HM165, March 2021

WELCOME TO HM165 | MARCH 2021

The March 2021 issue of Hornby Magazine (HM165) is here. You can read the full issue in page-turning PDF format or as individual features re-edited to suit the digital world. Indulge in the latest layout features and exclusive online videos, browse new releases in the News and Reviews, discover the secrets of railway modelling through our step by step guides and much more.

HM165, March 2021

Stay alive with DCC Concepts

DCC Concepts has gone back to the drawing board to create its new range of stay alives using smaller components and a flexible system which allows for easier positioning of parts within a locomotive. Read the full story here and watch our video demonstration.

VIDEO: Revolution Trains Class 92 for 'N'

Revolution Trains all-new 'N' gauge Class 92 is reviewed in full in the latest issue of Hornby Magazine - HM165, March 2021. Watch our samples in action on our 'N' gauge test track here.

VIDEO: Weathering a Stanier '8F'

In the latest video from the Hornby Magazine workshop Mike Wild demonstrates how to weather the Hornby '8F' from the latest issue's sound installation guide using Lifecolor paints, and an Iwata Ecplise airbrush. Join us now for this in-depth video guide.

VIDEO: Hornby Magazine Show | February 2021

The latest Hornby Magazine Show is here on KeyModelWorld with Mike, Mark and Richard. In this month's show we complete Topley Dale's Diversion Route, bring you the latest news and profile the ever-popular BR Class 50s.

VIDEO: Locoman Stanier '8F' sound demonstration

In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine (HM165) we install digital sound in the Hornby Stanier '8F' 2-8-0 using Locoman Sounds Doehler & Haass 8-pin chip. Join us on Topley Dale for a full demonstration of the sound decoders features.

VIDEO: Bachmann's 'sealed beam' Class 45

In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine we review Bachmann's new 'sealed beam' Class 45 for 'OO' gauge - and our sample has been custom weathered and renumbered by Grimy Times for a unique finish. Watch the model in action here with sound installed and read the full review in HM165.

HM165 Peaks 47 Feature Premium

Peaks ‘47

The Peak District in the final year of the LMS is the setting for SAM JONES’ ‘OO’ gauge layout, which faithfully recreates this beautiful area in miniature. Read the full feature here and watch our video tour with owner Sam. Photography, Richard Watson.

HM165 nuclear wagon weathering Feature Premium

GOING NUCLEAR

Nuclear traffic provides ideal train lengths for layouts of any size.TIM SHACKLETON looks at some simple techniques for weathering these short freight trains of recent years.

HM165 J69 Feature Premium

3D printed ‘J69’

CDC Design’s 3D printed locomotive body for the Great Eastern ‘J69’ 0-6-0T was a temptation too great to resist for TREVOR JONES. He explains how the body can be used with a ready-to-run chassis to add character to a GE fleet.

HM165 Bachmann Class 45 Review Premium

Sealed beam ‘Peaks’ are back!

The overhauled Class 45 ‘Peaks’ have been a missing component from the modern era ‘OO’ gauge catalogues, but Bachmann is setting that right with the arrival of its Regional Exclusive versions of the Class 45/0 with ‘sealed beam’ headlights. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at this new arrival from Bachmann which has been much requested.

HM165 Class 45 Reality Check Feature Premium

The final years of the Class 45s

While many of British Railways’ early diesel classes were failures, the Class 45s were so useful that many were upgraded and refurbished to extend their lives, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.

HM165 Mk 1 RB Review Premium

Hornby’s Restaurant Buffet

Hornby's growing collection of all-new BR Mk 1 coaching stock has expanded with the arrival of the new Restaurant Buffet (RB) in original and refurbished (RBR) formats. Read our full review from HM165 here together with video and extra images.

HM165 Rails Connect decoders Review Premium

Rails Connect DCC decoders

Rails of Sheffield has recently added a new selection of Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders to its Rails Connect range of electrical accessories.

HM165 Hobbytrax decoder tester Review Premium

HobbyTrax DCC Decoder Tester

Measuring 110mm x 80mm, this useful DCC tool features a PCB base with rubber grommet style supports and a series of linked components including LEDs, resistors and the relevant decoder sockets.

