I’m a BIG fan of Instagram. I find it a huge source of inspiration for my modeling and there are some really great folks there happy to share and suggest ideas. Here’s my list of the best Insta-model train accounts. Follow them now and give your modeling motivation a kick up the proverbial.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMUkJIDBStH/?taken-by=sf_model_maker_
Longtime followers of ModelRailwayEngineer will know Stephen Fay. He’s written a couple of posts here previously (make your own grass, make your own engine shed ash). He posts regularly on Instagram with eye-popping and simply stunning O gauge model work.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOe7n5_A_Iq/?taken-by=modelrailway00
If you like a mix of steam and modern rolling stock, @modelrailwayoo is one to follow. His OO gauge loft layout is a work in progress but it’s a joy to watch it develop and his ideas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BltRCujlwo4/?tagged=modelrailroad
Very similar to the OO photos (above), modelrailroadh0, shows photos the beautiful work but in HO. Although the descriptions are in German, fitting the German railways modeled, I still look forward to seeing the photos for their realism and beauty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWPjgYShpnJ/?taken-by=scratch_built_models
Another modeler who has featured on the blog before, Danny Young aka scratch_built_models. He doesn’t do a lot of railway modeling per se, instead, he’s an expert building modeler. His work is astonishing and always leaves me wanting my own dilapidated shop fronts while also giving me numerous ideas for improving my own models.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkanNQ0l1A9/?taken-by=marklinofsweden
When it comes to glorious landscapes, there are few to rival Martin Tärnrot and his Instagram page marklinofsweden. Just visit his page and look in awe at this stunning modeling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0hnPlleeWL7JWFsj-OaGRViuAewlcKHqq75Q0/?taken-by=sudrianhistories
If you ever buy a standard model train and place it on your layout and think it looks a bit, well, erm, cheap then the remodeled locomotives of Stephen Hatt – sudrianhistories – are for you. On his Instagram page, Stephen reworks old models into stunningly realistic rolling stock.
And of course, there’s my own Instagram account: model railway engineer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhhGddyFOgF/?taken-by=modelrailwayengineer
Here I post photos and occasionally short videos of what I’m up to, how to do things and railways I’ve visited.
> Photo (c) Stephen Hatt
Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.