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James May's Toy Stories
In the summer of 2009, James May—a co-presenter on BBC TV's Top Gear—embarked on a great adventure. Helped by children of all ages, he built a range of classic toys for his popular show. This high-spirited book captures those escapades, with explanations of how May constructed the projects as well as with diagrams, illustrations, and informal photographs taken during the filming. The fun creations included an Airfix, a model Spitfire constructed from the first 1:1 scale kit for that plane, and the world’s first full-size Lego house. Plus, May gives step-by-step instructions for 12 simple items—like colorful Meccano Glasses—anyone can make at home.
- GenresNonfictionTvHistory
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
James May
87 books185 followersJames May is a British television presenter and award-winning journalist.
May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. He also writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, his nickname is "Captain Slow", owing to his 'careful' driving style. He has, however, carried out some exceptionally high-speed driving (including taking a Bugatti Veyron to its top speed).
May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. He also writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, his nickname is "Captain Slow", owing to his 'careful' driving style. He has, however, carried out some exceptionally high-speed driving (including taking a Bugatti Veyron to its top speed).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 1, 2015
The perfect companion to May's TV show. I now have a massive urge to skip to Hobbyco and buy out all their Lego, Airfix models (particularly the Spitfires!), trains, Meccano and Scalextric. Aside from the trains, this was such a feel-good book! It was every childhood dream realised. Even though I was born well after these toys reached their peak in popularity, my dad made sure I was well educated in the skill, art and mind-set they required!
I'll have to sit down and rewatch the TV show now. What a pity.
I'll have to sit down and rewatch the TV show now. What a pity.
December 4, 2020
Rather an attractive book, nicely laid out, colourful with plenty of photos, and who doesn't like toys? This is quite a weighty hardback, stretching to almost 300 pages, over 6 chapters dedicated to Plasticine, Meccano, Hornby trains, Airfix, Scalextric and Lego. May writes rather well, with plenty of Churchillian gusto and a little humour, albeit in a slightly dithery kind of way. Each chapter is essentially split into two parts - the first, and most interesting, part about the company's conception and history, while the second and less interesting part details the World Records being attempted by James with each toy. These have a superficial appeal, such as walking around inside a giant Lego house or racing around the real-life Brooklands track with miniature Scalextric racing cars, but over 20-odd pages, hearing about all the trials and tribulations they went through to make e.g. the 7-mile Hornby train track work rather badly, soon wears a bit thin. Likewise, the nitty-gritty anorak details (of which there are plenty more at the back) about the various Hornby locomotives, Meccano pieces, Airfix and Scalextric kits are only of interest to the hardest of hardcore fans. Personally, I found it all rather saddening to hear that Lego has somewhat deviated from its original ideals and that 5 of our greatest UK toy companies went bankrupt, were taken over, broken up or now exist only in name only, manufactured in China somewhere, despite being clearly popular, high-quality brands. 3.25/5
June 30, 2017
Looking back at toys, worth watching the tv episodes after reading the book.
October 20, 2022
Fab book. If you want a shot of nostalgia and a sideways look at the toys of our childhood, before electronic gizmos and gadgets, this is for you. Read it. You will not be disappointed.
March 28, 2016
I am a huge fan of the ‘old’ Top Gear (the one where there were only three presenters, not 32237980 of them) and after meeting James May last year, I realised I hadn’t read any of his books. Clarkson and Hammond, definitely but never May. There really wasn’t any reason why, so because it’s so damn easy in these internet days I went and ordered up a storm of the trio’s books. First on the pile was this heavy tome (naturally I went for the illustrated edition), which is both a great accompaniment to the TV series and an interesting history of popular toys.
In the book, May covers plasticine, Meccano, Hornby model trains, Airfix models, Scalextric slot racing cars and Lego. The only one I can say that I played with in my youth was Lego (we did make-your-own playdough) but for older fans, all of the toys are likely to be familiar. (And set off discussions about how rich your family was, depending on whether you had a train set or a mega Meccano box). The history of all the toys was fascinating, and the majority of them interlink with each other through buy outs and takeovers of companies.
Each chapter is devoted first to the history of the toy, how it was originally crafted and then on to how they are manufactured today. We then move on to James’ task for the TV show (e.g. building a life size Lego house, making a plasticine garden for the Chelsea flower show) and how it was achieved. In some cases, it’s pretty short but for other toys (e.g. the Scalextric and Hornby races) it’s a gripping tale. (I haven’t seen all of the shows in this series, so I automatically assumed that everything would go perfectly. But James May is one third of the ‘ambitious but rubbish’ team, so it’s not that straightforward.)
