Reviews

Featuring
Thumbnail

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.

Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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
Review Premium

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.

Review Premium

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.

Review Premium

Orange AEC 690 dumper truck

New to Oxford Diecast’s growing range of 1:76 scale construction vehicles is this AEC dumper truck.

Review Premium

Eye-catching Frogeye Sprite

Oxford Diecast’s new release of the classic Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite provides a welcome 1:76 scale model of the 1960s sports car design.

Review Premium

Oxford Invacar

OXFORD DIECAST has added a characterful new model of the AC Invacar to its everexpanding collection of 1:76 scale road vehicles which are suitable for ‘OO’ gauge model railways.

Review Premium

Glacier white TT coupe

Newly tooled from Oxford Diecast is the striking glacier white variant of the Audi TT Coupe in 1:76 scale.

Review Premium

New generation Stobart Scania

A household name for logistics, Eddie Stobart’s distinctive branding appears on the latest 1:76 scale lorry release from Oxford Diecast, depicting a Scania R Cab and trailer.

Review Premium

VIDEO: KIROW CRANE

Advancement of Digital Command Control technology has led to a great deal of innovation in the hobby. MARK CHIVERS looks at one such model that embraces this ethos and showcases just what is possible – a fully working ‘HO’ scale rail mounted crane.

Review Premium

Accurascale introduces new PFA nuclear fleet

Mike Wild.

The 1986 introduced PFA four-wheel container flats took on a new lease of life of nuclear waste traffic in the 2000s. MIKE WILD gets to grips with the latest container options for these superbly detailed flats.

Mike Wild.
Review Premium

Hornby updates its ‘Grid’

Mike Wild.

The Class 56 has had a small refresh for its latest outing in the Hornby range. MIKE WILD checks out the new arrival in the shape of BR blue 56047.

Mike Wild.
Review Premium

FIRST REVIEW: Heljan all-new Class 45 debuts

Mike Wild.

The latest ‘OO’ gauge arrival from Heljan is its Class 45 1Co-Co1 diesel-electric. MIKE WILD finds out what is in store with this new release.

Mike Wild.
Review Premium

ALL-NEW HORNBY BR MK 4s

The arrival of the Class 91 AC electrics from Hornby has been joined by brand-new models of the matching Mk 4 carriages for ‘OO’ gauge. MIKE WILD inspects the first releases.

Review Premium

Snailbeach hoppers for ‘OO9’

NEW TO THE PECO collection of readyto-run ‘OO9’ narrow gauge wagons are these models of the Snailbeach District Railways four-wheel hoppers.

Review Premium

Accurascale’s pioneering Chaldron coal wagons for ‘OO’

Mike Wild.

The rise in demand for coal in the 18th century saw introduction one of the first standardised wagon designs: the Chaldron. Accurascale has added these characterful and long-lasting wagons to its ‘OO’ gauge range – MIKE WILD takes a closer look.

Mike Wild.
Review Premium

FIRST REVIEW: Bachmann Bulleid carriages for ‘OO’

Graham Muspratt.

A new range of Southern Railway Bulleid coaches is now available in ‘OO’ gauge. GRAHAM MUSPRATT runs the rule over these latest arrivals.

Graham Muspratt.
Review Premium

VIDEO: All-new BR '9F' from Hornby

In the 50th anniversary of Hornby Railways, an all-new version of the powerful BR '9F' 2-10-0 freight locomotives has been created. MIKE WILD finds out what is in store with extra online only images and video.