The near-universal adoption of computers and CAD technology has opened up exciting possibilities for model-makers seeking an easier, more accurate way of producing items as diverse as locomotive valve gear and lineside fencing. Gordon Gravett - creator of the award-winning Pempoul - gives some valuable pointers on preparing DIY artwork for photo-etching, a technique that's now available to everyone, home builders included. First however, he describes how it's done the traditional way... Returning to MRJ, John Dornom had found a new way to add real "atmosphere" to his models using a disco fog producing machine and after a brief introduction in MRJ 92 he provided a full article on his extraordinary experiments in Issue 97 as illustrated on its cover. St. Merryn – Towards Improved Operation, Part 1 by Eddie Bourne [Scalefour Society’s South London Area Group]

SR/LSWR S15 4-6-0 & 0415 Adams Radial 4-4-2T in 3mm. 7mm Cambrian 'Small Goods' 0-6-0. Oford Maltings from the East Suffolk Light Railway. As expected, the appearance in MRJ No.26 of Bill Richmond's wonderful dead-scale 4mm layout based on the main line out of Euston caused quite a stir. Here is a further selection of photographs. Today’s Railways occasionally if an article or two appeals but probably at least once every three months.

TWITTER

Amongst these was Iain Rice who in 1993 along with Andy Farquarson (who introduced himself very wittily "from the armchair" in MRJ 25) left to set up "Model Railways Illustrated" for Irwell Press. This was a good magazine, but after various machinations it eventually expired towards the end of 1997. Iain Rice had shortly before left to try his own hand at publishing with his ill fated Rail Model Digest and spin offs. Aimed at the "serious" modeller, but promising not to take itself too seriously, the magazine set out to provide a forum for those modellers who wished to progress beyond what was on offer from the ready to run manufacturers, whilst also providing a good read for interested observers. The instigators drew upon the experiences and models of a small group of "up and coming" modellers of the time, Monty Wells, Barry Norman and Iain Rice to name but three, in addition to revisiting the work of some of the hobby's "past masters". Diagram Y8 goods fruit van, Mainline models (37174). Diagram X11 Mica B, refrigerated meat van, Hornby-Dublo/Wrenn model (W5019). Diagram V11 Mink D Kenline kit (kit no.5). Diagram V7 Mink C, Ian Kirk kit.

Chris Leigh – Scottish station nameboards in 4mm.Graham Farish – BR Mk4 DVT.P & D Marsh – New owners and road cones.Gateneal Ltd. – Agents for Sagami motors.DJH – 7mm BR Standard Class 2.MJT – Working BR gangway.Roundfield Engineering – 7mm ex-NER 10T dropside wagon.Ratio – 7mm GWR signal.Model Signal Engineering – 7mm ex-SR signal and lever frame.Richard de Camin – Peco 7mm GWR van conversion. Touching on the more sombre events that were in everyones minds at the time, Martyn Welch's editorial was a typically thoughtful and reflective piece of writing biography, layouts, LB&SCR / LBSCR / London Brighton & South Coast Railway, LNWR / London & North Western Railway, MR / Midland Railway IMHO, there's too much duplication of content across the various titles these days and the really interesting stuff usually appears in the Modeller eventually, even if one (or more) of the others get there first. I like the RM's high quality paper, excellent photographs and less "adventurous" layout / presentation which makes it my "go-to" resource for items I want to extract and file. I only buy all issues of Railway Modeller and Model Railway Journal these days. The other modelling magazines only get a look-in when they include something of specific interest. I've maintained a full set of the MRJ but the RMs generally get "filleted" after a year or so.

EXTRAS

Following on from MRJ No.113, Steve Hall shows us how he modelled the point rodding for 'Halifax Kings Cross'.

M7 class 0-4-4T No. 30107 at Corfe Castle on the Swanage branch viewed from a vegetable plot in July 1962. I have a full set of The Southern Way (if that counts as a magazine), and also buy specific issues of the various "nostalgia / historical" monthlies that include something I want to keep; again, usually filleted / filed after a decent interval. In the third part of his widely acclaimed series, Chris Crofts, having discussed the anatomy of common private owner wagons at length, gets down to modelling them in 4mm. Here he describes his own perfectionist methods for building and painting bodywork. The Railway Magazine virtually never. I actually don’t like this magazines style of writing or generally the choice of articles. The style of presentation is, in my view, dull and outdated. Sorry Mortons.Three examples of the Multivent kit - two with rigid chassis in EM gauge (one soldered, one glued together) and one to soldered with a compensated chassis in P4. A fourth van, compensated in P4, constructed from the Perseverance etched brass kit. The search for information on this distinctive load finds Martyn Welch poling across polluted ponds of the past, prattling with Pirelli, engaging with the electricity board (to no avail, like most of us) and rambling round a railway yard. Deadline day came and went somewhere in the middle. Brian Self discovered this when he set out to upgrade a model boat kit into a finescale coaster which ended up a yard long. Bob Essery and Don Field on wagon suspension for the 7mm/ScaleSeven Dewsbury project, using the recently-developed Slater's system. All magazines sent by 1st Class Mail UK & by Airmail worldwide (bar UK over 750g which may go 2nd Class).

The preview issue, pictured at right, contained an enticing mix of subjects. A relative newcomer to modelling, John Watson, described his very appealing P4 model of Laxfield on the Mid Suffolk Light Railway, whilst the irrepressible Iain Rice described the construction of a "be-rivetted drudge" for his fictional "East Suffolk Light Railway". Prototype photo of 'Sardine can' Sentinel 0-4-0 run by Fry's, the chocolatiers of Bristol, taken in 1961. From the following issue and Tim's accession to the editorship, the style of MRJ changed to that shown on the right. Otherwise, for me the main regular must-have mag is "Railway Modeller", I get it every month and it's the only modelling mag that I keep too--something I grew up with many moons ago when my mum used to buy it for me ('as a treat') from Smith's in Hertford Street in Cov in the '70s! RM's production values are always top, and that's something I value in a mag. Large squared graph paper from DIY stores. MS - range of figures. Parkside Dundas - various kits. Kemp Models - turned & cast components. De Winton - slate wagon kit. Wills Finecast - retaining arch system.

Customer Reviews

Three photographs from the Great Northern Railway Society's archive showing the evolution of a Nissen hut between 1951 and 1956 Still under joint editorship and with the same typographical style, Issue 13 is one of my favourites from the early years. Preliminary announcement of Ian Penberth's range of sprung suspensions for proprietary 4mm diesel locomotives; RT Models acquires the late Albert Goodall's range of 4mm scale parts for Bulleid Pacifics; ACC+ESS PROTOCAB wireless battery-powered control system; SHAWPLAN Laserglase range expands with additions for the 4mm Heljan class 33/2, Heljan class 15 and the Hornby ex Lima class 73.