HM165 Revolution Trains Class 92 Review Premium

Revolution's Class 92

The Class 92 holds a special place in British railway history, as one of these dual voltage electrics hauled the last BR operated service before the start of privatisation in November 1997. Now the class has been immortalised in ‘N’ gauge by Revolution Trains. Could it be the best ready-to-run model for ‘N’ gauge yet? MIKE WILD finds out.

HM165 Flangeway Salmon Review Premium

Flangeway ‘Salmons’

Engineering wagons have always been well-received and this new release from Flangeway delivers a missing link from the departmental fleet – the ‘Salmon’ 62ft rail carrier. MIKE WILD explains their purpose and inspects this new arrival.

HM165 Power Points Review Premium

Legacy Power-Points

New from DCC Concepts’ sister company, Legacy Models, are Legacy PowerPoints. Similar in appearance to the parent company’s original baseboard alignment dowels (HM128), these clever PowerPoint examples incorporate electrical connections.

HM165 Brimal Components Review Premium

Brimal universal connections aid wiring

Brimal Components has added a useful universal wire termination board to its range of electrical components and modelling aids.

HM165 Pacific Models 'Mogul' numbers Review Premium

Pacific Models ‘Mogul’ numbers

Extending its range of customisation sheets for ready-to-run models, Pacific Models has issued a set of replacement 4mm scale cabside and smokebox numberplates for Dapol’s recently introduced ‘OO’ gauge GWR ‘43XX’ 2-6-0s.

HM165 Hobbytrax corner clamps Review Premium

HobbyTrax magnetic corner clamps

HobbyTrax has added magnetic corner clamps to its range of modelling tools. These 3D printed clamps are ideal for building models of all shapes and sizes from a range of materials.

HM165 Deluxe Materials Carbon Fibre Review Premium

Deluxe Materials carbon fibre

Deluxe Materials’ extensive range of adhesives and modelling materials includes these useful packs of carbon fibre mat and carbon fibre tissue.

HM165 Supercast figures Review Premium

Supercast Stephenson

Mike Pett’s 4mm scale Supercast range of white metal accessories is bolstered with a new statue of Victorian railway engineer Robert Stephenson and a standalone church priest figure.

HM165 Railways of Oxford Review Premium

Railways of Oxford book review

Oxford's rail scene has undergone significant transformation in recent years with the introduction of a new route to London Marylebone together with new Intercity Express Trains on London Paddington services as well as infrastructure and signal upgrades.

HM165 Book Review Review Premium

Impermanent Ways - Volume 15

Continuing the Impermanent Ways series of books is this latest volume taking a somewhat broader approach to the usual focus on disused lines and stations of yesteryear in specific areas.

HM165 Western book review Review Premium

Western Class Locomotives - A Tribute

This latest picture volume from Key Books offers a lasting tribute to BR’s much-loved Type 4 ‘Western’ C-C diesel-hydraulics.

HM165 Hoppers book review Review Premium

The Hoppers - Limestone Traffic

Limestone traffic from Tunstead Quarry in Derbyshire has long been carried by rail and this latest picture volume from Amberley Publishing charts its history.

HM165 Scotland's Railways Review Premium

Scotland's Railways in the 1980s and 1990s

Amongst the latest releases from Pen and Sword is this look back at Scotland’s Railways during the 1980s and 1990s through the camera lens of Peter J. Green.

HM165 West Country Railways Review Premium

Peter Gray's West Country Railway

New from Crecy Publishing is this splendid volume featuring the outstanding colour photographic collection amassed by the late Peter Gray, which is now in the care of the Great Western Trust at Didcot.

HM165 Stanier 8F sound installation Feature Premium

STANIER SOUNDS

The ‘8F’ 2-8-0 has a purposeful and exhilarating bark which Locoman Sounds has replicated on the Doehler & Haass decoder suite. In this step by step guide, MIKE WILD upgrades Hornby’s Stanier ‘8F’ with sound, stay alive and firebox flicker using a D&H 8-pin chip.

HM165 Thanecroft Junction Feature Premium

Thanecroft Junction

DAVID WHITE set out to capture some of the magic and mystique of Ireland’s railways in 4mm scale. His marvellous home-based layout is the result, and he describes some of the flavour of the Emerald Isle. Photography, Mike Bisset.