Railway Modeller Magazine -April 2026

The striking cover of this month's Railway Modeller depicts the new LNER Azuma high-speed passenger train, released in OO gauge in the Hornby RailRoad range and reviewed inside. Other new models reviewed in this issue include the Great Western Railway Saint 4-6-0 and Bulleid Tavern Cars, also in OO from Hornby; Isle of Wight coaches in OO from EFE Rail; the Andrew Barclay fireless locomotive in OO from Rapido Trains UK; the Class 117 Diesel Multiple Unit and Class 121 railcar in O gauge from Heljan; and PHA/JGA hopper wagons in OO from Cavalex.

Railway of the Month is Keighley Northern, an OO gauge layout portraying a fictional London & North Eastern Railway main line network in the West Riding of Yorkshire and set in 1937. Other layouts featured include Eyemouth, a branch line terminus in Berwickshire modelled in N gauge; Kyle of Macallan MPD, a diesel-era shed scene in EM gauge in a space of just 44in x 17in; and Birkenhead Priory, an extensive OO gauge model depicting the railways of the Wirral in the BR steam era. 

Constructional articles include the adaptation of Parkside/Peco OO gauge coach kits to make OO9 narrow gauge stock; working remote control road vehicles for the OO gauge layout Bournemouth West; scratch-building a Class 158 DMU in O gauge from parts produced around the world; and the use of mirrors to give the illusion of greater scenic depth on a layout.

We also bring you all the latest news from the model railway world, including the winner of the 2025 Railway Modeller Cup Competition and the spring product announcements from Bachmann.