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Model Railway Features

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Developing the diesel shunter

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Amazingly, the diesel shunter has been around now for more than 90 years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at its development and shows how it can be incorporated into layouts set from pre-nationalisation days onwards.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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The Billinton LBSCR ‘E4’ 0-6-2T

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Throughout the history of the railway many locomotive classes have made an invaluable contribution to providing services, yet have remained largely out of the limelight. One such design was the Brighton built ‘E4’ 0-6-2T, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Static Grass Tufts

Making your own static grass tufts can be a rewarding detailing exercise and offers something different to mass produced items? We show you how simple it is to make and use grass tufts.

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BR Liveries: Sectorisation to Privatisation

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

In the 1980s British Railways was coming under considerable pressure from the country’s politicians to stem its losses. One of the most radical changes made was the splitting of the railways into sectors and the abandonment of regional boundaries. The changes lead to an explosion of new liveries, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Installing DCC Concepts Powerbase Feature Premium

How to install DCC Concepts Powerbase on gradients

MIKE WILD

Gradients have always posed a problem to model railway builders. MIKE WILD tackles the subject using DCC Concepts Powerbase equipment to install two gradients on our much modified ‘N’ gauge office test track, with impressive results.

MIKE WILD
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Weathering a GWR '64XX' 0-6-0PT

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON gives the Bachmann 'OO' gauge ‘64XX’ 0-6-0PT a convincing oily rag finish that recaptures childhood memories.

TIM SHACKLETON
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The GWR ‘64XX’0-6-0PTs

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

The Great Western stood alone amongst the railways of the British Isles in its widespread use of ‘Pannier’ tank locomotives. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES takes a close look at the ‘64XXs’, and finds out what made this small class different from the rest.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Updating the Hattons KWA Warwell

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON widens the scope of Hatton’s new KWA Warwell in a bid to bring it into line with 21st century military strategy.

TIM SHACKLETON
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EQUIPMENT GUIDE: Rolling Roads

MARK CHIVERS

If you don’t have a continuous run layout, running in new models can be a challenge. However, a number of suppliers offer rolling roads to achieve this. MARK CHIVERS evaluates some of the more popular options.

MARK CHIVERS
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Making Buildings from Scratch – Part Three

MALCOLM BRIGGS

Building on the techniques of his new series, MALCOLM BRIGGS shows how to build a shop in ‘OO’ gauge ready for later interior fitting.

MALCOLM BRIGGS
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Creating a unique wagon load in 'OO' gauge

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON recreates a rare sight on the rails which could occasionally have been seen almost anywhere - a wagon loaded with Invacars - in ‘OO’ gauge.

TIM SHACKLETON
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MAKING A SCENE: Creating a railway cutting

DAN EVESON

Cuttings can offer an extra dimension to a layout, and provide visual variety. DAN EVASON shows how to create a simple scene in ‘OO’ gauge step by step.

DAN EVESON
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RAILWAY REALISM: The British Royal Trains

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

The coronation of a new king in May will bring to the public’s attention one of the more unusual trains on our network, the Royal Train, which has been transporting our monarchs around the country now for almost 200 years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks into its history.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Direct Rail Services Class 37s

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Although they were one of the earliest British Railways diesel classes which could well have faded into history by now, Cumbrian operator Direct Rail Services has used them for many years. Now though, their seemingly charmed existence looks to be coming to an end, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES reports.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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FAQ: Learning digital command control

MARK CHIVERS

We look to the enthralling world of Digital Command Control. MARK CHIVERS considers some of the terminology and jargon you may encounter along the way answering some of the most frequently asked questions.

MARK CHIVERS
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Class 08 Diesel Shunters

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

The Class 08 diesel shunters are amongst the most successful locomotives ever to run on Britain’s railways – yet they are often ignored by enthusiasts and modellers. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES argues this is a situation which should change. 

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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BUILDING A DIESEL DEPOT - THE BACKSCENES

MIKE WILD

In the third instalment of our diesel depot series, MIKE WILD explains how the backscenes were fitted and how the depot was detailed to create a realistic scene.

MIKE WILD
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FAQ: Where to house your model railway

MIKE WILD

Looking for the best place to build your model railway? We highlights five of the best locations around the average home.

MIKE WILD
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REALITY CHECK: Western Region Blue Pullmans

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Remembered by many as the high point of the 1950s modernisation of British Railways, the Blue Pullman trains set new standards of comfort and design, yet had a short and unhappy life, with much of it spent by necessity on the Western Region. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains all.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Heritage traction on the main line

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Trains operated by individuals or small private companies have, for more than 50 years, provided a welcome variation to what we can normally see in everyday service. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at how these workings came about and explains how they could provide variety on almost any post-1960s layout.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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FAQ: Modelling Essentials

MARK CHIVERS

To help you get started in railway modelling we answer those most common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on essential modelling techniques and ideas. MARK CHIVERS discusses the hot topic of what type of layout you should build.

MARK CHIVERS
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MAKING A SCENE: Building a low relief Bus Depot

DAN EVASON

Low relief buildings are an excellent means of suggesting depth to a model railway where space is at a premium. DAN EVASON creates a unique bus depot scene in ‘OO’ gauge.

DAN EVASON
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Development of the ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

For enthusiasts and modellers one of the best-known types of steam locomotive is the ‘Pacific’, a design that once dominated express services in Britain and produced the fastest steam locomotives ever to run on our tracks. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES investigates how the 4-6-2 developed and why it was to prove so successful. 

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Heljan Class 58 sound installation guide Feature Premium

Heljan Class 58 digital sound installation guide

MIKE WILD

The range of speakers available to sound installers is far greater than ever before. MIKE WILD investigates the use of Smart Phone speakers in a Heljan Class 58 using a LokSound decoder.

MIKE WILD
Hornby Mk 3 Maglight installation guide. Feature Premium

Installing Hornby’s Mk 3 Maglights

MIKE WILD

Hornby’s latest generation Mk 3 carriages have been designed with the manufacturer’s new magnetic switched lighting strips in mind. MIKE WILD adds a full set to a Blue Pullman HST set in ‘OO’ gauge.

MIKE WILD
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TransPennine Express Mk 5 weathering guide

TIM SHACKLETON

With the deftest of touches, TIM SHACKLETON breathes fresh life into some of the most outstanding models yet released in ’OO’ gauge.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Model railway planning: A Fresh Look

PAUL LUNN

Rather than building a new layout to replace one you're happy with, PAUL LUNN argues that changing the scene can be just as enjoyable - and much cheaper.

PAUL LUNN
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Great Central Railway ‘A5’ 4-6-2T

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Built originally for heavy suburban traffic out of London Marylebone station, the ‘A5’ 4-6-2Ts spread their wings to all corners of the London and North Eastern Railway’s system. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks into the history of this long extinct class.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Beeching – reshaping the railway

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

While the Beeching report of 60 years ago is best remembered for the closure of a third of our railway network, it proposed investment and improvement in some areas, particularly freight and long-distance passenger services. Some of these proposals were then seen as radical, but were they as original as generally thought? EVAN GREEN-HUGHES set out to find out.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
ZIMO sound chip updates Feature Premium

DIGITAL PROGRESSION

Technology is always on the move and specialist model railway decoder manufacturer ZIMO is no exception. MIKE WILD discovers what this Austrian brand’s latest MS series sound decoders have to offer.