Hornby Magazine Staff Projects
ViTrains Class 47
Looking back at photographs from the early 2000s, MIKE WILD was inspired to find and revive a ViTrains Freightliner triple grey Class 47 to provide an alternative container train locomotive.
STAFF PROJECTS: New Junctions for New Junction II
As New Junction II begins to take shape, sleeper spacing, a lack of track pins and a new track formation have added to the workload, as RICHARD WATSON outlines.
RICHARD WATSON
STAFF PROJECTS: Electrical endeavours for New Junction
With the build racing ahead, it was time to pause for reflection giving time to complete the more mundane tasks on this new ‘OO’ layout. RICHARD WATSON plods on with the essential but repetitive tasks.
STAFF PROJECTS: New levels for New Junctıon
The initial draft of the track plan is complete - but will it actually work? Eager to get trains running on his ‘OO’ gauge New Junction layout, RICHARD WATSON takes a cautious approach which uncovered some unexpected challenges.
RICHARD WATSON
STAFF PROJECTS: Richard's new New Junction
The baseboards are here and RICHARD WATSON’S plans for a new New Junction ‘OO’ gauge layout are off to a flying start. He reveals the story behind the layout and its first steps.
STAFF PROJECTS: Bachmann Class 37/4 restoration
The discovery of a partially stripped chassis and a tatty Class 37 body prompted MIKE WILD to assess returning this Bachmann model of 37411 to frontline service. Here’s how he did it.
FAIRLIE AMBITIOUS LAYOUT BUILD | PART TWO
Scenic modelling is one of the most enjoyable and creative parts of a model railway. MIKE WILD gets to grips with the landscape for the new ‘OO9’ narrow gauge layout in our second and final feature including the first chance to watch our brand new feature video.
Staff Projects: Retro modern
The modern railway scene has caught MIKE WILD’S eye of late for its colour and variety. One of his latest projects is a quick reworking of a Bachmann Class 37/0 as Colas Rail operated 37025 in BR ‘large logo’ blue.
Staff Projects: Road and Rail
An impulse purchase saw MIKE WILD pick up a Kibri kit for a road and rail excavator –a simple and clever kit which builds into an appealing model. Read the full Staff Projects feature with extra images here.
There and back again
RICHARD WATSON’S New Junction garden railway was always going to be a challenge as an end-to-end layout. With a little help from DCC Concepts and its ABC braking modules to create automated stopping and starting, running in the garden was about to become much easier.
RICHARD WATSON
Staff Projects: Outdoor station
A station scene has been a longstanding plan for MIKE WILD’S garden railway and the arrival of Tower Models’ new resin platform sections provided the perfect excuse to start work.
MIKE WILD
STAFF PROJECTS: EXPANSION PLAN
The opportunity to extend the ‘O’ gauge test track as the next step in its development was too good to pass up. MIKE WILD explains the changes and the next steps. Plus don't miss our Hornby Magazine Show video showing the expansion plan unfold.
Staff Projects: Narrow Escape
Earlier this year RICHARD WATSON embarked on an extension to Hornby Magazine’s ‘OO9’ narrow gauge layout. Three months later the project is complete, for now...
Staff Projects: Track Painting
Hornby Magazine’s ‘OO9’ narrow gauge layout expansion is fast becoming an idyllic scene. RICHARD WATSON shows us how he brought the track to life on the layout.
Staff Projects: A Stone's throw away...
Hornby Magazine’s ‘OO9’ narrow gauge layout expansion is off to a flying start. RICHARD WATSON shows us how he tackled the first of the manmade structures on the layout.
Staff Projects: Locked down with Topley Dale
Like many modellers MIKE WILD has been making the most of extra time at home during the recent lockdown to push forward with the Diversion Route on Topley Dale, but will our mammoth project ever be really finished?
Staff Projects: Building bridges
Topley Dale has gained a third bridge scene with a new four-arch low height viaduct being built for the diversion route. MIKE WILD explains how it was assembled using the popular Wills kit.
Staff Projects: Quarry Progress
Topley Dale’s new quarry scene has taken big steps forward this autumn and is well on the way to completion. MIKE WILD rounds up the latest developments and explains how the track and ground cover has been weathered for a more realistic finish.
Staff Projects: New frontiers
Its Yearbook time -and the Hornby Magazine team has been back in the workshop to create a brand new ‘OO’ gauge layout. MIKE WILD introduces the Great Central-set Quorn Magna.
VIDEO: Topley Dale Quarry
Topley Dale is developing again and in the Great Electric Train Show Virtual Exhibition YouTube video Mike Wild shows how he is building and developing the scenery. In this feature we show exclusive images of the build so far together with the section from the main video on Topley Dale for subscribers.
VIDEO: Building and weathering quarry buildings
Walthers' New River Mining Company plastic kit forms the basis of Topley Dale's new quarry scene. In this guide Mike Wild shows what goes into building this impressively sized kit as well as demonstrating powder weathering techniques on video.
Staff Projects: Quarry Creation
The scenery on Topley Dale’s diversionary route is off the starting blocks as Mike Wild builds an American outline plastic kit as the basis of a new quarry scene.
Staff Projects: Professional paint job
Hornby Magazine’s Associate Editor RICHARD WATSON took the opportunity to have his ModelU 3D printed figures professionally painted by Claudia Everett.
Staff Projects: Topley Dale developments
Hornby Magazine's Topley Dale is making progress again with the first steps towards the construction of a new quarry scene. MIKE WILD rounds up the latest additions to the 'OO' gauge test track.
Staff Projects: Garden Railway Construction | Part One
Learn how Hornby Magazine editor Mike Wild constructed his 'O' gauge garden railway in his garden in our three part guide. Check out part one here.
Staff Projects: Garden Railway Construction | Part Two
In the second part of Hornby Magazine Editor MIKE WILD’S three-part series on the construction of his ‘O’ gauge garden railway, he moves on to the return loop and development of the power system.
Staff Projects: Polarity switching
In the final part of his three-part garden railway series, MIKE WILD explains how he overcame a complex return loop situation while discovering even greater flexibility could be introduced with a new piece of trackwork and Digital Command Control electronics.
Staff Projects: ‘Ere, STOP messin’ about!
With time on his hands and a stash of unfinished kits to complete, a small but significant building has reignited plans for a new layout, as MARK CHIVERS explains.
Parcels Plan
A quiet weekend and the right mindset were the perfect combination to get an Ian Kirk ‘O’ gauge Stanier parcels van kit off the ground. MIKE WILD explains all.
Staff Projects: Topley Dale scenic overhaul
Over time scenic materials can fade and lose their impact . MIKE WILD explains what he did to bring a fresh finish to the ground cover around Topley Dale station in this step by step guide.