https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7678617/Rod-Stewarts-secret-hit-track-Veteran-rocker-finally-lets-world-legendary-model-railwa.html?ito=facebook_share_article-top&fbclid=IwAR3MpG9iLFDF8_aymgH8VKAH4bkIE9kRRDo4Tm12wARTbPgp8Mw4mbZDYWo
i thought it was virtually complete when he had the ragazine article ??
oh well ...
I showed it to my wife and she commented, of course he can build a fancy super detailed layout, he has millions, why not? But to Rod's credit, he appears to have done a lot of kit building and designing and the layout came out looking quite good by any standard.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
This has been all over my Facebook feed.
Joe Staten Island West
Rod did a trmemdous amount of kit assembly, and kit bashing to create the finish project.
I really like it. I think the details look more realistic for the time period he is modeling, and it's not so "over the top" with decay, trash, and run-down scenes, as the F&SM.
My opinion.
Maybe MR will do an article on the finished product.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewi Maybe MR will do an article on the finished product.
Well consider this: all the Rod Stewart interview/articles in MR (2 or maybe 3 articles as I recall) were written by Carl Swanson, starting when he was on MR's staff but continuing even after he was reassigned to Classic Toy Trains magazine.
Carl is the newly named editor of MR so I'd say the chances are good.
I also noticed that the photos in the article posted above were by Steve Crise who did the photos for the MR articles -- there is a distinctive rich golden patina to his model photos that somehow helps create a feel of a past era. If I recall the track plan directly there was a large empty area on one side of the layout. I also seem to recall that R.S. does model British trains too -- in his UK home or homes.
Perhaps you have seen the video where the audience laughs at him when he is asked about his model railroad hobby and he gets rather angry about it. I saw another recent U.K. article where he once again felt obliged to "defend" his model railroading hobby as if it is something nobody else does, and I find this a little surprising in a country known for so much great modeling. But based on various YouTube vids I have seen over the years, and British entertainment writers I have read, it seems that the British who cover the entertainment industry in TV or print media are even more vacuous and superficial than their American counterparts, hard though that possibility may be to imagine or comprehend.
Dave Nelson
Bravo for someone more (in)famous than us enjoying MR. I too take his efforts with a grain of salt. We really don't know much much (if any) he did alone. To his credit, he did bring more star power to the hobby.
kasskabooseWe really don't know much much (if any) he did alone.
Well, we all get help building our layouts whether it is buying a ready to roll a piece of rolling stock built by someone at a plant, or something else. I would not judge anyone by what he did or didn't do on a layout, we can all be called out on that one.
I don't think people build something like a MRR for vanity purposes, especially when such a large percentage of the population chuckles when they hear "toy trains" so I give him credit for getting it done.
Like all of us having time to work on the layout is a big factor in what one can do himself. I have a friend that is a well-known country singer that lives in Nashville, he has stayed at my house when he has come through Vancouver on tour. I know very well how hard he works every day of the year so, like all of us, we do what we have time to do and pay for the rest, so stop trying to find fault and just enjoy what has been created. My tummy tells me just by his enthusiasm, he is a pretty capable modeler.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN...just by his enthusiasm, he is a pretty capable modeler.
I'm with you on this one, Brent. Whatever part of it that he's done or had done by someone else is beside the point...it's a great-looking layout and I get the impression that he takes a lot of enjoyment from it.
My layout's nowhere near finished, but I can't think of anyone whom I'd ask to help work on it, not because there's no one capable, but simply because it's mine, and only I can envision what I want it to be.
Wayne
He did a LOT of the work himself. His helpers were mostly for electrical and wiring. In one of the MR articles, they talked to those guys who mentioned that even when Rod was on tour, they'd leave one night and come back the next day and there's be a new building in place that wasn't there the night before. That's what Rod's money got him - instead of waiting another coupel of months for a tour to end, he got to fly home between shows and check out the layout.
I see no reason to doubt it when he says he did much of the structure modeling himself. Goes along with the part of this article that mentions gettign his wife involved in taking photos of interesting scenes he saw while travelign around, to late use as modeling references.
And yes, in one of the MR stories it was mentioned he does have a British outline OO layout in one of his homes over there.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50403561
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/10342191/sir-rod-stewart-model-railway/
What Randy said
doctorwayne My layout's nowhere near finished, but I can't think of anyone whom I'd ask to help work on it...
My layout's nowhere near finished, but I can't think of anyone whom I'd ask to help work on it...
Rich
Alton Junction
floridaflyerWhat Randy said
My first impression was "he must have had someone build it" The links all say that he claims to have built it. I will accept him at his word.
Why isn't he a member of this forum? He obviously has a lot he could teach us.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Its my understanding that Stewart builds the structures.
Since there are so many, some of his acquaintences built some for the layout, but he built the vast majority of them. I think the big bridge in the first pic was a specialty item built buy someone else.
The carpentry work, wiring, and possible track laying was built by others. Stewart's specialty is the structures and the details.
Edit: What Randy said.
