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.

Westhill Wagon Works Solder Mate Review Premium

3D Solder Mate

West Hill Wagon Works has added a selection of useful modelling aids to its range of 3D-printed accessories and scenic detailing.

Westhill Wagon Works back-to-back gauge Review Premium

3D-printed back-to-back gauge

West Hill Wagon Works’ range of modelling aids includes these useful 3D-printed ‘OO’ gauge back-to-back wheel gauges.

Bachmann Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0T Review Premium

FAIRLIE SURPRISE

The secret is out and the first of Bachmann’s new ‘OO9’ Double Fairlie locomotives will be in the shops this winter. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at this exciting new narrow gauge steam engine with a full review including video of the model in action.

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OO Works LSWR ‘A12’ 0-4-2

The London and South Western Railway’s characterful ‘A12’ 0-4-2 is the latest locomotive to be offered by specialist manufacturer OO Works. MIKE WILD reviews this new arrival.

Heljan Class 40 for O gauge Review Freemium

Revamped ‘Whistler’ for ‘O’

The Class 40 is one of the largest and heaviest diesel locomotives to operate on the British railway network and it is back for a second outing with new body tooling for ‘O’ gauge with Heljan. MIKE WILD checks out this recent new release.

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CDC 3D printed ‘R1’ bodies

CDC Design has introduced a new 3D printed body for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway ‘R1’ 0-6-0T.

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Hornby's Colas Rail Freight Class 67

Hornby's ‘OO’ gauge Class 67 gains Colas Rail Freight’s brightly-coloured orange, yellow and black colour scheme for its latest outing as 67027 Charlotte.

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Hornby's LNER 'Toad' brake van for OO gauge

Hornby began a developing a new series of brake vans in its 2017 range with the Great Western Railway ‘Toad’ four-wheel van and its promised 2018 range model of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) ‘Toad’ vans has now arrived.

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Hornby streamlined ‘Princess Coronation’ for ‘OO’

Hornby has completed its new range of Stanier ‘Princess Coronation’ 4-6-2s with the arrival of the stunning streamlined version. Mike Wild takes a closer look at this icon of the 1930s races to the north.

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TRAINSPORTER STORAGE SOLUTIONS

If you are looking for a durable container to store or transport locomotives and rolling stock to/from exhibitions, Trainsporters’ collection of stock boxes for ‘OO’ and ‘O’ may have the solution.

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DCC Concepts servicing cradles

DCC Concepts’ new range of servicing cradles are designed with the ‘OO’ gauge modeller in mind. The range comprises hard foam cradles 240mm, 340mm, 440mm and 540mm long.

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Deltics at King’s Cross jigsaw

If you are looking for a gift that will last beyond Christmas, then this 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle from James Green featuring iconic motive power from the East Coast Main Line (ECML) may just be the answer.

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WCML Locomotive Haulage

This latest book from Key Publishing looks in some depth at locomotive hauled trains on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

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Modelling BR Parcels and Mail Trains

New from Key Publishing is this latest volume in the Modeller’s Guide series, detailing how to model British Rail parcels and mail trains.

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Bahamas Locomotive Society Vintage Steam Calendar

The Bahamas Locomotive Society has released its annual Vintage Steam Calendar in support of the continued operation of Stanier ‘Jubilee’ 45596 Bahamas and the group’s other heritage locomotives and rolling stock.

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Welshpool and Llanfair Christmas card 2021

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway is helping to celebrate Christmas with a railway theme and the release of a brand new Christmas card for 2021 featuring the work of railway artist Jonathan Clay and one of its famous locomotives.

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STEAM 2022 Calendar

As attention turns to a new year, this colourful 2022 calendar from STEAM - the Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon should keep you on track with a Great Western Railway theme.

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Return of the ‘Clan’

Hornby’s BR ‘Clan’ 4-6-2 has been out of production for almost 10 years, but now it is back. MIKE WILD reviews one of two new arrivals for this autumn.

