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
ORDERS OPEN FOR EXCLUSIVE CLASS 11 • The latest happenings from the world of model railways
CLASS 11 FACTFILE – JUST ANOTHER ‘GRONK'?
MODEL RAIL EXCLUSIVE CLASS 31 TAKING SHAPE
In Brief
EXCLUSIVE ‘20' PAIR UNVEILED AT MONK BAR STORE
In Brief
LIONHEART REVEALS MORE Mk 1 COACHES
In Brief
ANIMALS, SCRAPMEN AND FOOTPLATE CREW FROM MODELU
ON THE WORKBENCH • What new items have appeared in George's workshop this month?
…and finally
EXHIBITION DIARY – SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 29
News Real • Our full-size railways are constantly evolving, providing fresh inspiration for modelling projects. BEN JONES looks at a few of the latest developments that could soon be appearing on our layouts.
Staff Show & Tell Narrow or Standard? • Progress continues on George Dent's ‘Lisburn Lane' layout project, making use of short windows of spare time to lay the low-level line, and resolving a question of gauge…
RIDING THE RHEIDOL • Peter Marriott enjoyed a memorable day out in the Cambrian Mountains.
Inside track with Ben Ando • Ben Ando is the founder of Revolution Trains and a regular contributor to Model Rail.
Family Connection • The signal box takes the limelight in Nigel Locke's labour of love for a location in which he spent many happy hours as a young boy.
Workbench • 15 pages of projects, advice and top tips that show you how
HOW TO CREATE A LIFELIKE WATER TOWER • Inspired by one of last month's featured layouts, George Dent was prompted to finish enhancing a basic Hornby structure, with a debris-filled water tank providing the (murky) icing on the cake!
HOW TO RENOVATE OLD KIT-BUILT COACHES • Chris Leigh tweaks a restaurant car that he built some 40 years ago.
HOW TO SCRATCHBUILD A LOCOMOTIVE IN ‘O STEAM GAUGE PART TWO • Having fabricated a chassis for a Fowler LMS ‘Compound' 4-4-0 last month, Jim Smith turns his attention to the boiler and cab.
HOW TO MODEL TREE SURGEONS IN ACTION! • Peter Marriott creates a realistic tree, and then chops it down!
MODEL SHOWCASE BOX TUNNEL • Photographer Jack Boskett commissioned Stephen Fay to construct a lifelike diorama of a famous Brunelian structure. Here, Stephen explains how it was done.
Jack Boskett adds…
Know your stuff • This is where our team of experienced modellers answer YOUR questions. Email your queries about railways – real or model – to modelrail@bauermedia.co.uk
HOW TO GET GREAT RESULTS WITHOUT STATIC GRASS
KNOW YOUR… LIVERIES PART 23: Class 47s in the ‘large logo' era • Paul Chancellor continues his study of the Brush Type 4s, focusing on the 1980s era when BR began moving away from its drab Rail blue scheme, in favour of a bolder approach.
Notes from the Workshop DAVE LOWERY'S TOP TIPS
Blurring the boundary • Ian Skinner's fictitious ‘S&D' layout is so believable you'd be hard-pressed to tell the fantasy from reality.
Accurascale GWR ‘Manor' 4-6-0
Factfile: GWR ‘Manor' 4-6-0
System builder • Other items to complement this model…
Heljan Class 73
Factfile: BR Class 73...