Reviews (1)

Limited Material Lists, good background info
Basic background information about trackwork and benchwork contained within the first few chapters of this book are excellent information for the novice model railroader.(Note: The L-girder benchwork diagram is mis-labeled, pieces #7 form the X brace between the legs, while pieces #3 & 5 form the triangle between the legs and the "L" girder support.Dimensions for these pieces are correct)
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading   

Reviews (2)

GOOD READ FOR BEGINNERS
This wasa cover to cover read in one sitting. Was very informative in most ways. But I was looking for more detail.I have been into model railroading a LONG time. But new to Garden RailRoads.

A Model Railroader Looks at Garden Railroading
This is the most organized and comprehensive single text on Garden Railroading that is currently in print. If my figures are correct, it is also the best-selling book on the subject. You will certainly save the cost of this book many times over as you use its guidelines to make effective planning and purchasing decisions.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading    5. Models    6. Railroads    7. Model railways   

Reviews (11)

Indeed, a passion beyond scale...
This is a wonderful book.Sam Posey, known to most people only as a highly successful race car driver and/or Emmy-winning broadcaster, uses a description of the construction of his basement HO-scale train layout-- 6,000 hours of work over 16 years-- to anchor a broader examination of model railroading.He describes some issues in the design and construction of layouts, and he interviews some of the stars of the hobby.
Model Trains
I thought this was a treat.Brought back the enthusiasms of the 60s, when sitting up late with a magnifying visor, waxed paper and pins, x-acto and steel rule was satsifying -- long before cable, i-pod, dvd, gameboy, and all that.

A Shared Passion
It's quite possible that only a very few people outside of the model railroad subculture will ever read this book, which is a shame because that means most will miss out on a very literate andenjoyable work.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. General    7. Model Railroading    8. Models    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Railroads    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

Lionel Train Operating Accessories
This is a great book if you are interested in Lionel train operating accessories. It describes most of the popular accessories and how to repair and service them. Great color pictures and even a price guide for each accessory. I have read this book from cover to cover and still refer to it quite often.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Miniatures    5. Model Railroading   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (13)

Quality book--Quality designs!
What a wonderful book for LEGO Train lovers... this is a REALLY solid book containing detailed yet easy-to-use plans for making all types of trains... the production quality of the book is excellent--with high quality renderings, photos, and well written supporting text.Excellent work--and a must-read for those who aspire to do such quality design work (both 3D and actual LEGO bricks).

Mainstream LEGO train documentation
Well written, lots of research, with the three model diagrams being the highlight of this book.Beginners will have to put the book down, get the bricks they need, then come back to build McKee's great designs.I would have ordered the designs a bit differntly, however, with easier designs first, leading up to the more complicated engine design.<br /> <br /> There's a lot of good reference here, and the author is quite thorough when following through on his assumed intentions to introduce LEGO trains into the mainstream.He's broken ground and set a very high standard for others to follow.

A little too basic
Being relatively new to the world of LEGO trains, when I heard of this book I thought it would be a great reference tool to help me expand my enjoyment of my hobby. However, I was a little disappointed.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Model Railroading    3. LEGO toys    4. Trains   

Reviews (2)

Of Coal Piles, Chickens, and Memories
If one is just starting on the fascinating journey of discovery about the Lionel Corporation and the marvelous electric trains that it made, this is not the book with which to begin.Carp's collection of reminiscences by nine former Lionel employees will not acquaint the reader with a comprehensive or chronological history of the company and will add very little to whatever knowledge the reader may already bring concerning the company's products.Anyone still early in the journey will find Ron Hollander's "All Aboard!The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen and His Lionel Train Company" the book to read. Personal accounts of workers at the "Old" Lionel Corp.
Each of 9 chapters is devoted to the quite candid account of a particular worker who describes his experiences while working at Lionel.Areas covered are engineering, sales, and management.The many photos are from Lionel archives, private collections, and taken by the employees themselves.Narratives closely conform to the many extensive, taped interviews conducted by the author over a period of years. Since I am the subject of Chapter 9, I can attest to the authenticity.Many facts are presented for the first time and should be valuable additions to the collections of toy train enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Corporate & Business History - General    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. History    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Lionel Corporation    7. Model Railroading    8. Models    9. Railroads    10. Toys   

Reviews (6)

Book of Reprints
Be forwarned, this book merely reprint articles from past (and some may say ancient) issues of Model Railroader magazine.An expert model-railroader could probably create some of them, however, for a novice this provides little more than ideas for layouts.Also, many of the plans are for HO and N scale, with very few O scale layouts.
Inspirational Reference, but not more
Interesting read, if you are into layout design and want to understand why people built these plans the way they did. But the lack of detailed part plans will prevent you from ever re-building any of these tracks, let alone that they were designed for certain space requirements and yours are different.So while you are in the planning phase of your next railroad design, you might look through these plans for inspiration, but nothing more.

