Hornby Olympic Javelin R2961 Limited Edition white Train set and is R1153 (purple) a downgrade? 

The white train pack is passable. But I have to say the purple one looks like something my 3 year old grandson would reject 😂😂 great video. Keep up the good work 👏

Thanks for doing such a detailed review! Just a few things I wanted to point out. I believe there are indeed 2012 train sets and 2012 train packs made, the certificates are labeled differently. The track mats are different on the 2 sets, the purple one has a purple theme that corresponds better with the livery of the train included. You said the bits picked out in yellow are steps? I'm sorry if this is another case of slip of the tongue. On the prototype, those are handles you turn to take off the panels to access the components in the underframe. To answer your question at 32:43, Hornby uses this type of couplings on some of their multiple unit stock. Their Class 390 Pendolino and Hitachi Class 800 both have this coupling mechanism. Does that mean you do not have the 390 or 800 in your collection? Also it's worth noting that the purple Railroad version has no DCC socket. Quite a downgrade from Hornby there.

I believe that they’re not the best models in the world, but at least they look good.

Just a quick reminder that on Wednesday 14 August, there will be a model railway day at Lowewood Museum, Hoddesdon. Also coming up, two events at the Hoddesdon Model and Railway Club, Broxbourne Mill, Mill Lane, Broxbourne on Sunday 25 August.

I agree with your assessment 100% and I assumed a 4-piece set with the 2012 edition before you opened the box. Both boxes have 8+ as suggested minimum ages on them but the 2012 unit could be handed to a 5-year-old after all the cars on the 2012 go together like the wooden play trains. Great review, Jersey Bill

A good video on these 2 Javalins here Dusty Shelf Collectables, I don’t have one of the Olympic sets of these but what I do have is a full 6 car class 395 in the Southeastern Highspeed livery, when it comes to that model it is one that I really like and running it is also very good, one of the best things that the model has it it’s high speed running capabilities, with the real class 395s being capable of 140mph hornby when they use to manufacturer the model managed to get it to be capable of a very high speed and that in my opinion is one of the best things that the model has going for it, when I use mine it’s great just setting the controller to a high setting and seeing it go round at a very fast speed. When it comes to the 2 models you have here it’s worth bearing in mind that they both use different tooling, hornby have made two javelins, one premium one and a railroad one, someone else in the comments may have mentioned this already but the white one is using the tooling for the premium class 395 and the purple one is using the tooling for the railroad class 395, also one thing with the purple one while it is only a 3 car set there were extra coaches that people could buy for the set, the white one I’m not sure if that had extra coaches available because as I said my one while it isn’t an Olympic one it’s a 6 coach train and the real ones 1 set consist of 6 vehicles. Overall a great video on these sets Dusty Shelf a Collectables, it was quite smart of hornby to do these in these fictional liveries plus the real 395s themselves have ties to the 2012 Olympic Games as they also helped with a London bid to host and ferried passengers to Stratford International where the Olympic stadium was.

Although the purple model is more my style than the white, I don’t think I’ll be seeking one out for my layout!!

Those were beautiful train packs for those who already had a train set or layout. The full set had track as well!!

The Javelin train was one of the most beautiful modern trains. I have never had the opportunity to ride on one, but I’m sure I will at some time in my life!!

R1153 is a Railroad set - cheap and not as good as the white one, while the white one has a five core electric motor.

Nice trains but the purple one wasnt worth the same price as the other one