This March 1961 issue of Model Engineer captures the hobby at a pivotal moment in British engineering history. Full-size steam was rapidly disappearing from the national railway network, yet enthusiasm for steam power — particularly in miniature — had never been stronger. The result is an issue rich in locomotive construction, practical workshop guidance, and thoughtful reflection on the changing engineering landscape.
At the heart of the magazine is the continuing construction series for the GWR 45XX “Firefly” 2-6-2 tank engine, built to 3½-inch gauge. This instalment focuses on the locomotive’s underframes, axleboxes, pony truck assemblies, and wheelwork. As was typical of Model Engineer at the time, the article is supported by fully dimensioned drawings and detailed machining notes, making it both an instructional guide and a permanent workshop reference.
Railway history also features prominently in an important article titled “These Will Be Saved”, which examines British Railways’ official list of locomotives selected for preservation. With photographs and commentary covering engines from the GWR, LMS, LNER and Southern Railway, the piece offers a fascinating snapshot of preservation thinking while steam was still in active decline — a document whose significance has only grown with time.
Practical workshop skills are well represented. “Gauging Small and Medium Bores” provides clear, experience-based advice on accurately measuring internal diameters using calipers, telescopic gauges and simple home-made tools. Complementing this is a more technical study into the fatigue strength of mild steel studs, examining how thread form, surface finish and stress concentration affect long-term reliability.
One of the more unusual features is “Trafalgar Smoke”, a detailed look at a working exhibition model of HMS Victory. The article reveals the mechanisms used to generate smoke, lighting and simulated gunfire — an early example of theatrical effects now familiar in modern model displays.
Elsewhere, the reflective piece “Locomotives I Have Known” adds a personal voice, recalling the character and presence of steam engines encountered over a lifetime, while regular columns such as Smoke Rings, Workshop Hints and Tips, and Around the Trade provide society news, practical advice and a snapshot of the model engineering marketplace in 1961.
Together, this issue stands as a fine example of Model Engineer’s golden era — a magazine that balanced craftsmanship, history and serious engineering with enduring enthusiasm for mechanical excellence.
This issue is available on the Internet Archive here.
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