 | Modelling Books Published |  |
| Modelling Books Published | |
| The 4mm Wagon Part Three | Wild Swan | |||
| Geoff Kent | £16.95 | 160 pages | Softback | 2004 |
| The third and final part of a trilogy covering conflats, containers, wagons for long loads and brake vans. Apart from featuring some key brake van designs in excellent detail, I think this is the best book of the three - and the first two were both very good. This final volume also sets out to cover various finishing touches and features numerous excellent photographs of details that whilst of great importance to the modeller are rarely seen. I predict that this will be one of Wild Swan's fastest selling books, highly recommended to 4mm modellers of nearly all persuasions. | ||||
| Alex Jackson The Man and the Coupling | Scalefour Society | |||
| Dave Booth | £6.00 | 55 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| I have to confess that part of the appeal of this book to me is the biographical detail on Alex Jackson, a talented modeller who rose to some sort of prominence in the immediate post war period with a very well engineered and modelled 3/8 scale "Gauge One" garden railway. Defecting to 4mm scale he was one of the group of Manchester modellers who pioneered a more "finescale" approach to modelling, espousing 2 rail pick up and more precise track standards amongst other things. Alex also developed a novel coupling, which is the main subject of this book. Aside from being a really practical guide to making and using these unobtrusive couplings, this is also a good read and an intelligent discourse that touches on many aspects of modelling, including names from the past and their influence on the post war scene. I have one tiny gripe, the book is not laminated so the cover will eventually mark. This minor quibble aside the book is superbly well produced and printed. | ||||
| Building Micro Layouts Design Tips, Techniques and Project Plans | Santona | |||
| Paul A Lunn | £12.99 | 64 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| I find layout planning books, with few exceptions, to be fatally fascinating. A diverting sequence of someone else's schemes, all with the potential to deliver endless hours of vicarious pleasure whilst achieving nothing. Of course some might just inspire a reader into building something, and this book may well come into that category. Building upon and referencing the author's various articles in "Railway Modeller" the book consists of a number of dimensioned and well reasoned layout ideas together with helpful observations and thoughts around the subject. Does it really hit the mark though? Carl Arendt, master of the Micro Layout genre, gave me this quote: "A well crafted, thoroughly thought-out and copiously illustrated book. Paul Lunn succeeds in connecting the design of micro layouts with the mainstream of British model railway practice... no small feat!". I think the implied criticism is fair, this book is mainstream. If you are looking for startling originality and a move away from RTR stock, 4mm scale and "Setrack" then this may not be for you. It's still good though and very nicely produced and printed to boot. | ||||
| Carl Arendt's Small Layout Scrapbook | Carl Arendt | |||
| Carl Arendt | £12.95 | 64 pages | Softback | 2006 |
| A very welcome reprise to Carl's earlier books, both now out of print and unobtainable. The theme is minimum space railway modelling, with minimum space being loosely defined as smaller than 4 X 6 feet, although most models featured here are significantly smaller. Built upon the ever growing number of contributions to his very interesting website at www.carendt.us, this is a fantastically diverse collection of well modelled railways, each of which offers above average visual and even operating interest. The contributors come from around the globe, literally, and the number of models displayed here and on the website are testament to the great influence and inspiration that Carl has provided - no mean achievement! | ||||
| How To Design A Small Switching Layout | Lance Mindheim | |||
| Lance Mindheim | £15.50 | 70 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Moving on from his three earlier books, Lance here describes how he goes about designing small switching layouts from the most basic of principles right through to considering the details of operation and construction. I think this is a very refreshing book, to give just one example the author's definition of a good design is one which provides the maximum amount of enjoyment given your circumstances. Maybe that's not too revolutionary a notion but it is typical of the originality and common sense that is displayed throughout this piece of work. As in earlier editions all illustrations are in full colour and encompass both prototype and model shots together with a lot of schematics and diagrams. | ||||
| Layout Designs for Operation | Atlantic | |||
| Stephen Rabone and Trevor Ridley | £16.99 | 96 pages | Softback | 2006 |
| The first named author of this book has been responsible for two of the more interesting layouts to have appeared in the model press recently, in the form of "Hellifield" in 4mm scale and "Halifax Midland" ingeniously scratchbuilt in S scale. Both feature in this catholic collection of model railway ideas, half of which cover prototypes outside of the UK. Each idea is attractively presented with photographs and descriptions of the prototypeto be depicted and the layout sketches are particularly well done. Whilst the coverage of non UK prototypes may not be to everyone's taste, I thought that the choice of prototype was interesting and well done. In a final chapter Stephen describes his own layout building "history" from the point of view of the evolution and exploration of various themes and ideas. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 180 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| From January 2008, main feature is a retrospective on "High Dyke", letters record Guy Williams sad passing. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 181 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Early 2008 found Tim extolling the virtues of ebay, the 5th part of Don Rowland's freight based layout description and Paul Marchese recalls the work of the recently late Mike Jolly. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 182 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Spring 2008 saw "The Big Freeze" featured, John Dornom's breathtaking 7mm diorama of mother and son waiting for an autotrain in the snow. Also lots of stuff on iron ore hoppers and first glimpses of "Pempoul". | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 183 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Featuring Barry Norman's take on Kier Hardy's "Wibdenshawe" and a return visit to Jas Millham's S scale Yaxbury branch. Tim Shackleton suggests modelling in the dark. