From Miniature to BIG

That's just foam blocks that form part of the packing materials. The wooden platform is part of the packing as well as the model is screwed to it from the underneath to keep it safe in transit.

But I agree, this livery gives it quite a grand look, its one of my favorite ones partly because not so many models are produced in that livery due to its being fairly short lived in history (only 2-3 years apparently) as it was phased out as in use the livery didn't survive too well apparently...