Latest news and features from model railway on Key Model World
Accurascale reveals Network Rail Class 31 plans
Accurascale has added a pair of ‘OO’ gauge Network Rail Class 31 A1A-A1A diesels to the release schedule for its forthcoming all-new ready-to-run models.
Digital sound for the ‘08’
Introducing custom digital sound to small locomotives can make for a rewarding challenge. Paul Chetter puts the Bachmann and Hornby Class 08 diesel shunters head to head and explains how to introduce a high value DCC sound decoder and ‘stay alive’ technology.
The evolution of the railway carriage
From an open truck fitted with hard seats to a 140mph air-conditioned vehicle the British Railway carriage has come a long way in less than two centuries, yet it is surprising how long many features from those early years actually survived, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.
Orista Harbour - a multi-level narrow gauge layout
Wanting respite from cold winter operation of his ‘O’ gauge railway, CHRIS SPRING opted for narrow gauge to sustain his interest. This fascinating three-level layout is the result - read the full feature and watch our exclusive Key Model World only layout tour video.
‘OO’ Car Carriers for EFE Rail
Bachmann has revealed that its next all-new ‘OO’ gauge model for the EFE Rail range will be the distinctive Newton Chambers Car Carrier.
Hatherleigh Junction - Western Region Gauge 1
BOB HUNTER opted for Gauge 1 for his fictional North Devon station and the results are a spectacular showcase of what can be achieved in large scales.
FIRST REVIEW: TMC reveals its LNER ‘G5’
The compact design of the North Eastern Railway ‘G5’ 0-4-4T is the subject of TMC’s first exclusive locomotive commission from Bachmann. MIKE WILD takes a detailed look at this exciting new release for ‘OO' gauge which is due to land this summer.
Third-rail Electrification
The south of England’s pioneering third-rail electrified railway system has served the country well for more than a century, and after a long pause could yet be extended. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the history of this innovative and important system.
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Latest model railway videos
VIDEO: Airbrushing for beginners
An airbrush is a brilliant tool for painting and weathering. In this video we explain the basics to get you started.
VIDEO: Ballasting for Beginners
In this exclusive online video feature we show you how to ballast your model railway for realism and detail using Woodland Scenics ballasts and simple techniques.
VIDEO: 'OO' gauge running session | Scottish Traction
Join us for a quiet morning running session at Topley Dale station as we change from the usual Midland Region steam traction to 1980s Scottish diesels on a mixture of passenger and freight workings.
VIDEO: Evening Star with ZIMO digital sound in ‘OO’
In the latest edition of Hornby Magazine HM154, Mike Wild looks at the Bachmann BR '9F' 2-10-0 and shows us how a twin speaker setup can be added together with stay alive and firebox flicker. Watch our video of the finished model here.
VIDEO: Hornby Port of London Peckett ‘W4’ for ‘OO’ gauge
Hornby have released another charming addition to the ever growing Peckett range with this Port of London Authority Peckett.
VIDEO: Dapol GWR parcels railcar for ‘OO’
We put the latest release from Dapol, a GWR parcels railcar through its paces on the Hornby Magazine test layout Topley Dale in this video.
VIDEO: Dapol Class 29 Bo-Bo diesel for ‘OO’
We put the latest release from Dapol, a Class 29 Bo-Bo diesel through its paces on the Hornby Magazine test layout Topley Dale.
VIDEO: Hornby LMS ‘Princess Royal’ 4-6-2 for ‘OO’ gauge
Join editor Mike Wild in the Hornby Magazine workshop as he puts the impressive LMS 'Princess Royal' 4-6-2 from Hornby through its paces in this video.
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Latest model railway reviews
Hornby BR Mk 1 BCK
Hornby's all-new BR Mk 1 BCK was announced for the 2021 catalogue range earlier this year (HM164) with five models planned initially in BR chocolate and cream, BR maroon, BR blue and grey, BR InterCity and Network Rail yellow.
Express Dairy 48DS
Hornby’s popular ‘OO’ gauge Ruston and Hornsby 48DS four-wheeled diesel shunter and Conflat wagon is back, this time in Express Dairy colours.
Hornby ‘Terrier’ returns
Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge Stroudley ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T (HM143) makes a welcome return to the range as ‘A1X’ 32646 in BR plain black with Bulleid ‘sunshine’ lettering.
More Class 33s for ‘OO’
The popularity of Heljan’s reworked modern era Class 33/0 from June 2020 prompted the manufacturer to make quick work of a second production run for ‘OO’ gauge. On the review desk is one of six versions which arrived with Heljan stockists in July and it models 33025.
Second-series tender for Hornby ‘MN’
Hornby's expanded collection of Bulleid air-smoothed ‘Merchant Navy’ models has bolstered the off-the-shelf options with the arrival of 35017 Belgian Marine (Cat No. R3861) and 35029 Ellerman Lines (R3649).
BR around the Derbyshire Peak District
This volume of photographs showcasing the work of the late Peter Gater, takes a nostalgic look back at British Rail workings in the Peak District reflecting the changing rail scene in Derbyshire’s peaks and dales from the mid-1970s to early-1990s
LNER 4-6-0 locomotives
This recently released weighty tome from Pen and Sword references all 4-6-0 locomotives that operated over the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) routes between 1923 and 1947, as well as those LNER engines that continued in BR service from 1948 until the late 1960s, when steam operation ceased.
HSTs: The Western Region
Interest in British Rail’s InterCity 125 High Speed Trains (HSTs) is at an all-time high thanks in part to some recent high profile retirements from service, so this timely new picture book from Key Publishing is sure to prove popular.
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