Great book for inspiration
As the other reviewers so aptly point out, this book provides more layout-inspiration than actual step-by-step instruction, and is not an "all-in-one" book. However, I found it invaluable as a source of ideas.The "Buzzards Cove" coastline scene was exactly what I was seeking for my small (3X5), novice N-scale layout.None of the other books I'd consulted offered anything like it. It's a simple enough matter to apply the suggested scenery to one of the more detailed, step-by-step books showing an identical track plan.In fact, one of the problems I've had with basic track-plan books is that they just show parts and wiring, and do not incorporate grade-changes or scenery.This book fills the inspiration-void. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading    5. Models    6. Railroads   

Reviews (3)

Big Book of Lionel
The book covers a wide range of subjects on planning, building and operating a Lionel O-guage layout, but does not go into a lot of detail.Both Post-War and Modern Lionel trains and tracks are covered as is the newer TMCC electronic controls.The photos of existing Lionel O-gauge layouts are excellent, but the book did not describe the type of track nor were track layout diagrams provided, which would have been very informative.Nevertheless, the book is interesting and provides a good overview of what to consider when planning and building a Lionel O-gauge layout.

Great for beginner and expert Lionel train fans
This book with its excellent pictures and detailed descriptions will satisfy the model train neophyte as well as the old veterans.
The Big Book of Lionel
A very good book, full of interesting tips and facts.Full of good information on Lionel trains. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Lionel Corporation    5. Model Railroading    6. Models    7. Railroads    8. Antiques & collectables: toys, games & models    9. Transportation / Railroads / General   

Reviews (4)

Scenery for anyone
The simple step by step in this book covers just what we needed for all aspects of our 4x8' layout.We have been constructing it based on articles in Model Railroader magazine but there was not enough detail for ground, roads etc.This book has absolutely fabulous methods with easy to follow instructions and the results are fabulous.I never thought my son and I could achieve the kinds of realism that we constantly see displyed in magazines but with this book we are!And it is very easy to do.
Great Idea Generator
The projects outlined in this book not only offer the reader step-by-step instructions, but will also encourage the modeler to branch out on his/her own.I highly recommend it.

Great book, don't be fooled by the title
While the title say "Basic Scenery", it's not about the difficult level, but basic scenery that's needed in every model railroad. The book is divided in several projects (two to four pages), with color photos to illustrate the techniques presented and tips on small details.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Miniature craft    5. Model Railroading    6. Models    7. Railroads   

Reviews (1)

Specifically for beginners
HO Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started In The Hobby is an easy-to-use guide by model railroading expert Jeff Wilson specifically for beginners about to embark upon the joys and travails of setting up and running a model railroad. Full color illustrations, practical advice on everything from selecting the right tools, to wiring and train control, to creating realistic scenery, to special track plans and reverse loops, fill the pages of this superbly useful guide highly recommended for novice model railroading enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading    5. Models    6. Railroads   

Reviews (4)

A Bit of Design Philosophy and Some Examples
I did not quite get what I was looking for in this book. Since I am looking for a place to build a BIG layout but have not yet found it, I thought I would learn about ways to start building now in a series of small blocks that could be transported to the new site when the time comes. There is some of that but that is not the basis of the book. Instead, it talks about an approach to designing a layout.
Tony Koester continues to lead the way
Tony Koester continues to be THE most prominent driving force in Model Railroad Design today. He began where John Armstrong left off and continues to take the design phase of the hobby to new heights. "Building Blocks" is a concept that thousands of modelers have used for years, but until now, no one has ever compiled a true action plan for intergrating these ideas together to achieve a complete model.
Dissappointed ! Not the most ideal for an experienced modeler
The book is well presented but lot of the coverage is very ambiguous and situational to real railroading not focused onthe aspects of model railroading. I would have expected to see more coverage of layout building, tips and trick, experiences from fellow modelers, but none of that kind to suit my pallate. Rather dissappointed, I must say. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Metal Work    5. Model Railroading   

Reviews (6)

Gorgeous Garden Railways by Marc Horovitz
Great book of past and present Garden Railways.
Very disappointing, "washed-out" photo color and detail. Definitely not 'gorgeous' photos.
I was quite surprised to be so disappointed by this long-awaited book.This was supposed to be a coffee table book which would appeal aesthetically to everybody. But it doesn't have much aesthetic appeal because the photos aren't gorgeous. The biggest photo shortcoming is that the color printing has a "washed-out" 1970's quality to it. This may be the printer's fault, not the author's. Another serious problem is that many -- perhaps most? -- of the photos look like they're detail shots cropped at a relatively low resolution from a larger photo -- or even shot with a zoom lense? For example, you can't make out individual figurines because they're blurred by the low resolution.
It's a table top book with a softcover.
Gorgeous Garden Railways is a new and different type of book about garden railways. This is not just another book on how to install track, or the story of scale and gauge. This is a table top photo book about some very good looking garden railroads.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Garden Design    3. Garden Furnishings    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Hobbies    7. Horticulture (General)    8. Model Railroading    9. Toys   

Reviews (9)

Excellent book!
A "must have" for Lionel Train enthusiasts. I'm not sure who enjoys it the most, my 60 year old husband or our three year old grandson! Ours is getting so dog-eared from hours of enjoyment that we might need to think about a repalacement!

