Model Railway Magazines

Like all hobbies, railway modelling has its dedicated publications for enthusiasts and followers. There are currently four main UK based magazines, all of which follow the same general format of product reviews, layout features and "how to" articles.

All of these can be found on the shelves of most national newsagents, such as WH Smiths, and also at many model railway shops. Alternatively, they can all be bought on subscription and will arrive in the post every month. If you read magazines regularly, subscribing is a good idea as it's cheaper in the long run and usually also gives you exclusive access to subscriber-only benefits.

If you prefer not to read your magazines on paper, digital subscriptions are increasingly available, either web-based or using a dedicated tablet app.

Railway Modeller

Website

Digital

Railway Modeller is the oldest UK model railway magazine currently in print, the first edition having been published in 1949. The current editor is Steve Flint, who many will recognise as one of the judges on Channel 5's "Great Model Railway Challenge".

Railway Modeller is published by Peco Publications, the publishing arm of Peco, one of the UK's leading suppliers of model railway accessories and track. For much of its history it had the tagline "For the average enthusiast", reflecting its intention to be aimed at the mainstream modeller rather than those with more esoteric interests. The current tagline is "At the heart of the hobby".

As of 2021, Railway Modeller is still the best-selling UK model railway publication.

In the current issue

This month...
Camden and Kilsby: Railway of the Month
Well-known railway photographer John Cooper-Smith takes us on a tour of his mammoth West Coast Main Line layout in EM gauge, incorporating Camden locomotive shed and several other real locations.

GWR King 4-6-0: Scale Drawings
To mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, Craig Tiley recounts the history of the Great Western Railway’s flagship express locomotives, with drawings by the late Bob Phelps.

Foxwell Lane: Micro Marvels
Mike Denwood describes how the purchase of a ready-assembled 5' x 1' baseboard led him to create this compact Network Rail depot and urban scene in OO gauge.

Railway Modeller - May 2023

Model Rail

Website

Digital

Model Rail was originally a supplement to Rail Magazine, and was launched as a standalone publication in 1997. Slightly unusually, Model Rail is published four-weekly rather than monthly, meaning that there are thirteen issues a year. Model Rail is published by Bauer Media, and the current editor is George Dent.

Model Rail's current tagline is "Innovative • In-Depth • Independent", reflecting its lack of ties to any other model railway publisher or maufacturer. However, as part of the Bauer Media group, it remains the sister publication of Rail Magazine which covers the full-size aspect of railways.

In the current issue

Layout: Sherton Abbas
Dave Stone scratchbuilt everything on this layout depicting a seldom-modelled era.

Masterclass: Connect Four
Nick Brodrick recounts how the Grouping changed Britain’s railways.

Layout: Lochty
Andy Cundick’s ‘EM’ gauge layoutproves the old adage that less is more.

Model Rail - May-23

British Railway Modelling

Website

Digital

British Railway Modelling, or BRM as it's commonly abbreviated, was first published in 1993.

Published by Warners Group Publications, BRM is part of the "World of Railways" stable which includes the RMweb discussion forum, other railway and modelling magazines and three major model railway exhibitions. A "Gold" subscription is available which includes not just the magazine but access to online archives, track plans and a free ticket to one of the shows.

In the current issue

Welcome to the May 2023 digital edition of BRM and WOR TV.
Enjoy the excellent May issue of BRM with all this extra content on top…
Digital extras this month!
* FREE latest issue of Traction magazine * 75 EXCLUSIVE images * 5 EXTRA videos * 3 BONUS articles * Watch this month’s edition of World of Railways TV
World of Railways TV
This month, join Richard Proudman of Bachmann Europe as he tours its members' lounge with Howard Smith, plus we take a tour of two fantastic layouts; our cover feature last month, ‘Abingdon’, and this month’s N gauge entry, ‘Stafford Station’.

What’s Inside BRM May
FOUR GREAT LAYOUTS * Sydney Gardens * Orford * Peterborough North * Stafford Station
PRACTICAL ADVICE * Upgrade an old station kit * Modelling water: techniques explored
* Build an industrial locomotive * How to model catenary in N * Adapt a Tar wagon * Construct a TT:120 signal box

PLUS * How the experts build loco display cases * Reviews of the new Sonic Models A5, Bachmann Lobster wagons, new Hornby TT Night Hawk, the new Palbrick from KR Models, plus many more * A round-up of the latest headlines from the model railway world this month
Enjoy the issue!

British Railway Modelling (BRM) - May-23

Hornby Magazine

Website

Digital

Despite the name, Hornby Magazine covers all model railway brands, not just Hornby! The name is licensed by the publishers from Hornby Hobbies, as it was felt that the name recognition would help gain readership. The first edition was published in 2007.

Hornby Magazine is published by Key Publishing, and the current editor is Mike Wild. Because of the branding tie-in with Hornby, Hornby Magazine is aimed slightly more towards newcomers to railway modelling than the other magazines, and makes a point of avoiding the use of too much "technical language".

In the current issue

MISSELTHWAITE: A TALE OF TWO HALVES
Discover this ‘OO’ gauge layout’s unique story
FREE New Model Guide 2023
COMPETITION Win a Hornby Tiger train pack worth £230
SONIC ‘OO’ DEBUT How does the new Great Central Railway ‘A5’ 4-6-2T measure up?
COVERDALE Stunning pre-grouping club layout modelled in ‘O’ gauge
MAGLIGHT MAKEOVER Step by step: we install Hornby’s new lighting system in Mk 3s

Hornby Magazine - May 2023

Read all these and more on Pocketmags
Pocketmags Digital Magazine Newsstand

RailwayModels.uk is a Good Stuff website.