Comparison

Model Engineer vs British Railway Modelling

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Model Engineer

Explore the world of mechanical models, from vintage steam locomotives to modern engineering marvels. Access constructional articles, technique guides, and prototype profiles. Published 26 times a year, this app offers current and back issues for purchase.

Highlights
  • Constructional articles
  • Technique and tool guides
  • Prototype profiles
  • Current and back issue purchases
  • Digital subscription options
  • Cross-platform access via pocketmags account
Features
Read full description

Model Engineer is a great way to stay informed of everything to do with working mechanical models. With over 100 years of experience to draw on, Model Engineer covers everything from classic steam locomotives to cutting-edge modern developments in scale engineering. Regular content includes constructional articles, features on the best techniques and tools available and profiles of full-size modelling subject prototypes. Model Engineer magazine publishes 26 great issues a year. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

British Railway Modelling

This app offers a digital edition of a popular model railway magazine, featuring layouts, practical advice, and product reviews. It includes bonus content like extra pictures and videos, and provides access to exhibitions. Save money by downloading the app and purchasing issues or subscriptions digitally.

Highlights
  • Digital magazine issues
  • Model layout photography
  • Practical modelling advice
  • Product reviews
  • Bonus digital content
  • Exhibition information
Features
Read full description

BRM (British Railway Modelling) now includes TRACTION magazine with every issue! BRM showcases the best layouts in all of the popular gauges, offers easy-to-follow practical articles to help improve your modelling and includes the latest new product news and reviews from the biggest brands like Hornby, Bachmann, Accurascale, Rapido and more. BRM is published every four weeks which means you get your British Railway Modelling fix 13 times a year! And, BRM also brings you four annual model railway exhibitions – make sure you have them in your diary. The BRM Digital Edition is full of bonus content such as more pictures, even more video and extra articles. Download the BRM app today and save money on your favourite magazine! BRM combines the very best model railways, easy-to-follow expert modelling advice and the latest in-depth product reviews. Download the BRM app now It prides itself on including the very best layout photography with RMweb editor, Andy York, responsible for the majority of the stunning imagery found within the magazine. Whether a beginner or an experienced modeller, BRM magazine is unbeatable value and always packed full of inspirational features and easy to understand technical help. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest issue. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

Screenshots

Model Engineer1 screens
British Railway Modelling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: British Railway Modelling at 4.8 against Model Engineer's 4.4. British Railway Modelling also leads on update cadence (every 7 months vs every 16 months). Model Engineer's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Model Engineer sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $22.99 per 3 months and British Railway Modelling sells 25 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

British Railway Modelling holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 19 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Model Engineer ships an update every 16 months, British Railway Modelling every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Model Engineer versus British Railway Modelling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel EngineerBritish Railway Modelling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (12 ratings)4.8 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1219 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.2 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMortons Media Group LtdWarners Group Publications PLC

Customer experience

Model Engineer

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

British Railway Modelling

All ratings19 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral15.4%
Negative34.6%

In-app purchases

15 purchases

Model Engineer

Subscriptions3
  • Model Engineer Auto-Renewable Subscriptions1 Month trial$22.993 Months
  • Model Engineer Auto-Renewable Subscriptions1 Month trial$44.996 Months
  • Model Engineer Auto-Renewable Subscriptions1 Month trial$51.991 Year
One-time12
  • Vol. 209 No. 4438 (id:377458)$3.99
  • 4528 (id:413119)$3.99
  • 4529 (id:413121)$3.99
Show 9 more
  • 4536 (id:413135)$3.99
  • 4540 (id:413143)$3.99
  • 4670 (id:493511)$3.99
  • 4527 (id:370106)$3.99
  • 4525 (id:379801)$3.99
  • No. 214 Vol. 4506 (id:403682)$3.99
  • 4582 (id:450649)$3.99
  • 25 Years of Mod... (id:799136)$6.99
  • The Best of Mod... (id:807404)$7.99
25 purchases

British Railway Modelling

Subscriptions6
  • British Railway Modelling Auto Subscriptions$4.491 Month
  • BRM Auto Renewable Subscription$5.991 Month
  • British Railway Modelling Auto Subscriptions$18.996 Months
Show 3 more
  • BRM Auto Renewable Subscription$28.496 Months
  • British Railway Modelling Auto Subscriptions$58.991 Year
  • BRM Auto Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$58.991 Year
One-time19
  • British Railway... (id:480529)$2.99
  • World of Railwa... (id:649037)$2.99
  • Guide to Scenery (id:714658)$2.99
Show 16 more
  • Guide to Weathe... (id:725464)$2.99
  • Best of BRM Sp... (pp:1023631)$3.99
  • BRM Guide to La... (id:485355)$3.99
  • Guide to Modell... (id:774753)$4.99
  • August 2014 *BU... (id:796711)$5.99
  • The BRM guide t... (id:796865)$5.99
  • The BRM Guide T... (id:792636)$5.99
  • The BRM guide t... (id:792639)$5.99
  • The BRM guide t... (id:789234)$5.99
  • Nov 2022 (id:782177)$5.99
  • Jul-23 (id:725452)$5.99
  • Dec 24 (pp:1001681)$5.99
  • BRM ANNUAL 2013 (id:796509)$5.99
  • BRM Live (id:796650)$5.99
  • BRM Live - Camp... (id:796647)$5.99
  • Feb 26 (pp:1126780)$6.99

Questions

Is Model Engineer free?
Model Engineer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is British Railway Modelling free?
British Railway Modelling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Model Engineer or British Railway Modelling?
British Railway Modelling is rated higher. Model Engineer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while British Railway Modelling averages 4.8 from 19 ratings.
Do Model Engineer or British Railway Modelling have ads?
Neither Model Engineer nor British Railway Modelling shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Model Engineer or British Railway Modelling?
Model Engineer ships an update every 16 months, and British Railway Modelling every 7 months. Most recently, Model Engineer was updated on September 4, 2026 and British Railway Modelling on September 21, 2026.

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