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John Lewis    [Publisher: Wild Swan]    Hardback

John Lewis has taken the original text of Jack Slinn's 1986 book for HMRS and enlarged and re-written it, using his extensive knowledge, additional sources of information, and observations made since original publication. Drawing upon the considerable study of the subject and resulting information on the subject that has been found since 1986, this book also uses the extensive collection of photographs and information collected and made available by the late David Hyde. It has been produced with the full support of the HMRS, who kindly sourced original drawings from the National Railway Museum for the book. A comprehensive text on all types of vehicles and the traffics they carried are accompanied by numerous photographs of the vehicles and the trains they ran in, covering all eras, together with a good selection of clearly reproduced "original" works drawings.

Paul Karau    [Publisher: Cygnet Magazines]    Magazine

Paul Karau edits, considering the difference between modelling in either larger or smaller scales, as exemplified in this issue by Peter Kazer's diligent recreation of Festiniog track in 1/32 scale "versus" Martyn Harrison's beautifully atmospheric 009 recreation of Castle Caereinion. Other features do not disappoint, leading with Robert Dudley-Cooke taking us around the 4mm scale hamlet of Torlish, created in card after George Illife Stokes and Pendon. The result is both beautiful and believable, really good and subtle modelling on so many levels. Chris Cox draws us further into the past, to the cattle yard of Bricklayers Arms, after which Dave Roome takes us back to the future with his CAD drawn and 3D printed Plasser & Theurer ballast consolidator, finished so very believably, as are all his models. John Sherratt next presents an update on the Central Cheshire Lines, acquired from the late Don Rowland 12 years ago - wonderful to see ongoing development of such an important and interesting layout. Finally, Stephen Hannington updates readers on his Chalk Pits Railway, great industrial railway modelling in 4mm scale. We are also treated to "bagging from the wagon" on Paul's own model, "real atmosphere" from Sevenoaks in 1947, two toads from T. Pott and a letters page. Forty odd pages of serenity and calm in a perplexing world.

John Clutterbuck    [Publisher: RCL Publications]    Magazine

Another printed oasis of inspiration and calm from John Clutterbuck and his contributors. First is a very impressive article on the Eastwell Iron Company from Dan Quine, wonderful photographs, beautifully drafted maps and plans of the line and its incline, locomotive details and some great scale drawings of the tub wagons accompany a well researched and presented text. Next Stuart Baker presents an idiosyncratic articulated Avonside for the 2 foot gauge, with great drawings and photographs, followed by Robin Edwards very informatively describing and building an 014 model of a Kerr Stuart diesel. Trevor Hughes builds a really lovely 1/32 model of Towyn Pendre, his article includes scale drawings, before Lee Styger applies stencils to his rolling stock. Turnout geometry in the 2 foot gauge from Thomas Summerson and Sons in 1924 follow, with the rear being brought up by Reviews, Letters and Jottings.

Francois Fontana    [Publisher: LR Presse]    Magazine

Published in an English language edition since issue 80, five years ago, this is an absolutely fabulous quarterly magazine that I have been a bit obsessed with ever since I first saw it. The title when literally translated means "free way" but is a sort of pun as "voie" means railway track, the point being that the magazine is about a free thinking approach to (narrow gauge) railway modelling. Almost "alternative" and putting the accent on both enjoyment and creativity in generally quite small spaces, all very attractively produced in colour. Each issue has a set of very good scale drawings for one of its featured subjects, in this issue they are for the beautiful level crossing halt structure at Faubourg D'Orleans, an excellent subject for a model in any scale. This issue has something of an American theme with four related features; an imaginative and incredibly well modelled On30 layout depicting the slightly whimsical railway system of Puerto Boracho (Tequila!), 3D printed galloping geese in HO9, a very neat looped HO9 logging line which has the most fantastic vertical aspect - huge visual punch in a small space, and finally a lovely On30 layout inspired by the Bachmann Spectrum range of stock. A recurring theme in "Voie Libre" are historic prototype features, this issue having two such. 6 pages on the early years of the first metre gauge line to be built in Switzerland, superb black and white photography of lovely stock, including two very "Ivor" looking locomotives built by Schneider in 1874. The second features 9 very visual pages on the Piha Tramway in New Zealand, a truly incredible and short lived forestry line that utilised two locomotives from Dubs and Bagnall. The photographs reproduced are of jaw droppingly good quality and the subjects taken fascinating images in their own right. Constructional articles always feature, in this issue contributions are; illuminating an Oxford Diecast Landrover running on a Kato N scale chassis, a steam tram in 009 based on a Keilcraft kit and a Spud chassis, scratch building a preserved French electric rail mounted crane and (unusually for Voie Libre) building a live steam model of a now Baie de Somme based locomotive running on 45mm track. The layout project in this issue is worthy of Messrs. Barnfield, Heath Robinson and Emmet - a railway on a paddle steamer, bonkers and brilliant! Two clever O scale micro layouts tail end the text, "flashes of sunshine (with) dreamlike sunny spells" great imagination and staging both. Each magazine has an editorial and good pictorial features and short reviews on new models and publications of interest, from both mainstream and artisan ranges. In all, Voie Libre is light hearted and serious at the same time, packs a great visual punch and is always inspiring and full of interest. It also quite often features British contributors and is always pleasingly "cross border" in its approach to its subjects.