For me, this wasn’t a book I could read cover to cover in one sitting. I liked to pick it up, read a bit and when it got too heavy, check out some of the history online. Some of those Meccano sets are worth a fortune and there are so many books, magazines and websites devoted to model trains! I still enjoyed the Lego section best. Due to space constraints, it isn’t a comprehensive history but it gives you the main points. Plus you get to look at all the great things that were made for the house in detail!
I felt May’s writing was a bit more serious than those of his colleagues, but it’s difficult to make comparisons because Clarkson and Hammond’s book are usually 50% jokey. The subjects are researched well and the writing contains the typical British lingo of James May. If you’re a fan, or interested in the history of toys, it’s worth checking out.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
In the book, May covers plasticine, Meccano, Hornby model trains, Airfix models, Scalextric slot racing cars and Lego. The only one I can say that I played with in my youth was Lego (we did make-your-own playdough) but for older fans, all of the toys are likely to be familiar. (And set off discussions about how rich your family was, depending on whether you had a train set or a mega Meccano box). The history of all the toys was fascinating, and the majority of them interlink with each other through buy outs and takeovers of companies.
Each chapter is devoted first to the history of the toy, how it was originally crafted and then on to how they are manufactured today. We then move on to James’ task for the TV show (e.g. building a life size Lego house, making a plasticine garden for the Chelsea flower show) and how it was achieved. In some cases, it’s pretty short but for other toys (e.g. the Scalextric and Hornby races) it’s a gripping tale. (I haven’t seen all of the shows in this series, so I automatically assumed that everything would go perfectly. But James May is one third of the ‘ambitious but rubbish’ team, so it’s not that straightforward.)
For me, this wasn’t a book I could read cover to cover in one sitting. I liked to pick it up, read a bit and when it got too heavy, check out some of the history online. Some of those Meccano sets are worth a fortune and there are so many books, magazines and websites devoted to model trains! I still enjoyed the Lego section best. Due to space constraints, it isn’t a comprehensive history but it gives you the main points. Plus you get to look at all the great things that were made for the house in detail!
I felt May’s writing was a bit more serious than those of his colleagues, but it’s difficult to make comparisons because Clarkson and Hammond’s book are usually 50% jokey. The subjects are researched well and the writing contains the typical British lingo of James May. If you’re a fan, or interested in the history of toys, it’s worth checking out.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
August 16, 2010
Oh boy! Oh boy oh boy oh boy!
This book pretty well summarised my childhood. All those happy days spent building stuff and watching trains and cars go round and getting bits of Lego out from behind the couch are coming back.
James May has way too much fun. He gets to play with the coolest toys around, but here he is going back to his own childhood, looking at the history of slot cars and train sets and things and then doing something utterly mad. Like building a house out of Lego or getting a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest slot car track or building a 1:1 plastic Airfix kit of a Spitfire - complete with authentic cover art.
This blocky book kept me glued to the pages as I raced through the chapters and tracked the history of my favorite kit.
This is a book for the nerd remembering the good old days of boyhood. I know it was wrong of me to send my Tri-Ang locomotive through a cardboard tunnel of fire - especially when it got stuck half way through and poor old Polly melted - but I wasn't alone. James May was shooting down Jap Zeros with a pellet gun and modifying his Scalextric Mini and building rocketships out of Lego.
And ramming bungers up the back ends of old Junkers.
Whatever happened to the squadron of Spitfires I used to have?
This book pretty well summarised my childhood. All those happy days spent building stuff and watching trains and cars go round and getting bits of Lego out from behind the couch are coming back.
James May has way too much fun. He gets to play with the coolest toys around, but here he is going back to his own childhood, looking at the history of slot cars and train sets and things and then doing something utterly mad. Like building a house out of Lego or getting a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest slot car track or building a 1:1 plastic Airfix kit of a Spitfire - complete with authentic cover art.
This blocky book kept me glued to the pages as I raced through the chapters and tracked the history of my favorite kit.
This is a book for the nerd remembering the good old days of boyhood. I know it was wrong of me to send my Tri-Ang locomotive through a cardboard tunnel of fire - especially when it got stuck half way through and poor old Polly melted - but I wasn't alone. James May was shooting down Jap Zeros with a pellet gun and modifying his Scalextric Mini and building rocketships out of Lego.
And ramming bungers up the back ends of old Junkers.
Whatever happened to the squadron of Spitfires I used to have?
March 29, 2016
This was an inspirational series. After a rough day dealing with customers, it reminded you the general public could be great.
I loved the quote - "The day you stop playing is the day you start to prepare to die". That's something I could live by.
It was really well laid out, with background history on each toy followed by details of May's challenge, and snippets of information scattered throughout.
I loved the quote - "The day you stop playing is the day you start to prepare to die". That's something I could live by.
It was really well laid out, with background history on each toy followed by details of May's challenge, and snippets of information scattered throughout.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews