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.
Dapol impresses with NBL Type 2
The 12in:1ft North British built Class 21s might have been an unmitigated disaster, but in model form these characterful Type 2s have been hotly anticipated from Dapol. MIKE WILD inspects this brand-new ‘OO’ gauge diesel.
Heljan's all-new 'O' gauge 'Crompton'
The BRCW Class 33s celebrate 60 years since their introduction on the Southern Region this year and Heljan has delivered a brand-new version for ‘O’ gauge. MIKE WILD reviews one of the 11 versions which landed at the end of January.
Hornby LSWR and LMS brake vans
Hornby has expanded its brake van collection with the release of its promised all-new ‘OO’ gauge models of the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) ‘New Vans’ and the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) 20ton vans.
Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge Class 03
Diesel shunters suit layouts large and small and across multiple eras too. MIKE WILD takes a close look at Heljan’s new model of the BR Class 03 for ‘O’ gauge to assess its detail and performance.
Hornby hybrid EMU
New from Hornby in February is this hybrid 2-HAL/2-BIL Electric Multiple Unit for 'OO' gauge, modelling one of the formations created on the Southern Region in the late 1950s.
Army 802 Ruston 48DS
Hornby’s diminutive ‘OO’ gauge Ruston and Hornsby 48DS diesel shunter gains Army colours for its latest release as Army 802.
Mallard speeds in blue
Hornby’s popular ‘OO’ gauge Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2 60022 Mallard returns to the range sporting BR express passenger blue with early crests.
Realtrack cements its position
NOW AVAILABLE FROM Realtrack Models is its first own-brand ready-to-run ‘N’ gauge wagon in the form of the long-lived PCA bulk cement wagons, following hard on the heels of the KQA/KTA pocket wagons from sister company C=Rail Intermodal.
Modal shift for Revolution
For fans of intermodal trains over the past 30 years, ‘N’ gauge now offers plethora of opportunities to model these lengthy workings with the majority of required wagon types either available or on the way.
New Class 27s arrive from Heljan
Heljan has delivered a new batch of ‘OO’ gauge Class 27s offering a third variation on the popular Scottish Region Type 2 as well as a new list of identities on the sought after BR blue colour scheme.
More ‘OO’ Garratts from Heljan
The LMS Beyer, Garratt is a leviathan of freight haulage. These huge twin engine, single boiler steam locomotives were introduced in 1927 to reduce the London, Midland & Scottish Railway’s (LMS) reliance on double heading on its long distance coal trains.
Flangeway snowploughs return
Six new versions of the BR Independent Snowplough have been released by Flangeway for ‘OO’ gauge.
Belmond Pullman Class 67
Hornby’s high fidelity ‘OO’ gauge Class 67 makes a colourful appearance as 67024 in Belmond British Pullman livery.
Heljan launches ‘O’ gauge Class 50
The fleet of 50 English Electric Class 50s attracted a cult following in their final years of service and have always been popular as ready-to-run models. Heljan has delivered the first ‘O’ gauge version of the sought-after diesel-electric – MIKE WILD takes a closer look.
Carillion colours for road-rail Land Rover
Carillion branding is amongst the latest liveries to be applied to the Oxford Rail road-rail Land Rover Defender for ‘OO’ gauge.
Hatton’s all-new ‘66s’ roll in!
The EMD Class 66 is now the most common diesel locomotive on freight traffic in the UK and Hatton’s has gone to great lengths to develop a brand-new ‘OO’ gauge ready-to-run model of the popular prototype. MIKE WILD gets up close and personal with two versions.
Weathered finish for RailRoad Crosti
Hornby's popular RailRoad collection model of the BR Crosti-boilered ‘9F’ 2-10-0 is back, and this time it has been released with a heavily weathered finish. The Crosti ‘9Fs’ were introduced in 1955.
Locoman Sounds releases D&H ‘Black Five' decoder
THE UK supplier for Doehler & Haass (D&H) digital sound decoders has produced a new sound file for the Stanier ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0. Read our full review here and watch the video too.
Dapol’s delightful Sentinel 4wVBT
The quirky Sentinel four-wheel vertical boiler tank engines are the subject of Dapol’s latest ‘O’ gauge locomotive. MIKE WILD inspects this compact shunting engine which is a perfect starter model for the scale.
Train-Tech SC4 semaphore signal controller
Train-Tech has introduced a new version of its semaphore signal accessory decoder to suit the new Dapol servo-operated semaphore signals.
West Riding Steam book review
This 128-page hardback book looks back at the final years of steam in the West Riding.
BR purple for Hornby Gresley ‘A4’
British Railways' early experimental liveries make a great subject for a model and Hornby has reproduced one of its more eye-catching schemes on its ‘OO’ gauge Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2 modelling 60028 Walter K Whigham.
’OO’ GAUGE Caledonian teal for Class 92
Hornby has delivered a new batch of Class 92 dual-voltage Co-Co electrics for ‘OO’ gauge modelling three of the latest colour schemes to adorn these 1990s built locomotives.
Cyber clean your models
New to the Busch range of scenic products is this cleaning product. Cyber Clean is designed to be a simple to use cleaning product suitable for removing dust and dirt from models, buildings, scenery and more.
Bachmann delivers 45ton steam crane
For the first time since 1982, ‘OO’ gauge has a brand new large steam crane with the arrival of Bachmann’s high specification model of the 45ton Ransomes and Rapier crane. MIKE WILD inspects this new arrival and learns what it can do.
Scale Model Scenery culverts
Scale Model Scenery’s range of laser-cut card kits includes these useful 4mm scale culverts.
Lifcolor BR-period acrylic paints
Modellers will argue till the cows come home about the exact shade of paint used by railway companies. If you don’t have the time or patience to mix your own, these new sets by Lifecolor will more than satisfy most people.
International miniature food festival
A series of four food catering trailers have been released for the Lima/Jouef and Arnold N brands owned by Hornby.
Huntley and Palmers Peckett train pack
Hornby's eagerly-awaited limited edition ‘OO’ Huntley and Palmers locomotive and wagons pack arrived in the shops in December 2019. We take a closer look at this new addition to the Hornby Peckett 'W4' line up.
Dapol releases new SIGNALS, BIG AND SMALL
Working semaphores are tricky to make in any scale, but happily Dapol has completed development of its new bracket signals for ‘OO’ gauge as well as the first of its ‘O’ gauge ready-made signals.