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 184 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Summertime saw the editor extolling the virtues of editing whilst Gerry Beale S&D-ified the new Hornby Black 5 and Midsomer Norton South was featured in 2mm scale. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 185 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Largely featuring Gordon and Maggie Gravett's stunning "Pempoul", with Alan Whitehose's exquisite "Mini MSW" tucked in at the end. Tim in moderate doom and gloom mode re. exhibitions. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 186 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| Good BR Blue issue, Kier Hardy's very informative article on detailing an "03" and a colour pictorial feature on Hywel Thomas's magnificent "Morfa Bank Sidings". | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 187 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Hardback | 2008 |
| The last issue of 2008 featured "Night-time on Dubbieside" plus the usual mix of other finescale fare. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 188 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| More iron ore hoppers, Coventy in 7mm scale and Chris Pendenton's Deltic of impeccable mechanical verissimilitude - rather him than me. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 189 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Featuring Mike Anson's "Western Road" diesel depot, part two of Chris Pendlenton's Deltic article (covering body mods) and a really believable scratchbuilt "Pannier" in 4mm scale. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 190 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Tim Shackleton waxes lyrical about Class 66 movements at Ipswich, "pictures at an exhibition" is pleasantly diverting and significant layouts in both P4 and EM are featured. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 191 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Featuring portakabins for "Widnes Vine Yard" on the cover, incredibly well modelled but making for one of the the least visually appealing MRJs ever produced in my opinion. Articles inside are varied and interesting however. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 192 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Tim Shackleton's last issue as editor, featuring what can only have been a valedictory editorial, when viewed in hindsight. Articles include "Welton Down" and Cyril Freezer's passing is marked. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 193 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Featuring Roy Jackson as guest editor, building 2mm scale Wath electrics by Alan Whitehouse and including what must rank as one of the best letters ever published, from Dave Rowe recalling the late Cyril Freezer. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 194 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| One of better issues of recent years, Don Rowland is in the chair and articles include "Blea Moor" then due to appear at Warley for a potentially final appearance. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 195 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Chris Pendlenton "in the chair" for this issue, its been snowing at North Shields and we are taken to see the busy parcels traffic before Christmas - fantastic. Other articles cover equally ambitious and effective P4 layouts and there is a Christmas quiz. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 196 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2010 |
| Malcolm Mitchell is the guest editor for this issue, which covers a good range of subjects and scales with a majority covering architectural modelling subjects. The work of the past master George Illife Stokes is featured, including the superb colour picture on the cover. | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 198 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2010 |
| A good solid "Northern" issue, Martin Nield is the editor and his theme is operating, backed up by an article on his ongoing L&Y layout later in the issue. Also features the colourful "Lowburn Park" NER in P4 and a truly breathtaking 2mm model of the "Victoria Viaduct" on the Leamside line, about which I was previously ignorant - what a structure! | ||||
| Model Railway Journal 199 | Wild Swan | |||
| Various | £3.75 | 40 pages | Softback | 2010 |
| Edited by Barry Norman, this issue is a celebration of the "Half One" society, otherwise known as S scale. A good mix of inspirational modelling and some "how to do it" articles, Maurice Hopper explores the possibilities of resin casting and Robin Fielding impresses with a very neat fiddle yard idea. | ||||
| Model Railway Planning and Design Handbook | Santona | |||
| Steve Flint | £18.95 | 96 pages | Softback | 2004 |
| This is a highly original and very inspirational colour compendium of model railway thoughts, designs and models. It is ingeniously laid out as five themed chapters which each reflect the styles and thoughts of five different modellers; Steve Flint, Paul Lunn, Neil Ripley, Ken Gibbons and Jack Burnard. The uniformly excellent quality of the photography graphics and print reproduction together with the quality of thought and modelling of the contributors has created one of the most pleasing books on the subject ever produced - it is certainly the best colour book on model railways that I have yet seen. As the compiler Steve Flint observes we are living in a new age of model railways where the quality of British outline ready to run models far exceeds anything previously available. The book sets out to show schemes which are fundamentally "railwaylike" rather than "finescale", and in doing so provides a fascinating counterpoint to the superb but very different books and modelling approaches espoused by Wild Swan - every bit as intelligent but completely different. This book, I suspect, may be the harbinger of a quiet revolution in British railway modelling. | ||||
| A Modellers Handbook of Painting and Lining | Wild Swan | |||
| Ian Rathbone | £21.95 | 154 pages | Softback | 2008 |
