Step by Step Guides

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MAKING A SCENE: Modelling a Pill box

DAN EVASON

As Britain braced for invasion, pill boxes were built to defend the country. DAN EVASON builds a scene in ‘OO’ gauge which also pays homage to a famous and much loved comedy series.

DAN EVASON
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Modelling a three-car Class 205 Thumper DEMU

TIM SHACKLETON

Southern Region Class 205 DEMUs make popular and distinctive models. Ten years after the Bachmann/Kernow model was launched, TIM SHACKLETON adds an extra coach to create an authentic three-car set.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Converting an American station for a British layout

TIM SHACKLETON

Looking outside the usual sources for a building can reap big rewards. TIM SHACKLETON explains how Grosvenor Square’s imposing terminus building came into being using an American outline kit as the basis.

TIM SHACKLETON
Building Grosvenor Square's platforms. Feature Premium

Grosvenor Square: Building platforms

MIKE WILD

There is a myriad of methods and materials which can be used to make model platforms. Mike Wild explains how with a combination of timber, plastic, card, resin and ballast the extensive platforms for Grosvenor Square were built.

MIKE WILD
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Building a low relief backdrop

MIKE WILD

Creating a backdrop to a railway scene doesn’t have to rely on printed or painted backscenes. Mike Wild explains how the low relief scene at the back of Grosvenor Square developed.

MIKE WILD
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Station detailing at Grosvenor Square

MIKE WILD

There are many ways to bring life to a station scene. Mike Wild offers 10 top tips to make your layout’s signature location stand out from the crowd.

MIKE WILD
Grosvenor Square station canopy construction Feature Premium

Grosvenor Square: A roof over our heads

TIM SHACKLETON

Hornby Magazine’s roofing contractor TIM SHACKLETON describes the construction of Grosvenor Square’s imposing overall canopy.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Bricks and Mortar

TIM SHACKLETON

Even empty wagons show traces of the work they do and the loads they carry. TIM SHACKLETON shows how to lay the foundations, using paint and powder as the key building blocks.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Building Twelvemill Bridge – Part One

MIKE WILD

The dawn of a new scale was a temptation too big to resist for the Hornby Magazine team. MIKE WILD introduces a brand-new layout build in ‘TT:120’ scale in the first of a four-part series documenting its construction.

MIKE WILD
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MAKING A SCENE: Building a Harbour

DAN EVASON

Railways and harbours complement each other very well. DAN EVASON shows how he built a typical scene in ‘OO’ gauge whose techniques can be used in any scale.

DAN EVASON
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DMU weathering – multiple options

TIM SHACKLETON

Continuing his series on improving models of Diesel Multiple Units, TIM SHACKLETON outlines some innovative methods for weathering first-generation vehicles.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Building a ‘OO9’ micro-layout - Part Two

DAN EVASON

Having completed the base layer and laid the track to his new narrow gauge micro-layout, DAN EVASON adds further fine detail and buildings to the ‘OO9’ pizza-style scene.

DAN EVASON
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'OO' gauge Diesel Multiple Unit upgrades

TIM SHACKLETON

Concentrating on some older 4mm scale Diesel Multiple Units, TIM SHACKLETON looks at ways of bringing them up to something like present day standards.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Building a ‘OO9’ micro layout – Part one

DAN EVASON

With a new influx of models in this narrow gauge scale, DAN EVASON shows how you can create a grand scene the size of a pizza.

DAN EVASON
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How to weather an Accurascale DRS Class 37/4

MIKE WILD

The arrival of the all-new Accurascale Class 37/4s for ‘OO’ gauge prompted MIKE WILD to give DRS-operated 37425 an equally detailed weathered finish. He explains all in this step by step guide.

MIKE WILD
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Building a Permanent Way Depot

DAN EVASON

You’ll often see the ‘orange army’ and their equipment maintaining the railway. DAN EVASON shows how to build a small maintenance depot in ‘OO’ gauge.

DAN EVASON
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Triplex Sound for the Hornby Class 08

MIKE WILD

Hornby’s new Bluetooth Triplex Sound chips provide a simple means of adding stay alive, but can you fit all the components into the Hornby Class 08? MIKE WILD shows how in this step-by-step guide.

MIKE WILD
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Modelling Low Moor Fairburn ‘4MTs' in 'N'

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON successfully migrates weathering techniques he developed for 4mm scale across to an ‘N’ gauge 2-6-4T.

TIM SHACKLETON
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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
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Dig for Victory

DAN EVASON

If your 1940s layout has houses and gardens in it, the odds are it will have an Anderson shelter amongst the fruit and veg. DAN EVASON unearths a range of techniques to create this fascinating scene.

DAN EVASON
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Static Grass Tufts

Making your own static grass tufts can be a rewarding detailing exercise and offers something different to mass produced items? We show you how simple it is to make and use grass tufts.

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Weathering a GWR '64XX' 0-6-0PT

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON gives the Bachmann 'OO' gauge ‘64XX’ 0-6-0PT a convincing oily rag finish that recaptures childhood memories.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Updating the Hattons KWA Warwell

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON widens the scope of Hatton’s new KWA Warwell in a bid to bring it into line with 21st century military strategy.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Making Buildings from Scratch – Part Three

MALCOLM BRIGGS

Building on the techniques of his new series, MALCOLM BRIGGS shows how to build a shop in ‘OO’ gauge ready for later interior fitting.

MALCOLM BRIGGS
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Creating a unique wagon load in 'OO' gauge

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON recreates a rare sight on the rails which could occasionally have been seen almost anywhere - a wagon loaded with Invacars - in ‘OO’ gauge.

TIM SHACKLETON
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MAKING A SCENE: Creating a railway cutting

DAN EVESON

Cuttings can offer an extra dimension to a layout, and provide visual variety. DAN EVASON shows how to create a simple scene in ‘OO’ gauge step by step.

DAN EVESON
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BUILDING A DIESEL DEPOT - THE BACKSCENES

MIKE WILD

In the third instalment of our diesel depot series, MIKE WILD explains how the backscenes were fitted and how the depot was detailed to create a realistic scene.

MIKE WILD
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MAKING A SCENE: Building a low relief Bus Depot

DAN EVASON

Low relief buildings are an excellent means of suggesting depth to a model railway where space is at a premium. DAN EVASON creates a unique bus depot scene in ‘OO’ gauge.

DAN EVASON
Hornby Mk 3 Maglight installation guide. Feature Premium

Installing Hornby’s Mk 3 Maglights

MIKE WILD

Hornby’s latest generation Mk 3 carriages have been designed with the manufacturer’s new magnetic switched lighting strips in mind. MIKE WILD adds a full set to a Blue Pullman HST set in ‘OO’ gauge.

MIKE WILD
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TransPennine Express Mk 5 weathering guide

TIM SHACKLETON

With the deftest of touches, TIM SHACKLETON breathes fresh life into some of the most outstanding models yet released in ’OO’ gauge.

TIM SHACKLETON