Tabla de contenidos para Summer 2025 en Model Rail

www.facebook.com/modelrail www.twitter.com/modelrailuk www.instagram.com/modelrailmag By the time this issue appears in the big wide world, The Greatest Gathering will be about to begin. Held at Alstom’s Derby Works over August 1-3, the event sold out months ago, with a line-up of over 100 steam, diesel and electric locomotives, plus multiple units and rolling stock, showcasing the UK’s railway heritage alongside today’s innovations. One of the key events of 2025’s Railway 200 calendar, The Greatest Gathering is sure to live long in the memory of those lucky enough to attend. Alas, I won’t be among them, but Paul Gosden’s fabulous ‘GB Rail Tech’ diorama – which graces this month’s cover – really caught my attention recently, due to its theme of modernity. Depicting a contemporary servicing facility, specialising in green technology, it…

Keep up to date with Model Rail News online. Released initially in 2022, Bachmann’s superb model of Caledonian Railway 812 Class 0-6-0, produced exclusively for Rails of Sheffield, is to make a welcome return. Two versions of the preserved No. 828 are at an advanced stage of development, with delivery expected early next year, with pre-orders now being taken. What’s planned? 35-280Z/SF Caledonian Railway ‘812’ No. 828, CR light blue (as built) 35-280Z/SF Caledonian Railway ‘812’ No. 828, CR dark blue (as preserved) When’s it due? Q1 2026 Prices: £214.95 (DCC-ready), £329.95 (DCC sound) Availability: Bachmann stockists Web: www.bachmann.co.uk…

Visitors can explore full-size locomotives, model railways, slot car racing and hands-on hobby fun at the historic home of Hornby this summer. The open weekend on August 9-10 will be held across Hornby’s WonderWorks visitor centre and the neighbouring One:One Collection, which is yet to officially open to the public, but is home to an amazing line-up of locomotives and rolling stock. The list of full-size exhibits includes an LMS ‘Black Five’ and ‘Royal Scot’ and even Churchill’s funeral carriage, while WonderWorks features plenty of interactive model train layouts, a Scalextric race track and an Airfix ‘make and paint’ zone. A number of local modelling societies will also be in attendance and all ticket holders will receive a £5 voucher for the shop or cafe on the day. When is…

A full-sized DB Cargo UK Class 66 has been named Accurascale, in honour of the model manufacturer’s charity fundraising efforts. The christening of 66091 was carried out by prominent enthusiast and record producer Pete Waterman at the Midland Railway Centre – Butterley on July 19, with Accurascale employees and DB’s Chief Transformation and Digitalisation Officer Mike Gray in attendance. To date, Accurascale has raised over £45,000 for good causes, with its recent limited edition DB Cargo No. 66190 locomotive helping to achieve £10,000 for Martin’s House Children’s Hospice. A ‘OO’ gauge representation of 66091 Accurascale is also due to be revealed in autumn this year. Web: www.accurascale.com…

TMC – The Model Centre – has been getting busy recently with a new ‘BZ’, exclusively produced in ‘OO’ gauge for the retailer by EFE Rail and now available to pre-order for delivery during early 2026. The six-wheeled brake/parcels vans were a late LNER design but didn’t come to fruition until BR days, with 80 examples entering traffic in 1950. Christened with the telegraph code ‘BZ’, they saw widespread use for parcels and agricultural produce far beyond the Eastern Region until 1979, after which they could still be seen lingering on in various states of withdrawn decrepitude until the early 1980s. Nine have been preserved; research has been carried out on the Great Central Railway’s example to produce the model. The TMC/EFE six-wheelers will encompass crimson (lined and unlined), maroon…

September marks 200 years since the 1825 opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and the beginnings of modern rail. Bauer Media’s three titles in the sector – RAIL, Steam Railway and Model Rail – have produced a special souvenir edition to mark the auspicious bicentenary. This collaborative first will trace the past, present and future of rail over three centuries. Lavishly illustrated over 228 pages, it features fabulous pictures, extraordinary facts and amazing figures to tell the story of rail in a way it’s never been told before. As well as rail’s glories, with all the key landmarks and events, it also takes some detours to shine a light into the secret corners and unexpected episodes in rail’s history. Explore how rail has shaped – and continues to shape…