A peek to an era when advertising art was lively yet simple
Officially licensed by Lionel itself, The Art Of Lionel Trains: Toy Trains And American Dreams by Roger Carp is more than just a simple showcase of promotional art that the Lionel company used to advertise their classic model locomotives; its informed and informative text follows the journey and evolution of the internationally famous model railroading company and its various products that inspired hobbies and dreams in households across America. Illustrated throughout in full color and a highly recommended addition to any personal or community library Railroading History collection, The Art Of Lionel Trains is as much a trip down memory lane for model train buffs as it is a peek to an era when advertising art was lively yet simple.

A little bit disapointed
The book is a beauty (as a graphic arts product) but as the review title reads I am a little bit disapointed. Don�t get me wrong. I like Roger Carp and his writting. In fact, he is almost the only reason I am suscriber to TCC magazine. However the book, in my humble opinion, falls short in the two aspects one could possible focus on: the Lionel art and the information about it. The illustations though as nice as we expect from Lionel history are pretty much common for Lionel enthusiasts and very well known from long ago. One could think that being this a book about Lionel art something special would appear.Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques / Collectibles    4. Antiques/Collectibles    5. Commercial art    6. Models    7. Railroads    8. Railroads - General    9. Social life and customs    10. Toys    11. Transportation    12. United States    13. Antiques & collectables: toys, games & models    14. Illustration & commercial art    15. Model railways   

Reviews (1)

Clear, direct instructions and full-color photographs
Expertly compiled and edited by model railroading expert John Ryke, Steam Locomotive Projects And Ideas is an impressive resource ideal the novice and welcomed by advanced railroad modelers alike. Clear, direct instructions and full-color photographs detail the basics of a variety of model railroad activities including detailing, kitbashing, scratch building, painting, weathering, improving performance, and more. An excellent selection of well illustrated model railroading ideas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading   

Reviews (2)

A Worthwhile Infomercial
There is no doubt that this book is an instrument designed to further the sale of the Woodland Scenics product line for building sb terrain for model railroads but that does not diminish its usefulness at all. It is a good introduction to building sub-terrain. It is well written, easily understood and amply illustrated.
Build Your Own Little World
This small books provides complete information for planning and building a scenic railroad layout or and other terrain model using the clever, lightweight Woodland Scenics Subterrain system.Ample black and white illustrations show exactly how to use the system and tools.There is a useful glossary and index.These tips and techniques will save the modeler hours of time, prevent mistakes and help achieve better results.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies / Model Railroading    2. Crafts & Hobbies / Models    3. How-To    4. Model Railroading    5. Models    6. Models and modelmaking    7. Railroads    8. Crafts & Hobbies    9. Miniature craft    10. Model railways    11. Plastic foams   

Subjects:  1. Buildings and structures    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Models    7. Railroads   

Reviews (1)

Just for TT
I mistakenly received this book thinking that it was an introductory guide to Digital Command and Control for model railroads. It is...kind of. It is an introduction but it is meant specifically for that branch of railroading known as "Toy Trains". Those are the ones a little smaller than HO scale and which use a 3 rail AC system. It is not what is meant by most when they speak of model railroads.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading    5. Models    6. Railroads   

Reviews (3)

A Firm Foundation
One of the most important parts of a reliable model railroad is the unseen benchwork that underlies it. This book is an excellent introduction into how that benchwork is built. It covers several different styles and shows how they can be integrated together, each doing what it does best.
Recommended for all Model Railroaders
Whether you are an novice or expert this book covers the fundamentals to ther complexities of wood working for model railroad applications.
A highly recommended "how-to" book for devoted woodworkers
Basic Model Railroad Benchwork: The Complete Photo Guide by model railroading expert Jeff Wilson, is thoroughly "user friendly", step-by-step guide illustrated with numerous full-color photographs on building the foundation and layout for a model railroad hobbyist. From choosing the proper tools and using them with the utmost regard to safety, to meticulously measuring and crafting a sturdy benchwork (perhaps mounted on the wall to save space), to crafting smoothly integrated backdrops and more, Basic Model Railroad Benchwork is a highly recommended "how-to" book for devoted woodworkers and model railroading enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Model Railroading