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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Digital Sound: A tale of two ‘Panniers’

PAUL CHETTER

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.

PAUL CHETTER
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Liverpool & Manchester Railway Wagons Roll In

MARK CHIVERS

New from Hornby are three triple-wagon packs of ‘OO’ gauge Liverpool & Manchester Railway (L&MR) goods wagons, including coal, horsebox and sheep carrying vehicles.

MARK CHIVERS
Hornby TT:120 scale Gresley A4 4468 Mallard with TXS sound Review Premium

Mallard arrives with sound for ‘TT:120’

MIKE WILD

The most famous Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2 is now available in ‘TT:120’ scale with factory fitted sound following the arrival of world speed record holder 4468 Mallard in LNER garter blue with valances.

MIKE WILD

Clark Railworks unveils WD ‘Austerity’ 2-10-0 for ‘OO’

MARK CHIVERS

Clark Railworks has revealed plans to produce an all-new finescale ‘OO’ gauge War Department (WD) ‘Austerity’ 2-10-0.

MARK CHIVERS

Heljan reveals largest ever locomotive for ‘OO’

MARK CHIVERS

Heljan has unveiled plans to produce the London and North Eastern Railway’s unique Beyer-Garratt ‘U1’ 2-8-0 + 0-8-2T for ‘OO’.

MARK CHIVERS
Hornby LMS Turbomotive for OO gauge. Review Premium

Hornby’s LMS ‘Turbomotive’ for ‘OO’ gauge

MIKE WILD

Of all the locomotives we never thought would become a ready-to-run model, the unique LMS ‘Turbomotive’ was high on the list, but now you can add it to your ‘OO’ collection. MIKE WILD inspects this exciting new release from Hornby.

MIKE WILD
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Stanier's 'Turbomotive' design and development

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

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.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

Dapol 'OO' containers for Breast Cancer awareness

MARK CHIVERS

Dapol has released a pair of 'OO' gauge maritime containers in Ocean Network Express pink to raise awareness of Breast Cancer.

MARK CHIVERS

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Latest model railway videos

Hornby Rail Charter Services HST bundle available now!

Mike Wild.

The Key Model World Shop range has expanded with the addition of an exclusive bundle featuring Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge Rail Charter Services HST and five trailer coaches as well as Key Publishing’s HSTs Around Britain, 1990 to the Present Day book.

Mike Wild.
Heljan NBL prototype 10800 Review Premium

FIRST REVIEW: Heljan’s NBL prototype 10800

MIKE WILD

Prototype diesels have been a popular subject choice in ‘OO’ gauge over the past decade, but it was hard to imagine the short-lived Ivatt designed Bo-Bo being produced. Heljan’s all-new model is here and MIKE WILD takes a closer look.

MIKE WILD
St John's layout feature Feature Premium

St John’s - a GWR branch line terminus in 'OO'

PAUL WARDEN

PAUL WARDEN opted to 'Go Great Western’ with his first ever layout, recalling summer Saturdays in Glorious Devon in the 1930s and 1960s in ‘OO’ gauge - and you can see it at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show. Read the full feature and watch our exclusive layout tour video here.

PAUL WARDEN
Heljan O gauge product progress interview Feature Premium

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge product progress

MIKE WILD

In the second of our new series of manufacturer interviews, MIKE WILD meets Heljan UK Agent BEN JONES to catch up on the latest progress with its new ‘O’ gauge ready-to-run models.

MIKE WILD
Rails of Sheffield D1 4-4-0 Review Premium

Rails of Sheffield SECR ‘D1’ 4-4-0 for 'OO' gauge

MIKE WILD

Rails of Sheffield’s latest partnership with Dapol has delivered a first ever ready-to-run model of the SECR ‘D1’ 4-4-0 for ‘OO’. MIKE WILD finds out more about this attractive new Southern Region locomotive.

MIKE WILD
Dapol B4 0-4-0T for O gauge. Review Premium

Dapol LSWR ’B4’ 0-4-0T for 'O' gauge

MIKE WILD

Southern Railway 7mm scale modellers are in for a treat with the arrival of the Adams ‘B4’ 0-4-0T from Dapol, but does it tick the right boxes? MIKE WILD finds out as we demonstrate the model in action.

MIKE WILD
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Lockwood Street - a 2mm finescale terminus

PAUL DERRICK

The former Hull and Barnsley Railway terminus at Cannon Street in Hull was the inspiration for the Hull Miniature Railway Society to build this enthralling 2mm finescale railway. PAUL DERRICK explains all.

PAUL DERRICK
Cockshute Layout Tour Feature Premium

Cockshute - a 1970s Traction Maintenance Depot

ALLAN FREER

After several false starts, the Sutton’s Locomotive Works Class 24 became all the inspiration ALLAN FREER needed to rekindle his ambition to build a model railway. Cockshute depot near Stoke-on-Trent is the result.Photography, Jonathan Newton

ALLAN FREER

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Latest model railway reviews

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Heljan ‘OO’ gauge Class 25 re-run

MARK CHIVERS

Heljan’s popular ‘OO’ gauge Class 25 Bo-Bo diesel is back, incorporating several amendments to the original model’s specification.

MARK CHIVERS
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Head Magnifier

MARK CHIVERS

Golden Valley Hobbies’ range of modelling tools has expanded with the addition of  Amtech’s useful products including this head magnifier with LED light.

MARK CHIVERS
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Telescopic Led Pick-Up Tool

MARK CHIVERS

Amtech’s telescopic magnetic tool can extend up to 800mm and is ideal for reaching behind bookcases, under desks and model railway layouts.

MARK CHIVERS
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FIRST REVIEW: Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge Class 73

MIKE WILD

For the second month in a row, Heljan has delivered a brand-new ‘O’ gauge ready-to-run locomotive, and this striking model of the Southern Region Class 73 electro-diesel could be its best yet. MIKE WILD explains why with video of a sample running on Britain's Biggest Model Railway.

MIKE WILD
Rapido Trains UK Lion for OO gauge Review Premium

Rapido’s Lion

MIKE WILD

In our first look at Rapido’s all-new model of Liverpool and Manchester Railway 0-4-2 Lion, MIKE WILD discovers what it has to offer.

MIKE WILD
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Modern palisade fencing in ‘N’ gauge

MARK CHIVERS

Ratio’s ‘N’ gauge range of plastic models and accessories is bolstered with the addition of two new packs of modern palisade fencing for the scale.

MARK CHIVERS
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4mm Scale Cutting Crew

MARK CHIVERS

Modelu has added a 4mm scale oxyacetylene cutting crew to its range of 3D-printed finescale figures.

MARK CHIVERS
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Flangeway ‘Mermaid’ returns

MARK CHIVERS

Flangeway Models has received a new batch of its exclusive ‘OO’ gauge 14ton ZJV ‘Mermaid’ side tipping ballast wagons.

MARK CHIVERS

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