Reviews

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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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Bachmann's Network Rail MPV for OO gauge

MIKE WILD

Bachmann’s model of the Network Rail Multiple Purpose Vehicle (MPV) made its debut in 2011 and offered contemporary layout builders the opportunity to purchase an unusual model of an enthralling prototype in ‘OO’. A new batch of these unusual vehicles is coming soon. Check out what we thought of the original release.

MIKE WILD
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Bachmann's ‘OO’ Wickham Trolley is a tiny marvel

MARK CHIVERS

The Wickham trolley might not be a first choice as a ready-to-run model, but Bachmann has created a beautiful model all the same. MARK CHIVERS runs the rule over this miniature Type 27 variant.

MARK CHIVERS
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Industrial Storage Shed

JONATHAN NEWTON

A brand new 4mm scale laser-cut industrial storage shed kit is now available from Scale Model Scenery.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Laser-cut lamp huts

JONATHAN NEWTON

Recent additions to the Scale Model Scenery range of laser-cut detailing accessories includes these 4mm scale Great Western Railway (GWR) and London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) lamp huts.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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DCC Concepts Legacy LED lamps

JONATHAN NEWTON

DCC Concepts has recently reintroduced its extensive collection of ‘OO’ gauge lamps, as part of its Legacy Models range.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Dylington Custard ‘ghost signs’

JONATHAN NEWTON

Scale Model Scenery’s range of model railway detailing accessories includes a selection of ‘ghost signs’, intended for applying to the sides of old buildings to represent a long-gone business, including this pack advertising Dylington Custard.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Peco’s Flexi Loco Lift

JONATHAN NEWTON

Peco’s range of model railway track and accessories includes this recently introduced multi-gauge Flexi Loco Lift which can be adapted for use across all scales from ‘N’ to ‘EM’.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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RNAD wagons arrive from Bachmann

MIKE WILD

A new collection of Royal Naval Armaments Depot wagons has been created by Bachmann for its narrow gauge collection. MIKE WILD inspects two of the new arrivals for ‘OO9’.

MIKE WILD
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Kernow Model Rail Centre's Beattie ‘0298’

MIKE WILD

Kernow Model Rail Centre’s Beattie ‘Well Tank’ project is bearing fruit with all four livery variations now approved for production (see Update) and the first Southern Railway liveried variant arriving in the

MIKE WILD
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New 'OO' gauge ‘Hymeks’ from Heljan

MIKE WILD

The popular Class 35 ‘Hymek’ is back from Heljan with an upgraded chassis. MIKE WILD inspects a classic BR two-tone green version of the Western Region hydraulic.

MIKE WILD
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Rapido’s Conflat P for ‘N’ gauge

MIKE WILD

New for ‘N’ gauge is Rapido Trains’ model of the Conflat P – a wagon type synonymous with the ‘Condor’ container train of the 1960s. MIKE WILD reveals all.

MIKE WILD
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‘N’ gauge Co-Bo from Rapido Trains

MIKE WILD

Rapido Trains UK has released its first ready-to-run ‘N’ gauge powered locomotive modelling the characterful but spectacularly unreliable Co-Bo diesels. MIKE WILD casts his eye over this new arrival.

MIKE WILD
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Book Review: GWR Locomotives - the Prairies

JONATHAN NEWTON

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2-6-2T ‘Prairies’ were some of Churchward’s earliest designs boasting two basic types: the smaller version for branch lines and the large type for outer suburban work in London and Birmingham.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Book review: Industrial Railways

JONATHAN NEWTON

Freight topics are particularly popular due to the varied nature of the payloads through the years and this latest volume from Amberley Publishing  highlights some of the heavy freight diesel locomotives  that were introduced by British Rail (and its successors) from the 1970s onwards.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Book Review: The East Coast Main Line – Peterborough to York

JONATHAN NEWTON

New from Amberley Publishing is this picture album showcasing the present-day rail scene on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) -  a route with a long and storied history.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Book Review: Heavy Freight Locomotives

