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

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Model Rail essential information

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

‘73/9’ POWERS ONWARD

Incoming • Updates on exciting new ready-to-run model projects

In Brief

Show & Tell • The place to share your projects with the Model Rail community.

Letters

According to Chris... • ...It’s no coincidence that our models exhibit a particular suitability for extraordinary settings

A tribute to ‘Titfield’ • Combining a real world location with a fictional movie locale is no mean feat, but Kevin Mitchell’s homage to a movie classic has been crafted with skill and finesse.

IVATT ‘4-MT’ 2-6-0 • Richard Foster takes a look at a post-war classic that seemed to get everywhere.

CLASS 73 • Chris Gadsby looks at the popular electro-diesel that’s just started to spread its wings.

LBSCR ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T • The story of these cheeky Victorian survivors is like no other, as Richard Foster explains.

CLASS 25 • Chris Gadsby takes a closer look at the versatile Type 2 locomotive.

HAWKSWORTH ‘16XX’ 0-6-0PT • Richard Foster takes a look at a branch line warrior that’s at home in rural England, the Welsh valleys or the Scottish Higlands.

AND THE BEST OF THE REST... • There are lots of locomotives and multiple units where buying one model opens up the potential for operating it on lots of different layouts. Richard Foster shares ten of the best.

Skills Station

Workbench • 10 pages of projects, advice and top tips that show you how

HOW TO BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL BRANCH LINE • Prompted by the imminent arrival of Model Rail’s ‘16XX’, Chris Leigh shows you how he went about researching and building an industrial branch line layout.

HOW TO CREATE A SANDITE RAILCAR • Designed to apply grippy surface treatment to leaf-prone railheads, Chris Leigh slips into autumnal mode to convert an unusual railcar from Dapol’s Class 121.

What's special about 55021?

Reviews • In-depth and unbiased reviews of the latest products

Bachmann ‘2‑HAP’ EMU

Dapol prototype HST

Cavalex BBA steel carrier

Murphy Models 121 Class

Graham Farish HKA bogie hoppers

Bachmann Branchline Class 159

Peco FR ‘Small Birminghams’

Mini Test • Every month, we test five modelling products to help you make the most informed choices

Expert tips

CONTACT US

Present your case • If there’s a locomotive that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion…

Behind the Backscene • Model Rail fires the question at master modeller Pelle Søeborg, creator of some of the most realistic miniature US railroads ever.