Model Railway Features
Making a scene: Snow covering tips
Recent weather and the arrival of two new steam locomotives with snowploughs in the accessory pack prompted MIKE WILD to give Shortley Bridge’s viaduct scene a quick winter makeover.
Making a Scene: Locomotive Rescue!
What do you do with a model beyond repair? DAN EVASON creates a scene of salvation in ‘OO’ scale using in the latest Making a Scene modelling guide.
Cleaning Up Dirtying Down
Are you unhappy with factory weathering or unsure what to do about unwanted paint and pigments? If you want to change the appearance of your models, TIM SHACKLETON has the solution.
REALITY CHECK: The BR Standard '2MT' 2-6-0s
The old saying of ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ is often used in railway circles and this saying was never more true than in the design of the ‘2MT’ 2-6-0s which, despite being a BR Standard design, were near identical copies of an earlier type, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
Building Twelvemill Bridge's Platforms
New to the Key Model World Shop are laser-cut platform kits for ‘TT:120’ scale. MIKE WILD explains how they were built and painted for Twelvemill Bridge.
Southern Region first-generation DEMUs
Forever identified with the Southern Region, British Railways’ first diesel-electric multiple units, affectionately known as ‘Thumpers’, were developed quickly due to a unique set of circumstances, yet proved very successful, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
Installing ESU sound in the Heljan GWR AEC railcar
The revival of Grosvenor Square for the Spalding Model Railway Exhibition on November 4/5 prompted MIKE WILD to go back to the ‘60s by installing digital sound in Heljan’s new ‘OO’ gauge GWR AEC parcels railcar. Here’s how he did it complete with a video sound demonstration.
Digital Sound: A tale of two ‘Panniers’
GWR ‘Pannier’ tanks are perennial favourites and Bachmann has added the ‘64XX’ version to its existing range. PAUL CHETTER investigates the internal changes made to this newer design in order to fit sound and ‘stay alive’ capability to this and the earlier ‘57XX’ series locomotives.
Stanier's 'Turbomotive' design and development
Throughout the history of the railways experiments have aimed at improving the efficiency of the steam locomotive. One of these was Stanier’s ‘Turbomotive’, a bold initiative that used turbines instead of cylinders and valve gear for propulsion. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the history of this unusual locomotive.
MAKING A SCENE: Modelling a Pill box
As Britain braced for invasion, pill boxes were built to defend the country. DAN EVASON builds a scene in ‘OO’ gauge which also pays homage to a famous and much loved comedy series.
Modelling a three-car Class 205 Thumper DEMU
Southern Region Class 205 DEMUs make popular and distinctive models. Ten years after the Bachmann/Kernow model was launched, TIM SHACKLETON adds an extra coach to create an authentic three-car set.
Building Twelvemill Bridge – Part Two: The Viaduct
In the second part of our series following construction of our brand-new ‘TT:120' scale layout, MIKE WILD explains how the laser-cut viaduct kit was built and installed.
Earth moving sound for the Heljan ‘Peak’
First released a year ago, Heljan’s new ‘OO’ Class 45 can be upgraded to feature a powerful Earth Mover speaker with digital sound. MIKE WILD explains how.
Reality Check: Terminus Operation
Throughout the railway age the terminus has been an important part of the operational scene, and one that has brought with it special requirements, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
Converting an American station for a British layout
Looking outside the usual sources for a building can reap big rewards. TIM SHACKLETON explains how Grosvenor Square’s imposing terminus building came into being using an American outline kit as the basis.
Grosvenor Square: Building platforms
There is a myriad of methods and materials which can be used to make model platforms. Mike Wild explains how with a combination of timber, plastic, card, resin and ballast the extensive platforms for Grosvenor Square were built.
Building a low relief backdrop
Creating a backdrop to a railway scene doesn’t have to rely on printed or painted backscenes. Mike Wild explains how the low relief scene at the back of Grosvenor Square developed.
Station detailing at Grosvenor Square
There are many ways to bring life to a station scene. Mike Wild offers 10 top tips to make your layout’s signature location stand out from the crowd.
Grosvenor Square: A roof over our heads
Hornby Magazine’s roofing contractor TIM SHACKLETON describes the construction of Grosvenor Square’s imposing overall canopy.
Grosvenor Square Phase 1: the completed layout
Layout complete, it’s time to learn the ropes for how it will run. Mike Wild discusses how the original version of Grosvenor Square operated and what it ran with on its debut in 2016 at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition.
Making Buildings from Scratch – Part 5
Taking all of the techniques used in his series so far, MALCOLM BRIGGS applies them to create a power house which, with adaptation, could easily find railway use.
GWR ‘15XX’ 0-6-0PTs
Pannier tanks were synonymous with the Great Western Railway and their last evolution broke with many cherished traditions. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES charts the history of the distinctive and powerful ‘15XX’ class.
40145 - the large logo Whistler
One of the most recognisable locomotives on the preservation scene is D345, otherwise known as 40145, a machine that gained fame when it was, for a time, painted in BR large logo blue, a livery it never carried in front-line service. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES tells its story.
Bricks and Mortar
Even empty wagons show traces of the work they do and the loads they carry. TIM SHACKLETON shows how to lay the foundations, using paint and powder as the key building blocks.
Building Twelvemill Bridge – Part One
The dawn of a new scale was a temptation too big to resist for the Hornby Magazine team. MIKE WILD introduces a brand-new layout build in ‘TT:120’ scale in the first of a four-part series documenting its construction.
MAKING A SCENE: Building a Harbour
Railways and harbours complement each other very well. DAN EVASON shows how he built a typical scene in ‘OO’ gauge whose techniques can be used in any scale.
BR’s Class 73 electro-diesel
Despite its considerable third-rail electrified system the Southern Region had a needed a unique and special type of locomotive. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks back at the history of the Class 73.
Upgrading Sonic Models GCR ‘A5’ 4-6-2T
Sonic Models’ GCR ‘A5’ 4-6-2T has been designed for simple sound installation, but with simple upgrades it can be enhanced further. MIKE WILD shows how.
The Great Wakering Crab and Oyster Company
A long-lost railway with operational restrictions provided all the incentive TREVOR JONES needed to create a new branch line train hauled by a 3D printed SER ‘R1’ 0-6-0T. Trevor explains all.
Private and Industrial Railways
Thanks to the recent introduction of several new models of industrial prototypes, interest in non-main line railways has boomed over the last couple of years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES examines the world of private railways and explains how they can inspire future modelling projects.