JANUARY NEW RELEASES + AI AND WHAT'S NEXT AT MODELU
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Time to read 2 min
This month’s newsletter covers a mix of reflection, new product releases, practical modelling guides, and thoughts on the use of AI.
We start by marking one year since our move to Chipping Sodbury - and what a year it has been. From the renovation of our 3D scanning studio to bringing full-colour 3D printing into the hobby in a way not seen before, it has been a year of change and adaptation.
In 2026, we’re focused on building on the foundations laid in 2025, with new collaborations, new products, and new technologies. Thank you to all our customers for your continued support - we’re excited to share some big news very soon!
January 2026
NEW LINESIDE DETAILS
With thanks to John Chivers, we have added a number of lineside details to the range, including facing point locks, lineside cabinets, and signal pulleys.
NEW DOMESTIC LIFE FIGURES
Our second release features women in domestic life poses from the 1950s and 1960s, hanging washing, and using a mangle - ideal for bringing everyday life to yards and gardens.
EXCESS STOCK SALE
Our excess stock sale is still on and there are many bargains still to be had!
You’ll find discounted items across a broad range of our catalogue, including locomotive crews, passengers, military figures, detailing parts, animals, and accessories, spanning scales including O, OO, 1/72 and 1/48. These are the same high-quality Modelu products, simply offered at a reduced price to clear surplus stock.
FIGURE PAINTING GUIDE
DAN EVASON, of Tunnel Lane Model Railways, shares his figure painting guide, describing his techniques and tips for painting Modelu figurines.
"Figure painting has always been a bit of a mystery to some, almost a dark art! It really is easy to get yourself in twist with the amount of painting products on offer, and techniques on how to go about attempting it."
GUIDE TO STEAM SHEDS
Step inside a Great Western Railway steam loco shed and see how our detailed Modelu figures and accessories bring every stage of a locomotive’s working day to life.
AI and the future of Modelu
Over the last 10 years, many customers have asked whether we can create figures from photographs of loved ones. Until recently, our answer has always been "yes, but not yet...". The technology simply wasn't good enough. That is starting to change.
Recent advances in AI mean we are now able to explore photo-to-model workflows, with results suitable for full-colour and resin 3D printing. The example above, created in a few minutes, was generated from a single photograph of my late father Alf Buttler, bike racing in the 1940s - and shows both the huge potential and limitations. The figure captures him remarkably, the bike less so, with many inaccuracies and 3D printing challenges.
This is an important point - AI isn't perfect, and it isn't a replacement for 3D scanning, digital sculpting, CAD, or real-world reference. But used carefully, it becomes another powerful tool - that opens new possibilities for customers who can't attend events or visit our studio, and it allows us to explore new product ideas which were previously out of reach.
We'll be sharing more thoughts on AI as our position and offerings develop, and how we will use it responsibly alongside the technologies we already trust. Working with real people, with real lived experience, will always remain our first choice when creating new products. Authenticity and accuracy will always be at the heart of Modelu.