Model Railways

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Featuring Hornby Magazine 

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Latest news and features from model railway on Key Model World

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GWR Steam Railmotor

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Railways have always faced the problem of how to work their most lightly used routes cheaply. One solution that found much favour in Victorian times was the steam railmotor, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Kernow Model Rail Centre GWR Steam Railmotor. Review Premium

Kernow GWR Steam Railmotor

BEN CHURCH

A decade after its announcement, BEN CHURCH reviews this distinctive GWR train and asks whether the wait has been worthwhile.

BEN CHURCH
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What Next? BR Standards

TREVOR JONES and BEN CHURCH

In the concluding part of the series looking at gaps in the range of ready-to-run main line steam locomotives in ‘OO’ gauge, TREVOR JONES and BEN CHURCH examine the BR Standards.

TREVOR JONES and BEN CHURCH
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Creating a Waterfall

DAN EVASON

For a very different feature on a layout, DAN EVASON shows how to create a stunning waterfall scene in this detailed step by step modelling guide.

DAN EVASON

NEW SERIES 8: Digital Sound Introduction | Part One

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

Launching today at 8pm today - March 8 2024 - is our brand-new video series offering an introduction to the world of Digital Sound for model railways. In this new four part series, we will explore what digital sound has to offer and how to install and use decoders from Hornby, ZIMO and ESU.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

WIN! A pair of Hornby RailRoad Royal Class 67s diesels, worth £194

Hornby Magazine is offering the chance to win a pair of Hornby RailRoad ‘OO’ gauge Class 67s, worth £194. The closing date for entries is 5pm GMT on April 25 2024.

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The Spirit of Shap in 'OO' gauge

GRAHAM NICHOLAS

This legendary West Coast Main Line outpost is the subject of GRAHAM NICHOLAS’ stunning ‘OO’ gauge layout. He explains how he recreated it – including its famous banking locomotives.

GRAHAM NICHOLAS

VIDEO: Accurascale Class 66 production samples

MARK CHIVERS and JONATHAN NEWTON

Join us in the Hornby Magazine workshop as we get a visit from Accurascale's Steve Purves and a collection of eight new production samples for the soon to arrive first batch of Class 66s from the manufacturer. In this video we discuss the final changes to the Class 66 model pre-empting our full review in HM202 - on sale from March 7 2024.

MARK CHIVERS and JONATHAN NEWTON

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Latest model railway videos

SERIES 7, EP4: Making Tracks - The Grand Challenge

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

In the fourth and final part of our Making Tracks 3 video series, we delve into the story of the Grand Challenge at the Great Electric Train Show when Pete Waterman and the Railnuts created a record breaking 152ft long 'OO' gauge model railway.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON
Hornby Class 31 with Triplex Sound for OO gauge. Feature Premium

TXS 8-pin Installation Hornby Class 31 Upgrades

MIKE WILD

The Hornby Class 31 is a simple locomotive to add Triplex Sound into and in this guide we move on to upgrade the speaker. MIKE WILD explains how.

MIKE WILD

SERIES 7, EP3: Making Tracks 3 - On Show

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

Part 3 of our Making Tracks 3 video series is here. Join us as we follow the installation process at Chester Cathedral and it operation across the summer. Watch the trailer for FREE and sign up for a Premium subscriber account to gain full access to the 50 minutes feature video.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON
Hornby HST with Bluetooth Triplex Sound Feature Premium

VIDEO: TXS 21-pin Installation Hornby HST Power Cars

MIKE WILD

The latest generation Hornby Class 43 High Speed Train power cars set out to make sound installation simple. MIKE WILD adds a pair of TXS 21-pin chips to EMT liveried 43049 and 43060 and demonstrates the finished models on video.

MIKE WILD
Graham Farish Class 158 DMU. Review Premium

Graham Farish's all-new Class 158

MARK CHIVERS

These stylish DMUs are the subject of an all-new ‘N’ gauge model. MARK CHIVERS assesses its execution and running qualities.

MARK CHIVERS
Rapido Trains Titfield Thunderbolt train pack Review Premium

Titfield Thunderbolt Deluxe train pack

BEN CHURCH

70 years since the film first debuted, Rapido Trains UK’s eagerly-awaited Titfield Thunderbolt train packs representing the iconic 1953 Ealing comedy have arrived.

BEN CHURCH
Hornby BR 2MT 2-6-0 for OO gauge Review Premium

The Hornby BR '2MT' 2-6-0 for 'OO' gauge

MIKE WILD

Hornby’s all-new model of the BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 has been a long time coming for ‘OO’ gauge, but it has now arrived with retailers. Mike Wild takes a closer look at BR lined black 78047.

MIKE WILD

SERIES 7, EPISODE 2: Making Tracks 3 - Construction

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

In part two of our new video series we focus on construction of the layout at the Making Tracks Workshop as Pete and the team take on the challenges of building a scale model of a real station in the present day. Sign up for a FREE member account today to watch Part Two exclusively on Key Model World.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

Click here to watch our full collection of model railway videos.


 

Latest model railway reviews

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Rusty Rails Trackside details

BEN CHURCH

Rusty Rails has expanded its catalogue of 4mm scale trackside details with the addition of new Rawie fixed buffer stops and lineside telephones and signage poles.

BEN CHURCH
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1:76 scale Sultan

BEN CHURCH

Trains4U has expanded its scope of British military 1:76 scale kits with a model of a FV105 Sultan army control and command vehicle.

BEN CHURCH
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EWS exclusive Class 37/4

MIKE WILD

The Bachmann Collectors Club range features this fine model of EWS liveried Class 37/4 37422 Cardiff Canton. MIKE WILD checks out the finer details.

MIKE WILD
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BR 16ton steel mineral wagon for ‘N’

BEN CHURCH

British Railways’ 16ton steel mineral wagon was one of the most ubiquitous wagons on the rails for decades and this all-new ‘N’ gauge wagon from Peco gives modellers another option for this versatile vehicle.

BEN CHURCH
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All-new Iron ore tippler in ‘N’ gauge

BEN CHURCH

New from Peco is this newly-tooled ‘N’ gauge 27ton iron ore tippler wagon. They ran in block trains and as their name suggests they could be turned upside-down in a special tippler machine to unload their contents.

BEN CHURCH
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RailRoad Plus ‘Deltic’ with sound

BEN CHURCH

New to Hornby’s RailRoad Plus range is this ‘OO’ gauge Class 55 ‘Deltic’, factory-fitted with Hornby’s innovative HM7000 Bluetooth and Digital Command Control (DCC) Triplex Sound (TXS) system. 

BEN CHURCH
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Upgrade for RailRoad Class 110

MARK CHIVERS

Hornby’s venerable ‘OO’ gauge Class 110 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) makes a welcome return to the RailRoad Plus range with enhanced decoration and improvements to the mechanical specification.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hornby's Ruston 88DS 4wDM shunter lands

MARK CHIVERS

This delightful-looking ‘OO’ gauge model is now available. MARK CHIVERS finds out whether its performance matches its appearance.

MARK CHIVERS

Click here to read our full collection of model railway product reviews.