- Douglas
richhotrain doctorwayne My layout's nowhere near finished, but I can't think of anyone whom I'd ask to help work on it... Not even me, Wayne? Rich
doctorwayne
Not even me, Wayne?
I know next to nothing about this whole issue, so my question is not meant as a challenge or anything like that.
I'm wondering why some doubt that he did some of the work himself?
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
It disgusts and irritates me when people make fun of railfans and model railroaders like its some sort of stupid, uninteresting, and/or childish past time but yet if you start talking about other scale models, cars, woodworking, or many other things suddenly its impressive and a "real" hobby.
I get stuck with this feedback from people too, and its ridiculous how that one part of your recreation can destroy how people view you.
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
York1I'm wondering why some doubt that he did some of the work himself?
Lot of times when people are worth $240 million, they have 'people' to do stuff like fly their plane, cook their meals, clean their homes, answer the door or do the Christmas shopping.
If I had more money than everyone in this forum could possible spend, I'd hire someone in a heartbeat to finish my layout.
I recall in one of the MR articles that mentioned Sir Rod Stewart setting up a table in his hotel rooms while on tour and getting out kits to work on through the wee hours of the morning. I suspect he gets the same enjoyment and relief from the "stresses" of the day the same way many of us find in working on the models.
I also recall reading that Sir Rod (among others) made a pretty decent financial contribution to the model railway club that had models destroyed by vandals at one of the auditoriums in the UK.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48332649
I admire him for that act alone.
[edit] I just may be a little biased, too, since Sir Rod seems to be a New York Central enthusiast
Cheers, Ed
I really admire him for embracing the hobby. Certainly not the stereotypical rock star after hours activity!
BigDaddy York1 I'm wondering why some doubt that he did some of the work himself? Lot of times when people are worth $240 million, they have 'people' to do stuff like fly their plane, cook their meals, clean their homes, answer the door or do the Christmas shopping. If I had more money than everyone in this forum could possible spend, I'd hire someone in a heartbeat to finish my layout.
York1 I'm wondering why some doubt that he did some of the work himself?
I agree. If I had that kind of money, I'd hire 'people' to cook, clean, do the laundry, mow the yard, clean the gutters, etc so that I could finish my layout.
Robert
PS When I read the article, I was glad to see that Sir Rodney had a specially designed travelling workshop to set up in hotels while on the road. It was also easy to imagine him getting as excited as any of us to find a package from M B Klein on the doorstep when he got home.
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK I was glad to see that Sir Rodney had a specially designed travelling workshop
Actually, its Sir Roderick David Stewart.
I find it amazing that he even had time to build models, especially while on tour.
You guys are going to think I’m nuts, but when a person gets that kind of wealth and fame, they literally can’t go to the supermarket, etc. There’s just too many crackpots, people wanting your money or anything else from you, too many sycophants, and whoever they are, everybody wants something from you.
Personally, I laud Sir Rod for having a healthy outlet Like MRR. I’m sure it helps him stay level headed and sane.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
I'd think he's got plenty of downtime. He's not always doing a show every night of the week, and even when he is - I doubt he stays up super late partying like a (young) rock star these days, so he's probably up at a reasonable time int he morning after a show. Sound check, some practice time - he's probably got several hours a day with little to do. On days without a show to do that night, probably even MORE free time.
Rod Stewart is far from the only performer to work on models while touring on the road. Back in the October 1986 issue of MR< former editor John page relates the story of a visit by famous bandleader Vaughn Monroe to the MR offices back when he was editor. Mr. Monroe was probbaly at LEAST as famous in his time as Rod Stewart at the height of his popularity. Sotry relates how Monroe would assemble model kits during down times between shows, having a portable workshop built in to a leather valise which he displayed for the MR staffers. And remember, in the 40's you didn;t have simple styrene kits. And not just rolling stock - Monroe built locomotives in his hotel room as well!
up831I find it amazing that he even had time to build models, especially while on tour.
one of the articles explained how he brings trunk(s) with modeling tools and materials and works on structures in his hotel room and this helps him from getting bored.
i thought the articles also mentioned he has someone at home that helps him with measurements while on tour.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I see nothing but good coming from Rod Stewart sharing his beautiful creation.
.
From what I have seen, I really think it is one of the most beautiful layouts in existance.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
gregc up831 I find it amazing that he even had time to build models, especially while on tour. one of the articles explained how he brings trunk(s) with modeling tools and materials and works on structures in his hotel room and this helps him from getting bored. i thought the articles also mentioned he has someone at home that helps him with measurements while on tour.
up831 I find it amazing that he even had time to build models, especially while on tour.
This infomration was part of the original MRR article, IIRC.
I think of Stewart as an artist's personality. Go figure being a musician. I could see where he has help with the carpentry, wiring, and trackwork, since, IMO, those activities tend to be more linear/left brain applications.
Not that structure building isn't, but designing the scene and building the details seems more consistent with an artist's personality. Therefore, I can't see him wanting to hire out that aspect of the layout no matter how wealthy he is.
Has he not heard? A model railroad is never done.