Rod Stuart in December 2007 MR

[devils]

Like the Grim Reaper on the roof of the IGA store. Anyone notice the window washer on the ledge of the skyscraper? Or what looks to be a "jumper" on one of the roofs?

Yep and the name of the news stand is WH Smiths which had stands at all major staions in the UK and still does in a few.

Lovely city modelling really looks like the photos I see of US city blocks. I wonder why he didn't use all that space in the other room and went for a yard down the middle, maybe full of display cases?

Good story too.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

Without putting in the quotes,

I expect that the layout was designed as a display for the structures and scenery, and not for what some would call 'operation'.  His focus in the hobby right now is onthe structures, it is what he has the time and place to do.  So, he designed (or had designed, doesn't matter which) a layout for that purpose.  I don't think he is a a place where spending the evening switching is what he's about.  When he is, he probably can build another layout!

Even if the layout was intended to be a static display, the freight yard would be more impressive if the track arrangements were more like the "real thing."

Mark

In general, I'd agree with that.  Though it might depend on who you are trying to impress.

 

[markpierce]

Without putting in the quotes,

I expect that the layout was designed as a display for the structures and scenery, and not for what some would call 'operation'.  His focus in the hobby right now is onthe structures, it is what he has the time and place to do.  So, he designed (or had designed, doesn't matter which) a layout for that purpose.  I don't think he is a a place where spending the evening switching is what he's about.  When he is, he probably can build another layout!

Even if the layout was intended to be a static display, the freight yard would be more impressive if the track arrangements were more like the "real thing."

Mark

[Dave Vollmer]

I enjoyed the article about Rod's layout.  I can't say I listen to his music, but he certainly seems to be a good guy all around.

His layout is quite spectacular.  Just as has ben mentioned before, his scenes are detailed without being too cluttered.  The skyscrapers show some selective compression with regards to girth, but the effect is really good.

I noticed, too, that the layout seems to be designed for running as opposed to hardcore operations.  You know what?  I'm starting to think that I'm the same way.  I tried car-card and waybill ops, but honestly, I just like running trains.  I suspect a guy like Rod Stewart, whose life is always on fast-forward, probably gets great pleasure just from railfanning his own layout.

Nice to know that people across the spectrum are just like us.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

Without putting in the quotes,

I expect that the layout was designed as a display for the structures and scenery, and not for what some would call 'operation'.  His focus in the hobby right now is onthe structures, it is what he has the time and place to do.  So, he designed (or had designed, doesn't matter which) a layout for that purpose.  I don't think he is a a place where spending the evening switching is what he's about.  When he is, he probably can build another layout!

 

[Driline]

I find your comments laughable.

You couldn't qualify to be Rod's pool boy... yet here you are, picking apart his freight yard.

You're killing me, my stomach's hurting from laughing so hard

Is this sort of personal abuse really necessary? Talk about trying to start a flame war... hopefully markpierce will ignore the post and this thread won't erupt into a free-for-all.

Brunton read your PM. 

[Pruitt]

I find your comments laughable.

You couldn't qualify to be Rod's pool boy... yet here you are, picking apart his freight yard.

You're killing me, my stomach's hurting from laughing so hard

Is this sort of personal abuse really necessary? Talk about trying to start a flame war... hopefully markpierce will ignore the post and this thread won't erupt into a free-for-all.

[Driline]

As a habitual track plan analyst, I hope Rod has adequately considered his track plan to assure it meets his needs.  I see potential problems with: (1) the engine terminal being far away from the yard and generally inaccessible (this is less of a concern if the terminal is primarily "scenery"), (2) the freight yard lacking a switching lead and apparent arrival/departure, repair-in-place, caboose, and related service tracks, as well as needing to be double-ended, and (3) if Rod thinks he might be interested in switching activity, the layout could use more industrial sidings and complexity.

Mark

I find your comments laughable.

You couldn't qualify to be Rod's pool boy... yet here you are, picking apart his freight yard.

You're killing me, my stomach's hurting from laughing so hard

[Printer]

My first isue of MR showed up today. Pam my mailman (yes i call her my female maleman) stopped me walking down the road and handed it to me. We had a nice chat about Rod. Now I can see all of the little things that all of you have been talking about. Like the Grim Reaper on the roof of the IGA store. (although he isn't my AbFav person now, after seeing him look back at me out of the mirror). Anyone notice the window washer on the ledge of the skyscraper? Or what looks to be a "jumper" on one of the roofs?

Scoot

It had slipped my mind that I had signed up for a subscription last month. I'm blaming that on my oxygen depleated mind.

And IF Rod does hang around here under a pseudonym, perhaps an Anonymous hint of which came first, Crooner Music or Track Plan might be fun?

