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
Opening the box • The latest happenings from the world of model railways
HORNBY’S PULLING OUT THE STOPS FOR 2024
EXHIBITION DIARY - JANUARY-MARCH 2024
…and finally
News Real
Staff Show & Tell Industrial expansion • More industrial buildings have been created for the backscene of George Dent’s layout.
A large-scale diversion
New Year - new project
Inside track with Ben Ando
Concrete ambition • When the itch to create a new layout came, Pete Latham decided to spare his wallet and use what he already had in stock.
HOW TO CREATE REALISTIC CONTOURS • Peter Marriott shares his methods for building railways embankments and landscape.
HOW TO MODEL LINESIDE JUNK USING KIT LEFTOVERS • Steve Nall raids his scrap box to reproduce various types of railway-related detritus.
Waste not want not
HOW TO BUILD DAPOL’S KITMASTER L&B BUILDINGS • Chris Leigh test-builds Dapol’s new range of laser-cut kits, depicting structures of the narrow gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.
Signal Cabin & Gents’ Toilet
Farewell to Polwyddelan • Chris Leigh says goodbye to his Cornish harbour layout.
HOW TO MODEL WINTER TREES USING BARE ARMATURES • 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 BLEND IN PATCHES OF PAINT ON BODYWORK
KNOW YOUR… LIVERIES • Paul Chancellor presents an overview of the colour schemes carried by the popular Type 2s.
PETER’S SCENERY CLINIC
EXPERIMENTING WITH
STRIPPING TIPS
Moving with the times • Priorities change, so when its exhibition layout became too cumbersome, Beaconsfield Model Railway Club grasped the nettle and built a lighter, more compact layout that featured more operational interest.
Hornby-Dublo LNER ’A4’ 4-6-2
Factfile: LNER Gresley ’A4’ 4-6-2
Hornby Ruston & Hornsby ’88DS’ 4wDM
Factfile: Ruston & Hornsby ’88DS’
System builder
Dapol LSWR ’B4’ (cutaway cab)
Hornby RailRoad Plus Class 110
Hornby TTA tank wagons
Bachmann & Farish HRA aggregate hoppers
Hornby ’TT:120’ wagons
Peco ’TT:120’ RCH 7-plank open wagons
Modeller’s bookshelf review special • George Dent and Chris Leigh present eight new titles that will appeal to modellers and general enthusiasts alike.
Model Rail
Present your case • If there’s a prototype that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion…
Backscene • A picture, so they say, is worth a thousand words. Chris Leigh’s 750 words or so of Backscene are about pictures, and how they’ve been taken in the past 60 years.