Making Rural Buildings For Model Railways

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.

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 book demonstrates the many different modelling techniques used in the creation of realistic historical buildings and convincing imaginary or fantasy structures. Aimed at the railway and diorama modeller, it includes photographs of existing structures, detailed illustrations and plans, followed by step-by-step photographs of the various stages in their creation; practical tips and constructive advice are provided alongside. Special emphasis has been placed on the use of scrap and low-cost materials. It gives guidance on modelling imaginary buildings and structures, with an example project presented from start to finish and also a complete fantasy-based model railway diorama, from concept and design through to the completed layout is covered. The author has written this book to inspire the modeller to try something innovative, and to attract new entrants to this creative hobby. Drawing on his own experience, he shares practical guidance to help the reader to produce models they will be proud of.

Packed with practical tips and advice this informative book explains the various techniques and materials that will help any modeller produce convincing models of the rural scene. It examines the history and development of the countryside, villages and infrastructure and covers rural industries. It demonstrates techniques for modelling farm buildings, machinery, vehicles and livestock and gives practical advice on modelling windmills and watermills. There are a selection of scenic projects included with step-by-step guidance and reference photographs. The book presents a total modelling project showing how to make a three dimensional model inspired by John Constable's The Hay Wain. Examines the history and development of the countryside, villages and infrastructure. An essential reference for anyone who wants to create a realistic representation of the rural scene using low-cost materials. Will be of great interest to railway modellers and those who make dioramas including military modellers. Superbly illustrated with 333 colour photographs that will help any modeller produce convincing models of the rural scene.

This invaluable book is essential reading for all railway modellers, whatever their level of expertise. The author provides an overall understanding of the purpose of making buildings for a model railway and covers their construction, their positioning and how to light them.Topics covered include railway and non-railway buildings, explaining how the latter can also enhance your trains; modelling attitudes, the use of scale, levels of detail and both regional vernacular and railway architecture; ready-made buildings and how you can adapt them to your own particular purposes; different materials available for building structures and ways of choosing, finding, measuring and recording suitable prototypes; step by step construction of a cardboard building kit to illustrate the use of basic modelling tools and to explain essential procedures and techniques; using and modifying 'out-of-the-box' model buildings. Also explores the subtleties of making model railway buildings from scratch without the use of a kit, or anything more than hand-tools and a few sheets of suitable material, giving guidance on the appropriate use of texture and colour, and shows how walls, doors, windows, roofs and chimneys can be created, painted, detailed and finished off. Discusses the many aspects of lighting, including external lighting, such as street and platform lights, and the internal lighting of buildings, the problems they pose and how they can be resolved. Lighting can create dramatic effects with reference, for example, to the installation of illuminated ground signals in N-gauge using the latest 'surface-mount' technology, and by producing brilliantly illuminated back-lit sunsets. Superbly illustrated with 622 colour photographs.

Considers the history of ports and inland waterways, and the important role played by the railways in facilitating their operation. Provides layout plans and ideas, all based on prototypes, that are aimed specifically at the scratch builder. Presents a selection of modelling projects, including dioramas of both a canal wharf and two different estuary ports, supported by step-by-step photograhs, drawings and track plans. Pays attention to modelling some of the smaller vessels that might be included in a model as well as to the wharf and quayside buildings and equipment. Discusses the modelling and painting techniques that can be used to create realistic-looking water. Demonstrates how models can be made more convincing and brought to life by the addition of appropriate colour and weathering, and by the use of scale models of workers, and even birds and animals.

This comprehensive book is aimed at all those railway modellers who wish to create a realistic model of a branch line. It contains a vast array of useful information, excellent reference photographs, practical tips, explanations of modelling techniques and a host of exciting modelling ideas. Examines the origins, developments and future of branch lines in Britain Provides useful insights into how to select a suitable branch line to model Discusses how to create scenic realism and an appropriate setting for the model, with reference to the landscape, the infrastructure, the lineside and the use of authentic colour Presents information about a selection of real, and some fictitious, branch lines in order to inspire the modeller and help him select a suitable subject to lovingly recreate Contains track plans and superb drawings of the whole scene which provide a visual intepretation of what the completed model should look like Presents a number of case-study projects

This informative book provides a step-by-step account of the construction, from scratch, of a model railway called Dovedale. The model is operated like a real modern railway and was built entirely by the author within a strict low budget, using, wherever possible, recycled materials. Moreover, Dovedale is based on a specific prototype that exists in Buxton in Derbyshire, where freight trains run into an interchange siding, the locomotive runs round the train and then departs to a different destination. Some model railways are operated somewhat chaotically and are characterized by frequent derailments and locomotives that stop arbitrarily. If you wish to move away from this kind of layout and construct a model railway that operates realistically and reflects more closely the way that railways actually work in the second decade of the 21st century, then this is the book for you. Whilst constantly emphasizing realistic operation, the book covers layout planning and construction, controllers, point motors, power supply, cables and connectors, ways of operating traffic flows, signalling, track droppers, control panels and wiring, control and interlocking, lighting, sequence and block bells, the use of closed circuit television, and much more. Superbly illustrated with 258 colour photographs and diagrams.