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

Meet the team behind the UK’s best modelling magazine

Model Rail essential information

EXCITING RELEASES IN HORNBY’S 2022 LINE-UP • The latest happenings from the world of model railways

MAKE A START WITH SHAPER SHEET KIT

Modeller’s Bookshelf • An exhaustive history of two of BR’s less-fêted diesels and a guide to a vital, if unheralded, railway route have kept our editor occupied this month, along with an intriguing weathering guide.

ON THE WORKBENCH • George Dent looks at the new products to land on his workbench this month

EXHIBITION DIARY – JANUARY – MARCH 2022

…and finally • Unusual scenes captured by the lens of Chris Nevard…

Staff Show & Tell A tale of two bridges • Although track laying is taking longer than planned, George Dent has at least finished the two bridges for ‘Lisburn Lane’…

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

Inside track with Ben Ando

According to Chris...

Bigger challenges smaller scale • Railway modelling had changed a lot since Chris Sykes was a teenager. Now he’s discovered that life begins at 1:148.

Workbench • 23 pages of projects, advice and top tips that show you how

HOW TO CREATE A SCRAPYARD SCENE • While taking a break from building layouts, Paul Gosden created a fascinating scrapyard diorama. Meanwhile, weathering supremo George Dent shares a range of practical tips for creating your own scrapyard scenes.

DISTRESSING TALES

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN MOVING VEHICLES SYSTEM • Motion is one of the key elements of model railways, but it’s often just our trains that move. Graham Goodchlld offers a means of creating a cheap and effective system for animating your road vehicles.

HOW TO BUILD A SNOWPLOUGH TRUCK • Peter Marriott feels the chill of winter as he modifies a plastic kit of a Mercedes-Benz Unimog, creating an eye-catching addition to a snow scene.

HOW TO POPULATE A DAPOL RAILCAR • Never a fan of ‘ghost trains’, Chris Leigh puts a driver and passengers into the Dapol ‘O’ gauge Class 122 railcar.

HOW TO BUILD A RUN-DOWN ‘BOTHY’ • Inspired by the numerous abandoned structures close to his home, George Dent modified a laser-cut kit to portray a small rural outbuilding in a semi-derelict condition.

HOW TO CUSTOMISE ISO CONTAINERS

KNOW YOUR… LIVERIES PART 5: Class 58 • Paul Chancellor examines the various colour schemes worn by British Rail’s penultimate freight locomotive design, the Class 58.

DAVE LOWERY’S TOP TIPS

HOW TO ALIGN RUB-DOWN DECALS

Perfect pitch • Returning to the hobby after 30 years, Andrew Thomas set himself the lofty goal of including a football stadium in a layout that could be switched to portray a preserved railway.

COVER STORY • Covered trainsheds offer something a little different to a station. Paul A. Lunn shows how suitable structures can be created by adapting existing models.

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

Bachmann Class 20/0

Irish Railway Models Tara Mines ore wagons

Irish Railway Models gypsum...