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The Newcomer's Guide to Model Railways: A Step-by-step Guide to the Complete Layout (Library of Railway Modelling)

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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
The Newcomer's Guide to Model Railways: A Step-by-step Guide to the Complete Layout (Library of Railway Modelling)

Brian sent in a copy of his book and I've been looking it over the last few weeks. It is a good read full of useful information.



I am sure it would appeal to a keen beginner, but it is actually quite detailed and could be used as a reference book for experienced modellers too. What interested me was seeing in detail how DC layouts are set up (I never had any complicated DC layout as I got stuck into DCC from the outset). Anyone wanting to set-up isolated power sections and multiple controllers on a DC layout will find this useful.

The book is laid out well with good clear diagrams and fresh well-photographed colour photos throughout. The structure is what you would expect from an "all-in-one" beginners book with chapters on scale, layout design, benchwork, track-work, landscaping, electrical installation, point control, control panels, DCC (at the end as usual).

I actually found the DCC section to be a bit light and expected more depth - knowing how Brian likes the subject so much.

I suppose with an all-encompassing book like this there is a need to cover everything and deliver it in a manageable package - and that does limit the depth and scope of some sections.

Do I recommend the book? Yes I do. It's now the best one of this genre in my bookshelf - the others suffering from "last century" syndrome. Although this is not ultra-modern, it does move on a bit from the black and white days of yore. I'm sure that I'll be dipping into it every now and then for info.

Get it at Amazon, your favourite bookshop or from the publishers: Silver Link, Nostalgia Collection.

All the best with the book sales Brian, looking forward to the next one.
 
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#2 ·
looks like it could be a must have, wonder if Brian would sign it for me - I seem to recall he lives round my way somewhere....

Regards
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all
Doug
Many thanks for the review. Great to see the book on the forum

Britho (Dave)
You're correct I believe, as I'm Ashford Kent based. I guess that may be local to you?

Of course I'll sign copies, do you have a copy already?
If not, I can supply forum members signed new copies including P & P in the UK for £14.59 per book, which is a saving of £3.40 on the published price of £17.99 and postage is included.

If you or anyone else would like one please P.M. me for further details.

Cheers
Brian
 
#5 ·
QUOTE (Brian @ 18 Sep 2009, 10:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Britho (Dave)
You're correct I believe, as I'm Ashford Kent based. I guess that may be local to you?
Of course I'll sign copies, do you have a copy already?

I will check the disposable income - and PM as soon as I have done so.

Regards
 
#8 ·
Hi all
Many thanks for the comments chaps

Just to update you.... My publishers (Silver Link) have sold out of the first print run! 2,250 copies sold since beginning of August '09.
They have requested a further 1,000 as a second print run from the printers, which apparently are to be delivered to them around the 11th of December and shipped out to the book wholesalers!
 
#9 ·
QUOTE (Brian @ 9 Dec 2009, 10:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi all
Many thanks for the comments chaps

Just to update you.... My publishers (Silver Link) have sold out of the first print run! 2,250 copies sold since beginning of August '09.
They have requested a further 1,000 as a second print run from the printers, which apparently are to be delivered to them around the 11th of December and shipped out to the book wholesalers!
That's got to put a smile on anyones face especially this time of year.
Frame
(I'll pm you when mistress B gets home from work)
 
#12 ·
We have loads of books, dvd's and video tapes (not only train and model railway subjects) and despite having quite a large house we are getting to the saturation stage when it comes to storage.

I'm looking forward to specialised books such as Brian's being available electronically in a format that allows use of different equipment. It should be cheaper to produce and distribute and therefore cheaper to purchase; we may save a few trees as well.

I wonder when e-books (or something similar) will take over from traditional means of transmitting data.
 
#13 ·
QUOTE (BobB @ 25 Aug 2010, 05:22) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>We have loads of books, dvd's and video tapes (not only train and model railway subjects) and despite having quite a large house we are getting to the saturation stage when it comes to storage.

I'm looking forward to specialised books such as Brian's being available electronically in a format that allows use of different equipment. It should be cheaper to produce and distribute and therefore cheaper to purchase; we may save a few trees as well.

I wonder when e-books (or something similar) will take over from traditional means of transmitting data.

Hi Bob,

I don't have a storage problem - all my books ect are kept at the Euroscale/St.Laurent Library (AKA BRITHO's).


Don't really think that having more media available will save many trees though - we will be forever printing out odd pages here & there - especially technical books for reference as we are building/constructing things - it's still easier to flick through a few pages than a few screens, or indeed scan several "real" pages at once.

Personally, I will never get an "e-book" - after all, an e-book will not survive a dunking in the bath & in any case a real book does not need batteries.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi All

I must admit I like real books , but I have 100s of thousands of pages in PDF form of Service sheets , DCC Conversions ,Manuals and "how to"s including a few assembled form members posts on weathering (Erkut's) and scenery (Neil's)

The main advantage of having them on the computer is the ability to "search" using software .For example , I can put the running number of a loco in the search part of Acrobat reader and it will find all documents or parts of documents the number comes up in.

But never the less I will be buying Brian's book because I do like to hold a book in my hands and sit down in a comfortable chair,
I just wish it was in hard back

Regards

Zmil
 
#17 ·
I have somewhere around a thousand books and publications, not to mention old magazines, on the subject, plus of course -

QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 25 Aug 2010, 06:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't have a storage problem - all my books ect are kept at the Euroscale/St.Laurent Library (AKA BRITHO's).

Which is why I don't have any spare space...........

QUOTE (zmil @ 25 Aug 2010, 08:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I must admit I like real books................
............I do like to hold a book in my hands and sit down in a comfortable chair,
Absolutely.

Funnily enough I can normally find exactly what I'm looking for within minutes.

Regards
 
#20 ·
QUOTE (zmil @ 25 Aug 2010, 09:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Dave you must have an organized mind! or all your books etc are in order or in a system you can understand
To be totally honest it's a mixture of both, especially easy are those books I use a lot.


Regards
 
#21 ·
I like the look and feel of 'proper' books as well, especially when they are new and you can smell the paper and ink !

It's just that space is a problem; I'd rather use electronic books than dispose of old ones to make room for new.

Also, it seems to me, that electronic distribution is very much suited to specialist type subjects with small potential purchasers. Whilst Brian's book may well have sold very well for its subject matter, it's hardly likely to get onto a best sellers list, even if everyone on the forum buys a copy.

I suppose sooner or later every book will be available electronically - it only needs a publisher such as I Allen to take the plunge and see an increase in profits and after that we will probably end up not having a choice regardless of our preferences.
 
#23 ·
QUOTE (Sir Dubalot @ 25 Aug 2010, 19:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Plus collecting books is another thing I do, Ive collected some quite old railway books already
I know what you mean Willy - I think the oldest book I have was printed by the M.S.& L.R. in about 1875. It's operating instructions for charging for goods.

Regards
 
#24 ·
QUOTE printed by the M.S.& L.R. in about 1875. It's operating instructions for charging for goods.

Do you use it for training Euroscale staff?


David
 
#25 ·
Not exactly David, the rules of Euroscale are:

1) Brian's in charge.

2) see 1)

This is of course the version submitted by Ford Prefect.

Regards
 
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