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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The evolution of the railway carriage

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

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.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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Orista Harbour - a multi-level narrow gauge layout

CHRIS SPRING

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.

CHRIS SPRING

‘OO’ Car Carriers for EFE Rail

MARK CHIVERS

Bachmann has revealed that its next all-new ‘OO’ gauge model for the EFE Rail range will be the distinctive Newton Chambers Car Carrier.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hatherleigh Junction - Western Region Gauge 1

BOB HUNTER

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.

BOB HUNTER
TMC LNER G5 0-4-4T for OO gauge. Review Premium

FIRST REVIEW: TMC reveals its LNER ‘G5’

MIKE WILD

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.

MIKE WILD
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Third-rail Electrification

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES

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.

EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
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The Italian Job: Upgrading Lima diesel locomotives

TIM SHACKLETON

Lima produced accurate models for the time which can be acquired very cheaply today. TIM SHACKLETON shows how upgrades to detail and chassis can transform their appearance and operation at a fraction of the cost of a brand-new model.

TIM SHACKLETON

Accurascale Class 89 edges closer

MARK CHIVERS

Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield have received decorated samples of their all-new ‘OO’ gauge Class 89 electric locomotives for assessment by the development team.

MARK CHIVERS

Click here for all the latest model railway news. Click here for the latest model railway features.

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Latest model railway videos

Class 117 sound installation guide Feature Premium

VIDEO: Bachmann Class 117 sound installation

Following the arrival of Bachmann's new Class 117 DMUs we were keen to test the models abilities with a sound decoder installed. This video guide with MIKE WILD explains how it is done using a ZIMO MX645P22 decoder.

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UPGRADED SULZER ‘24’

The SLW Class 24 was highly regarded when it first arrived in 2016 (HM111), but now it has been given a makeover to enhance its details and make its sound file more user friendly. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at the latest additions to the portfolio.

VIDEO: SLW Class 24s on Topley Dale

Sutton's Locomotive Works 'OO' gauge Class 24s staged a takeover on Hornby Magazine's Topley Dale in June. Join us now as we showcase 97201 and D5021 in action on era specific trains.

HM158 SLW Class 24s Feature Premium

VIDEO: SLW Class 24s in detail

In this exclusive KeyModelWorld video, MIKE WILD demonstrates the full suite of sounds on Sutton's Locomotive Works stunning 'OO' gauge Class 24s. Join us now for extra images and video which you can only watch here.

VIDEO: Hornby's new 'OO' gauge '61XX'

Hornby's new GWR '61XX' 2-6-2T arrived with retailers in June. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at our sample of 6145 in BR black for this latest video feature.

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UNDERGROUND SOUND

The London Transport Stock was hugely popular when it was released in 2015 and now DC kits and legomanoifffo have produced a new ESU sound decoder twin pack to bring these units to life. MIKE WILD explores its potential and shows how he went about upgrading a four-car set with additional functions.

VIDEO: S Stock digital sound

In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine we show how to install DCC sound and lights into Bachmann's London Transport Museum S Stock. MIKE WILD showcases the finished result in this video using Legomanbiffo's latest ESU sound files.

Class 37 sound Feature Premium

VIDEO: Class 37 sound for 'OO' gauge

In this online feature we show how to install digital sound into the Bachmann Class 37 using a ZIMO MX644D decoder and Rail Exclusive speaker. 

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


 

Latest model railway reviews

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L&B LYN debuts!

MIKE WILD

Narrow gauge modellers are being treated to a brand-new locomotive with the arrival of Heljan’s model of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway’s one and only Baldwin 2-4-2T. MIKE WILD inspects Lyn for ‘OO9’.

MIKE WILD
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Northern Rail ‘150’

The Class 150/2 two-car DMU is back in stock with Bachmann retailers with the arrival of two new livery variations –a GWR green set finished as 150216 and Northern liveried unit 150220 as illustrated by our sample model.

HM172 N Gauge Society Hunslet Hydraulic Review Premium

Hunslet hydraulic

FIRST REVIEW: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the N Gauge Society it has produced the first pure industrial ready-to-run locomotive for ‘N’ gauge – the Hunslet 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic. MIKE WILD inspects this enticing new release for 2mm scale.

Ecofret wagons for N Review Premium

Ecofrets debut for ‘N’

The latest arrivals from Revolution Trains for ‘N’ gauge are these super detailed models of the FWA Ecofret twin and triple set container flats.

‘OO’ Defender

New to the Oxford Diecast 1:76 scale vehicle collection and suitable for ‘OO’ gauge layouts is the new Land Rover Defender in short wheelbase format. This reimagining of the classic Defender took to the roads in 2020 and is becoming a popular choice for on road and off road use.

Brassband Review Premium

Brassed off

Modelu continues to expand its fantastic collection of 3D printed figures with ever more interesting and characterful creations. Amongst the latest releases is this brilliant set of brass band figures which are available from ‘N’ to ‘G’ scale.

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Busch farmyard scene

A recent addition to the Busch action set series of detailing accessories is this calf-feeding pack comprising a pre-painted ‘HO’ scale calf and farm worker. The set has been designed so the calf appears to be drinking from the milk feed bottle.

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Dockside Walling

Gaugemaster’s ever-expanding Fordhampton collection of ‘OO’ gauge plastic building and structure kits is bolstered with the inclusion of this dockside walling.

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