The title may say “basics,” but this book covers a full range of skills and materials. Beginners building a small table or shelf layout up to experienced modelers assembling the benchwork for a basement empire will find what they need in this comprehensive guide. New color photos and illustrations highlight liftout sections and swinging access gates.

Jeff Wilson has written more than 20 books on railroads and model railroading. He spent 10 years as an associate editor at Model Railroader magazine, and he currently works as a freelance writer, editor, and photographer, contributing articles to MR and other magazines. He also writes a model railroading column for Model Retailer magazine and is a correspondent for Trains magazine. He enjoys many facets of the hobby, especially building structures and detailing locomotives, as well as photographing both real and model railroads.