Model Railway Features
Resignalling Twelve Trees
Hornby Magazine’s popular exhibition layout is in need of an upgrade to its signalling for future appearances. SIMON PALEY reveals how it could be resignalled with working colour lights to reflect prototype practice from the 1960s.
Transition in the Northern Fells
Amidst the magnificent backdrop of the Lakeland Fells, the West Coast Main Line has seen a great variety of passenger and freight traffic through the years. MARK CHIVERS presents a selection of typical BR steam-era train formations from the area.
Digikeijs digital lighting
With Hornby’s centenary celebrations in full swing, MARK CHIVERS looks to its growing range of BR Mk 1 carriages as he opts to install fully controllable digital lighting, with impressive results.
The 'A4s’ Scottish fling
The dieselisation programme of the 1950s should have meant a swift end for Gresley’s streamlined ‘A4s’, but some enjoyed a memorable swansong, with duties far removed from those with which they were traditionally associated, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES found out.
Building your first locomotive kit
Hardy’s Hobbies has created a range of 3D printed locomotive body kits which are ideal for beginners looking to cut their teeth on extra motive power. MIKE WILD goes through the process using a readily available chassis to power this slope-tanked Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T.
Sliding doors
The Mk 3 carriage was one of the greatest designs ever produced for the railways of Britain and, although now almost 50 years old, it is heading for a new lease of life, thanks to the fitting of up-to-date features such as swing-plug and sliding doors. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES examines the latest developments.
Building a Routemex signal in 'O'
A new range of two, three and four-aspect colour light signal kits has been introduced by Routemex for 'O' gauge. MIKE WILD explores how they are built.
One step beyond
To continue our celebration of Hornby’s 100th anniversary, TIM SHACKLETON looks to push detail further using quality aftermarket components and simple, easy-to-learn skills. Here he shows what you can do with a Hornby ‘8F’ and ‘Patriot’ to improve these under-rated Hornby ‘OO’ gauge locomotives.
Spring meadows
Spring meadows small sections of meadow are a great way to cover bare baseboards. For this demonstration, a small corner of meadow is created. ANTHONY REEVES explains how.
60 years of the Class 33s
Ranging far beyond their Southern Region home, the Class 33s were highly versatile machines and 2020 marks six decades since their introduction. MARK CHIVERS looks at their varied duties and shows how to model them in ‘OO’ gauge.
LMS ‘8F’ 2-8-0 class history
One of the most numerous and effective classes of locomotive ever built was Stanier’s heavy freight ‘8F’ 2-8-0 – which varied careers at home and abroad, EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
Brush painting basics
You don’t have to possess expensive equipment to get a quality paint finish. MIKE WILD shows how simple brush painting and finishing techniques can be used to paint and detail freight stock in all scales.
Heljan Class 50 sound installation guide
The Class 50s had a distinctive and impressive soundtrack which can be replicated in model form with high-quality digital sound files. MIKE WILD picks the Heljan ‘O’ gauge Class 50 to show how this main line diesel can be equipped with realistic sound.
All change at Heaton Lodge
The subject of one of this issue’s layouts, Heaton Lodge in the Calder Valley has had numerous alterations over the years, mirroring the changing fortunes of the surrounding area, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
Staff Projects: ‘Ere, STOP messin’ about!
With time on his hands and a stash of unfinished kits to complete, a small but significant building has reignited plans for a new layout, as MARK CHIVERS explains.
VIDEO: Heljan Class 50 with ZIMO sound
In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine we show how to install digital sound in the Heljan 'O' gauge Class 50. Join us in this video to see the finished model in action on Seven Mill Depot and our garden layout.
NIGHT MAIL
The dark mysterious world of cross-country postal traffic is something that’s rarely modelled. TIM SHACKLETON explores the possibilities.
On the road again
Train Truckers meets Scrapheap Challenge as TIM SHACKLETON improvises a rail/road convoy out of a pile of cast-offs.
Building your first ‘O’ gauge wagon
The recent wave of new ‘O’ gauge locomotives has prompted new interest in 7mm scale modelling, but how do you start expanding your wagon fleet? MIKE WILD has the answer in Parkside Models’ simple to assemble kits.
Spring garden
With the huge range of off-the-shelf scenic products, HORNBY MAGAZINE sets out to show just how simple it can be to create an attractive miniature garden to enhance the background of a railway scene.
‘Hymek’ Hydraulics
Lauded by many as one of the best looking of all the first-generation diesel classes, the Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ nevertheless had short working lives, with the last withdrawn almost half a century ago. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains the story of this distinctive hydraulic design.
Heljan’s dock shunter
The Ruston and Hornsby Class 07 shunter is full of character which can be enhanced further with sound. PAUL CHETTER shows how to bring this superb Heljan model truly to life.
Immingham Docks
Although railway companies were primarily concerned with the transport of goods and passengers their influence spread to many other areas, one of which was the creation of new docks and harbours. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES takes a look at how the Great Central Railway created one of the most impressive of these, at Immingham in north east Lincolnshire.
Parcels Plan
A quiet weekend and the right mindset were the perfect combination to get an Ian Kirk ‘O’ gauge Stanier parcels van kit off the ground. MIKE WILD explains all.
Heljan 'O' gauge 'Hymek' sound
In this exclusive online feature, MIKE WILD shows how a ZIMO digital sound decoder was installed into the latest version of Heljan's 'O' gauge 'Hymek' diesel-hydraulic.
VIDEO: Heljan Class 07 with sound
In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine Paul Chetter shows how to install digital sound in Heljan's compact 'OO' gauge model of the Class 07. In this video we showcase the finished model running on Topley Dale. See HM155 or sign up to KeyModelWorld to read the full sound installation guide.
Miniature garden construction
In the latest issue of Hornby Magazine, HM155 - May 2020, we illustrate how you can build a garden scene in 'OO' scale using readily available products. Here we present a full step by step guide together with a timelapse video of the diorama's construction.
60 years of Evenıng Star
Sixty years ago this month a name was attached to the last steam engine to be built for British Railways. That name was Evening Star, and the locomotive on which it was mounted was to become one of the most famous in UK railway history, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES recalls.
Stanier’s ‘Princess Royal’
Eclipsed in reputation by later and more famous designs, the ‘Princess Royal’ class ‘Pacifics’ of the LMS were nevertheless a radical step forward for that company. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains how the class started a golden era of West Coast steam.
Evening Star digital sound
The BR ‘9F’ 2-10-0s were one of the most impressive of the Riddles Standard designs and the last was built in March 1960 - 92220 Evening Star. MIKE WILD looks to the Bachmann model and shows how a twin speaker setup can be added together with stay alive and firebox flicker.