Model Railways

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Featuring Hornby Magazine 

Read the full Hornby Magazine issue in PDF format or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure. 

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Latest news and features from model railway on Key Model World

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Colourful Class 31s

BEN CHURCH

New from Key Publishing comes this illustrated guide for one of the most unappreciated British diesel designs. The Class 31s were built by Brush Traction from 1957 to 1962 and were born out of the modernisation plan of 1955, which called for the wholesale replacement of steam with diesel and electric traction on a like-for-like basis.

BEN CHURCH

Hornby TT:120 ‘Duchess’ gains colour

BEN CHURCH

Hornby has received decorated samples of its all-new ‘TT:120’ LMS ‘Princess Coronation' 4-6-2.

BEN CHURCH

Dapol Class 87 nears production

BEN CHURCH

Dapol has unveiled first engineering samples of its new ‘N’ gauge Class 87 Bo-Bo electric.

BEN CHURCH
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Rannoch Station

BEN CHURCH

Modellers of the picturesque West Highland line will be pleased to see two new kits from Peco, bolstering its range of laser-cut wood kits (HM195) and providing new options for modellers of this scenic route.

BEN CHURCH
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Dalziel North

RODDY NEWBIGGING

The atmosphere around a Scottish freight terminal in the early 2000s inspired RODDY NEWBIGGING and friends to create this detailed pastiche of the early privatised railway in North Lanarkshire.Photography, Jonathan Newton

RODDY NEWBIGGING
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3D Printed Armco Safety Barrier

BEN CHURCH

New from West Hill Wagon Works are these ‘OO’ gauge 3D printed packs of Armco style safety barriers.

BEN CHURCH
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Mini Roller

BEN CHURCH

From Mini Roller comes this useful painting aid for your stock of modelling essentials.

BEN CHURCH
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New Peco Wagon Load Kits

BEN CHURCH

Peco has issued six useful kits to help detail ‘OO’ and ‘N’ gauge wagons with loads, suitable for wagons of all sizes.

BEN CHURCH

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Latest model railway videos

Building a TT:120 Model Railway Part Two | Landscaping

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

Part Two of our new Building a 'TT:120' Model Railway is out now. In this episode we focus on ballasting the track and building the landscape to prepare the layout for its scenic ground cover in Part Three. Watch it today for FREE when you sign up for a free Member account.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

NEW SERIES: Building a TT:120 Model Railway | PART ONE

MIKE WILD

Part one of our brand-new modelling series is available now! In this new series we tackle construction of a 'TT:120' scale model railway using the latest products for this new scale in the British modelling market, starting with construction of the baseboards, platforms and laying the track.

MIKE WILD
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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

Making Tracks: The Grand Challenge

MIKE WILD

Pete Waterman and the Railnuts are making final preparations to put all three Making Tracks layouts together for the first time at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show. We visited the Making Tracks Workshop to catch up with the latest progress with Pete and the team with exclusive video.

MIKE WILD

VIDEO: Cavalex Models Class 56 and wagon projects update

MIKE WILD

Cavalex Models visited the Key Model World Workshop to showcase the latest version of the sound file for its all-new 'OO' gauge Class 56 together with decorated samples of its PHA and JHA bogie wagons. Join us for exclusive video and sign up to read our full feature.

MIKE WILD
Sonic Models GCR 'A5' 4-6-2T with ZIMO sound from Digitrains. Feature Premium

Upgrading Sonic Models GCR ‘A5’ 4-6-2T

MIKE WILD

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.

MIKE WILD
White Meadow Quarry in 'N' gauge. Feature Premium

White Meadow Quarry 'N' gauge layout

RAY TAYLOR and ANNA BASS

Childhood memories from the Croydon area inspired RAY TAYLOR and ANNA BASS to build White Meadow Quarry. This busy 'N' gauge layout combines main line and industrial railways in an unusual setting. Discover its story in word, pictures and video.

RAY TAYLOR and ANNA BASS

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Latest model railway reviews

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London Rail Atlas

BEN CHURCH

London is Britain‘s pre-eminent railway hub and recent developments such as the Elizabeth Line have altered the map. Crecy’s latest edition of the London Railway Atlas details many of the changes in London’s railways since their inception.

BEN CHURCH
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Trains4U Jackal 2 Military Vehicles

BEN CHURCH

Trains4U of Peterborough’s range of 3D-printed military vehicles includes this 1:76 scale Jackal 2.

BEN CHURCH
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Bluetooth TXS for Hornby ‘9F’

MARK CHIVERS

Hornby’s recently retooled ‘OO’ gauge BR Standard ‘9F’ 2-10-0 (HM185) gains a new outing finished as 92002 in BR black with early crests – and the addition of the manufacturer’s new Bluetooth Triplex Sound (TXS).

MARK CHIVERS
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‘BIG FOUR’ COLLECTION: GWR ‘Castle’ 4074 Caldicot Castle

BEN CHURCH

To celebrate the centenary of the 1923 Grouping, Hornby is producing four limited edition models, the first of which arrived in late November. The Great Western’s representative in this collection is ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 4074 Caldicot Castle.

BEN CHURCH
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Peco ‘TT:120’ seven-plank open wagons

BEN CHURCH

Peco’s latest releases for ‘TT:120’ scale include these all-new seven-plank open wagons in eight different liveries covering Cadbury’s, Huntley and Palmers, Colman’s and British Railways colour schemes, together with one for each of the ‘Big Four’ railways.

BEN CHURCH
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‘OO9’ Gloucester bogie coach arrives

BEN CHURCH

Bachmann’s eagerly-awaited newly-tooled ‘OO9’ Ashover Light Railway Gloucester bogie coach arrived in the Hornby Magazine office during December.

BEN CHURCH
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Terrific TTA Tankers

BEN CHURCH

The ubiquitous TTA ‘monobloc’ tank wagon has been a common sight for ‘OO’ gauge modellers for a long time. Half a century since first appearing in the Hornby range in 1973, the manufacturer has retooled this classic BR wagon for its 2023 range and the first examples are now available.

BEN CHURCH
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The Great Gathering Returns

BEN CHURCH

2013 witnessed the reuniting of all six surviving Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2s including two based in North America. A decade ago, Hornby released limited edition models to commemorate the reunion and now they are being re-released – this time in limited edition Hornby Dublo form – to mark ten years since that landmark and unlikely-to-be-repeated event.

BEN CHURCH

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