Bill McClanahan's Scenery for Model Railroads, at first glance seems like it would be a bit lightweight, it's in Kalambach's magazine type format, with a whiff of old comic books about it. One would be wrong, however. This is a dense and worthy tome of model making information. I learned more about my mistakes from it than from years of hands on plaster working. Of course that might just mean I'm a slow learner, but honestly, this is a cheap book for the quality of knowledge it contains.
sadly the amazing lithography has dulled, but this is a lovely toy theater with curtain that rises, beautiful lithograph art, storage drawer, and moveable mounts for scenic elements and backdrops.