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

MODEL RAIL

Life’s better with Model Rail

Model Rail essential information

The Big Picture • The latest happenings from the world of model railways

RAPIDO’S THUNDERBOLT

Stop Press

DAPOL WAGON UPDATE

In Brief

SECOND RUN FOR ‘MOGUL’

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

Modelling Lives • Tales from the model-making community.

According to Chris… • ...a rummage through the back of your cupboard can show you just how far the model railway industry has come in the last 50 years.

Full function at the junction • Alistair Clarke wanted to focus on operations so, with the help of his friends and a fascination for railways, he struck the right balance.

‘PEAK’ pioneers • BR’s Pilot Scheme of diesel locomotives provided a mixed bag of results. One of the first Type C (later Type 4) designs to emerge was the batch of ten BR/Sulzer locomotives that would eventually become the Class 44s. Pip Dunn looks at their history and operations.

HOW TO MODEL A UNIQUE ‘PEAK’ • George Dent unleashes a razor saw upon a pair of Bachmann models, to recreate the singular 44009.

Workbench • 26 pages of projects, advice and top tips that show you how

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN LOCOMOTIVE DETAILING PARTS • Thrifty George Dent loves nothing more than to repurpose scrap materials and offcuts to create useful detailing components.

HOW TO BUILD A TRACTOR SHUNTER • Chris Nevard whiled away a Sunday afternoon by creating a useful yard shunter – a seldom-modelled feature of railway yards and depots from the post-war era to the modern day.

HOW TO BUILD A CARDBOARD BASEBOARD • Philip John Pugh demonstrates a portable and lightweight composite model railway baseboard.

HOW TO MODEL A HUMP YARD IN MINIMUM SPACE • Covid-19 has certainly given Andy Rawlins the hump, and he has used the extra free time to start a micro ‘O’ gauge layout, based on Sheffield’s Tinsley Yard.

HOW TO MAKE A TREE FOR LESS THAN 10p • Peter Marriott describes a novel way of making good-looking trees on a very tight budget.

HOW TO AUTOMATE A LEVEL CROSSING • Graham Goodchild demonstrates that a simple home-made device can bring operational interest to your layout – and provide a fun hobby project.

HOW TO PAINT EDWARDIAN FIGURES • Peter Marriott prepares to liven up his four and six-wheel coaches with some suitable figures in period attire.

Tools to make it easier

Urban regeneration • Buying a second-hand layout gave father and son duo Keith and Aaron Smith a headstart on creating an exhibition-standard layout; But they soon discovered that they’d bought a bit of a doer-upper...

Know your stuff • All your technique and modelling questions answered by our team of know-it-alls. E-mail your queries about railways – real or model – to modelrailkys@bauermedia.co.uk

Back to the BEGINNING • Micro master Paul A. Lunn sets out to build a layout that’s small but perfectly formed.

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

Heljan Class 25/3

Heljan Class17 'Clayton'

Accurascale JSA steel carrier...