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REVIEWS

Read all the latest product reviews from the Hornby Magazine team covering 'OO', 'N' and 'O' gauge as well as a broad spectrum of model eras and product types. Plus, look out for the Video tag for feature videos included within reviews as well as the Hornby Magazine Express Video tag for our quick overview videos.

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BOOK REVIEW: Class 47 adventures

MARK CHIVERS

A recent addition to the Key Books portfolio from Key Publishing is this latest edition on Class 47s by Ian McLean. This is the third book in the series on Class 47s and covers movements from Inverness to Newquay.

MARK CHIVERS
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BOOK REVIEW: Main Line to the South

MARK CHIVERS

​​​​​​​This recent tome from Irwell Press is the second in the series focussing on the South Western Main Line between Basingstoke and Southampton.

MARK CHIVERS
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BOOK REVIEW: Modelling British Railways Railfreight Sub-Sectors

MARK CHIVERS

New from Key Publishing is this latest bookazine in the Modelling British Railways series, dedicated to Railfreight sub-sectors.

MARK CHIVERS
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BOOK REVIEW: Class 33s

MARK CHIVERS

New from Key Books is this picture album showcasing BR Southern Region’s popular Class 33 Bo-Bo diesels.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hornby’s 'OO' gauge Class 87 Bo-Bo electric

MIKE WILD

AC overhead electric have become popular subjects for ready-to-run locomotives in ‘OO’ gauge. MIKE WILD casts his eye over the Hornby Class 87 for 'OO' gauge in the detailed review.

MIKE WILD
NER ES1 Review Premium

Locomotion’s ES1 electric for ‘OO’ gauge

MIKE WILD

The pioneering North Eastern Railway steeple cab electric is the subject of the latest collaboration between Locomotion Models, Rails of Sheffield and Heljan. MIKE WILD takes a detailed look at this new release ahead of its arrival in December.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby Maunsell ‘S15’ in detail

MIKE WILD

The Southern Region was best known for its express locomotives, but freight was an important part of its business too. In this review MIKE WILD takes a detailed look at Hornby’s model of the Maunsell ‘S15’ – the Southern’s freight 4-6-0.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby Pride Pendolino for 'OO' gauge

MARK CHIVERS

Hornby’s eagerly-awaited ‘OO’ gauge model of Avanti West Coast’s vivid Pride-liveried ‘Pendolino’ has arrived with retailers. MARK CHIVERS casts his eyes over this colourful new release.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hornby’s adds new KFA container wagons for OO gauge

MIKE WILD

New from Hornby is this trio of ‘OO’ gauge KFA container flat wagons which model vehicles built in the late 1980s in Finland for use with Tiphook leasing in the UK.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby's 'OO' gauge containers

MARK CHIVERS

Hornby has released additional packs of ‘OO’ gauge intermodal containers suitable for its KFA container flat wagons and other intermodal vehicles.

MARK CHIVERS
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Accurascale magnetic chain couplings

MARK CHIVERS

Accurascale has added a pack of magnetic chain couplings to its range of ‘OO’ gauge accessories following on from the release of its Chaldron wagons.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hornby Tri-ang Railways Remembered train pack for OO gauge

The first of Hornby’s Tri-ang Railways Remembered limited edition train sets has arrived in the form of ‘The Victorian’ which contains a GWR 4-2-2 and a pair of clerestory roof coaches. Find out more here.

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Scale Model Scenery Mind the Step decals

MARK CHIVERS

New from Scale Model Scenery is this pack of 4mm scale ‘Mind the Step' decals designed for modern-era 4mm scale platforms.

MARK CHIVERS
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Corgi GWR Thornycroft Nippy die-cast lorry

MARK CHIVERS

Corgi has added a new 1:76 scale model of its Thornycroft Nippy flatbed trailer in Great Western Railway (GWR) colours.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hobbytrax analogue ‘stay-alive’

MARK CHIVERS

Hobbytrax has recently introduced a series of ‘stay-alive’ capacitors designed for ‘OO’ gauge analogue (DC) locomotives. We discover what they have to offer.

MARK CHIVERS
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Corgi releases Ford Transit for OO gauge

MARK CHIVERS

Corgi’s 1:76 scale Trackside range of diecast models is bolstered with this Mk 1 Ford Transit in Express Dairy livery.

