Recently I have picked up an interest on the APT, especially due to the fact that Hornby released their new version of the APT after around 40 years.

I am planning to get the full 14-car APT, and I already got my hands on the 5-car set of the 2020 version.
However, scrolling through APT-related websites, I also found out that there were more plans on the APT if production versions were to be made. The APT-Q, aptly named so as it follows the letter P, basically uses the 14-car APT-P, but it is split into its respective half-sets, and a DVT from the production APT-S would be added to the other end of the NDM, making 6 8-car formations.

So, I thought, if I 3d print two APT-S DVT bodyshells, attach Hornby APT bogies, and couple it to the APT-P half sets, I would get two full APT-Q formations, as intended in real life. Nobody has ever modelled the APT-Q, let alone the APT-S (I think), so I decided to give it a try...

Here's some alternate history for my justification of the model, if anyone's interested...

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Basically, the delays regarding the APT's development does not catch interest from journalists, and the APT-P never gets pressed into service in 1981, and the APT-P's infamy of being a "queasy rider" does not catch headlines. Development of the APT-S starts as much of its problems gets rectified for the next 3-4 years.

 

The Class 371 APT-S rolls out to service from late 1984 to 1985, and the fixed APT-P is subsequently split into 6 APT-Q sets, where they would work in shorter-distance or WCML routes with less demand. They are reclassified from 370/0 to 370/1.

 

During its service life, a few amendments are done to the APT-Q, including the conversion of the TU into TS and being formed between the original TS and TRBS.

 

Ultimately, however, they are withdrawn from revenue service earlier than their production counterparts, with two APT-Q sets and the spare 370007 being converted into test/measurement trains for the WCML, the intermediate trailers were put into use to extend 5-6 APT-S sets from 9-coach to 10-coach sets, while the remaining driving trailers and NDMs were stripped for parts.

 

My model would reflect the APT-Q in its testing phase after being formed (hence the full-yellow cab with no black mask, but still having rainstrips below the cab window, perfectly accounting for Hornby's error) Therefore it would retain its unmodified formation and the addition of the DVT at the end.

I have access to more 3D printers and 3D software at hand, so all I have to do currently is finalize the DVT diagram, and model it based on the diagrams!

Stitching together the DTS and TBF diagrams with a few changes work, but I still have to consider other factors, such as the existence of a potential guard's compartment accounting for its use for APT-S, etc...

Though, I wonder what numbering system these stock would have...