BOOKS
BUILDING AND PAINTING MODEL TRUCKS
This richly illustrated book offers a complete guide to building model truck kits, across all of the popular scales. Concentrating on civilian vehicles, all of the fundamental processes involved in kit building are explained, including preparation and assembly of components, detailing and modification work, custom fittings, plus an in-depth look at painting and weathering techniques.
Featuring a range of popular, readily available kits and materials, and suitable for modellers of all abilities, each project is clearly explained in an illustrated, step by step format, with over 650 colour images. Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
WEATHERING FOR RAILWAY MODELLERS, VOLUME 2 - BUILDINGS, SCENERY AND THE LINESIDE
As a follow-up to the first instalment of Weathering for Railway Modellers,Volume Two focuses on the built and natural environment. The book is crammed with colour images, demonstrating a wide range of techniques to get your buildings, roads, platforms, track and scenery looking as realistic as possible. There are chapters devoted to enhancing cars, trucks, machinery and ships... plus humans and animals too! In fact, virtually anything that you may find beside the tracks is covered, allowing us to create coherent miniature scenes, where every element looks at home.
Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
Weathering brings out the best in a model, allowing relief and detail to really stand out. As well as replicating real life, weathering also helps a model blend into a scenic setting. This book is an essential guide to the whole weathering process. Providing clear, step-by-step illustrations and revealing George's many innovative tricks of the trade, some of which have never been shared before.
Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
BUILDING COACHES - A COMPLETE GUIDE
This beautifully illustrated book covers a wide variety of materials and processes, offering everything you need to know about the art of building and improving model railway coaches. All aspects of the subject are covered, from adding passengers, upgrading off-the-shelf models, to kit assembly, scratch-building and finishing.
Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
KIT BUILDING FOR RAILWAY MODELLERS, Volumes 1&2
Kit building remains the best route to achieving a varied range of motive power in most scales but it also retains a mystique, being associated with expert modellers and expensive tools. However, in these richly illustrated volumes, George Dent demonstrates how anyone can successfully assemble working kits with only a modicum of equipment and experience.
- Essential tools, glues and materials
- Constructing wagon and carriage chassis
- Working in plastics, resin and metal
- In-depth guide to soldering
- Detailing, modifying and scratch-building
- Painting, transfers and weathering
Some of the many 5-star reviews on Amazon.co.uk...
"Very well written with plenty of excellent illustrations. This is a must for anyone starting out in kit building or for those who have dabbled but want to go further. I suspect that even well established modellers could learn a thing or two. Outstanding!"
"George Dent is a great modeller and he has a great way of passing on his expertise. I would recommend any of his books."
AIRBRUSHING FOR RAILWAY MODELLERS
The airbrush is an essential tool for modellers striving for professional-looking results. It can greatly enhance the quality of your modelling output, whether applying a full livery scheme or simply blending in new areas of paintwork.
A good airbrush will offer unparalleled levels of finish and consistency, as well as the chance to create unique effects such as weathering and stencilling. This book offers a wealth of practical guidance and detailed advice, revealing how anyone can use an airbrush effectively.
An essential, one-stop reference work for all airbrush users, from the novice to the experienced model painter.
Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
"Unlike other works on the same subject, (this book) is about getting your hands dirty and having a go. I've been using an airbrush for years but never felt entirely comfortable with it. This looks very much like a book I've been waiting for. A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide." Review by Phil Parker, Hornby Magazine, October 2011
DETAILING & MODIFYING READY-TO-RUN LOCOMOTIVES IN 'OO' GAUGE, VOLUMES 1 & 2
Despite constantly rising levels of detail, finish and performance, RTR models can never cater for every variation in components, equipment or livery that inevitably arose within large and long-lived traction fleets. Nor can they offer particular running numbers and names to satisfy every customer, while older products may also require wok to bring them up to the standard of contemporary offerings.
Therefore, being able to change factory-applied decals, add period or individual locomotive-specific details, modify a livery or create an authentic weathered finish can prove vital to achieving a heightened sense of realism and individuality within our traction fleets.
