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Rod Stewart's Railroad Completed

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Posted by Medina1128 on Monday, December 2, 2019 5:59 PM

rrinker
And remember, in the 40's you didn;t have simple styrene kits.

Yep, back in the day, it was all metal and/or wood...
"Wasn't there a nightstand on the other side of the bed?" ~ housekeeping, in the morning.

 

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Posted by TheK4Kid on Monday, December 2, 2019 2:42 PM

Not only is Rod Stewart a wonderful entertainer, but a family man, a master craftsman and like all of us, their is that "kid" inside of us that just never grows up! He has his health, and to make a dream come true, God Bless him !!! :)

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Posted by Motley on Sunday, November 17, 2019 11:50 AM

There seems to be pleny of photos and articles from MRR. But I cant find a single video of the layout?

Is there a reason why he doesn't want any videos taken?

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Saturday, November 16, 2019 3:06 PM

mbinsewi
ROBERT PETRICK
Now I'm gonna have to go dig through the stacks of back issues to check. Anyone have the date?

Dec., 2007,   Dec., 2010,  Feb., 2014,  and June, 2017.

I searched the archives.

Mike

Hey Mike-

Thanks for the info.

June 2017, got it. I just had an enjoyable re-read. I don't have the earlier editions because I gave a big bundle of back issues to the local MakerSpace. I can't remember the '07 or '010 articles, but I remember the large bridge (by Custom Model Railroads) prominently mentioned in the '014 issue.

Robert

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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, November 16, 2019 1:14 PM

ROBERT PETRICK
Now I'm gonna have to go dig through the stacks of back issues to check. Anyone have the date?

Dec., 2007,   Dec., 2010,  Feb., 2014,  and June, 2017.

I searched the archives.

 

Mike

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Posted by SPSOT fan on Saturday, November 16, 2019 11:04 AM

ROBERT PETRICK

Now I'm gonna have to go dig through the stacks of back issues to check. Anyone have the date?

Try July or August of 2016... maybe September

I know for certain it came out during the summer, but I’m not certain what year...

I frankly find it hard to beleove Rod will say the layout’s done, and completely stop adding to it though...

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

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Posted by John-NYBW on Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:52 AM

This layout is in the conversation of the best home layouts ever built. His structures are maginficent. As I understand he also designed it and its obvious a lot of planning went into it. It looks completely plausible as major US city.

I hate to quibble about one minor point but it seems to me the two way traffic in front of the station is going in the wrong direction. Everybody is driving on the left. A one way street might be more plausible there. On the bridge over the trainsheds, the traffic is driving on the right. 

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:27 AM

SPSOT fan
riogrande5761

Rod Stewart's Railroad Completed

Has he not heard?  A model railroad is never done. 

Betchya Rod will find plenty of things to add to his railroad! Based of how much he is rumored to spend on his railroad, I bet he’ll keep building kits in hotel rooms!

I’d theorize that Rod doesn’t consider it complete, but to a lay person (i.e. those people who know nothing about trains) it looks finished and he’s got to say something to that effect to setisfy them. Just a theory though, I’ve got ZERO idea how fame works!

I don't recall exactly, but I think he addressed the 'never finished' issue in the article. The mis-quote is along the lines of " . . . it's true model railroads are never finished, but this one is."

Now I'm gonna have to go dig through the stacks of back issues to check. Anyone have the date?

Robert 

LINK to SNSR Blog


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Posted by SPSOT fan on Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:16 AM

riogrande5761

Rod Stewart's Railroad Completed

Has he not heard?  A model railroad is never done. 

Betchya Rod will find plenty of things to add to his railroad! Based of how much he is rumored to spend on his railroad, I bet he’ll keep building kits in hotel rooms!

I’d theorize that Rod doesn’t consider it complete, but to a lay person (i.e. those people who know nothing about trains) it looks finished and he’s got to say something to that effect to setisfy them. Just a theory though, I’ve got ZERO idea how fame works!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, November 16, 2019 9:27 AM

 

Rod Stewart's Railroad Completed

Has he not heard?  A model railroad is never done.

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Doughless on Friday, November 15, 2019 10:34 AM

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.

 

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.

 

 

- Douglas

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, November 15, 2019 6:17 AM

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.

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Posted by gregc on Friday, November 15, 2019 4:15 AM

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.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, November 14, 2019 7:57 PM

 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!

                                         --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by up831 on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:54 PM

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.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:47 PM

ROBERT PETRICK
I was glad to see that Sir Rodney had a specially designed travelling workshop

Actually, its Sir Roderick David Stewart.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:37 PM

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.

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.

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Posted by Sea-n-Tow on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:36 PM

I really admire him for embracing the hobby. Certainly not the stereotypical rock star after hours activity! 

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:33 PM

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 Whistling

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:24 PM

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.

 

Henry

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Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Thursday, November 14, 2019 6:09 PM

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.

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, November 14, 2019 5:50 PM

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       

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, November 14, 2019 5:29 PM

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?   Crying

Rich

 
I'm certainly not questioning your skills, Rich, but let's face it...once you've pried-up Bertrams from its site, I have a feeling you'd have an "emergency" at home, and would be on the road before I even noticed the empty lot.  Laugh
 
Wayne
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Posted by Doughless on Thursday, November 14, 2019 5:12 PM

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

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, November 14, 2019 5:08 PM

floridaflyer
What 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

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, November 14, 2019 5:04 PM

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?   Crying

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by floridaflyer on Thursday, November 14, 2019 4:47 PM

What Randy said

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, November 14, 2019 3:33 PM

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, November 14, 2019 3:18 PM

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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