Railway Modelling - The Realistic way
well....I've had a pleasant evening` without telly and other banal distractions....reading quite a lot of the above book.
so
far.............:-the title
is:-
RAILWAY MODELLING.. the realistic way...author...Iain Rice.
ISBN no. 978 1 84425 359 3
published by Haynes Publishing..[of motor book fame]...jacket price £19.99....but mine was less through Amazon....I had spotted the forthcoming release way back in October, and had ''pre-ordered'.
The book is a 9 1/2" by 7" hardback...a good one inch thick...so this is no mere insubstantial manual!
The book runs to 350 pages, including an index and list of other relevant books and websites..[doesn't mention this one, though]
Contained within are lots of photos, colour and B/W......of model and prototype........plus some diagrams, [layout plans/suggestions] also coloured.....
Published December 2007....I don't know what 'lead' time there was...but from reading I suspect at least middle 2007, judging by the information??..[the ''Introduction'' is dated, autumn 2007....]
So as a manual, it's pretty up-to-date....however,in matters like DCC, new models, etc, there is little that can be done, owing to the pace of change within the model railway world.
Iain Rice acknowledges that this book is an update..or 'follow-on' from the older Railway modelling books of Norman Simmons...still available from Amazon, etc.
This is done via the 'Introduction' .....as is a lot of ''pre-empting' of potential critiscm of the book contents..and acknowledgement of other points of view.....so the author is being suitably humble about his work.....an attribute I notice repeatedly in his writings!
The author also observes that, as time passes, more and more modellers are of an age whereby they would not have ever seen the prototype actually at work.
Therefore, for many, the only glimpse of what went on for real, is via picture, book, or film.
[indeed, the BR blue diesel era is now fast fading from memory??]
Therefore, throughout this book the author tries to show what ACTUALLY went on in the age of steam trains.etc.
Chapter 1 is a substantial, 25 page work covering the historical aspects of our hobby....explaining clearly stuff like WHY we have OO, HO, etc.....historical background which I feel is essential information to a newcomer to this hobby...as it 'explains' an awful lot of imponderables......as quite a few threads herein attest??
One ''interesting'' observation I noted was the author's conclusion that in fact, MODEL RAILWAYS/TRAINS preceeded the actual prototype!!!!!!!!!
Sorts out the 'chicken and egg'' thing, then?
we were first!
The prototype followed!
Anyhow...I digress...as usual.
having established the reasons for the mish-mash of scales, gauges a newcomer , Mr Rice then goes on to chapter 2,covering 'PLANNING A MODEL RAILWAY'.
He points out that there is a huge difference between setting out a 'track plan'....and 'planning a model railway'.
With this in mind, the author leads the reader right through the COMPLETE process, from deciding one wants a model railway.....to actually being ready to achieve it.
He covers selecting a site..or sites, for one's model......nothing new there, Peco have done so for years..as has everybody else....but the author does hilight a lot of ''considerations' regarding 'site' that generally get 'glossed over' by other books.
Although based on personal experience, the author tries to forewarn of pitfalls which can lead to cessation of interest.
PLUS, he suggests ideas for sites that most others seem to ignore in their generalisation...........albeit, much of hte author's information has been extracted from his previous writings over the past 20 years!....but then, only someone like me would realise that...I have most of his books already!.
His main emphasis for design is to adopt a holistic view of one's project....rather than a specific one...[have I used the right 'word' there?]
so EVERYTHING needs to be considered, planned for.....not just the track.......sometimes its a better idea to consider the scenery first, for example?
This is one of the first 'beginner's 'guides that I have read, which pays a good deal of attention to truly PORTABLE layouts......as distinct from 'transportable' layouts.......and the author also raises the issue of model railways, with NO fixed site....ie those not 'permanently' housed, either in room, shed, or shelf...etc.
In this age of incredibly small living spaces, the idea of a ''no-site' layout must be a good kick-starter?
The author also suggests what I consider a valid, [and novel] idea if space is non-existent.....of building not just one 'no-space' layout.....but several!!
Hence...one could have, to fit within one's dimensional criteria....[and stored in a cupboard when not used, for example..or under the bed??]....several DIFFERENT model railways......of very diferent models/prototypes.
hence perhaps a steam age model...for those nice rtr steamers one collects...then perhaps a European model, perhaps DB or whatever.....or a US -type .....narrow gauge....whatever has taken one's fancy, for protoytpe, AND topic.
To me this idea has the supreme advantage of reducing the likelyhood of the modeller going 'stale'.....which can happen when involved with a larger project?
Pretty near ALL the questions I have read on this forum from beginners, new-comers, etc regarding model railway design, are answered clearly and comprehensively...and simply.....in this chapter....well worth ploughing through.
Next chapter goes on to recommend minimum tool requirements......pretty much as has been said elsewhere....sorting the site out...and constructing baseboards.
Here Iain Rice diverges from the 'accepted' doctrines regarding baseboard construction......with but a brief overview of the 'normal' recommendations regarding 2 x 1 inch frames, chipboard, etc.....and an observation by a professional boat builder on these ideas.....and leads the reader into 'alternative' suggestions.
All have been aired in the past......but where Mr Rice differs from previous authors of books of this type is that he gives more attention to the non-''conventional'' ideas.........which tend to get 'glossed- over'' in other books.
Needless to say, all his advice has been soundly tested over the past 30 years.
but it differs quite a lot from that usually put forward.
''Presentation'' is also given a lot of page space...important if one has a model that is a bit ''in yer face'' as far as the rest of the family are concerned??
