How to build a model railway (the book!)

There have been a lot of books about how to build a model railway over the years, although perhaps less so in recent times. Maybe newcomers to the hobby turn to the internet instead these days, although from the basic questions frequently asked on forums it is clear there is a lot to be said for a reliable source from which to pick up the basics. This book, How to build a model railway by David Ashwood and Market Deeping model railway club, is a first book on model railways by publishers Pen & Sword as well as a first book by the author, and aims to provide an introduction to those basics.

It does indeed provide an introduction to the hobby, covering scales and gauges, planning, baseboards, tracklaying, electrics, and care and maintenance. It will be obvious to modellers that isn't a comprehensive how-to since it omits the scenery and buildings, and indeed the trains themselves, so presumably there is meant to be a part 2 - although the title doesn't acknowledge this. The basics are covered as expected, although sometimes I wondered if terminology and techniques are explained well enough for a complete beginner. Also, in places I thought the subject chosen to include were unusual; there is a description of using computer control through MERG CAN-BUS - this is to give an example of advanced techniques not a how-to, but it is given more space than DCC, which is more likely to be of interest to a newcomer to the hobby. Overall though the book does what it says on the cover, at least so far as the topics listed, and will help newcomers to the hobby get started with the essentials of baseboards and working track. 

One way the book is a little different is how it uses examples to illustrate different approaches and techniques in a practical way, the author drawing on layouts built by the club or club members. This works well, using actual applications rather than a dry description, and brings in different perspectives as well as showing a range of types of layout, scales and genres. Mostly the approaches shown are relatively traditional, which is reasonable given the target audience. In reality, this book is likely to be one of several sources of information for a new modeller, and it is likely to complement the use of magazines and the internet very well. 

Now if the name of Market Deeping MRC rings a bell, it is the club that a few years ago suffered mindless vandalism to its exhibition, with models of the club and its members destroyed. This shocking story hit the news and modellers like myself could only imagine the hurt this must have caused them. The book opens with the author describing how he opened up the school hall to discover the destruction, but also the support and generosity they received from around the world following the news. Out of these metaphorical ashes the club is now working to promote the hobby and open it up to people who may not otherwise have thought of modelling - such as through schools - and this book is a manifestation of that ambition. Now that is an excellent reason for the book, and I really hope it helps bring people into the hobby.