Welcome to MODEL RAIL
Welcome to MR222, the June 2016 issue of Model Rail. This is a rather special issue for me as it’s my 100th. Yes, that’s 100 issues of Model Rail with my name in the ‘flannel panel’ and it’s still an amazing privilege to find myself in such illustrious company. I was thrilled when I first saw Model Rail in Whsmith’s Spalding store as a sixth former, way back in 1998. Here was a magazine that actually showed you how to carry out modelling tasks, that tied the world of real railways and model railways together and wasn’t crammed with GWR branch line termini layouts. It felt as though it was speaking directly to me. What particularly struck me was the team behind it: Editor Dave Lowery, Editor-in-chief Chris Leigh and even Managing Editor Nigel Harris - all were people I admired, and now they were in one place, producing a vibrant and exciting modelling magazine. Never in a million years did I expect that one day I’d be working alongside them and, more importantly, that I’d regard them as good friends, as well as colleagues. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming! Since those days, new modelling heroes have emerged and, more importantly, have joined the Model Rail team. The skill and vision of Peter Marriott, Paul A. Lunn, Ben Ando, Chris Nevard and, of course, our own George Dent, continue to inspire and excite, whatever they’re turning their hands to. It proved quite an education to flick through the first issue I worked on, which was MR122 (September 2008). It’s only when you stop and look back that you realise just how far this hobby has evolved, even in eight years. Back then DCC was a thing that instilled fear; sound was an expensive luxury; landscapes lacked static grass. Peter Marriott presented 20 new items that made their debut that year: can you imagine a world without Noch’s grass tufts, Bachmann Scenecraft resin buildings and even Deluxe Materials’ Roket Card Glue? What made particularly interesting reading was my predecessor Ben Jones’ opening comment in which he pondered whether ready-to-run manufacturers would begin to focus on pre-grouping locomotives. He had an extensive list of subjects: Midland ‘3F’, ‘4F’ and ‘Compound’, GWR ‘Dean Goods’, ‘28XX’ and ‘Dukedog’, LNER ‘J11’, ‘D11’, ‘D16’, ‘J15’ and ‘O4’. Well, it might have taken eight years but you can buy ‘OO’ gauge versions of all of these today. ‘Blue Pullmans’, LMS Garratts and even Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 2-6-2Ts were not even a glint in their designers’ eyes! Model Rail has not stayed still in those eight years and continues to evolve. But regardless of who is putting the pages together, it’s you who plays the vital role in MR’S production. Your support, kind comments, constructive criticisms and simple observations continue to shape Model Rail as we navigate the hobby’s constantly changing waters - so keep ‘em coming!