| A very complete account of how an experienced painter sets about finishing railway models. Right through from tools, materials, preparation, cleaning, priming, top coating and the multifarious complexities of lining, every single stage is explained and illustrated in great detail. Apart from a very few prototype reference shots, every single photograph in this book is in colour - a first for Wild Swan and beautifully and believably printed too. The only thing is that the quality of Ian's work is so good that it makes me wonder whether I could or would ever produce anything even approaching his standard. Patience and practice are the keys according to Ian. Oh well - I believe he accepts commissions! | ||||
| Modelling Irish Railways | Midland Publishing | |||
| Stephen Johnson and Alan O'Rourke | £14.99 | 88 pages | Softback | 2004 |
| This is an exceptionally well illustrated book, consisting of excellent and mostly colour photographs of fine models in various scales, together with prototype photographs and information. Separate chapters cover prototype track layouts and signalling and operation together with numerous other aspects of the subject - looking at the coverage I do not think that all this information has ever before been assembled in one publication. Useful appendices give addresses of Irish model manufacturers, 4mm track standards and sources of further information. In summary I think the book succeeds in being an inspirational springboard towards modelling Irish railways | ||||
| Modelling Scotland's Railways | Santona | |||
| Ian Futers | £18.95 | 112 pages | Softback | 2006 |
| I first "met" Ian Futers during the infamous three day week when he introduced readers of the Railway Modeller to his clever circular "Glen Douglas" layout in the truncated March 1974 issue. The whole concept of simple track layout on a continuous curve coupled with characterful structure modelling was brilliant and was one of the very first of a whole series of atmospheric Scottish themed layouts that Ian has since built. Using both Ian's models and those of others, this densely packed book develops numerous authentic Scottish themes into attractive and practical model railway ideas. As with Steve Flint's earlier modelling books the use of colour and general layout and look of the book is extremely effective. The photographs are particularly well chosen and reproduced and cover a wide range of eras and subjects, including many atmospheric and informative colour photographs of structures and stations. All eras up until the present day are covered and I unreservedly recommend this excelllent book to anyone with an interest in its subjects. | ||||
| Railway Modelling the Realistic Way | Haynes Publishing | |||
| Iain Rice | £19.99 | 352 pages | Hardback | 2007 |
| Published at the end of 2007, this is a very worthy successor to Norman Simmons widely read and published "textbook" to small scale railway modelling. I very much like the Iain's writing style, notwithstanding a tad too many tads, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this book. A self confessed member of the finescale movement, I think Iain gives us a very cogent and intelligent analysis of where UK railway modelling is and how it got there together with a great deal of practical information and advice on how to do it. Other comments are that it inevitably majors on 4mm scale and tends to cover the historic/steam era railway, although definitely not to the exclusion of other areas. Overall this is a really good read and an interesting summary of UK railway modelling in the early 21st Century. | ||||
| 8 Realistic Track Plans For A Spare Room | Lance Mindheim | |||
| Lance Mindheim | £14.50 | 52 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Eight innovative schemes for secondary railroad models in a spare room of 12 feet by eleven feet. Using his experience as a practising builder of model railroads for paying customers, Lance can be relied upon to produce truly practicable schemes. Based on diesel powered lines actually "experienced" by the author, the book consists of photographs of the suggested prototype, some model shots and full page scaled and detailed track plans for each scheme. | ||||
| 8 Realistic Track plans For Small Switching Layouts | Lance Mindheim | |||
| Lance Mindheim | £14.50 | 50 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Eight fairly fully developed schemes for North American switching layouts, either tied directly to individual prototype railroads or composites of several actual railroads. Printed in full colour and full of prototype inspiration, general building tips, model pictures and scale plans of each scheme. The author is a professional builder of benchwork and layouts so knows what he is about. | ||||
| Scottish Layout Projects | Santona | |||
| Ian Futers | £12.99 | 64 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| Ian Futers, for a while synonymous with circular North British branch line layouts, in this book takes us on a colourful, inspiring and "whistlestop" tour of Scottish layout possibilities. Combining model photography with prototype details and pictures and also featuring full colour and scenically developed track plans, the themes are all pleasing adaptations or combinations of fact and fantasy. I especially liked the sketches of the schemes by Neil Ripley, in some ways a sort of updated and coloured version of Alex Bowie's visualisations in the old "Model Railway News". | ||||
| A Scratchbuilders Guide to Semaphore Signal Construction | Wild Swan | |||
| Peter Squibb | £19.95 | 108 pages | Softback | 2010 |
| A very well illustrated and informed guide to making signals, although I have a feeling that the words GWR ought to have been included somewhere in the title. Peter makes the most magnificent and authentic model signals, the results of meticulous and well observed modelling coupled with a knowledge of the subject gained from a lifetime spent working with the real thing. Subjects are mostly GWR as are a large majority of the photographs in the book, although the modelling techniques shown can obviously apply to any company's signals. There are some very good and original techniques shown, including the construction of lattice posts, and the whole book is beautifully produced and extremely well illustrated, with good use of colour photography for the models. | ||||
| Stucco and Pastels | Lance Mindheim | |||
| Lance Mindheim | £14.00 | 60 pages | Softback | 2009 |
| An unusual and striking collection of images of the architecture scenes and railway operations along the "Downtown Spur", a truncated section of ex Seaboard Air Line right of way in Miami which now serves a diverse collection of shippers and industries. Printed in full colour, this book is aimed at modellers and is full of superb atmosphere and detail, reminiscent of the Miami of "Casablanca or possibly more "Crockett and Tubbs" - fantastic either way. | ||||