The next chapter covers track.........in all its model aspects, as well as prototype....and emphasises many of the complaints seen recently regarding the likes of Peco Streamline, etc....having said that, the author devotes a lot of space to praising Peco, and describing their product......to be fair.
But what the author also does..is INCLUDE ''finescale'' track, and self-build PW.....actually describing what and how to do it..rather than glossing over the idea as being of no real value to a modelling novice.
The chapter on 'electrics' is comprehensive...includes a good deal about DCC.....praises are sung there...and concludes with the idea that DCC is the 'way forward'...but may not be for 'everybody'...as it really depends on what one wants to do with one's model?....and acknowledges that many may already have long-standing 'commitment' to DC...and the expense of converting may be somewhat of concern.
The author does end by writing that, if one IS starting 'from scratch'..then DCC ought to be the only consideration.
There is an entire chapter on signals, and point control........emphasing the 'real' order of things with train operation.
Much space is devoted to what 'the real thing' did, and why....before going on the advise on how to model..and get working.
The chapter on 'landscaping ' gets a full 30 pages.....ranging in advice, from 'inspiration', season [important]..presentation, again.....very important, since a model railway is also 'theatre??'.....pitfalls to avoid, scenicly....to advice on creating simple, lightweight landforms.....
there is a recent thread on tis forum sharing concerns over the 'scenery'.....an evening with this chapter alone would have dispelled all fears??
Much is made of new scenic products available.
The chapter covering 'structures is well written, and well observed....covering all the various methods of achieving a degree of realism.
Covered are 'new' products like Scaledale, and plaster kits...as well as the old faithfulls, like plastic and card.
Motive Power comes next.....an interesting 'take' on the subject....and one that I have to admit to advising over the years to newcomers....but can get roundly ignored.
Mr Rice starts off this chapter by asking the question, of what is/are the right locos for the job?
[especially regarding the layout being built?]
Whilst acknowledging the glamour pussies such as the Gresley A4's, Duchesses, Kings, BOB's, etc.....he roundly puts them in their rightful boxes.....right at the end with but a whimper.....leading the reader on to the 'real' workhorses of the railway...and why they were created.
Thus he specifically starts with the 0-6-0 tender loco!.....
this was the most prevalent type in the age of steam.....and the most useful....forming the backbone of railway operations...
In other words, primarily 'general purpose' engines.....being used on all classes of train, from humble freight turns, to express passenger trains.
Built by pretty much every company for these purposes.
0-6-0 tanks [and related beasts] also fall into this category.
How many out there with layouts, started out with an 0-6-0 loco.....?
Or was a Pendolino..or its steam equivalent, the primary motive power sought?
yet going back over the years, the advice from all like Freezer, etc was...to start with a general purpose loco...rather than a glory boy?
Not too many in the current manufacturers' catalogues, I see?
Mr Rice goes on to describe the Mixed Traffic locos...then the specialised locos..which were, relativley, few and far between...such as, the big freight locos, and the top link express passenger locos.
shunters get cover, as do passenger tanks, diesels, electrics and contemporary power....equally in depth.
THEN Mr Rice goes on to the models....describing the various ways of acquiring the necessary power for your layout....RTR various types of kit, etc......and including observations for 'finescale' modelling, etc......advice on building, modifying, etc.
Two chapters on rolling stock...coaches, followed by wagons......both dealing with the prototype first....from way back, to present day....what, AND how it was used, etc...going on to the models..what is available, kits and how best to tackle, etc....and upgrades, advice, running and maintenance.....
Finally a chapter covering operation......what was actually done, through the ages..rules, regualtions...even a good descritiion of how the various forms of shunting were conducted.
I say 'finally'...the book ends wit a 13 page chapter on 'couplings'......obviously linked intrinsically with 'operation'....the author describes the 'history' of the various types of coupling used by modellers, their advantages and drawbacks.
Also, equal space is devoted to the more specialised couplings, designed to try and address the shortcomings of those designs used by the big makers.
I really must find out more about Iain Rice's own, home-made couplers......a tantalysing mention is made, including a picture...I suppose just to show that coupler selection need not be reliant on bank-balance?
Critique?
well....there is some assumption the reader has some awareness of the characters that made our hobby what it is....with frequent referral to what went on way back in the last century.......whilst I fully appreciate, and understand where the author is coming from.....a much younger newcomer might find this somewhat of a nuisance, daunting..yet another auld fahrt rambling on about the 'good times' etc.
too much use of latin/french decriptive phrases...appreciated by someone like me..but can seem a little pompous to a young reader?
However, excellent emphasis onwhat the real thing actually did and had....which leads the novice modeller nicely into producing models which have realism.....'actual' rather than 'percieved?'
Iain Rice's aim with this book..apart from as laid down in his introduction....seems to focus on showing the beginner how to avoid building a layout which simply resembles a collection of red or blue boxed stock, whose scenery actually loooks the part..ie was there before the trains...etc...and where the operation of that stock actually resembles what really went on, instead of a 'parade' of pointless amblings?
Perhaps there is also an attempt to wean the reader away from'credit card' modelling, and into actually doing for oneself, instead?
Incidentally, whilst the advice is aimed at the most popular scale, ie 4mm/foot....much room is devoted to N, and indeed, some to O.......even some to the more specialised scales such as HO, 3mm, 2mm, S, etc.
All in all a good book.
More 'comprehensive' than the current 'how to' books..not that I'm saying they are of little worth..simply that this book plunges into greater depth with the subject...leading the reader into the darkest realms of our hoby, railway modelling.
