Copies of the book were sent to Old Glory, Model Engineer, Vintage Spirit, Engineering in Miniature and The Road Locomotive Society for review. A few individual comments have been added.

Book Review: Old Glory No 177 November 2004

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Do you own or plan to build a scale model traction engine? Then do not turn the page! For this book is simply the bible for all things miniature and its arrival has been well worth the wait. Model Engineer and Old Glory correspondent Edward George is a teacher by profession - so who better placed to explain, in plain English, the intricacies of model design and construction, in meticulous detail? Whether you are a novice or an experienced builder, the book is a good read, with its vast array of hints, tips and useful set-ups. Materials used are modern and available, unlike some of those quoted in the 'dry' tomes of the past. And it is not just an instruction book. Edward laces the text with some entertaining anecdotes and asides that make the book a relaxed and enjoyable read.
Old Glory readers will be familiar with his Savage 'Little Samson' models, which have been on the market since 1997, and Edward duly acknowledges the extra help and advice he has recieved over the years as a result of his ME articles. There are 590 illustrations within these pages including four illustrations depicting cut-away engines that the late Geoffrey Wheeler made his own, which are reproduced with the agreement of Jonathan Wheeler and his mother Enid. Categorised into 12 easy to follow chapters, the first and not the least of which is obviously 'Choosing your model', there is a full colour section and a fine array of close-up explanatory illustrations. A five star volume with everything going for it.

Smoke Rings: Model Engineer No 4233 Vol 193, 29 Oct - 11 Nov 2004

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Published just in time for Christmas, a formal review of this work will very shortly appear in these pages, but an early impression is that it fills a definite need for a comprehensive, authoritive and well presented information on the subject defined by the title. Not only does it manage to be all these things, but it is also a splendidly produced volume which would grace any coffee table! Copiously illustrated with drawings and photographs on its 236 (210 x 275mm) pages of high quality paper, little, if anything of interest to the Road Steam modeller, is ommitted.

Vintage Spirit: December 2004 Issue 29

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'Every now and then, a very detailed technical book appears and this is one of them for Edward George has produced what is surely a bible for model traction engine enthusiasts, and especially those who build, or who would like to know how to build, these engines A large format book (aprox A4 size), this hardback volume’s 248 pages and 590 illustrations (some in colour) contain a wealth of information, hints and tips for the model builder and each aspect of building is covered in detail in the book’s twelve chapters.
Edward George has a wealth of experience of model building and the dust jacket of this book includes a picture of his superb award-winning 6ins scale Fowler B6 Road Locomotive Galanthus, which took ten years to build in his home workshop and is over ten feet long!. He is a regular contributor to Model Engineer magazine. Many of the illustrations are by Stan Nipper, who has over 50 years of model engineering experience. '

Engineering In Miniature: Dec 2004 Vol 26 No 6

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'Edward George, who also writes under the pen name ‘Martin Wallis’, and has had numerous articles published in the model engineering press, has produced a superb new book for the model traction engine builder. Titled ‘Scale Model Traction Engine Design and Construction’ it is a hardbound large format book of 248 pages profusely illustrated with a colour section. The twelve chapters cover everything from choosing a model through all aspects of building to the fina completion, and even contains a section for those chefs amongst us who want to undertake ‘smokebox cuisine’.
The book is a comprehensive coverage of model steam road vehicles and Edward is to be congratulated on producing an excellent work, so much so that it is a must for model traction engine builders and indeed probably for most model engineers. As mentioned it is profusely illustrated and it should be said that the photographs are of excellent quality, primarily black and white, but the book starts with a very nice colour section illustrating a wide range of superb model traction engines.
Whether you are a newcomer to model engineering and have a particular affection for model traction engines or an experienced model engineer this book is a must, it has been a long time since a new book on model traction engines has been published and even longer since such a comprehensive and far reaching work has appeared, so it really is a must and makes very enjoyable reading'.