MONSTER GLUE Modellers aren’t short of options when it comes to PVA-type adhesives, but this new fast-drying formula from AK Interactive ‘grabs’ parts quickly, speeding up the assembly of wood and card kits, and is also ideal for bonding foamboard, resin and plastics, especially clear glazing due to its transparent nature once cured. It’s fairly thick and can be spread evenly or placed precisely with a cocktail stick and can be thinned and cleaned up with water. The clog-free nozzle and plastic bottle are easy to use, and the glue has minimal odour. Tacking within a few minutes, it’s fully cured in about 6 hours (depending on ambient temperature). I’ve enjoyed working with this glue on several kits and multiple scenic jobs in recent months. Product: AK Interactive Wolverine PVA…

A delightful range of 3D-printed station details for Southern Railway enthusiasts has appeared in the Modelu range, including customisable concrete running-in boards. A pack of five LSWR barley twist lampposts feature a supreme level of detail, with clear lenses and they even feature a small central bore to allow brass rod to be inserted for extra strength, or tube with super-fine electric cables if adding LEDs. For the lineside, concrete SR gradient posts (pack of six) feature various grades, while a bumper pack of 24 mileposts also feature a range of figures. We have the ‘OO’ versions here, but they’re all available also in ‘O’ gauge at a slightly higher price. Products: • 2601-076 LSWR Barley Twist lamps (£7.95) • 2625-076 SR Mileposts (£7.95) • 2626-076 SR Gradient Posts (£4.95)…

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“…creating the world we want, rather than the world as it is, can be seductive” The God Complex… The mental health benefits of having a hobby or pastime – whether it’s painting, fishing, stamp-collecting, knitting or collecting records – are well known. But I was recently asked by my eldest child to explain why, specifically, I enjoy model railways instead of, say, planes or tanks. After all, I find aircraft and military vehicles just as fascinating as trains. I thought briefly and said: “Because they work.” “But,” she replied, “you can get radio-controlled cars or aircraft that work.” I thought about this. She was right. There are lots of models that, having been bought or built, can be operated (or rather, played with). I said: “It’s the scenery too. I…

How much of your modelling is make-believe? Most layouts involve a degree of make believe or fantasy. Even if we model a real location in perfect scale and perfect detail, we require some suspension of belief when we stoop down to eye level to imagine ourselves actually at that location. Fitting a scale-size version of a real place into our modelling space usually means compromising some of the dimensions in a process known as ‘selective compression’. Perfect prototype fidelity is near impossible, especially if your track gauge itself is a compromise, as is ‘OO’. American modellers took the view, years ago, that if you modelled a fictitious railroad you had much greater freedom. You could bring together locomotives and rolling stock which, in reality, would never have been seen together…

EFE Rail’s LSWR Adams Class T3 has taken a major leap forward, with the revealing of fully decorated samples across various iterations of LSWR and SR green liveries. So far, five identities have been confirmed, with the tooling allowing for multiple detail differences across individual models. What’s planned? E85019 LSWR Adams ‘T3’ No. 561, LSWR Adams lined green E85023 LSWR Adams ‘T3’ No. 564, LSWR Urie lined green E85024 LSWR Adams ‘T3’ No. 560, SR lined Maunsell green E85025 LSWR Adams ‘T3’ No. 558, SR lined Maunsell green E85030 LSWR Adams ‘T3’ No. 563, LSWR Drummond lined green When’s it due? Q4 2025 Prices: £199.95 (DCC-ready), Availability: Bachmann stockists Web: www.bachmann.co.uk…

Keep up to date with Model Rail News online. Accurascale is following up its initial ‘OO’ gauge Class 50s with a fresh run of six ‘Hoovers’, including the celebrity GB Railfreight-liveried duo of 50007 and 50149. 50007 will be in its multiple identity form with Hercules nameplate on one side and Furious on the other. Complementing the GBRf load-luggers will be 50019 Ramillies in Departmental ‘Laira’ blue as well as 50029 Renown in Revised Network SouthEast colours. Finally will be 50035 Ark Royal and 50046 Ajax. The former will portray the Class 50 in pre-refurbishment BR blue while the latter will come in ‘large logo’ blue with grey roof. Also fresh will be new Mk 2b and Mk 2c coaches. Accurascale previous Mk 2c releases have focused on Phase 2…

