Whats New

James Hilton    [Publisher: Wild Swan]    Softback

Something a little different and a bit of a publishing "experiment" from the publisher and author's point of view. An indulgently illustrated collection of a wide ranging selection of model railways, each accompanied with limited words from their creators that seek to "distil the essence" of what each creation is about. Subjects really are varied, and a few of the compositions have even moved away from the "minimum size" sorts of essays that James himself is well known for. There are quite a lot of James own creations here (nothing wrong with that), in a way this is to "get the ball rolling" as it is hoped to produce similar volumes in the future featuring the work of others in this fabulous hobby of ours. It has been produced to a high quality to the same format as James earlier books, and the print run is limited as the book may be seen as a bit "niche" by some. The images speak for themselves I think, they show some really creative approaches to different subjects and offer views and angles of model railways that you just do not get in any of the current mainstream magazines.

Paul Karau    [Publisher: Cygnet Magazines]    Magazine

Paul Karau is editor for this issue, introducing Andy and Matthew Gannon's stunning P4 model of Ventnor Station with a charming personal memory of travel and the Isle of Wight. The feature itself is written by Matthew and extends to eleven pages, fully conveying the astonishing achievement that he and his brother's model represents. Technically "unfinished" it nonetheless absolutely exudes believable realism on so many fronts, as the accompanying photographs demonstrate so well. The layout is one of the attractions at this year's "Scaleforum". Moving on, Barry Norman celebrates a Ruby Anniversary in improving and building some lovely D&S 7mm Great Eastern coach kits, before Simon Bolton explores a "Sentinel" and a few matters metaphorical. Bernie Baker then gives us "Orfe Quay" (very good), a sort of accidentally acquired micro plus layout, with a lot of atmosphere and some funky wagonry, followed by Trevor Pott rehoming some Beetles. David Hunt introduces his impressive 7mm scale Midland locomotive depot, beautiful, believable and to "state of the art" S7 standards. Bob Essery would have been most impressed. Finally a letters page with a great contribution from David Taylor, whose text and accompanying photographs, reproduced with his letter, certainly struck a chord with me.

Paul Karau    [Publisher: Cygnet Magazines]    Magazine

Edited by Paul Karau, who discusses model private owner wagon building, with reference to a wonderful new book on the subject from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Society, fully reviewed by Karl Crowther in this issue. The main layout feature is an exquisitely well photographed account of Greg Coomber's wonderful 7mm scale "Conyer Creek Signals", a really convincing "might have been" set on the edge of North Kent salt marshes. I find this hugely inspiring, a wonderful confection of features and realities from the quirky branch lines of the SE&CR, much artful scratch building and brilliant modelling of watery features, a complete joy, and viewable at this year's Uckfield show on the 19th and 20thOctober. Other features do not disappoint, a lovely scratchbuilt 3mm scale branch terminus "Oxenhope" from Victor Hall, a beautifully bonkers recreation of Coventry station's 1839 shed and pump house, a superb Finney 7 K3 in "Portfolio", painted and weathered by Paul Moore and Neil Podberry respectively, agricultural sack transhipment, period scaffolding, a brace of Stanier 3Ps in EM from Karl Crowther part two, a day return to Geoff Foster's Bleddfa Road for more of less(!), Trevor Pott's Concertina Van Third, all the usual features and finally Simon Dunkley has penned a thoughtful appreciation of his friend Trevor Nunn, who sadly left us in June of this year. The "Compleat Railway Modeller" indeed.

John Clutterbuck    [Publisher: Narrow Gauge & Industrial]    Magazine

A Corris Railway themed issue, with a plethora of constructional and layout articles. George Williamson's atmospheric and fiendishly simple Corris inspired "Corrish", a detailed look at the Corris stations in Machynlleth in the very early years of the railway, detailed works drawings and a description of a Falcon built bogie carriage for the Corris and "Cei Ward" an imaginative "might have been" in 7mm scale 16.5 gauge start the issue off. Peter Kazer next revisits the Corris, buildings and locomotives for the line built in several scales, while Paul Holmes shows us his bewitching 7mm scale model of Esgairgeiliog; a "Falcon" in early livery with lovely 4 wheeled coaches from "IconicRail", all in a delightful setting with good prototype photographs of the real location. In other railways, Tom Mallard shows us his exquisite completed Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives and an extract from a Koppel catalogue completes the line up. All plus reviews, and news that the Review may be drawing to a close unless a new key participant or participants can step forward to carry on this very fine publication. Whatever happens, all of us who love the magazine owe a huge debt of gratitude to John and Marian for their huge achievement in keeping up publication to such a very high standard for so long already.

