UK Rail/Slot Mags

UK Rail / Slot Racing Magazines
By Ye Olde Editor
With a lot of help from my friends….

For quite a while, I’ve had a small stash of British Model / Slot magazines,
but have never done much with them. I’ve always liked the British magazines
I’ve seen for other hobbies, Recently, I finally decided to add my collection to the
Magazine Gallery. Several friends stepped forward to help out: Ben Jones, who
actually sent me my first British mags years ago; good friend Don Siegel contributed
his extra “Model Maker” mags from the 50’s, and Lari Davidson scanned at least
25 covers and more than 50 pages of the famous plans from “Model Cars” magazine.
Without this help, what you are about to see wouldn’t be anywhere near as impressive,
and I am deeply grateful to these guys for their help!

Lets step back a little, to see what has gone on before. The British magazine that most
people are familiar with is “Model Cars”. Published by Model Aeronautical Press (MAP),
the same outfit that produced the famous “AeroModeler” magazine, it first appeared in 1964,
as the slot craze was really picking up steam. But it wasn’t the only magazine on the UK scene.

Back in 1950, a “new” publication started up. It was called “Model Maker”.
The earliest issue I have (Nov, 1952) has “Incorporating The Model Mechanic and Model Cars”
under the title on the Table Of Contents page. Indeed, the 1964 issues of “Model Cars”
say “New Series” after the Volume / Issue Number information. I don’t know anything about
“The Model Mechanic”, or the original series “Model Cars”, so if anyone can fill in the details, let me know.

As you can see by this December 1955 cover, all sorts of interests were catered to! I especially like the robot!
The race track is a very unique concept, built by Henri Baigent,
with walls between lanes which carry the electric current!

In the 1952 issue, D.J. Laidlaw-Dickson is listed as co-editor.
In the last issue I have (Feb, 1972),he’s still listed as Editorial Director!

In 1961, the title of “Model Maker” had “& Model Cars” added. Then in 1964, “Model Maker” was dropped, and the magazine became just “Model Cars”.

In October 1963, another magazine appeared, this time from Peco Publications. It was called
“Model Roads & Racing”.

Starting with the Jan 1965 issue, it was renamed “Miniature Auto World”.
Both of these versions seemed to be searching to find a place in the market.

In April 1966, “MAW” was purchased by Knightsbridge Publications, and renamed “Miniature Auto” with the subtitle “Incorporating Model Roads & Racing”on the Table Of Contents page.

To me, this was a great magazine, and seemed to be much more in tune with the
trends in the hobby. It appears to me that what they did when starting out, was to retain the Volume & Issue Numbers that had been used by “Miniature AutoWorld”. If my theory is correct, there won’t be any issues of “Minature Auto” from January 1965 to March 1966. Can any one confirm this – or prove me wrong?

Finally, in 1968, while the slot boom was going bust, “Model Cars” bought “Miniature Auto”,
and added the name below the title.

Some of my other favorite covers:

Sent to me , and autographed by Oscar Koveleski, driver of the #54 AutoWorld McLaren in the 1970 Can-Am Series.

“Model Cars” ended publication in 1972 and “Scale Modeler” took over from Jan 1973 – Nov 1973,
when it too folded. I’ve never seen an issue. Anyone know anything about it? Thanks!

UK Rail/Slot Magazine Cover Gallery

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Sent to me , and autographed by Oscar Koveleski, driver of the #54 AutoWorld McLaren in the 1970 Can-Am Series.