This fascinating book is aimed at all those modellers who wish to create a model railway set in an urban landscape. It covers the selection and the construction of a wide range of urban buildings, and presents many detailed photographs of real buildings from which the modeller can gain ideas, identify specific features and draw inspiration. Special attention is paid to modelling architectural details and to the effects of weathering. Scratch-building techniques and materials, as well as ready-to-plant buildings and kits are covered. In addition to the buildings themselves, the author also considers the urban setting and infrastructure, and demonstrates how to construct roads and pavements, create authentic street scenes, and make realistic models that accurately reflect, for example, urban decay and dereliction. Finally, consideration is given to persepctive modelling, a concept that provides the modeller with an opportunity to make much better use of a limited amount of space.Essential reading for all model makers, especially those with a passion for railway modelling. Superbly illustrated with over 300 colour illustrations, including step-by-step photographs.

This invaluable, well-illustrated book is essential reading for all those who are interested in developing their modelling skills and creating realistic models of country houses, cottages and farm buildings for their railway layouts. The author encourages and inspires the reader and, moreover, emphasizes that railway modellers can achieve their objectives without purchasing expensive materials. Indeed, all the materials recommended in the book are either recycled or can be obtained quite cheaply.Topics covered include: The materials and equipment required to build models; Modelling methods and construction techniques; Painting, weathering and finishing; Creating a sympathetic setting for your models; Improving kits and 'off-the-shelf' models. The author presents in detail three different rural, scratch-built projects and , in a separate appendix, provides a colour reference guide, thus enabling the modeller to apply the correct colours and shades in order to create authentic and convincing-looking model buildings. An invaluable guide which provides all the information required to create convincing models of rural buildings. Aimed at all those interested in railway modelling whatever their level of ability, and those interested in modelling in general rather than in just railway modelling. Materials and equipment, modelling methods and construction techniques are covered. Superbly illustrated with 320 colour step-by-step photographs and diagrams. David Wright is a professional artist and model maker and provides hands-on experience at railway modelling workshops.

Written by an acknowledged expert, this practical book is essential reading for all those railway modellers who wish to build a bridge or a viaduct for their layout. This new book contains in-depth descriptions and photographs of bridges located around Britain (and one in New Zealand), ranging from the small to the monumental, from which the modeller can gain ideas and draw inspiration. As an essential aid to modelling, the constituent parts of the bridges are described as well as the engineering principles that make them 'work' and the materials from which they are built. Step-by-step instructions and photographs depict the construction in plasticard of five models: a simple girder bridge; a truss-girder bridge; a masonry arch bridge; a plate-girder bridge; and a viaduct. The book covers prototype research, taking measurements, modelling materials and tools, and examines the finishing process, including different ways of applying paint and weathering powders in order to make your model look authentic. Fully illustrated with over 500 colour photographs and diagrams.

This comprehensive book, written by an experienced railway modeller, demonstrates how, with a little patience, you can produce accurate and realistic models of goods trains, sheds and yards. It presents detailed step-by-step projects and covers basic card-kit building, 'kit bashing' and scratch building. Written in an easily understandable style, this fascinating work is aimed at all those railway modellers who wish to authentically replicate the way goods were moved and handled on Britain's railways during the steam era. It covers the simple tools and materials that are required and is packed with information about steam-era goods workings and how to recreate them on a layout. It shows the reader how a typical goods yard operated and how it was constructed, and demonstrates how to detail, improve, modify and achieve the best results from card kits. It also examines the growing appeal of 'download' kits and shows the modeller how to improve the appearance and reliability of goods rolling stock. With many money-saving suggestions, this essential guide to transforming shiny shop-bought models and kits into convincing representations of the real thing will be invaluable to all railway modellers. Fully illustrated with 245 colour and black & white photographs.

If you want to recreate in realistic model form some of the excitement of watching trains by the lineside - then this is the book for you. It contains several photographs of the available relevant products and includes numerous step-by-step illustrations, with accompanying text, that demonstrate how to build the many features of the lineside, either from kits or from scratch. Moreover, all the various aspects of modelling the lineside are brought together in four layout projects covering typical lineside scenes from the steam era right up to the present. Defines what is meant by the lineside and discusses the design considerations that are necessary to maximize the available lineside modelling space; examines the lineside boundary in terms of the many different types of fencing and walls; considers the various means which people use to cross the line such as level crossings and footbridges; covers the many structures by the lineside such as huts and water towers; explores in detail the use of model figures and road vehicles; discusses signalling and covers signal boxes, types of signals, turnout rodding and concrete trunking; demonstrates how to produce realistic models of numerous miscellaneous lineside features such as signs, telegraph poles, graffiti and rubbish. This is essential reading for all railway modellers who wish to authentically recreate the railway lineside and is beautifully illustrated with 236 colour photographs including step-by-step illustrations and 6 diagrams.

Railway layouts often depict a branch line in a rural or urban setting, with the majority of locomotive models available representing passenger trains. However, increasingly, ready-to-run models of industrial locomotives are becoming available, providing a unique opportunity to place them into an industrial context. This highly illustrated book provides all the guidance and inspiration needed to begin placing these models in their natural, industrial environment. The book defines heavy industry and considers real-world examples from 'inside the fence', and describes the tools, materials, parts and fittings most suited to the construction of very large structures. It goes on to provide step-by-step descriptions of several build projects including a gas holder, a cooling tower and an open hearth melting shop, and shows how to make the most of resin buildings, kits and scratch-building. It also demonstrates the construction of industrial structure models in a variety of scales and explains the development of an industrial locomotove fleet, specialized rolling stock and road vehicles with which to populate an industry. Suitable for railway modellers of varying abilities and in any scale, and fully illustrated with 281 colour and 26 black & white photographs.

This fascinating and detailed book is essential reading for all those railway modellers who wish to build their own wagons and vans. After examining the types of modelling materials that are available and discussing the basic tools that are required, the author demonstrates how the modeller can move on from building simple kits to constructing more complicated kits in a variety of materials, including plastic, white metal and brass. He then considers how kits can be detailed, converted and significantly modified (often referred to as 'kit bashing') before covering the ultimate in rolling stock construction - scratch building. Brimming with practical advice and tips, this remarkable book uses worked examples and step-by-step photographs to show what can be achieved with the application of research, patience and modelling skill. Moreover, although the volume deals with 00 gauge, the ideas and techniques discussed can easily be applied to other gauges/scales. Superbly illustrated with 294 colour photographs and two drawings.