Chris Turner    [Publisher: Author]    Hardback

A milestone in railway publishing, the publishing of an important and original study of an unusual Great Western branch, one which has been in the making for some considerable time. Chris Turner is the author, and in his introduction he explains the genesis of his wonderful printed culmination of many years interest and work. He also acknowledges the assistance and help of a number of people, "along the way", and ends by expressing regret for the time it has taken to produce the book. I have the pleasure of knowing Chris a little, and am in awe of the amount of work he has carried out over many years, both original research in archives and also, most significantly, the interviewing of probably hundreds of ex railway employees and others, all of which has resulted in a real wealth of articles in various periodicals, most significantly the "British Railway Journal" and "Great Western Railway Journal" , produced and published by his friend Paul Karau. Also, I can claim a (very small) part in delaying publication, and on the basis of all of the above feel that Chris shouldn't worry overmuch about the publication date. The book itself is a "proper" history of what was an unusual line on various counts, not the least being that part of it remains in use to this day. The book has been laid out by Paul Karau and so is very much in the mould of the classic line histories from Wild Swan, the only difference being the glazed board covers rather than a dust jacketed book. The book is profusely illustrated, and includes track plans, signalling diagrams and scale drawings of key structures, covering the steam era and later diesel operations. A chapter covers the later freight only operations, fascinating in themselves, with aggregate and aviation spirit traffic still operating over the northern part of the line. Appendix 3 covers filming activities around the line, with a wonderful picture of "Pete and Dud" speeding through Colnbrook station on a white grand piano!

Francois Fontana    [Publisher: LR Presse]    Magazine

A great editorial from Francois starts by asking what is reality and finishes with a wonderful declaration of support of modelling of all styles and creations, recognising that each of our perceptions of "reality" may vary enormously(!) This issue has a loose thread of "operation" running through it, semi automatic operation on two A4 sized paper mill layout-ettes from Denis Willemin, building up the ingenious P'tits Kits hand operated minature wagon turntable, a delightful three part feature on braking and protection using DCC, which includes braking, dealing with the electrical complications of a triangle of tracks, and a splendidly baffling account of turnout protection. Practical modelling continues with adding a turnout to an existing layout and a very good feature on effectively modelling slate, using slate. Prototype subjects are a feature on the Lausanne - Echallens - Bercher railway with great photographs of the different eras of the line's operation and the centre "pull out" article is a super feature on the Falcon narrow gauge 4-4-0 as used on the Beira Railway, including good photographs and a lovely 1/35 scale set of drawings. Layout features are headed up by "The Blue Tram of Fort Lilo" in HO-m by a talented Belgian association of modellers, featuring geese, a barge, and nifty magnetic couplings. This issue is book ended by an imaginative tour de force in HO-9 that goes by the name of "Sweetheaven", clearly somewhere in the United States and skilfully put together by master modeller Fred Mazza, who usually models Chamonix and the PLM. There are some really good filmic references in this super layout, which otherwise has great visual "verticality" and offers a wonderful escape from reality! Aside from several good reviews and other features this issue catches up with the biennial "Passions Ferroviaiares" exhibition held within an astonishingly large permanent layout and display the "Chemins de fer Kaeserberg" in Switzerland in May. Smaller creations are featured, "The Beach", a superb but tiny scene using the lovely Decauville Steatite locomotive and toast rack coach, "Star Street", an animated 1970s French street scene with a railway in the background - just brilliant, and finally "Glaciere", a convincing and imaginative presentation of a railway moving blocks of ice, the track layout and presentation is very neat indeed. In summary, another idiosyncratic and joyful collection of material for the "narrow minded" amongst us who aren't any such thing...