Make a Scene 2026 launches to inspire new model railway builders

A small N gauge scene, two starter-kit options, and a place in front of the crowds at the NEC are the core of Make a Scene 2026. RAILstuff has launched the nationwide competition with JSModels and TrainTrax, supported by World of Railways, and it is pitched squarely at something the hobby always needs more of: an easier first step into scenic model railway building.

The format is simple and smart. RAILstuff says entrants begin with a compact N gauge scene and then make it their own, with the competition open to all skill levels. That matters. Plenty of people can lay a length of track and run a train; the jump to creating believable scenery, structure placement, ground texture, and atmosphere is where many potential builders stall. By centering a small scene instead of a full layout, Make a Scene 2026 lowers the cost, the space requirement, and the intimidation factor all at once.

The starter kits are built around a HexTrak base module from JSModels, Kato Unitrack supplied by TrainTrax, and scenic materials including foliage, ground cover, RailMatch Sleeper Grime paint, plaster cloth or Modroc, and Sculptamold. Buyers can choose straight track or curved track, which gives the project a clear shape without boxing anyone into one look. RAILstuff says the kits will be shipped in batches at the start of each month, a practical detail that should help entrants plan the build instead of waiting around for parts. It also keeps the project approachable for newcomers who want one contained, finishable scene rather than a room-filling commitment.

There is also a solid community angle here. £2 from every starter kit sold will go to Andy’s Man Club, tying the competition to men’s mental health and the importance of talking. That gives the project a purpose beyond the usual product push, and it is the kind of detail that makes a hobby story easier to share because it connects model railways to daily life, not just display cases.

The timing gives it real momentum too. Finalists will be showcased at the National Festival of Railway Modelling at the NEC in Birmingham on 21st-22nd November 2026, putting finished work in front of one of the biggest audiences in the hobby. The idea builds directly on Hex-TRAK’s earlier appeal as a smaller, simpler, more storage-friendly modular concept with more scenic space than the tight, diorama-style approach of Kato MiniCircus. If Make a Scene works, it will do more than hand out a few prizes. It could turn first-time scenic work into the next generation of layout builders.