MARK CHIVERS
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Cavalex Models HAA MGR hoppers arrive

MARK CHIVERS

The famous HAA hoppers are the subject of Cavalex’s latest release. MARK CHIVERS asseses how they compare to Accurascale’s recent version.

MARK CHIVERS
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Oxford Diecast AEC 690 Concrete Mixer

MARK CHIVERS

New from Oxford Diecast is this 1:76 scale AEC 690 concrete mixer as a follow up to its dumper truck using the same cab and chassis style.

MARK CHIVERS
Bachmann narrow gauge Penrhyn Mainline Hunslet 0-4-0ST Review Premium

Bachmann adds Mainline Hunslet for 'OO9' narrow gauge

MIKE WILD

Revealed in Bachmann’s Winter announcements in November and already available in the shops, MIKE WILD checks out the latest arrival for ‘OO9’ – the Penrhyn Mainline Hunslet 0-4-0ST.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby’s revitalised BR MK3s

MIKE WILD

The British Rail Mk 3 carriage is an essential part of the modern and recent railway scenes. Hornby has gone back to the drawing board to create a new collection of coaching stock, as MIKE WILD explains.

MIKE WILD
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Rapido delivers SECR vans and ballast wagons

MARK CHIVERS

More South Eastern and Chatham Railway wagons have arrived from Rapido. MARK CHIVERS runs the rule over the latest vans and ballast wagons.

MARK CHIVERS
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Accurascale delivers Coalfish for ‘OO’

MARK CHIVERS

Accurascale’s all-new ‘OO’ gauge MHA two-axle ballast/spoil wagons have arrived. MARK CHIVERS takes a closer look at these modern-era wagons.

MARK CHIVERS
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Quarryman’s coaches from Peco

MIKE WILD

The Ffestiniog Railway’s Type 3 Quarryman’s coaches are the basis of a trio of new rolling stock releases from Peco for ‘OO9’ narrow gauge. MIKE WILD inspects the new arrivals.

MIKE WILD
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FIRST REVIEW: It’s here – the Accurascale Class 92

MIKE WILD

The first thing you will say when you open the box to Accurascale’s first ready-to-run electric locomotive is “wow!”. MIKE WILD explains why as he delves into the world of the Brush-built dual-voltage electrics.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby RailRoad BR Crosti '9F' 2-10-0

MIKE WILD

Hornby introduced the RailRoad Crosti ‘9F’ 2-10-0 in 2015 offering an inspired choice of new freight motive power. MIKE WILD assesses this attractive ‘OO’ gauge offering.

MIKE WILD
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Planet Industrials’ Kerr, Stuart

MIKE WILD

Planet Industrials is a new name in the world of ready-to-run model railways and its debut model is the Kerr, Stuart ‘Victory’ 0-6-0T for ‘OO’ gauge. Mike Wild finds out what is in store.

MIKE WILD
Heljan O gauge Class 37/0 Review Premium

Heljan's centre headcode Class 37 for 'O' gauge

MIKE WILD

In this review we take a closer look at Heljan's ready-to-run ‘O’ gauge centre headcode Class 37 which first hit the shelves in 2017.

MIKE WILD
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FIRST REVIEW: Heljan’s Mk 1 CCT

MIKE WILD

The BR Mk 1 Covered Carriage Truck is a versatile vehicle which can suit everything from depot to main line scenes. MIKE WILD inspects this attractive new arrival for ‘O’ gauge from Heljan.

MIKE WILD
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NEW PECO STRUCTURE KITS FOR 'TT'

ANNOUNCED in June 2022, the new range of Peco‘TT:120’ building kits comprise a GWR pattern station building, signalbox and goods shed, alongside plastic platform edging and surfaces. Intended to be used in conjunction with Peco’s newly-tooled track range in the scale (HM 184), these kits offer accurate and detailed structures for the revival of ‘TT’ gauge.

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Hatton's Genesis Coaches

The wait is over, as the first of Hattons’ newlytooled ‘OO’ gauge Genesis four and sixwheel carriages are here. MARK CHIVERS takes a closer look at these all-new vehicles.