Welcome

I can’t quite believe that it’s been 30

EXHIBITION DIARY – OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2023

October 28 SEAFORD, E SUSSEX. Newhaven & District

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Constructing for competition

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

Chris Leigh reflects on 70 years of technological change in mainstream 4mm:1ft scale railway modelling.

The Big Picture

The latest happenings from the world of model railways

ACCURASCALE’S FIRST ‘O’ LOCO TO BE R&H 88DS

O GAUGE Following the success of its ‘OO’

LADIES’ DAY AT FFESTINIOG RAILWAY

OO9 GAUGE Marking the 60th anniversary since the

MINERVA ANNOUNCES SR ‘USA’ TANK

O GAUGE Minerva Model Railways has joined with

NEW EXCLUSIVES FROM KERNOW MRC

Kernow Model Rail Centre announced an interesting quartet of new, exclusive models in ‘OO’ and ‘O’ gauge. All are available to pre-order now.

HELJAN’S ‘DELTICS’ ARRIVING SOON

O GAUGE Heljan has been busy re-tooling its

CAR CARRIERS TO COME IN SINGLES

OO GAUGE Heljan’s Newton Chambers Car Transporters, which

CAVALEX UPDATES

The people at Cavalex Models revealed several project

NEW CLASSIC VEHICLES IN PRINT FROM N’TASTIC

N GAUGE N’Tastic Scale Models’ latest 3D-printed releases

GWR KITS FROM BRASSMASTERS

Brassmasters has released an etched metal kit of

MR ’S EXCLUSIVE CLASS ‘31’ DELAYED…

00 GAUGE The Accurascale team recently visited the

… BUT MR CLASS 11s SIGNED OFF

Happier news came from Heljan, with the final

SCALEFOUR SOCIETY JUBILEE LAYOUT CHALLENGE

The Scalefour Society has organised a number of

STOP PRESS

Just before we closed for press, we received

In Brief

ROB PARFITT/CHANNEL 4 STAR CLASS A new TV

STEAM-ERA FILLING STATION

O GAUGE 00 GAUGE Modelu has released an

Modeller’s Bookshelf

Four new titles that will appeal to modellers and general enthusiasts alike.

ON THE WORKBENCH

What new items have appeared in George’s workshop this month?

…and finally

Unusual scenes captured by the lens of Chris

NEW STRUCTURE KITS FROM SMS

A comprehensive new ‘OO’ laser-cut kit from Scale

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

Another ‘69’ hits the rails

Inside track with Ben Ando

Ben Ando is the founder of Revolution Trains and a regular contributor to Model Rail.

Salvage with heritage

A repurposed baseboard got Doug Johnson on track with a layout reflecting his Dean Forest Railway preser vation experience.

Last of its kind

Looking at railways in detail

HOW TO CUSTOMISE A CLASS 60

George Dent models a pair of EWS-era ‘Tugs’, each featuring unusual livery quirks that are simple to recreate with the help of decals and a lick of paint.

Testing Times

Track plans to get you thinking in three dimensions

Increased timetable

Serial layout builder Steve Fay turned around this Southern region diorama in double-quick time, and it’s already gone to its new owner.

HOW TO CREATE A STONE RETAINING WALL

EXPERT MODELLERS SHOW YOU HOW

HOW TO CREATE A ROCKY RIVER SCENE

EXPERT MODELLERS SHOW YOU HOW

HOW TO SCRATCHBUILD A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN ‘ O’ GAUGE

PART THREE

Reviews

In-depth and unbiased reviews of the latest products

Heljan Class 55 ‘Deltic’ (later version)

◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Heljan 5531

Hornby ‘Tyne Dock’ BR Class 9F 2‐10‐0

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Hornby R30133

Rapido Trains UK BR ‘ 15XX’ 0‐6‐0T

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Rapido Trains

Accurascale Class 37/6

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Accurascale Class

EFE Rail ‘J94’ 0‐6‐0ST

◆ GAUGE ‘N’ ◆ MODEL EFE Rail

EFE Rail LSWR 10t van

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL EFE Rail E87054 LSWR 10t Covered Van, SR Brown ◆ PRICE £32.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann stockists Web www.bachmann.co.uk

EFE Rail PBA china clay hopper

◆ GAUGE ‘N’ ◆ MODEL E87530 PBA Tiger Wagon, ECC International white, weathered ◆ PRICE £49.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann stockists Web www.bachmann.co.uk

Dapol GWR Toplight Coaches

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Dapol 4P-020-001/011/021 GWR Toplight Third Brake/All Third/Composite, lined crimson ◆ PRICE £64.80 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Dapol stockists Web www.dapol.co.uk