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

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

STEPHENSON’S PLANET HEADLINES HORNBY’S SUMMER REVEAL

GBR CLASS 800 FLIES THE FLAG

LATEST ‘37’ RUN PROVIDES COLOUR

In Brief

STEREO DECODERS FROM ELLIS CLARK

ACCURASCALE THROWS US A ‘BONE’

O WOW! RAPIDO’S STIRLING 0-6-0

HORSEY EVOLUTION

KERNOW PROUDLY REVEALS NEW EXCLUSIVES

PIPE DREAMS ANSWERED

IT’S FISH FOR ‘TT’, THANKS TO TMC

MORE PANNIERS ON THE WAY

REVENUE PROTECTION AND MORE FROM OSBORN’S

OBITUARY: GEOFFREY KICHENSIDE

LIGHT WORK OF BUFFERSTOPS

Modeller’s Bookshelf • Richard Gunn, George Dent and Peter Marriott present a quartet of books to inform and inspire your modelling.

ON THE WORKBENCH • What new items have appeared in George’s workshop this month?

EXHIBITION DIARY - JULY 4-AUGUST 9 2026

Unusual scenes captured by the lens of Chris Nevard

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.

SHOW & TELL • Model Rail modellers share what they’ve been up to.

Framing the artwork

Inside track with Ben Ando

BUILD BACK BETTER • Things don’t always go to plan when building a layout, but the team behind ‘Slattocks Junction’ had to come back from a setback that cost the project ten years. However, the wait was more than worthwhile…

3 things we like

Workbench • Inspirational projects, advice and top tips that show you how

HOW TO BUILD WHIMSY PIT PART 3 • Chris Nevard’s quest to make a new layout out of the remains of two previous projects comes to an end as he completes the trackwork and surrounding scenery, testing some interesting natural foliage material along the way.

HOW TO TWEAK A ’TWENTY’ • The venerable English Electric Type 1s have been one of the UK’s most successful diesels, and George Dent recently tinkered with a couple of Bachmann models, rekindling happy memories in the process.

HOW TO MAKE FIR TREES USING STATIC GRASS FIBRES • Peter Marriott can’t see the wood for the trees as he hones his arboricultural skills, experimenting with a fir tree kit from the Netherlands.

HOW TO ENHANCE ACCURASCALE’S ‘CLAYHOODS’ • With a set of new china clay wagons to integrate into his existing fleet, George Dent set about replacing the moulded covers with homemade alternatives.

HOW TO CONVERT AN ‘E1’ TO AN ‘E1/R’ • When the Southern Railway needed some extra 0-6-2Ts for work in the West of England, they converted ten Stroudley ‘E1’ locomotives. Chris Leigh tried the same idea…

SHOW & TELL • The place to share your projects with the Model Rail community.

SPLIT PERSONALITY • Originally conceived as a 1950s-themed layout, the Merseyside Model Railway Society’s ’Kirkfield’ layout has evolved over the years, to cleverly incorporate 21st-century elements.

3 things we like

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

Rapido Trains UK Manning, Wardle L Class 0-6-OST

3 things...