Iain Rice

[Jol Wilkinson]

Notice of Iain Rice's passing earlier today has been posted on the  S4 Society's Forum.

 

Iain was a tremendous inspiration through his books, articles, etc. and the layouts he built. He influenced and guided many in creating more realistic models. I found his books on loco construction especially valuable and, together with his other titles, they still provide a wealth of guidance.

 

He truly was a giant in this hobby and will be sorely missed.

 

 

[AY Mod]

Ouch.

 

 Condolences to his family and many friends.

[Mallard60022]

Oh dear. I only met him once and he was charming. Operating a lovely little Layout, at York I think, many years back.

RIP to a true inspiration and condolences to all his family and friends.

Phil

[jamieb]

A man who more than anyone else made finescale modelling accessible and attainable RIP

 

[New Haven Neil]

Ohhhhhh......Iain was my absolute favourite model railway author, I just loved his style and thought processes.  I was strongly influenced by him, in many ways, and was gutted never to have had the chance to meet him, separated always by many miles.  For me, he's up there with Peter Denny.

 

Gutted.  Very heartfelt condolences to his family.

Edited October 8, 2022 by New Haven Neil
missing word

[SD85]

RIP. I only met Iain once, very briefly a few years ago, but felt privileged to have talked to him in person and thanked him for his contribution to the hobby.

 

His books on layout design and improving RTR locos and stock are cornerstones of railway modelling literature and his influence on all areas of railway modelling general cannot be overstated. One of the giants of the hobby.

Edited October 8, 2022 by SD85

[t-b-g]

How very sad to hear this news.

 

I never met Ian properly either but I always enjoyed his modelling and his writing.

 

He made a big difference to the hobby.

 

One of my (very few) claims to fame is that he once wrote to MRJ to describe me as the "worst Luddite since Tony Wright" for suggesting that some locos, in some situations, may stay on the rails better if they are not sprung or compensated. I was as proud as punch that he even knew who I was.

[Kelly]

Sad news indeed. A very inspirational modeller who will be much missed.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Such sad news. He always seemed so young at heart with a great (wicked) sense of humour.

RIP Iain. Thoughts with his family and friends

[ardbealach]

Saddened to read of the passing of Iain Rice.  A modeller who inspired so many modellers.

 

At least we can still thumb through all his publications and continue to be inspired. (Alisdair)

[PaulRhB]

I only met Iain twice at Larkrail shows and enjoyed his layouts and the group chatting around his layout immeasurably. His writing was as enthusiastic and full of ideas as he was in person and I devoured his plans in the planning books both UK and US and the short lived MORILL mag. 
A quiet giant of the hobby, thank you Iain, we will miss you. 

[Jack P]

I never met Iain, but he had one of the loudest and most influential voices in my modelling journey.

 

I'm deeply saddened by his passing, but am thankful that his words have been immortalized in multiple books. No one else has made Finescale modelling feel as achievable as him.

Edited October 8, 2022 by Jack P

[drduncan]

An inspirational modeller and author, who will be greatly missed by many. My sympathies to his family and friends. Those who say you should never meet your heroes had not met Iain.

 

Duncan.

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

 

A great man for this hobby throughout his life and will be greatly missed by many.

 

I met him on several occasions over the period from 1976 to 2000 and always went away feeling I had learned something from what we discussed.

 

When you think of the range of subjects his modelling has covered over the years, plus the other aspects of the hobby he worked on, he was a phenomenal resource!

 

Time to add another section to my library of his books and articles.

 

Phil H

[Andy Hayter]

Such sad, sad news.

 

RIP and condolences to his family

[sb67]

That's sad news,a true inspiration. I've a few of his books and they are always go to's for ides and reference. He will be sorely missed, my thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP Ian Rice, a true legend of our great hobby. 

[Happy Hippo]

I was in need of some inspiration earlier on today and it was to a couple of his track planning books that I immediately turned to.

 

And now he has gone and there will be no more of his writings and plans to looks forward to.

 

My thoughts are with his family.

 

 

[Phil Parker]

Iain's book on RTR wagon detailing is still one of my favourite model railway books - inspirational and achievable at the same time. Someone who wanted modellers to get stuck in and make things. His Wild Swan books are also classics.

 

He'll be greatly missed.

[finelines]

I first met Iain Rice in Bob Wills old shop in Coulsdon and we spent 2 hours trying to work out how we knew each other. A few weeks later at Reigate School of Art we bumped into each other and became inseparable friends. He was slightly older than me and that played havoc with his grant. 

The next bit is a bit hazy but he got a job in Hamblings in Cecil Court and we started a business assembling Wills 4F kits and 2railing Hornby Dublo 3 rail. Eventually we drifted apart, something it took a long time to find out was classic Iain. 

I still remember him with affection because he taught me enough to start Chivers Finelines and I would have enjoyed continuing our rabbiting sessions around the canteen table at the art school. 

We only met occasionally after those days and I remember telling him I was jealous of his writing career and he said he would swap it for what I had. That would have been impossible because I had witnessed him designing layouts in the flesh! And it was a talent I don’t have. 

RIP is not enough for me look after yourself where ever you are.

[Steven Draper]

This is sad news to hear and all his family are in my thoughts tonight. Like many here I have enjoyed a number of his books, and I watched him demoing at an exhibition many years ago. I'm very fortunate to have a small  layout based on one of his shunting track plans. 5 wagons can be a very complex shunting puzzle, and I'm often boxing myself in !! I will have a little reflective shunting session later this week. 

[wiggoforgold]

I worked with Iain on the construction of the original "Lakebank". Every layout I have built in the last 25 years owes a huge amount to his ideas, and will continue to do so. He helped me to enormously improve my modelling: He was generous with his help and inspiration. and I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

As well as his skill as a modeller, he was a great linguist. I was particularly impressed that whena working for French and Dutch model railway magazines, he recorded his ideas in the language of the magazine.

Alex

[djparkins]

Very sad news. Another Great of the hobby leaves us. He wrote such brilliant books, which were inspirational and so imaginative.

[Mark Forrest]

Saddened to hear this.  A truly inspirational modeller and author.

My introduction to finescale modelling came from my late father building a layout based around a series of magazine articles written by Iain.  My own views on layout design and presentation owe a lot to the ideas that he has shared in his writing.  RIP Iain and thank you.

[Bucoops]

Oh wow, Iain Rice is one of those names that is a huge part of the history and progression of the hobby.

 

Artisan is not a word I use often, but I feel it appropriate in Iain's case. With sympathies to his family and friends.

 

His legacy is there for all in his books and kits. Rest In Peace, sir, and thank you. 

[CKPR]

Oh no, that is such sad news and I can't really take it in -I had only just read his cameo layout book from cover to cover the other week and had learnt so much new from it, even after 40 years of  finescale modelling inspired by his work. He was the friendly voice of finescale modelling  who made it straightforward, practical and, above all, enjoyable. RIP IAR.