Rapido is sprinkling its existing range of private owner wagons with a new series of ‘OO’ gauge 1907 Railway Clearing House peaked roof salt vans. The 15 variations will cover nine different companies, including some very colourful paint schemes for such famous names such as Saxa, Chance & Hunt and ICI. The Railway Clearing House rolling stock of 1907 was an early attempt at standardisation, using common underframe components across a number of different body styles and from assorted builders. The characteristic peaked roofs were to enable rain to run off quickly, minimising the likelihood of water getting inside and causing the contents to quickly and expensively dissolve. Some of the vans remained in service through to the 1960s, even managing to avoid the onslaught of bauxite paint that afflicted…

A welcome addition to Peco’s range of Code 75 Streamline bullhead track is a pair of small radius turnouts, available in either left- or right-hand formation. Adding to the existing medium and long radius points, these smaller versions are ideal for use when space is at a premium or in sidings and goods yards. At 185mm long, the timber-effect sleepers are correctly spaced and feature chairs with square head fixing bolts and wooden keys for extra authenticity. Transition packs are available from Peco to allow bullhead rail to be connected to flat-bottomed rail, as occurs in the real world. Employing the now-standard Unifrog crossing frog, full wiring instructions are provided for those wanting to switch polarities. A low-profile tie-bar is sprung for positive switching of routes and build quality is…

New from Scale Model Scenery is an attractive modern terraced shop kit in ‘OO’, depicting a typical post-1960s architectural style. Several of these modest buildings can be combined to form a parade of shops, with each being 51mm wide and consisting of the usual format of laser-cut MDF walls and various sheets of thinner fibreboard providing detail fittings such as windows, doors and rainwater goods. High-quality printed red brick overlays sheets are provided, for wrapping around the walls during assembly, along with a sheet of pre-weathered roof slates, clear plastic glazing and a colourful variety of signs. Available separately is a handy set of waterslide transfers to enhance the shop windows, catering for everything from taxi firms, fast food joints, angling supplied or something a little more risqué. Products: KX119-OO…

August 2 & 3 REDCAR, N YORKS. Redcar Model Railway Exhibition, Redcar and Cleveland College, Corporation Road, Redcar TS10 1EZ. Times: 1000–1600 both days. Admission: Adults £6, Children £4, Family (2+2) £18. Email: Clevelandmrc.publicity@gmail.com Facebook: Cleveland Model Railway Club. SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX. Shoeburyness Model Railway Club, 41st Annual Exhibition, The Seaglass Centre, Thorpe Hall School, Wakering Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS3 9SF. Times: Sat 1000–1700, Sun 1000–1600. Admission: Adults £8, Children under 16 £1, Under 3s Free. August 6 BISHOPS LYDEARD, SOMERSET. Taunton Model Railway Group, Bishops Lydeard Station, Platform 1, West Somerset Railway, Taunton, TA4 3BX. Time: 1000–1630. Admission: Small charge, children to be accompanied. Tel: 07879 852736. Web: www.tauntonmodelrailwaygroup.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/tauntonmodelrailwaygroup Instagram: Taunton Model Railway Group (@tmrg1968). August 8 & 9 PORT TALBOT, W GLAM. Porthcawl Railway Club Model Railway Exhibition, The Orangery, Margam…

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of British Rail’s Network SouthEast passenger sector, with its attractive red, white and blue colour scheme. This livery has been a glaring omission from my 1980s/1990s collection of ‘OO’ gauge rolling stock until fairly recently, so I’ve been working on a small assortment of locomotives and rolling stock, most notably a Hornby Class 50, as described in last month’s Workbench pages. The arrival of Hornby’s newly revamped ‘4-VEP’ multiple unit – see review on page 92 – proved to be good timing, as that has been shunted into the queue for some detail enhancements and a weathered finish. It currently sits behind a couple of Accurascale Mk 2b coaches, which are awaiting the same treatment, with passengers and crew to add…

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL 936012 LBSCR ‘E1’ 0-6-0 BR Green (IOW) No. 1 Medina ◆ PRICE £164.95 ◆ AVAILABILITY Rapido Trains UK stockists Web www.rapidotrains.co.uk I must admit to taking more than my usual level of personal interest in Rapido Trains’ LBSCR ‘E1’ 0-6-0T because, as a project, it originated in Model Rail editorial discussions back in 2018. As an enthusiast of the SR’s West Country lines, I recall pressing for an ‘E1R’ 0-6-2T version, but it soon became clear that the tooling changes to accommodate a new cab and rear pony truck would not be practical. There were concerns too that with the ‘E1’ being a ‘Terrier on steroids’, it would be competing with two ‘Terriers’ already available from other manufacturers. The market for pretty-coloured pre-Grouping locomotives had…

