Layout features

Featuring
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Welcome to our collection of model railway layout features. Here you will find beautifully detailed model railways in 'OO' gauge, 'N' gauge, 'O' gauge, 'OO9' narrow gauge and more offering a huge variety of build designs and inspirational techniques. Plus our growing collection covers a broad spectrum of different periods in railway history as well as all four corners of the British railway network while many feature exclusive KeyModelWorld only video tours. Indulge and enjoy!

Explore the amazing model railways built by talented individuals and clubs which feature in the pages of Hornby Magazine. This section covers 'OO', 'EM', 'P4', 'N', and 'O' gauge model railways and more in all eras. Plus many now feature exclusive online video content which you can only find here on Key Model World.

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Newhaven Harbour

Needing a new exhibition layout, Wirral and Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers purchased a South Coast set ‘OO’ gauge project. TIM ROGERS explains how they upgraded and improved it to go on tour.

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BSC Shepcote Lane Tippler Sidings

BARRIE JONES takes us to the Sheffield area where his compact ‘OO’ finescale layout plays host to part of a steelworks in the late 1980s.

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Middle Elmton

Impressed by the quality of modern ‘N’ gauge models, PETER BRACKENBURY recreated the railway scene of the East Midlands for his latest exhibition layout creating a trackplan with subtle differences to the norm.

Pete Waterman's Leamington Spa. Feature Premium

Pete Waterman’s Leamington Spa

It’s the model railway we all dream we could build if we had the space and time. PETE WATERMAN OBE invited Hornby Magazine behind the scenes to see the latest progress on his amazing ‘O’ gauge model of Leamington Spa, Hatton Bank and Brinklow. Join us for a full tour with exclusive KeyModelWorld only images and a full 30 minute long video tour inside. Photography, Mike Wild.

Bilston Road Feature Premium

Bilston Road

Drawing on his memories of the West Midlands, GEOFF READ created this atmospheric ‘OO’ gauge layout set in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Photography, Mike Wild.

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Marsh Chipping

DAVE WESTWOOD drew inspiration from childhood daytrips to create this wonderful pastiche of Cotswold railways in ‘N’ gauge.

Over Peover Feature Premium

Over Peover in the BR era

The East Coast Main Line has been a symbol of speed and power for decades with some of its most famous trains being its iconic streamlined ‘Pacifics’ and the legendary ‘Deltics’. MIKE WILD paid a return visit John Ryan’s outstanding 120ft long ‘O’ gauge layout Over Peover to capture it in the British Railways era.

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Farbine Road

The West Midlands in the 1980s is the setting for NEIL WOODBINE and SUE FARMER’S ‘OO’ gauge layout -which captures the feel of those ‘blue and grey’ years brilliantly. Photography, Trevor Jones.

Swindon Works Feature Premium

The Essence of Swındon

Instant recognition was first on the list for MARK WILSON when he started designing this compact slice of the Great Western Railway’s famous works in Swindon. This is its story with exclusive video for subscribers. Photography, Richard Watson.

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Reading to Paddington

The Great Western Main Line from Reading to Twyford and beyond is the setting for this astounding ‘OO’ gauge model railway built by John Southern. ANDREW KEAST reveals its story and how this layout came to be. Photography, Mike Wild.

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St Paddy - Cornwall in the 1990s in 'OO'

The Cornish china clay industry and holidays in the area were the inspiration for BRIAN TAMPLIN to build this multi-level ‘OO’ gauge layout. Photography, Trevor Jones.

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Tunnel Lane

This compact ‘OO’ gauge layout was DAN EVASON’S launch back into the model railway hobby following a chance purchase of Hornby Magazine and a visit to the Warley Show. Dan reveals the story behind Tunnel Lane. Photography, Mike Wild.

HM173: Whithorn video Feature Premium

Whithorn - a Scottish branch line terminus

A teenage trip to Scotland’s most southerly station inspired ALISDAIR MACDONALD to build this fascinating replica of Whithorn in ‘OO’ gauge. Here Alisdair reveals the story behind the layout and how it was built. Photography, Mike Wild.

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Lockton Lane

After building numerous ‘OO’ and ‘N’ gauge layouts, TIM LOWE took the plunge and moved up to ‘O’ for his latest layout. Lockton Lane is the result and it has been built over the past 18 months in just 10ft 6in x 2ft. Photography, Mike Wild.

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Peaksdale

This magnificent and feature packed ‘OO’ gauge layout is the work of STEPHEN RICHARDS over the last four decades. We take a full tour of this complex loft layout.