JONATHAN NEWTON

Freight topics are particularly popular due to the varied nature of the payloads through the years and this latest volume from Amberley Publishing  highlights some of the heavy freight diesel locomotives  that were introduced by British Rail (and its successors) from the 1970s onwards.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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Book Review: Class 50s

JONATHAN NEWTON

This recent publication from Key Books recalls British Rail’s popular Class 50 locomotives, one of the most loved and popular classes that still has a strong following to this day.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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BR First Generation DMUs

MARK CHIVERS

Hugh Longworth’s long-out-of-print reference work British Railways First Generation DMUs returns with revised text and the addition of colour photographs.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hattons wows with Metrovick’s ugly duckling

MIKE WILD

BR’s Modernisation Plan brought with it a raft of pilot scheme diesel locomotives and amongst those was the Metropolitan-Vickers Co-Bo – one of the more unusual and arresting designs of the era.

MIKE WILD
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Heljan revitalises the Class 14

MIKE WILD

The Swindon-built Class 14 0-6-0DHs have been refreshed for a new lease of life with Heljan. MIKE WILD inspects one of the new batch.

MIKE WILD
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Hornby's Avanti Class 390 Pride liveried coaches

MARK CHIVERS

Following the recent release of Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ four-car train pack (Cat No. R30081) as 390119 in the distinctive Pride colour scheme (HM186), the matching centre cars are also now available.

MARK CHIVERS
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Hornby's Drax Renewable Pioneers hoppers for 'OO' gauge

MARK CHIVERS

Hornby has released new versions of the IIA-D 102tonne Drax biomass hopper wagons which were introduced in 2013-2014.

MARK CHIVERS
Dapol's all-new Class 59 for OO gauge Review Premium

Dapol delivers its Class 59 for 'OO' gauge

MIKE WILD

The American-built Electro-Motive Division Class 59 heavy-freight locomotives started a revolution in rail freight haulage. Dapol is looking to achieve the same with its all-new ‘OO’ gauge model. MIKE WILD finds out if it has succeeded.

MIKE WILD
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Revolution delivers ‘OO’ Ecofret container wagons

MARK CHIVERS

Intermodal traffic forms an important part of the present-day rail scene and Revolution Trains' all-new FWA Ecofrets are set to fill another gap for ‘OO’. MARK CHIVERS takes a closer look.

MARK CHIVERS
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Scale Model Scenery manholes and drain covers

JONATHAN NEWTON

New from Scale Model Scenery is this pack of 4mm scale laser-cut and engraved manhole and drain covers.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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West Hill introduces ‘TT:120’ accessory range

MARK CHIVERS

New from West Hill Wagon Works are these all-new ‘TT:120’ scale 3D printed model railway accessories from the company’s range of lineside detailing.

MARK CHIVERS
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Corgi Trackside Dennis F12 Pump Escape

JONATHAN NEWTON

Corgi’s popular 1:76 scale Dennis F12 Pump Escape fire engine returns in the manufacturer's trackside range, now finished in City of Coventry yellow.

JONATHAN NEWTON
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West Hill Wagon Works 3D printed garden railway

MARK CHIVERS

West Hill Wagon Works has added a novel 4mm scale garden railway to its range of 3D printed model railway accessories and detailing.

MARK CHIVERS
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Revolution Trains IPA car carriers for OO gauge

MARK CHIVERS

Newly-arrived from Revolution Trains are these eye-catching ‘OO’ gauge IPA car carriers which are available in quad and twin set formats. Mark Chivers takes a detailed look at a covered quad set.

MARK CHIVERS
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Accurascale’s HBA, HDA and HMA hoppers

MIKE WILD

Accurascale’s collection of HAA family coal hoppers has expanded with the arrival of the HBA, HDA and HMA variants. MIKE WILD finds out what makes them stand out from the crowd.

MIKE WILD