Model Railway Features
Transfer request
Applying transfers to models isn’t always as easy as we’d like to think. TIM SHACKLETON explains proven ways of getting them on, getting them straight and getting them to stay put.
VIDEO: A Fairlie good idea
EXCLUSIVE FIRST ACCESS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: The Hornby Magazine team are building a new narrow gauge model railway. Join Mike Wild and Richard Watson as they embark on a 'quick' project to model a Ffestiniog style narrow gauge layout inspired by the arrival of Bachmann's first ever ready-to-run 'OO9' Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0T. Log in or sign up to KeyModelWorld to watch this 1hr long feature video first today!
Digital Voyager
Bachmann’s ‘OO’ gauge models of the Class 220 and 221 Voyager units pre-date the inclusion of decoder interfaces, but with the right parts they can be upgraded to digital sound and lighting. MIKE WILD shows how.
Down at the farm
Farms make an ideal corner filler for a model railway. DAN EVASON uses new laser cut kits from War World Scenics to create a realistic scene for a ‘OO’ layout.
Print your own wagon
The digital age has made the possibility of printing a wagon kit at home a reality with the right equipment. TIM SHACKLETON explores high-tech ways of expanding your rolling-stock fleet.
Rocket and the Flackwell Trials
Hornby’s all-new model of Rocket was a stunning and award winning addition to its range in 2020. TREVOR JONES saw simple ways to enhance this tiny model ’s haulage capacity and appearance.
London Midland Region formations
BR’s London Midland Region covered a large area and generated a great deal of passenger and freight traffic. MARK CHIVERS presents a selection of modellable options from the 1950s and 1960s.
Scratchbuilt Garage
What do you do if you want a particular building which isn’t available as a kit or ready-made structure? DAN EVASON shows how to build a bespoke garage in ‘OO’ gauge using readily available and cost effective materials.
A Thompson transformation
Cost-cutting can be fun, as TIM SHACKLETON finds when he takes a circular saw to some long-obsolete ‘OO’ gauge coaches. Making big improvements, he suggests, needn’t cost big bucks either.
Modelling preserved steam
With the popularity of heritage railways and main line steam continuing to grow, RICHARD HALL demonstrates how to recreate this often-overlooked modelling subject, by modifying and detailing a Hornby ‘B1’ into a preserved example.
PowerHaul upgrades
SOUND DEMONSTRATION VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE The Freightliner and Colas Rail Freight operated Class 70 diesel locomotives are amongst the most advanced on the British network. MIKE WILD shows how a ZIMO decoder can be installed into the Bachmann ‘OO’ gauge model along with DCC Concepts and Rail Exclusive products for a full suite of sound.
Back to ‘Schools’
Digital sound installations don’t have to be complex or mind boggling, as MIKE WILD shows by turning his attention to a Hornby ‘Schools’ 4-4-0 with a new sound profile from Locoman Sounds.
FORWARD DATING A ‘MERCHANT’
Hornby’s original ‘Merchant Navy’ is a super model but it doesn’t cover all variations to the fleet. GRAHAM MUSPRATT adapts one of the first to enter traffic into its immediately pre-British Railways condition.
InterCity 125s
With more than 40 years front-line service, it is no wonder British Rail’s ‘Journey Shrinker’ has proved popular with model manufacturers. MARK CHIVERS looks at the options available to modellers in ‘N’, ‘OO’ and ‘O’.
SCRATCHBUILDING LARGE STRUCTURES
ANDY GLOVER uses styrene sheet and strip to model an impressive canal side structure for his ‘N’ gauge layout with methods which can be used for 2mm or 4mm scales.
BR Standard train formations
As British Railways’ new Standard steam locomotives began to appear in the early 1950s, they were soon pressed into service, replacing older motive power in the process. MARK CHIVERS presents a selection of typical BR Standard train formations from the 1950s and 1960s which you can replicate in ‘OO’ gauge.
Hawksworth ‘Hall’ sound
The arrival of a new batch of GWR ‘Modified Hall’ 4-6-0s from Bachmann for ‘OO’ gauge prompted MIKE WILD to take a fresh look at the model’s potential for sound. In this step by step guide, we install a ZIMO decoder and powerful speaker for a realistic and immersive driving experience.
VIDEO: Bachmann Class 57 sound demonstration
The Class 57 is an important part of the modern railway scene and one stands out from the crowd – 57307 Lady Penelope in its Cable Thieves-branded DRS livery. MIKE WILD and RICHARD WATSON discuss this Bachmann Collectors Club limited edition after it's sound installation.
‘Western' buying guide
Sixty years ago, the first of British Rail’s (BR) Type 4 diesel-hydraulic C-C ‘Western’ Class locomotives rolled off the production line at Swindon Works. MARK CHIVERS looks back at some of the models of these distinctive diesel-hydraulics through the years in ‘N’, ‘OO’ and ‘O’ gauge.
Thunderbirds are go!
The Class 57 is an important part of the modern railway scene and one stands out from the crowd – 57307 Lady Penelope in its Cable Thieves-branded DRS livery. MIKE WILD picks up a Bachmann Collectors Club limited edition of the unique locomotive for this sound installation guide.
COAL YARD DIORAMA
Coal yards were vital parts of many towns and villages. DAN EVASON concludes his three-part build by setting the scene.
DAN EVASON
East Midlands repaints
The latest purple and white colour scheme to be applied to East Midlands Railway rolling stock caught the eye of JOHN PILGRIM, who set about repainting a Lima Class 156 and Hornby HST power car in this bang up-to-date livery. He explains all in this step by step guide.
JOHN PILGRIM
Planning a garden railway
No matter what scale or gauge you plan to work with in the garden there are considerations to make a construction methods to choose from. Trevor Jones relays his own experiences and offers his top tips for starting out in garden railway modelling.
A station for the garden
Trevor Jones’ garden railway features regularly in Hornby Magazine and continues to develop. Trevor reveals how he developed Whiteland station using readily available Bachmann, Gaugemaster and Hornby products.
Bridging the gap
Many model railways can benefit from a removable section to allow access to a room. TREVOR JONES shows how he made use of a bridge kit to create a removable section with both form and function.
'West Country' Special
Who says installing digital sound is hard? PAUL CHETTER takes on Hornby’s air-smoothed ‘West Country’ and discovers that installation of sound and much more is within the abilities of all modellers. This feature from the Hornby Magazine archive includes a brand new sound demonstration video featuring 34067 Tangmere.
VIDEO: Hornby 'Merchant Navy' sound upgrade
Our latest exclusive sound installation guide for KeyModelWorld feature Digitrains sound file for the Bulleid air-smoothed 'Pacific' - and you can watch it for free this week only during Bulleid week. Join Mike Wild in the workshop to find out how to install sound in this model.
Buying guide: Bulleid 'Light Pacifics'
2021 marks the 20th anniversary of Hornby’s super-detailed ‘OO’ gauge model of Bulleid’s air-smoothed ‘Light Pacifics’, which has proved immensely popular over the past two decades. MARK CHIVERS looks back at this and some of the other significant releases across ‘N’, ‘OO’ and ‘O’ scales.
Building coal staithes
DAN EVASON builds Intentio’s delightful coal staithes kit, showing how easy it is to create a ‘must have’ facility in any steam era goods yard.
Automatic Braking Control
DCC Concepts has released its new Zen Black decoder range which include the ability to work with ABC braking modules to create automated stopping and DCC controlled shuttles. MIKE WILD explains how.