Model Railways

Issue Cover

Featuring Hornby Magazine 

Read the full Hornby Magazine issue in PDF format or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure. 

Read latest Issue

Latest news and features from model railway on Key Model World

New ‘Warwells’ gain colour

Decorated samples of Hattons’ Originals’ third production run of ‘OO’ gauge 50ton ‘Warwell’ military flat wagons have arrived for evaluation.

Dapol ‘O’ gauge GWR ‘Toad’ in colour

Dapol has received decorated samples of its all-new ‘O’ gauge Great Western Railway (GWR) 20ton ‘Toad’ brake vans for scrutiny.

Feature Premium

The Great Wakering Crab and Oyster Company

A long-lost railway with operational restrictions provided all the incentive TREVOR JONES needed to create a new branch line train hauled by a 3D printed SER ‘R1’ 0-6-0T. Trevor explains all.

Review Premium

End of platform steps

West Hill Wagon Works has released a pair of 4mm scale Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) end of platform steps to complement its new collection of contemporary platforms and platform furniture.

Famous Trains welcomes 60,000th visitor

Famous Trains, the permanent model railway attraction located in Markeaton Park, Derby, welcomed its 60,000th visitor in early September.

White Meadow Quarry in 'N' gauge. Feature Premium

White Meadow Quarry 'N' gauge layout

Childhood memories from the Croydon area inspired RAY TAYLOR and ANNA BASS to build White Meadow Quarry. This busy 'N' gauge layout combines main line and industrial railways in an unusual setting. Discover its story in word, pictures and video.

Review Premium

Hornby’s Class 08 shunts into TT:120

The humble Class 08 0-6-0 diesel shunter is now available for ‘TT:120’ scale from Hornby. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at this compact new arrival for the scale.

Feature Premium

Private and Industrial Railways

Thanks to the recent introduction of several new models of industrial prototypes, interest in non-main line railways has boomed over the last couple of years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES examines the world of private railways and explains how they can inspire future modelling projects.

Click here for all the latest model railway news. Click here for the latest model railway features.

Click here for the latest model railway layout features.


 

Latest model railway videos

VIDEO: Oxford Rail 'N7' 0-6-2T with Zimo sound

In the HM151 we showed how to install digital sound in Oxford Rail's 'OO' gauge 'N7' 0-6-2T using a Zimo MX648R decoder and a sugar cube speaker. Watch the finished model in action here.

VIDEO: KR Models GT3 first sample

KR Models has received the first engineering sample of its 'OO' gauge model of unique English Electric gas turbine prototype GT3. Watch it on our test track here.

VIDEO: Bachmann 45ton steam crane for 'OO' gauge

Bachmann's all-new 'OO' gauge Ransome & Rapier 45ton steam crane is reviewed in full in the January 2020 issue of Hornby Magazine. Watch our video with Editor Mike Wild here.

VIDEO: Cavalex Models PGA wagons on Topley Dale

Cavalex Models loaned Hornby Magazine a rake of its latest batch of 'OO' gauge PGA stone hoppers to run on Topley Dale. We put them behind Hornby Class 60 60062 for a running session.

Feature Premium

VIDEO: Brinklow layout feature video

Join us as we show this fabulous West Coast Main Line 'N' gauge layout in action and meet one of the builders to explain its story. Read the full feature in HM151.

VIDEO: Hornby Ruston 48DS for 'OO' gauge

Hornby's delightful and tiny Ruston 48DS diesel shunter is reviewed in full in HM150. Watch it in action on our test track here in this video feature.

VIDEO: Hornby Magazine previews Hatton's 'O' gauge Class 50s

Hatton's is due to take delivery of two exclusive versions of Heljan's new 'O' gauge model of the Class 50 in December. Modelling 50008 Thunderer in Laira blue and 50015 Valiant in 'Dutch' grey and yellow, Richard Watson caught them in action during the recent Modern Image O Gauge event (MIOG) in November and put them through their paces.

VIDEO: Cheltenham 'OO' gauge exclusive 'Westerns'

Cheltenham Model Centre has taken delivery of a trio of exclusive Dapol 'OO' gauge Class 52 'Westerns'. Watch them in action on the Hornby Magazine test track in this KeyModelWorld video.

Click here to watch our full collection of model railway videos.


 

Latest model railway reviews

Review Premium

Door to door with DAPOL CONFLAT

NEW FROM DAPOL in its expanding collection of ‘O’ gauge BR 10ft chassis goods wagons is the Conflat-A container wagon. The first batch arrived in early July and the model is being offered with a choice of GWR and BR era liveries with and without BD containers as their loads.

Review Premium

Bachmann steel bodied BOGIE THIRD COACH

NEW to Bachmann’s ‘OO9’ narrow gauge collection is this steel bodied bogie third coach.

Review Premium

DMG Decoder Tester

With the popularity of Digital Command Control (DCC) continuing to rise, DMG Electech has added two new DCC decoder testers to its growing range of electronic accessories.

Review Premium

Peter’s Useful Spares

Peter’s Spares has expanded its extensive range of model railway spare parts with a collection of new ‘OO’ gauge replacements for Bachmann, Hornby and Lima products.

Review Premium

Scenery glue

New to the Geoscenics range is this specially formulated ballast and scenery glue.

Review Premium

Master Piece ‘O’ gauge figures

Following Heljan’s recently released ‘O’ gauge GWR diesel railcar (HM166), Master Piece Figures has forwarded a selection of suitable 7mm scale cast metal passengers from its extensive range for populating the vehicle.

Review Premium

Mini Sanding Sticks

Albion Alloys’ range of modelling tools and supplies includes this useful pack of mini sanding sticks.

Review Premium

Avanti West Coast Pendolino

Hornby's ‘OO’ gauge Class 390 Pendolino makes a welcome return following an extended break from the range.

Click here to read our full collection of model railway product reviews.