Product Description

Railway modelling is as popular as ever today. Its diversity and richness of interest - often with a degree of nostalgia - make the hobby the ideal antidote to the stresses of modern life. This book, a completely new version of Norman Simmons' long-lived "Railway Modelling", first published in 1972 and updated through eight editions, is the ideal companion for today's railway modeller, as it combines traditional modelling techniques and advice with full details of all the new technology that has transformed the hobby in recent years. There can be no better handbook for any model railway enthusiast, novice or expert.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93499 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

About the Author
Iain Rice is one of Britain's best-known model railway authors with 17 books to his credit. He is a regular contributor to British and American model railway magazines, for which he produces his own diagrams and illustrations. He is a highly respected railway modeller with more than 40 years' experience, and lives in Devon.

Customer Reviews

Very interesting and enlightening
Although I didn't get exactly what I expected to out of this book I still found it to be an excellent volume. The author seems to really know his stuff when it comes to realistic modelling of British railways, and I mean very realistic. There is a lot of good background information about both prototypes and models and the focus is on getting the models to accurately represent the prototypes in as many aspects as possible.
The area that I would have liked a lot more on is that of actual techniques for layout construction, scene modelling, weathering, kit-bashing, etc. Don't get me wrong, the author does delve into the actual 'how to' in most areas but he generally only covers the one or two techniques that he uses and then he mostly just broadly describes them and only occasionally includes a photo of the end result. This is where a few more details about the intermediate steps of many techniques accompanied by more photos would have added a lot of value to this book. One exception to this springs to mind - making your own trees - and there are probably one or two other example but none in as much detail as I would have liked.
Another good point about this book though is that in many cases the author discusses good sources of materials and parts and describes any benefits or shortcomings that should be considered when deciding on what to buy and from which manufacturer, particularly with regard to locos and rolling stock.
I have been building model railways for almost 20 years, and because my leaning has been simply towards believable rather than highly realistic models, I found this book quite enlightening and I do recommend it, although again, I would have liked more exposure to new landscaping and finishing techniques and more detail on or alternative approaches to techniques that I already use.

Review on Railway Modelling: The Realistic Way
The best all round railway modelling book since Corkill's Railway Modelling An Introduction way back in 1983. Anyone who read that 100 page book will fully appreciate Ian Rice's expansion in the book to 300 pages. Everything is simply laid out with plenty of coloured photographs. Chapter 4 (Track Work) - His simple explanation and diagrams get rid of your fears on planning and laying trackwork. This leads into Chapter 5 (Layout and Electrics) and as a person who prefers two wires +/- basic wiring and cab control is more fun than going modern into digital dcc. It opens the mind into plenty of ingenuity and helps you to use your imagination. He approaches Landscape Modelling in Chapter 7 with inspirational photographs of models, scenery and backdrops. This book has inspired me to add additional trackwork and improve the general layout and scenery. I have always preferred goods yards and shunting and this is fully covered in Chapter 12 called Operation, especially page 312. The best book I've bought in years.

Railway Modelling: The Realistic Way
I have been interested in railway modelling for a long time but must confess due to other interests my enthusiasm had waned in recent years. I borrowed this book from my local library and, after reading through it, my interest was rekindled.

The author, obviously very knowledgeable in his subject, touches on all aspects of railway modelling from basic planning and construction, electrics and scenery, through to choosing locos and rolling stock. The chapters on the history of the hobby and prototype running I found fascinating.

My only criticism would be that this book is not suitable for an absolute beginner because the author does not go into enough detail and presumes some prior knowledge or understanding of the subject and techniques involved.