Who is your favorite Model Railroader(s)?

[Anonymous]

Mine is John Allen. I am amazed at the things he accomplished and when he accomplished them! I also have to say John Armstrong is right up there (the hobby is going to miss him)! However, this question allows some of the current greats know how much we like what they have done. Currently, I have to say I am extreamly impressed with Malcom Furlow, Eric Brooman, Joe Fugate and Bob Bondereau (spelling).

If this subject has been done ad-nausium, sorry!

[Anonymous]

I think Howard Zane and George Selios are great for the worlds that they have created. Their structures and scenery is amazing with an artistic touch that takes their railroads a step beyond reality.
Two others that I admire for the operating railroads that they have created are Tony Koester and Harold Werthwein(spelling?). Harold may not be as well known but he is the creator of the ERIE railroad Delaware Division featured in one of the recent Great Model Railroads(2-3 years ago?), in the 60th anniversary MR and also in an Allen Keller video. These two concentrate more on the trains and the operations than on scenery and structures.
My $.02
Mark
http://webusers.warwick.net/~u1015590/

[BRAKIE]

Me of course..[:0].[;)] Oh you mean the famous model rails..[:D]
Tony Koester..His style of layout designs and prototypical operations has been my style of doing things for years..I preach for years(and still do) that layouts should be design for operation..I do not use Tony's fidelity to the prototype but,do applaud such layout designs and modeling of a given railroad or division..
Allen McClellan..Another modeler that believes that a freelance railroad can be just as real as the prototype.The difference between Allen and me is I prefer short lines.[:D]
Doug Smith..This is the modeler that introduce the car card/waybills back in the early 60s that got me started using waybills.[:D]
Frank Ellis(Ellison?).. He was the first in advanced layout designs using off "stage" ( hidden) staging...

[ClinchValleySD40]

Allen McClelland. Tony K would be second.

[Anonymous]

All of the folks you guys have mentioned certainly deserve the praise you've given. There are folks whom specialize ins scenery, operation, track design, etc. Some have done wonderful things with writing, such as; Ted Culotta's ongoing article in RMC on freight cars. This is a magnificent cornucopia of information!

[Anonymous]

I have a Hall of Fame Top Ten:
#1 John Allen
#2 [ tied ] John Armstrong, Frank Ellison, E.L.Moore, Gordy Odegard, Ed Ravenscroft, Bill Schopp, Doug Smith, Linn Westcott, and Jack Work.

regards;
Mike

[Anonymous]

I like Andy Sperando, Tony Koester, Pelle Soeburg, and Erik Bergstrum.

[locomutt]

Well,I think you've covered all the bases with the names,I admire all of
them,and probably have used their techinques at one time or another.

I'm not sure I have a favorite,they are all good.[:)]

[Anonymous]

For me, Allan McLelland, Joe Fugate, David Barlow, Dave Frary, John Armstrong, Jim Six.

[Paul3]

My father, Paul Cutler, Jr., who got me into Model Railroading before I was born.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Anonymous]

there are so many great modelers, it's impossible to have a favorite. All of the names mentioned above are included on the list of great modellers.

[Anonymous]

Pelle Soberg, Ken Patterson, Allen McClelland, Eric Brooman, and Gary Hoover.

Mac

[AltonFan]

I'd have to say, in no particular order:

John Armstrong - for his writings on layout design, which often include details of prototype railroading that one would not otherwise find.

John Swanson - published a number of articles in Railroad Model Craftsman on building and kitbashing steam locomotives from kits. His product reviews and articles other subjects are also very informative to the steam era modeler.

Gordon Odegard - for his vast knowledge of railroading and model building.

Tony Koester - excellent writer and editor.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JimdeBree

there are so many great modelers, it's impossible to have a favorite. All of the names mentioned above are included on the list of great modellers.

I like this answer best of all, way to go Jim. I also liked Brakie's tongue in cheek remark.

