Martync

If these layouts are going to be at Uckfield I shall certainly be coming to see them!! Have only seen Trerice before...... Martyn

Blunts in Welwyn Garden City - or simply "The Model Shop" as it was known - was my local for many years until it closed. Fed all of my interests as well as model railways.....model aircraft/model boats/plastic models....etc. Bought my first Railway Modeller there dare I say it! Martyn

I actually have a copy of the April 1957 RM.....it's always great to look back at old magazines!! Martyn

Rob Thanks - I wondered if that might be the case!! Martyn

Just discovered this thread. Is there any reason why I can't view the pictures?? Thks Martyn

Certainly will......

Very much looking forward to seeing Bridport at Alton…..my local show! Also Hembourne… a very fine EM layout. Martyn

Got my copy from the trusty Alton Model Centre. A very fitting tribute to Iain Rice, both the obit and Jerry's editorial. On top of that a very good edition as well - lots of interest and brilliant photo's.

Returning to the topic of Southwell Central, I have the following articles covering this layout: MRJ's 8, 147, 173, 179 Finescale Railway Modelling Review 3 Railmodel Digest 2 Are there any others?? I know it has been widely covered in the 3mm Soc magazine Thanks for any information. Martyn

Without in any way wishing to denigrate Buckingham, for which I have the greatest respect (and have spent a fortune collecting all of PD's articles) I'd like to fly the flag for Southwell Central built by John Sutton. This is a layout that seems to have developed over the years in many ways like Buckingham - articles from MRJ #8 to the last edition of Finescale Railway Modelling Review -and seems to me to be the epitome of the model railway. OK, the scale/track ratio isn't what the finescale fraternity might like, but I think it is an absolute delight. It looks like a real railway, and the standard of modelling is the "uniform standard" that Peter Denny championed. I did actually dabble in 3mm many years ago, but my problem was the lack of ability to build locomotives. I remember John's articles in "Mixed Traffic" which seemed to make it so simple....not for me unfortunately!! I hope the layout and its owner are still going strong!! Martyn

Nice to see an 00 gauge layout featured!! I remember the old MRC shows....very inspirational. Saw Bembridge P4 at my first show...must have been 1972/3?? Also interesting that there is only one EM and one P4 layout at the Warley show!! Too far to go and too expensive for me. Martyn

Yes, the autobiography would be a very fitting tribute to such a talented and well loved modeller. Let's hope Wild Swan can get it published

I actually have a copy of what I believe was Iain's first article in the MRN for June 1971 "Count Dracula and the Railway Children"....the shape of things to come..........!!

Such very sad news. Iain was a complete inspiration to me over many years. I think I have pretty much all of his Wild Swan books, and I've made a point of collecting as many of his articles as I can. I did meet him at a couple of exhibitions over the years and he was always approachable and helpful. One of my favourite articles of his was in an early MRJ where he tackled building an S&D 7F which I think was subtitled "Sir Iain D'Ambroise in battle with the Mendip Monster" which was a reflection of his witty and amusing writing style. A true great has passed on to the great model railway exhibition in the sky.....RIP

It has occurred to me that it is - rather scarily - 50 years since I bought my first Railway Modeller - September 1972. This had the article about Ashleigh in it and remains one of my most well thumbed copies. Ian is to me one of the most inspirational modelers of his generation, demonstrating how you can progress from 00 to P4 to 7mm. I have magazine copies of most of his layouts over the years. I can remember seeing Otterburn in the late 70s at a local exhibition and watching it for ages......as I recall non compensated locos on P4! This seem to burst the bubble of the finescale elite! I only wish I could build something anywhere near as good....time is running out though.