Modeller’s Bookshelf

An exhaustive history of two of BR’S less-fêted diesels and a guide to a vital, if unheralded, railway route have kept our editor occupied this month, along with an intriguing weathering guide. This is one heck of a tome, delving deep into the genesis, production, operation and disposal of the Class 15/16 fleets. Starting with the lessons learnt from the Brush 10800 Bo-bo, the author makes use of copious sources and even provides exhaustive histories of each individual locomotive. There are plenty of images, many of which haven’t been published before. At over 350 pages, this is a heavyweight hardback – essential reading for anyone interested in these fascinating locomotives. Book: The BTH & North British Type 1 Bo-bo Diesel-electric Locomotives – BR Classes 15 & 16, by Anthony P. Sayer (Pen & Sword) Price: £40.00 Availability: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk I travelled along the northern stretch of the Erewash Valley line on a weekly basis for over a decade, so I was excited by this title. The various collieries had gone by the time I started my travels, but traces of coal infrastructure remained here and there. This full-colour album presents a feast of all manner of freight trains from the past few decades, with plenty of variety in terms of traffic and traction. The captions are highly informative too, which is a bonus. Book: The Erewash Valley Line, by Paul Robertson (Amberley) Price: £15.99 Availability: www.amberley-books.com Part of the AK Learning Series, this 84-page all-colour guide offers step-by-step instructions for recreating all manner of wood and timber effects. Everything from fences, barrels, boat hulls, tools and buildings is covered, with the onus on scenic dioramas, aircraft, ship and military models. Yet the techniques and materials are transferable to model railways. There’s a fair bit of product placement, inevitable given that the publisher is a paint manufacturer, but there’s some truly superb modelling on show. Highly recommended. Book: Realistic Wood Effects, by Mike Rinaldi et al, (AK Interactive) Price: €12.00 Availability: www.discounthobbyzone.com