[AggroJones]

Gil Freitag, Eric Brooman, Jack Parker, Jim Diaz, Jim Sixx, George Sellios,

.......and Aggro Jones. I like that guy. [:I]

[brothaslide]

Pelle Soeburg and Eric Brooman

I belive Pelle is working on a new layout - would love to see the progress.

[the-big-blow]

ME of course.

Followed closely by Keith Fink and his HO Rocky Mountain Division.

[Anonymous]

John Allen was my "guide" as I grew into model railroading, and I am still "stuck" on his origibal (small) G & D layout........ forty years later !

[MAbruce]

My number one is my 5 year old son, who always reminds me to have fun when running trains. He has a way of keeping my perspective in line when I'm starting to sweat inane details.

My second is me. [;)]

Hey, it's just a hobby.. right? [:)]

[Anonymous]

For structure modeling, Eric Bronsky (El article in 1976, South Upton Tower in '85 RMC, and did he do the Sheridan Elms station?)

For level of detail in urban scenery, George Sellios

For overall effect, Allen McClelland

For operations and design, Tony Koester

For scratchbuilding, I'd be split between Gordon Odegard, for his '82-'83 scratchbuilt Mikado series, and Wayne Wesolowski, just for the scale and detail of some of his projects.

[jwmurrayjr]

Don't forget Lou Sassi! [:)]

[Anonymous]

My favorite Model Railroader is George Sellios because of this obsession with detail.

[Anonymous]

In reality, I think that George has exceeded John Allen as far as scope is concerned. He also has added some of John's type of MRR humor which I think is great!

[Anonymous]

Dave Frary is one of mine. The Elk River Line series introduced me to model RRs, narrow gauge and the hobby as almost an art form. I lived close by and got visit him a couple of times and see a few bits of the 'ol Elk River Line after it was disassembled.
Earl Smallshaw is another after his Varney Dockside piece in Feb '81 MR opened up the world of urban switching. And master kitbasher Art Curren, I'd be happy with a tiny fraction of his talent. Tough to narrow it down to a few, let alone one.

smyers

[darth9x9]

Howard Zane has taught me a lot about building structures and building a railroad. His generosity along with his talents makes him my favorite. I am impresses also by Joe Fugate's and Rick Rideout's work. There are lots of them out there!

My club even has a few greats in the making - check us out in Great Model Railroads 2005 to hit newsstands on Nov 2, 2004.

[Anonymous]

It is tough to say who is the best. Gordon Varney gave us the 12 volt system so we could have finer control in DC. Lynn Westcott and Paul Mallery gave us a very good control systems and layouts in the 50's and 60's. John Allen did a supurb job with the crude items that were available then. I know of three modelers that are here because of Lou Sassi's books and his insparation. Malcomb Farlow has really streched the envelope.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY

Bob

[darth9x9]

Hey TEFFY,

The survey is about your favorite, not the best.......

[Anonymous]

Myself :) oh and some friends of mine :)

In print... I don't think I could really narrow down one favorite, or even a group of favorites.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

As far as North American modelers are concerned:

John Allen
John Armstrong
Gordon Odegard
Jack Work
Tony Koester
Eric Brooman
David Popp
Jim Hediger
Andy Sperandeo
Allen McClelland
Joe Fugate
Dave Frary
Lou Sassi
The Reid Brothers, Pete Thomas, Walt Huston, and Jim Younkins (all expert N scalers)
Lou Ullian
Bob Brown
Ken Ehlers
Blair Kooistra
Dave Adams

. . .and I'm certain the list will grow.

[krump]

can someone make this into a Poll? that would be interesting...
the names are all familiar and almost every modeller featured in an issue is my favourite for the month.
SPandSfan's list has most of the one's that I am familiar with... add Malcolm Furlow, I Rice (is that Iian or Lian ? sorry, but I've never been able to figure it out),
and then, the one's with the biggest influence on me are some local clubbers ... G Redman, D and J Hole, J Goldthorpe, G Hazell, B Gardner, R Fowler