Available from all good bookstores, Amazon or direct from www.crowood.com
"For the committed armchair modeller, these books are a jolly good read. If you're toying with the idea of a little customisation, they will be your inspiration. The more experienced will find them a valuable resource. And for me, a 7mm scratch-builder, they are full of new ideas and information. If you just buy one that is closest to your modelling interest, make sure you borrow the other." Review from The Bulletin, May/June 2010
"A highly desirable and collectable workshop resource for the 'OO' modeller who wants something a bit more personal than a straight-from-the-box model." Review by Chris Leigh, Model Rail, December 2009
Brilliant set of books, I started out with Detailing RTR locomotives V2 and enjoyed it so much i now have the set! each book is packed full of brilliant information and superb photos would fully recommend them!
ReplyDeletewill you be doing a version for N gauge ?
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
DeleteI assume you're referring to the loco detailing books. If so, no afraid not.
Cheers,
GD.
Morning George
ReplyDeleteI have bought your 2 books on Kit Building as I wish to start on making metal kits.
As a beginner i thought it best to start on trucks do you concur?
And as a beginner what metal should I start with?
Also please suggest some suppliers to look at
I much prefer your Magazine as it explains in more detail than the others as to how to build a layout and all the different challenges involved
Thanks for your help
Rod
Good Morning George
ReplyDeleteI often refer to your set of books which have proved essential time and time again.
I have built some Palbrick B's from etched kits and wanted to use working couplings.
No problem making the Masokits screw links and initially used those in conjuction with Smiths hooks and springs for the draw bar. On testing with tightest radius track I found it possible to use an even finer hook and draw bar. I have used the Masokits seperate etch of hooks and back plates. But what springs to use? I assume that the Smiths spring has the ideal spring rating but trying to get the same rating on a smaller draw hook shank length is the problem. I see in your book 'Kit Building for Railway Modellers - Vol 1', that on page 87 in the top left is a picture of what I assume is a smaller hook and spring. Some idea of what you have used would be of great help. Regards, David
Hi David,
DeleteThanks for getting in touch. The image you mention features a Parkside O gauge wagon kit under construction, featuring the couplings supplied with the kit. Are you working in O gauge? If so, I think these couplings might be available separately, via Peco stockists.
However, I suspect you might be talking about OO. There is/was a range of etched drawhooks and springs that were shorter than the Smiths hooks. Like the PArkside couplings seen in the book, the inner end of the hook is etched to form twin tails, which can be bent in opposite directions to retain the spring, avoiding the need for a split pin. Alas, I can't for the life of me recall who makes/made them in OO, or whether they're still available. It must be a good 15years since I last used them, although I do remember that the springs had very little tension and that the hooks needed to be fettled to a more effective profile as there was a distinct lack of definition in the etching, making it tricky to couple-up. Probably explains why I stopped using them!
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Best wishes,
George.
Thanks George for getting in touch. You were right in thinking it is for OO gauge. It is one of those subjects for which there is not much in the way of specifications. I have never seen a figure for the preferred spring rating (extension v pulling force) of draw bars for freight stock in OO gauge . I assume that the Smiths hook / spring is correct and based on best practice. They need to react to shock loading but do not want to extend under normal running. So the length of the rake and the weight of the stock makes quite a difference. The Masokits etch has a hook which is folded lengthways to double up thickness. So if I were to overlay two of those I can have an extended shank by cutting off the hook profile at one end. This would give a length able to fit a standard Smiths spring. I will also try to find a small spring with the same rating.
DeleteAll part of the fun.
Dave
George
ReplyDeleteI've just purchased your two weathering books. Outstandingly good. I'm working through Volume 1 at the moment, specifically the locomotive part for now.
A great purchase. Looking forward to working through the 2nd volume in the next week or so. I have some brickwork to do. It's a lot harder than I though. I've got to paint it from scratch. Any thoughts on that?
Andrew Martin
Andrew's Trains
Thanks Andrew - glad you're enjoying the books. Volume 2 (Chapter 4) has some tips for painting/weathering brickwork, which should be useful. We have some stuff coming up in Model Rail magazine on that subject too.
DeleteCheers, George.