theme throughout the sets, you can upgrade the motor bogie turret tower parts and West Hill Wagon works do a great set of magnetic couplings for the second run of the APT (2020/1), the 8pin dcc decoder compartment is too shallow so it’s best to fit the decoder above the motor chassis as this stops the bogies lifting up if you use the decoder department, I got the 5 car set at a great price so I made do with what I have, all in all it’s a visually pleasing set with so much more potential if you want to make it look like a model rather than an expensive toy, thanks for sharing.

[@StormmyStormmy]

The Esu dcc lighting units are the (50708) ones which can be fully controlled, you will also need the power pack units which come in a pair (50710) shop around for good prices, I got all mine from Modellbahnshop-lippe, I will run a 9 to 11 car set eventually, for those modellers whom purchased the 5 car set the development APT coach is amazing but don’t over pay for it.

[@kintyjunction5044]

@@StormmyStormmy I use the esu for the sounds but use the lokpilot for the two dts as they work better for cab lighting owing to both loksound and lokpilot being made from same company hope this helps

[@davidsheriff8989]

Looks good and runs well

[@marksinthehouse1968]

1985 I was a 17 year old postal cadet my interest in the hobby was taking a back seat then well it was the 80s😊,but I always wanted the APT train pack so I went to King’s Cross models now gone and got a pack for £52 I still have it mint with pantograph to me the new hornby model is not good enough for me to want to get one as I’m more than happy with my 80s one BUT it’s my personal opinion ,yours looks great on your layout 😊😊 Take care Mark 😊😊

[@davidstrains4910]

I recently got one of these new APTs from hornby, now to start with it is the older 8 pin version but when it comes to what I got it for it can be definitely considered a bargain because recently from Clark Railworks I got the 7 car set, 3 coach packs and a separate NDM for the grand total of £675, that’s expensive but I didn’t pay that all at once instead paying over time, after having the items arrive there was one coach pack I was missing but managed to get that for around £50 so for the grand total of just over £700 I have the full 14 car train plus the development vehicle which I can use every now and again and a spare NDM, that is a bargain because I now have the full train, I absolutely love using it, in full 14 car formation it just looks fantastic, that was my reason for getting it because one of my main criticisms of the old 80s version which I do own one of those is you can’t extend it to a full rake, going to get mine sound fitted at some point, not sure what I’m going to go with yet in regards to whether it’s HM7000 or something else but I’m going to get mine fitted soon, will definitely agree on the criticism regarding the interior and if Chris is still doing that kit as it was a couple of years ago now since that was first shown if he is still doing that I may look and see if I can get one for a full 14 car set. They 25KV site is fantastic, how the person who made that has got all the information is incredible, my APT will never be a proper set with all the numbers correct but it doesn’t bother me, I’m just happy to have a full 14 car rake and a model of a train that has interested me since the first time I saw it in pictures, would love to go to the Crewe heritage centre and see the real one in person. Now all we need is for someone to make the very early APT test bed trains, the PoP one for example which was the skeletal test train that was hauled by various locomotives from time to time, that would be fantastic to see in model form.

[@TannithVQ]

Nice track weathering.

[@zah465]

Imo it sounds like a similar story to the real thing, except the model did get a rerelease that ironed out the issues. I like the DCC socket thats very smart, more locos need that rather than having to pull the whole body off.

[@michaelbran7993]

Hi I have one of the original sets ringfield motor now dcc goes great

[@michaelbran7993]

I found mine in a little shop in Kent for £15.00 20 odd years ago it had a slightly damaged coach got it replaced free from an old junk shop in Hampshire

[@speleokeir]

Nice review and timely. I'm mainly a steam fan with a few early diesels and technically the prototype was just outside my era, but who cares!🙂 It's one of those sets I've half thought about in the past, but couldn't justify the cost. Some of the offers now aren't too bad though, however it's still a choice between that or thinking what else can I get for the money?🤔 And there are a lot of tempting models at present, plus I've a few pre-orders where I've already allocated money. Just paid for my Hattons genesis coaches which hopefully Rails will send out soon. These are going for insane amounts on Ebay, anything from £500-£1200. Nuts! Don't really want to sell mine on, but at those prices it might be worth it and get some Hornby replacements. Then there's the Hornby LNER Coronation coaches which are a big upcoming outlay. And I've a couple of Rapido's beautiful looking O1s on pre-order. That tots up to about £850 - gulp!😟 All in all, probably can't justify it at present, unless I sell off some of my older models which is how I often help pay for new stuff.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I didn't realise how much the genesis coaches are going for!

[@ar4498]

I've still got the 1980's 5 car set.

[@keaganwright124]

hi Rob, how is the new layout progressing? Haven't seen any recent videos on it? Thanks

[@stained36]

I like the APT but the one made by hornby is ridiculously expensive, not even going to start on the full length unit 😢

[@martinreed9565]

Think Even though it was the APT I think your driver was speeding over that crossover😁

[@ollychap1985]

I had both of the 2020 sets very disappointing both didn't run great and the DCC and lights where not great. as you said the second run got a lot of updates. I sold one and the other one I don't run It's been put under the layout right at the back I am so fed up with it. I really lost a lot of money on the apt sets Your model looks a lot better

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Sounds like you had a really bad experience with the older set, sorry to hear that.

[@ollychap1985]

@@LittleWicketRailway yes, it wasn't great. I tend to stick to Steam locos at the moment

[@Chauglington_Station]

How is your new layout progressing? 🙂

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I've got a backlog of videos I want to get done then it'll be back to the layout build.

[@Gatherleymodeller.]

Wish I could afford it 😊

[@terrier_productions]

Rails of Sheffield are currently selling them for 1/2 price. Still a bit pricey but now are worth the price

[@ModelRailwayShed]

I love the APT train but can't justify the price tag sadly

[@martinreed9565]

@@ModelRailwayShed I’ve got a very old one. It must be all of 35 years old and it’s still going strong.

[@ModelRailwayShed]

@@martinreed9565 I used to have the original Hornby one really regret selling it now.

[@davidstrains4910]

@@martinreed9565 More like 40 years, the first sets were coming out around the early 1980s at the same time as the real trains, you have clearly took very good care of your old 80s set, that’s why it still works to this day, these new ones from hornby will last just as long if they are treated with the same amount of care that many show to the old 80s sets.

[@6axe1man5]

I recently bought a Bachmann Voyager for my daughter’s 10th birthday and converted that to DCC….i was annoyed that I had to buy 3 decoders for it. I just can’t believe a brand new 2023 ‘premium’ model by Hornby requires 3 decoders…unacceptable in this day and age.

[@smithge4uk]

Well, thats always the risk you take. LIke when you buy a Ford Focus and 3 years later an improved model is released

[@LittleWicketRailway]

True, but more unusual for model railways.