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RAILS GAS TURBINE PIONEER

The British gas turbine locomotives have proved popular subjects in recent years. MIKE WILD inspects Rails of Sheffield’s latest exclusive ‘OO’ gauge model of Swiss built 18000 – Britain’s first gas turbine railway locomotive.

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Coil A steel wagons

Accurascale’s new 21ft 6in wagon chassis has been put to good use with the arrival of the first ready-to-run model of the Coil A steel wagons. MIKE WILD reviews this new release and explains what they are.

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Accurascale 21ton minerals

The latest coal wagons to arrive in Accurascale’s ‘Powering Britain’ collection are these richly detailed BR 21ton mineral wagons. MIKE WILD takes a closer look.

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Locomotion Models ‘Improved Precedent’

The National Collection in Miniature just got bigger with the arrival of the exclusive Bachmann-made model of LNWR ‘Improved Precedent’ 2-4-0 790 Hardwicke. MIKE WILD runs the rule over this historic steam locomotive.

HM174 Bachmann Class 47 for OO gauge Review Freemium

Bachmann’s all-new Class 47 for 'OO'

Following Bachmann’s surprise announcement in early August (HM172) that it had been working on an all-new ‘OO’ gauge BR Class 47 diesel, the wait is over and the first of the newly-tooled models are here. MARK CHIVERS looks over this latest generation model of the class for ‘OO’.

HM174 Heljan O gauge Class 47 Review Premium

Heljan's all-new Brush Type 4 for 'O'

The Class 47 is a hot topic for new releases this month with Heljan set to deliver its all-new multi-era model of the Brush Type 4 in November. MIKE WILD gets up close and personal with this new arrival for ‘O’ gauge.

HM174 Rapido Trains buses Review Premium

Rapido Train UK Fleetline and Guy Arab buses

Rapido Trains UK has released a brand-new model of the Birmingham based Fleetline as well as a new batch of its popular ‘New Look’ Guy Arab half-cabs for ‘OO’ gauge. MIKE WILD unleashes his bus knowledge on these new arrivals.

HM174 Hornby Class 66 66709 Review Premium

Hornby's MSC ‘66’

Hornby has released a new batch of colourful Class 66s for ‘OO’ gauge using its long-standing ex-Lima tooling including a selection of uniquely coloured GB Railfreight locomotives plus DB Cargo, Bardon Aggregates and Colas Rail Freight ‘Sheds’.

HM174 Hornby BR Mk 1 BCK Review Premium

More BR Mk 1 BCKs from Hornby

Hornby’s ever-expanding ‘OO’ gauge BR Mk 1 range receives a boost with the arrival of this latest pair of BR Mk 1 Corridor Brake Composites (BCKs) which follow on from the first pair reviewed in HM171.

HM174 Westhill Wagon Works scrap Class 45 'Peak' cabs Review Premium

Accessory review: Westhill 3D printed scrap cabs

West Hill Wagon Works’ growing range of 3D printed detailing parts and accessories is bolstered with a series of redundant diesel locomotive parts. Our review samples included two packs containing detailed scrap BR ‘Peak’ cabs and a pack of scrap BR Class 08/09/13 radiator housings

HM174: Westhill seat pods Review Premium

Acccessory review: Westhill 3D printed seat pods

New from West Hill Wagon Works are these distinctive 4mm scale 3D-printed British Rail circular station seat pods which are reminiscent of the type of stark bright red seating units installed at some stations in the 1970s and 1980s

HM174: Masterpiece crew figures Review Premium

Accessory review: Footplate Masterpieces

Master Piece has added a selection of new 4mm scale footplate crew for Dapol’s ‘OO’ gauge Great Western Railway (GWR) ‘Mogul’ and the recently-released Dapol/Locomotion Models/Rails of Sheffield ‘OO’ gauge South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) ‘D’ 4-4-0.