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

Meet the team behind the UK's best modelling magazine • This month's contributors

Model Rail essential information

Opening the box • The latest happenings from the world of model railways

SHOW REPORT: MODEL RAIL SCOTLAND

BREAKING NEWS! MODEL RAIL'S 'PWM' ARRIVING SOON

ACCURASCALE TAKES ON THE CLASS 66

ANOTHER Mk 2 VARIANT TO COME

EXCLUSIVE COLOUR SCHEMES FOR '31' & '50'

BRUSH CLASS 60 NEXT FROM CAVALEX

CDA CHINA CLAY HOPPERS FROM KERNOW

'SCOTSMAN' SPECIALS FROM LOCOMOTION

News Real What's happening on Britain's railways… • 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.

NEW KITS DUE FROM METCALFE

Modeller's Bookshelf • A quartet of new books that will be useful for modellers and general railway enthusiasts alike.

ON THE WORKBENCH • A couple of new modelling aids have appeared on George's workbench this month.

…and finally

SKATEPARK ACTION

SUPERIOR SILO

EXHIBITION DIARY - MARCH-MAY 2023

Staff Show & Tell Farmhouse (and workshop) tales • As well as working on a GWR 'Manor' for Mr Leigh and an ex-LMS 'Salmon' wagon for himself, George Dent also found time to finish a 'OO' farmhouse kit.

DIGGING FOR POWER

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

Inside track with Ben Ando

The RESULTS • You've had your say - and the thousands of votes have been counted - in our annual awards for the best new models in each scale. George Dent presents the winners and the runners-up… and reveals your favourite retailers too.

Going to great lengths • Colin Fisher has managed to pull off the trick of running prototypical-length trains on a layout where the landscape is the defining feature.

3 things we like

LORDS OF THE 'MANOR' • Although not built in the numbers originally planned, the GWR 'Manor' eventually proved a big success, thanks to a few BR-era tweaks. Nick Brodrick examines the history of these handsome 4-6-0s.

Green, black, green, black, green!

HOW TO UPGRADE DAPOL'S GWR 'MANOR' • Just stick new nameplates over the old? It's not always quite that simple, as Chris Leigh found with the Dapol 'Manor' 4-6-0.

HOW TO BUILDING HEMYOCK PART 3: LANDSCAPE AND SCENERY • Chris Nevard shares his tips for recreating lifelike scenery using, among other things, polystyrene foam, a ball of fur and a set of hair clippers…!

HOW TO BUILD AN EX-LMS 'SALMON' RAIL CARRYING WAGON • Inspired by last year's release of a RTR model of the BR-designed version, George Dent assembled a plastic kit of the ex-LMS 'Salmon', while also creating suitable loads of redundant track panels.

HOW TO MODEL SPRING TREES • As winter ebbs away, Peter Marriott makes good use of a new kit to create trees fit for a springtime scene.

New gauge, new adventures • Jonnie Pay's ordering mix-up ended up prompting him to build a layout in a gauge that he'd never...