Model Rail

Model Rail magazine is the UK's biggest-selling magazine dedicated to railway modelling. Every issue is packed with the country’s finest home and club layouts, stunning photography, unbiased and in-depth product reviews, expert tips, layout plans and step-by-step articles that really show you how. In our unique ‘Workbench’ section, we tackle a wide range of modeling skills and projects. Our expert writers and model-makers will help you to get the most from your hobby and build the layout of your dreams. Model Rail is published 13 times a year, every four weeks.

Welcome

Opening the box • The latest happenings from the world of model railways

SHOW PREVIEW: MODEL RAIL SCOTLAND

NEW FIGURE PACKS FROM MODELU

Modeller's Bookshelf • With the Model Rail Scotland show on the horizon, we present a quartet of books with a Scottish flavour.

ON THE WORKBENCH • What new items have appeared in George’s workshop this month?

EXHIBITION DIARY - FEBRUARY-APRIL 2024

…and finally

News Real

Staff Show & Tell Railfanning in The Peak District • George Dent’s sojourn in the Peak District provided plenty of inspiration, spurring him to create an unusual wagon load.

Inside track with Ben Ando

Second-hand, first-rate • Experienced modeller Nick Gurney succumbed to the lure of ‘O’ gauge, but found a way to scale down the costs substantially.

DIESEL STALWARTS • Precursor to the ubiquitous Class 08, the English Electric Class 11s and the closely related Class 12s are part of a family story stretching back almost a century. Ben Jones discovers how the early diesel shunters developed into one of the most dependable and long-lived locomotives the railways have ever seen.

Detail variations

Liveries

Southern Sisters: Class 12

Survivors

HOW TO CUSTOMISE YOUR CLASS 11 • George Dent provides an overview of Model Rail’s latest exclusive locomotive model and tries his hand at weathering a pair of industrial versions for his colliery-themed layout.

OVERVIEW Model Rail/Heljan LMS/BR Class 11 0-6-ODE

Class 12 to follow

HOW TO CREATE REALISTIC COAL LOADS • George Dent shares his tips for loading wagons and tenders with authentic loads of coal – and you can save ££s with our exclusive reader offer…

Treat your lineside bunkers too!

Exclusive reader offer

HOW TO PAINT FIGURES AND LIVESTOCK • George Dent sets about painting a range of figures and animals for various upcoming projects, sharing hints and tips for gaining the best results.

HOW TO CREATE A WOODLAND FOOTPATH • Recently, Peter Marriott’s imagination has been captured by the West Highland line, with a new Scottish-themed layout under way. Here, he recreates a footpath scene, redolent of parts of the West Highland Way.

HOW TO REPAIR A HORNBY 'WEST COUNTRY' • This is where our team of experienced modellers answer YOUR questions. Email your queries about railways – real or model – to modelrail@bauermedia.co.uk

KNOW YOUR… LIVERIES • Paul Chancellor looks at former LNER locomotives during the later days of steam, taking note of how the second style of BR emblem was applied.

HOW TO DECLUMP STATIC FIBRES

HOW TO CAN I USE TRAIN SET TRACK ON A 'PROPER' LAYOUT?

Branching out • After helping a friend to operate his layout, Chris Morris caught the railway modelling bug and decided it was time to build his own.

KMRC GWR Steam Railmotor

Factfile: GWR Diagram 'O' and 'R' steam railmotor

Hornby LNER Class W1 'Hush-Hush' 4-6-4

Factfile: LNER Gresley 'W1' 4-6-4

Hornby Class 43 HST Power Cars

Factfile: BR Class 43 HST

System builder

Dapol Freightliner HIA...