Finescale Locomotive Building - A personal approach by Tom Mallard

Tom Mallard describes how he goes about the business of building exquisite miniature recreations of the steam locomotives from the past. After an interesting introduction describing his modelling "journey" through the locomotives he has built and the people he has worked with, he then discusses research and design.

The main text of the book then follows, initially describing the tools that he uses and then the methods and techniques used in actually building the models. This includes how he uses 3D printing and other techniques in his work, notably including etching which is well described and illustrated. Throughout the book, we follow Tom's building of two 7mm scale models of the famous Lynton and Barnstaple 'Manning Wardles', "Exe" and "Yeo".

Well illustrated throughout, the book includes detailed drawings and good photographs of these locomotives, lots of constructional photographs and finally, photographs of the finished and weathered models. Other locomotive types are also featured, including a stunning Scaleseven LMS "Compound". Tom's work is amazing, and most of us will never achieve his levels of fidelity to prototype, but apart from being inspired by what Tom has achieved this will also give you a lot to consider on how you might approach your own modelling projects.

Tom's models are all the either 4mm or 7mm scales, either standard gauge, or as here, narrow gauge and all are electrically powered. None are steam powered, so whilst this book is very good on the contsruction of most parts of a locomotive, it has nothing about functioning live steam boilers. even in as good a book as this, you cannot have everything!

119 A4 pages, illustrated with quality colour photographs, plus numerous drwings, Paperback.