YouTube is a great resource for railway modellers, the problem is there are so many videos it can be hard to find quality channels. Here are six of the best YouTube modellers to learn, watch and be inspired by.
According to stats, YouTube has over a billion users and more video is uploaded to YouTube in one month than the 3 major US networks created in 60 years. It’s a huge resource and if you learn by watching it’s hard to beat. But with so many videos online it can be hard to find really useful stuff.
I know I certainly struggle to find the material I’m looking for and often find myself idly watching material completely different to watch I started out to find! At least, that was until I found these six channels that focus on making Hornby (and of course other model railway manufacturer’s) layouts.
But before getting into the compilation, a quick note.
There are plenty of other channels that focus on reviews or demonstrating layouts or showing full-size trains in operation. For this compilation, however, I’ve focused on the construction element of the hobby and picked only channels that offer lots of tips, advice and guides to building railways. A sister post to this will follow on the other aspects of model railways and trains if you’re interested – watch this space.
Everard Junction
An 00 scale UK based model railway based on British Rail around late 1980s being built in loft.
DaveClass47 – Dean Park Station
Follows the build of a layout set in the mid to late 1980’s in Scotland.
Glebe Road Junction
Building a UK based model railway set from the mid 80’s to the present day.
Kevin Tregunna
As a builder of mainly Cornwall themed layouts, I enjoy watching Kevin’s Truro based layout.
(The engine shed featured in this video is available from Scale Model Scenery.
Jenny Kirk
Jenny Kirk will need no introduction if you’ve watched the Great Model Railway Challenge on TV, and her YouTube channel should be any one model railway enthusiasts watch list.https://youtu.be/Ea1OQQEvJMA
Ballan Parkway
Steves Trains
While the above YouTubers are about OO gauge, Steve tends to concentrate on HO and N gauge.
Extra: As an extra, I also highly recommend OORail.
Do you know fantastic YouTube channel for model railway building that I didn’t include here? Help your favourite YouTuber out and share it in a comment and of course, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel: ModelRailwayEngineer on Youtube, where I cover railway construction tips, reviews and reports from exhibitions and shows.
> A final, personal, note: I spend a huge amount of time testing, photographing, writing and researching techniques for these articles and pay for all the running costs of MRE out of my own pocket. If you found this article useful you can support me by making a donation on my fund-raising page. Thanks and happy modelling, Andy.
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.
You can add another one to the list soon – Mike Buick Modelling
What about Budget Model Railways?
Interesting suggestion Josh, I’ll have a look and post something shortly. Thanks, Andy
Watched Everard Junction since Richard extended the layout continued watching in envy including the additional central peninsula, it was sad to see this great layout taken down but the new layout looks very promising. Regards Patrick
Hi Patrick, absolutely. But it’s going to be great watching the new one come together. Andy
Some of these layouts clearly show a far higher standard of modelling and artwork than I am capable of. Nonetheless, I find looking at the work of others both instructive and inspirational.
Hi David, sure but they’re inspiring to watch and give something to aim for. Andy
No model railway youtube things for me, I just see “[wonderplugin_carousel id=”2″]”
You may need to fix this.
Thanks for the heads up. Can you try it now and let me know if works?