Book Review: The Road Locomotive Society Journal, Volume 58 No1 Feb 2005

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This is the first concise book published on the subject of traction engine modelling since the late Bill Hughes published his famous book 'Traction Engines Worth Modelling' in 1950 (republished in 1969) and certainly brings traction engine modelling into the twenty-first century.
The author is a well known traction engine modeller, Edward George, who writes in the modelling press under his pen name Martin Wallis. He spent a lifetime constructing model traction engines from one eighth scale to half size. The book is presented as a nine by eleven inch, hard case bound volume and printed on good quality paper. The 236 working pages are set out in twelve chapters each covering a specific section, which go on to make up the complete engine.
Written in a light hearted style, it is obvious from the text that the author has experienced many of the pitfalls associated with the manufacture of components, including those which may be outside the natural capacity of the machines in his workshop. He also describes how to overcome problems when, as is often the way in life, things do not go as planned. In so doing the reader is provided with alternative methods of construction, for example in the chapter concerning crank shafts, he gives nine different methods of construction from which to choose. The book makes easy reading with illustrations and good quality, mainly black and white, photographs which in most cases are positioned on the same page as the corresponding text.
The good engineering practices pictured and described are applicable to all forms of steam engineering, up to full size. This means he has tackled some of the more unusual tasks associated with engine design and building. These include an interesting section on metal spinning, not something that everybody will attempt. He also describes some of the finer details like lamp manufacture. Even Bill Hughes, in his day, would have learnt something from this impressive volume which is strongly recommended.

Book Review: Australian Model Engineering, March-April 2005

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For many years there has been a need for a well detailed book on traction engine construction from a general point of view, as opposed to one which is a step by step construction project for a particular model. That book has finally arrived! The author of this book is himself a prolific traction engine builder as well as a regular columnist for the Model Engineer under the name Martin Wallis, where amongst other things he has produced the Savage Little Samson steam tractor construction series. On opening the book I was immediately impressed by the amount of detailed drawings and photographs and on further reading by the author’s relaxed, easy to follow style of text. He not only describes ways to make the various components he also gives good descriptions of what they do and how they work - the differential for example.
The first chapter is devoted to the basics like the different types of engine, choosing a model scale and workshop along with 8 pages of colour pictures of many types and sizes of models. From there the subsequent chapters follow a fairly logical progression in the stages of construction like boilers, then horn plates & shafts and the front end and so on. The majority of the photos and drawings are drawn from the Little Samson series, which is not surprising as well as the authors 6" scale Fowler road locomotive. There are some other makes and models as well as various methods of construction, e.g. copper boilers and Briggs steel boilers.
The style of this book is to me reminiscent of a model locomotive construction book published about a year ago, and like it, I think this one has a very good chance of becoming the standard reference work in its field for years to come. I firmly believe that it is one book that no person interested in road steam should be without.

Individual comments

"Many thanks for the copy of the book which arrived at lunctime - much appreciated. I am sure it will sell remarkably well. It really is very good, and my congratulations all round."

"You must have some special friends in the postal service, my book arrived on Friday. That is well beyond record time for anything I have ever received from England shipped to Canada. As a beginner I expected to learn much from your book (which I have) but as a bonus you have made it a good book to just read".(from Canada)

"My copy of the book arrived today- It is a very fine book. Beautiful photos, many in color, lots of good deatil. An all around excellent book The CAD work is beautiful- our Mr. Nipper is vastly understating his work. I have only had time to thumb through the pages and look at the photos,but I have no doubt the book is well worth its price- even including the postage" (from the USA)

"Edward, I have not yet had the time to read it - it only came this morning - but I must contact you to say what a splendid book it is. It is beautifully presented and the colour pictures and Wheeler prints are great. You must be very proud of it".

"The idea was my wife was to buy it as a Chrismas present but since I have spent most of the day reading it that idea has rather gone out of the window"

"Having spent the last two evenings reading the book, I must say how impressed I am with the contents. There are many areas where I have been contemplating the drawings and thinking 'How the hell will I do that'. Many of these items have now become much clearer thanks to your publication. Congratulations, a fine work. Certainly for a novice traction engine builder like myself, the many words of wisdom will be invaluable."

Comment from the Trade 2004

"My major observation is that, having seen the end result, you are DEFINITELY SELLING IT TOO CHEAP. I am sure copies will march off the shelves just as quickly at £31.95 as they will at £29.95. If it was my publication I would certainly breach the £30 limit for the basic price, and possibly go higher than £31.95 as, otherwise, you are underselling your product."

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