Model Railways

Issue Cover

Featuring Hornby Magazine 

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

Read latest Issue

Latest news and features from model railway on Key Model World

Review Premium

Bachmann Collectors Club Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0

MARK CHIVERS

Amongst the recent additions to the Bachmann Collectors Club range of exclusive limited edition models is this ‘N’ gauge LMS Ivatt ‘2MT’ in BR lined maroon. MARK CHIVERS assesses it.

MARK CHIVERS
Review Premium

Revolution Trains PCA

BEN CHURCH

Revolution Trains’ newly-tooled ‘OO’ gauge PCA alumina tank wagons have arrived, offering a new option for modern era modellers. BEN CHURCH takes a closer look at these distinctive new vehicles.

BEN CHURCH
Feature Premium

Customising limited edition Class 40 40145

DAVID DOLMAN

The Key Publishing limited edition model of 40145 in large logo blue prompted DAVID DOLMAN to take an already good model and make it even better.

DAVID DOLMAN
Hornby 4-VEP for OO gauge. Review Premium

Revised Hornby 4-VEP arrives

BEN CHURCH

With a preserved example recently raising the profile of these important EMUs, BEN CHURCH assesses Hornby’s latest version of the 4-VEP in ‘OO’.

BEN CHURCH
Review Premium

Commonwealth of Australia

BEN CHURCH

In recent months Hornby has released a significant number of Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2s,primarily in its Hornby Dublo range as part of the Great Gathering 10th anniversary collection. This new ‘OO’ gauge ‘A4’ arrival is from the main range, but no less exciting as it represents one of the five Commonwealth-named ‘A4s’ in original condition, finished as 4491 Commonwealth of Australia.

BEN CHURCH
Review Premium

‘Big Four’ Fowler ‘4P’

BEN CHURCH

With the first half of Hornby’s ‘Big Four’ collection having already arrived (HM200), commemorating the centenary of the formation of the ‘Big Four’, the latest representative in the quartet of models is now available in the form of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler ‘4P’ 2-6-4T.

BEN CHURCH
Accurascale Class 66 first review Review Premium

Accurascale’s Class 66 Revival

MIKE WILD

The Class 66 is a locomotive virtually no modern layout can be without. Accurascale has taken on and re-worked the Hattons Originals product for ‘OO’ gauge – MIKE WILD takes an exclusive look at the first production samples.

MIKE WILD
Review Premium

Flangeway updates ‘Salmons’

BEN CHURCH

Following the initial release of its ‘Salmon’ bogie rail carrier wagons in 2022 (HM183), Flangeway Models has released a new contemporary-era version of the popular ‘OO’ gauge vehicles.

BEN CHURCH

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

Click here for the latest model railway layout features.


 

Latest model railway videos

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
Feature Premium

Gonerby - a freight depot in the diesel era

KEVIN CRANE

The atmosphere of a 1980s freight terminal and depot was what KEVIN CRANE wanted to recapture, done to brilliant effect in ‘OO’ gauge. Read the full feature and watch our exclusive layout tour video here.

KEVIN CRANE

NEW SERIES: Making Tracks 3 - On Location

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON

In this brand-new Key Model World video series we go behind the scenes to reveal the construction process of Making Tracks 3 from Pete Waterman and the Railnuts leading to the 152ft long Grand Challenge layout at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show. Join us for Part One as we go on location at Milton Keynes Central station.

MIKE WILD and JONATHAN NEWTON
Meet the Manufacturer: Revolution Trains Feature Premium

MEET THE MANUFACTURER: Revolution Trains

MARK CHIVERS

It is now a decade since Revolution Trains entered the market. Mark Chivers talks to founders Ben Ando and Mike Hale about how it started - and what's coming next across 'OO' and 'N' gauge. Read the full feature here and watch our exclusive interview video - only on Key Model World.

MARK CHIVERS
Feature Premium

Halfpenny Green

GEORGE SHERIDAN

Based on a planned railway never built, Cradley Heath Model Railway Club rewrote history and created an unusual Midlands-based GWR terminus in ‘OO’ gauge, as GEORGE SHERIDAN explains. Read the full feature and watch our full video tour here.

GEORGE SHERIDAN

VIDEO: Heljan 'OO' gauge Class 47 project update

MIKE WILD

Heljan's all-new 'OO' gauge Class 47 is due to arrive in early 2024. We met with Heljan's Ben Jones in the Key Model World workshop to find out more and hear the final factory DCC sound fitted versions in action. Watch the video interview here.

MIKE WILD
Bachmann refurbished Class 411 4-CEP for OO gauge. Review Premium

Bachmann delivers refurbished 4-CEP EMU

MARK CHIVERS

It’s back to the 1980s with Bachmann’s latest release. MARK CHIVERS assesses the differences in its new Southern Region EMU in words, pictures and video.

MARK CHIVERS

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


 

Latest model railway reviews

Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

EFE Rail’s Southern Electric ‘Boosters’

MIKE WILD

The 1940s Southern Railway ‘Booster’ electric locomotives are the subject of an all-new tooling from EFE Rail for ‘OO’ gauge. MIKE WILD inspects this new arrival.

MIKE WILD
Review Premium

Great Gathering anniversary collection – Part two

BEN CHURCH

Last issue (HM200) we looked at the first half of the new Hornby Dublo Great Gathering tenth anniversary collection, and now the three remaining Gresley ‘A4s’ - 60007 (Cat No. R30266), 60008 (R30265) and 60009 (R30263) in BR condition are here.

BEN CHURCH

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