Scalefour Society Resources
Modelling books and 'What's in them'

This page amended on 20 May 2008

Questions are often asked on the list about 'such and such' kit or model project and in the discussion it arises that people are unsure of the type or usefulness of information available in the published literature. This page tries to help.

t4e-2.jpg (16009 bytes)

 The 4mm Engine
A Scratchbuilder's Guide

by R. Guy Williams, 1988
Wild Swan Publications ISBN 0 906867 70 3 £7.95
The title says it all really. Guy takes you step by stepthrough his methods for building locos. Illustrated throughout with examples from the GWR most of which run on the Pendon Museum layouts. Chapter headings are as follows:
1.  The Four Millimetre Engine - an introduction,
2.  First Considerations - planning,
3.  The Workshop, Materials and Tools,
4.  A Chassis,
5.  After The Basic Chassis,
6.  The Bodywork,
7.  Large Areas of Sheet Metal, Tanks and Tenders,
8.  Boilers, Smokeboxes and Fireboxes,
9.  Chimneys, Domes and Safety Valves,
10. Joining up the Main Components and Final Detailing,
11. The Cab and Some Discussion of the Awkward Prototype,
12. An Example Step by Step,
13. The Great Western 4000 Gallon Tender,
14. GWR 'Hall' Class 4-6-0 - The Chassis,
                                               - The Upper Part.
The two examples detailed in chapters 12 and 14 are:
12.  Great Western 0-6-0 Pannier Tank, 850 class No.856
14.  Great Western 4-6-0 'Hall' class Nos. 4951 Pendeford Hall and 5916 Trinity Hall.
Plastic-Bodied Locos 

by Tim Shackleton, 1999

 pbl-2.jpg (20875 bytes)
Wild Swan Publications ISBN 1 874103 52 6 £14.95
Loco Class Body Chassis Tender body Tender chassis
ex LMS 4F 0-6-0 Airfix (now Hornby) Comet kit, beam compensation, Mashima 1224, compacto 54:1 gearbox, for '00' Airfix with added snowplough cover Comet built as 'weighted tender'
ex LNER B1, 4-6-0 Replica (or Bachmann) Dave Bradwell kit, fully sprung, exactoscale gearbox on rear axle driven by Mashima 1628 in tender, for P4. Replica/Bachmann Dave Bradwell sprung.
Terrier 0-6-0T Dapol (now Hornby) Branchlines kit, twin beam equalisation, Mashima 1224 and Contorto 108:1 gearbox, for P4.    
ex GWR County 4-6-0 Dapol Comet kit, beam compensation and Portescap RG4, for P4. Dapol Scratchbuilt
West Country 4-6-2 Hornby with major surgery Perseverance kit, Dyna drive with flywheel in loco, clutch and Mashima 1833 motor in tender, for P4. Scratchbuilt but with Kitmaster (Airfix) side panels. Scratchbuilt
BR 9F 2-10-0 Hornby Puffers (Perseverance) kit, beam compensation, contorto 80:1 gearbox (now 'loadhauler) with Mashima 1626, for EM. Dave Alexander kit Dave Alexander kit
Altogether a great collection of techniques for chassis building and detailing bodies.
Etched Loco Construction

by Iain Rice, 1990

 elc-2.jpg (19332 bytes)
Wild Swan Publications ISBN 0 906867 86 X £6.95
Loco Class Kit Supplier Chassis Tender body Tender chassis
GWR 'Dukedog' 4-4-0 Blacksmith Compensated (flexichas), Mashima Motor and Ultrascale gears for P4 Blacksmith Beam compensated
This book uses only the one principle example to illustrate the techniques discussed, it is divided into chapters for each stage of construction as follows:
Evolution of etched kits - history, design and manufacture;
Tools techniques and materials;
Preparation;
Soldering,
Assembly techniques;
Detailing;
Painting and Finishing;
A good guide for a newcomer to etched kits and a really good buy if you are building a 'Dukedog' or other GW outside frame loco.
Book cover RAILWAY OPERATION FOR THE MODELLER

BOB ESSERY,  2003
Midland Publishing (Ian Allan),   ISBN 1 85780 168 7,   £14.99
CONTENTS
SETTING THE SCENE    
THE MODELLER'S OVERVIEW
ELEMENTS OF MODEL RAILWAY OPERATION    
RAILWAY LEGISLATION    
TRACK FORMATIONS    
SIGNALLING PRACTICE   
TRAFFIC    
PASSENGER STATIONS    
PASSENGER TRAINS  
FREIGHT MINERAL TRAFFIC    
GOODS TRAINS    
MIXED TRAINS    
ENGINE SHEDS    
SHUNTING    
LAMPS & SIGNS    
TRAIN MOVEMENT    
SOURCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY   
GLOSSARY    		 As seen from the contents list at left this book packs a lot of information into its 96 pages. The track formations and signalling practice are related to the operational requirements and the bulk of the book goes on the explain how the traffic was handled in the days of the traditional steam railway.

The illustrations cover a wide range with lots of detail for the modeller but with a definite LMS bias as might be expected from Bob..
RAILWAY SIGNALLING AND TRACK PLANS

BOB ESSERY, 2007		 Book cover
Ian Allan,  ISBN (10) 0 7110 3215 7,  £14.99
At 112 pages a little thicker than the Operations book above this volume is largely an expansion of the signalling chapter in the operations book. The track section is the smaller part of the book and will largely be familiar to anyone who has read up on track. The same ground was covered in Bob's articles for Modellers' Backtrack some years ago.  

The signalling section is comprehensive and includes much useful detail for anyone wanting authentic signals on their layout. The drawings have all appeared elsewhere but in books that are hard to get nowadays and they have been put together with a set of clear photos much better than those few in the original source publications.

This book provides enough detail for any modeller of signalling except, perhaps, those modelling one of the more distinctive companies such as the GWR or NER when supplementary detail would be needed. 		Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 Historical Review of the Development of Permanent Way and Track Formations
Overview
Permanent way in detail
Glossary of trackwork terms
2 Historical Review of the Development of Signalling ..
    Running signals
    Subsidiary signals
    Colour light signals
    Telegraph poles
3  Operating the Railway
A brief summary of some Requirements that could apply to modellers
Working the line
Working of single lines
4  Signal Stations
Development of signal boxes
Other signal stations
5  A Modeller's Viewpoint
Appendix 1: Summary of Legislation
Appendix 2: References and Sources

Back to Top of Page,   Resources index page