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.

MODEL RAIL

Welcome

Life’s better with Model Rail

Model Rail essential information

News • The latest happenings from the world of model railways

STOP PRESS

In brief

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

CHRISTMAS STOCKING FILLERS • Looking for that elusive gift for someone, or do you have a few gaps on your own wishlist? Let the Model Rail team provide you with some inspiration!

According to Chris... • …it might be just a circle of track around a Christmas tree, but Chris still needs inspiration.

Modelling with gas • Memories of a school trip prompted David Vaughan to create this unique, scratchbuilt layout depicting an inner-city gasworks.

What makes this layout great?

Workbench • 25 pages of projects, advice and top tips that show you how

HOW TO BUILD A LAYOUT AT CHRISTMAS • Yuletide allows you plenty of time to spend with family, so Chris Gadsby demonstrates how to have fun building a layout with your children during this seasonal holiday period.

HOW TO MAKE A SNOW SCENE • A sprinkling of snow - expertly done - on a winter layout looks magical. Peter Marriott shares his top tips on mastering the white stuff, plus his pick of products.

Creating the ideal snow scene

Top 5 snow products

HOW TO RECREATE CHRISTMAS MOVIE MAGIC • He’s seen them in all his favourite Hollywood movies, but now Chris Leigh builds a Christmas tree layout for himself - and his grandchildren - in just five days.

Wise after the event

HOW TO BUILD A SLICE OF OLD LONDON • Paul A. Lunn evokes the capital’s golden era of steam with this ‘OO’ gauge plan for the narrow milk yard nestled between King’s Cross and St Pancras sheds.

Easily delivering the goods • With a focus on simplicity of build and operation, Stephen Dance has completed a shunting yard with a real sense of city centre bustle.

3 things we like

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BASEBOARDS

CASSETTES

FIDDLEYARDS

A RADICAL departure • Has history judged Hawksworth’s GWR 4-6-0 ‘County’ class too harshly? Richard Foster explores the post-war locomotive’s traditional yet revolutionary approach.

HOW TO BUILD A GWR ‘COU NTY’ CLASS • Dave Lowery uses a detailing kit to show how you can model a ‘County’ in the period of your choice.

LOCHS, STOCK and oil barrels • Peter Marriott scouted out this little-known oil terminal siding with huge modelling potential.

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

Bachmann ‘1P’ 0-4-4T

Performance

Factfile: Johnson ‘1532’ 0-4-4T

System builder • Other items to complement this model…

Bachmann HKA Hopper

REVOLUTION TRAINS KUA NUCLEAR FLASK CARRIER

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…

Model Rail

Behind the Backscene • Model Rail fires the questions at tech guru and occasional ‘baby designer’ David Palmer.