Dave Frary

Some nomenclature first: in the USA, "toy trains" specifically means what we call "tinplate trains", models intended as toys, sometimes made only roughly to scale, and with very coarse running gear to stand up to miles run across the carpet. (If your immediate reaction on reading this is to say "Isn't that what model railways are?", then you should leave. Now.) My reaction on first coming into posession of this book was that it was surely a contradiction in terms. 'Toy trains' by definition do not warrant realistic scenery. Realism of any sort in this context defeats the object of the exercise.

But of course, we are in the wierd and wonderful world of the collector here, as "toy trains" are no longer intended for children (many of whom, in these wired times, would not necessarily have a lot of interest in them anyway). Instead they are intended for collectors; and indeed, many are now made to appeal to just that market - the grown-up with a penchant for nostalgia and the ability to spend the kids' inheritance on just what they want. And such is the nature of that market that there are plenty of people with deep pockets who are prepared to collect their trains and run them through layouts with well-realised and realistic scenery, even if the trains become the least realistic part of the whole scene. And why not? It's their money, and their private fantasy world, and they can do just as they like in it, and quite right too.

And in any case, the techniques showcased here are just as valid for serious modelling as for "fun" (whatever your definition of 'fun' is).… (mer)