Excellent. There have been a number of books on specific modelling subjects but fewer general books on the subject. This book by Chris Ellis was first published in 2005 and was a sell-out; so, now we have the second edition. The author has many years of practical modelling experience under his belt and is a very experienced writer as well as editing his own magazine. The revised edition includes new additions to the Hornby range, including new rolling stock. The book is Hornby specific in that examples used are from the Hornby range but most of the information it contains applies to products of other manufacturers too. The appendix lists magazines that might be helpful and details the Hornby Collectors' Club and the Hornby Virtual Railway Mk2 DVD. There is also a large index. Pat Hammond, for Model Railway Express, November 2009

Chris Ellis has been a model railway enthusiast since his school days. He has been a magazine editor since the early 1960s, starting out as editor of Airfix. In 1980 he founded Model Trains, which he continues to edit today, now called Model Trains International. Chris Ellis has also written Practical Model Railways, Starting in Model Railways, Model Trains: The Collector's Guide and Next Steps in Railway�Modelling, as well as other book and articles on military and aviation subjects.