Scenery tells the story As many of us fixate on finding the right locos and rolling stock for the era, an element often overlooked is the scenic detail that really tells the story behind a model railway layout - without it we merely have tracks on some wood. As you look around model railway shows or flick through magazines, I guarantee the layouts that will stay in your mind will be those with a story, those with a glorious backdrop, or a breathtaking bridge, or lifelike buildings. Of course the trains are important but show stealers always have that something special. So how can you get s ..read more

When it comes to model railways, selecting the right gauge is crucial for a successful layout. With various options available, how do you choose the perfect one for your needs? Consider Your Space Before diving into the world of model railways, assess the space you have available. Larger gauges like O and G scales require more room, while N and TT scales are ideal for compact layouts. Research the Scales Each scale offers a unique experience, from the intricate details of N scale to the realism of O scale. Research the different scales available in the UK to find one that aligns with your pref ..read more

The news none of us expected... Hattons Model Railways is to close for good. The frankly staggering news was announced on Monday 8th January with the business having struggled with supply chain issues amongst many other things. As one of the behemoth businesses in the UK model railway scene... what does it say about the industry today and where it is headed? An opportunity for some? The closure in my mind doesn't necessarily say that the industry is in any trouble per se, but it is likely that businesses that take gambles on growth and diversification run the risk of that gamble backfiring. I ..read more

The London Festival of Railway Modelling 2022 A week or so on from our debut at Alexandra Palace and now seems like a good time to talk about the show from a trader's point of view. Arriving on the Friday to set-up I have to say the organisation of the unloading and how simple it was for exhibitors was way beyond our expectations - we were able to drive in to the hall, unload, and then move the van before starting the set-up proper. The aim as always was to get as much product out, neatly arranged, in the smallest space possible to maximise our return on investment - As you'd expect with such ..read more

Here is the latest update! December: 27th - BP Fairs - NEC (TBC) 29th - BP Fairs - Bolton (TBC) 30th - BP Fairs - Doncaster (TBC) February 2022: 5th - Stafford Model Railway Circle Show 2022 - Stafford 6th - Stafford Model Railway Circle Show 2022 - Stafford 12th - The Festival of British Railway Modelling - Doncaster 13th - The Festival of British Railway Modelling - Doncaster March 2022: 19th - The London Festival of Railway Modelling - Alexandra Palace 20th - The London Festival of Railway Modelling - Alexandra Palace August 2022:TBC - Alsager Model Railway Club ExhibitionTBC - Bournville M ..read more

There will be a delay in despatch of any orders placed between 11th-15th October as we will be on a short holiday. All orders will be sent out on Saturday 16th October. All orders placed before 7pm on Sunday 10th October will be sent out on Monday 11th before we set off. Apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause - but everyone is allowed a holiday right? :) (Oh and there will be a cheeky trip to the National Railway Museum on our break ..read more

This past weekend saw RAILstuff take to its first Model Railway show with a little trip down to Birmingham with the Bournville Model Railway Club who hosted a fantastic show in Longbridge. There were some stunning layouts, including the mind boggling German Z Gauge layout from Wyre Forest MRC - http://www.wyreforestmrc.com/index.htm There were also traders aplenty with some superb ranges of locos and rolling stock... and then little old RAILstuff with a selection of scenery and accessories. The thing that really stood out, was the friendliness of members and visitors and the superb organisatio ..read more

It has been fantastic fun visiting the last couple of BP Fairs and meeting so many of you - so much fun in fact we will be back this weekend in Doncaster of all places! Previously we had thought old Donny might be a bit far, but after realising it's basically the same distance for us as Bolton was yesterday then it was time to book in. I've placed a few orders today, 1) to replenish stock sold, and 2) to add to the range based on products you have been asking us for. In the next couple of days, we will be adding some modelling putty items as well as adding some of the super new Humbrol Acrylic ..read more