By popular demand, Rapido has added two more Manning, Wardle L Class 0-6-0Ts to its forthcoming range of ‘OO’ models, each depicting ‘what if’ colour schemes. SECR No. 331 depicts a likely works shunter in lined Wainwright green, while No. 481 Hawthorn takes inspiration from Rapido’s SECR ‘O1’ Bramble in an attractive lined blue. Both models will feature the same high specification as the previously announced Manning, Wardles, including ESU E24 decoder sockets and provision for sound. Prices: £149.95 (DCC-ready), £259.95 (DCC sound) Web: www.rapidotrains.co.uk…

Hot on the tracks of its recently announced demountable tank wagons, Clark Railworks is to produce yet another unusual design with a series of ‘OO’ gauge twin-silo Prestwins. The distinctive-looking wagons, with dual rounded tops, were built to address an issue with the more familiar but earlier Presflo wagons where finer-grained powder could get trapped in the square corners. The curved Prestwin layout eliminated this problem, while having two containers meant quicker unloading. Common loads were lime, sand and soda ash, with Prestwins seeing service throughout the network between 1960 and the 1980s. The Clark Railworks’ models will depict the later 12ft wheelbase examples (earlier ones were 10ft 6in) and will be finished in the BR bauxite livery they carried throughout their lives. As they generally ran in rakes, they…

Revolution Trains has teased two of its forthcoming releases, contrasting glamour and luxury in ‘N’ gauge with utilitarian load-lugging in ‘TT:120’, by unveiling unpainted samples of its Pullman cars and Ealnos MMA/JNA wagons. The ‘N’ gauge Pullmans portray the steel-bodied K-types of 1928, used on expresses such as the Queen of Scots and Bournemouth Belle along with other crack LNER, SR, GWR and BR services. Some of the cars remain in service with Belmond British Pullman today. The samples show fully detailed interiors with working table lamps and saloon lights while, when decorated, liveries and roof colours will be true to the intended era of the two-, three- and four-coach packs. Pre-order prices range from £104.99 to £209.95. Meanwhile, early images of Revolution’s first ever ‘TT:120’ project show MMA/JNA wagons…

WORKSOP WANDERER While Worksop’s importance dwindled considerably following pit and power station closures, the Nottinghamshire town’s railway still plays a vital role, not least in providing storage facilities for various main line operators. This book provides a snapshot of railway activity within the town and surrounding area, in terms of passenger and freight traffic, infrastructure trains and stock movements. Image standards vary, but there’s plenty of supporting information about the local network, plus maps and diagrams, affording the reader a good understanding of the location. (GD) Book: Locomotives in and Around Worksop by Steve Liptrot Price: £15.99 Availability: www.amberley-books.com PLATFORM SOUL This handsome book features high production values and great design, as the author takes an architect’s approach to stations and platforms, with full colour illustrations and an opening spread of…

Modelu’s range of bespoke train crew to suit specific models has been bolstered by two different packs for the Cavalex Class 60. Each provide a driver and assistant, with a choice of late BR or modern eras, with uniforms to match. Interestingly, each figure incorporates a seat, which slots easily into the cab’s interior. With a little tweaking, we found that they also fit into a Hornby ‘60’ too. ‘OO’ gauge versions are featured here, but the same figures are also available in other scales. Products: • 10234-076 BR crew • 10236-076 Modern Price: £7.95 per pack Availability: Modelu Web: www.modelu3d.co.uk…

Peter Marriott was keenly awaiting Bachmann’s new Class 08 with auto-release couplings. When Bachmann announced that some of its new locomotives were to be fitted with DCC-operated auto-release tension lock couplings, I was eager to get my hands on one. For me, shunting can be too ‘hands on’ to be realistic, but locomotives that can shunt without needing a ‘hand from the sky’ will be a real bonus. Over the past couple of years I have used various high-grade European-outline models from ESU and Mabar, each fitted with auto couplings, and I have found them to be a lot of fun. While my personal interest in model railways usually lies in building them rather than operating them, my interest has been piqued and I am keen to see if this…

Our reviewers George Dent Model Rail’s modern image expert. Chris Leigh Wrote his first review in 1964! Richard Gunn A keen ‘N’ gauge modeller. How we test At Model Rail, we pride ourselves on the quality, thoroughness and unbiased nature of our reviews. We assess models on their looks, performance, features and value for money. We also run them on our own test tracks, which feature various gradients and numerous challenging track configurations.…