[steamage]

I think that none of us now can have an excuse for not having a layout started or building a model of anything after seeing Rod's work. "I don't have the time" just won't cut it anymore.
Bet his operating sessions ROCK!

[TheK4Kid]

Makes me wonder if a Private Gulfstream has the same "Freedom" as a ... Cessna 172 or a Warrior Archer above 20,000 feet in what I consider to be "Center" airspace over the USA. Does Rod's plane must follow instructions as provided to airliners and other craft? (Not including approach, departure etc)

Once he goes over 18,000 feet (it may be lower, now, but that's the number I recall), he has to be flying under positive control, with flight plan, and following directions.  It really isn't a big deal, he has as much right, under the rules, to the airspace as the airliners, and he plays by the same rules.

 

I can shed some light here.  After Fligh tlevel 180 yes you have to be in positive control.  But Rod's airplane flying that low would not get him very far.  His airplane is capable of going to the higher reaches of 51,000 feet.  Above all those little airline guys slogging around in the thunderstorms and crap.  Our Learjet goes to 47,000 feet on a regular basis and dodges all the weather and can pretty much go direct to anywhere we want to go.  Not many other airplanes up that high. 

He does have a truly impressive layout.  I to thought someone else built it for him until I read the article..  Nice job !!!!!!

Quite right on the aviation facts, plus flying at lower altitudes in Learjets and Gulfstreams and CJ2's etc, is VERY COSTLY in fuel.They are setup to fly at higher altitudes.

And yes Rod Stewart is a very skilled modeller! 

[One Track Mind]

hmmm...had not made that connection...(per Scoot's earlier post) I wonder which came first, the inspiration for a '40s flavored layout and then the Songbook albums, or maybe Rod always liked the crooner songs and that inspired his choice of era? Interesting.

One thing for sure, with the profits from all those Songbook CDs, maybe Rod was able to buy a locomotive or two.

Don't have my issue here yet, but it sounds like Rod is going to progress beyond the city...surely there will be a soccer, ah, football field included in a scene. I see 590-10075 is the item # for the Preiser soccer set. He's good to go!

[rs2mike]

Makes me wonder if a Private Gulfstream has the same "Freedom" as a ... Cessna 172 or a Warrior Archer above 20,000 feet in what I consider to be "Center" airspace over the USA. Does Rod's plane must follow instructions as provided to airliners and other craft? (Not including approach, departure etc)

Once he goes over 18,000 feet (it may be lower, now, but that's the number I recall), he has to be flying under positive control, with flight plan, and following directions.  It really isn't a big deal, he has as much right, under the rules, to the airspace as the airliners, and he plays by the same rules.

 

I can shed some light here.  After Fligh tlevel 180 yes you have to be in positive control.  But Rod's airplane flying that low would not get him very far.  His airplane is capable of going to the higher reaches of 51,000 feet.  Above all those little airline guys slogging around in the thunderstorms and crap.  Our Learjet goes to 47,000 feet on a regular basis and dodges all the weather and can pretty much go direct to anywhere we want to go.  Not many other airplanes up that high. 

He does have a truly impressive layout.  I to thought someone else built it for him until I read the article..  Nice job !!!!!!

[wjstix]

Still have an old 45 of Itchycoo Park in the closet.

Scoot

I think Itchycoo Park was recorded by the Small Faces in 1967, several years before Rod joined them. That band had Steve Mariott and Ronnie Lane in it. I think Rod was in the Jeff Beck Group in 1967-68; I know he sang on the Jeff Beck "Truth" album that came out in 1968...or '69??

[Anonymous]

I always knew that guy was cool, but who knew he was THAT cool!

[Duckadder]

Ive wondered how a Star would buy train stuff. Going into a shop to get some track and paint. Getting mobbed on the way out? Or do they have a go-fer fetch it?

They put on dark sunglasses, pull a hat down over their face, call ahead, and slink in the back door of the hobby shop.

  I have never seen a rock star in a hobby shop but having worked as an audio visual engineer and movie theatre projectionist for the past 34 years I have met more actors and actresses then you could possibly imagine when they have come into theaters to watch movies.  Here in New York City celebrities from the arts can be seen in the street everywhere.  With rare exceptions they are regular folks like the rest of us.  Also two celebrities who are model railroaders have not been mentioned yet.  Tom Snyder is a well known tinplate collector, and Sally Jesse Rafael models in Z scale in an attache case when traveling.

   Okay I just got home from work and found my December issue of Model Railroader.  I immediately went to the Rod Stewart layout pages and stared in awe at the incredible work.  Then I read the posts here and was a bit annoyed that some people seemed to question just what work he has actually done on the railroad.  Who Cares??  If I had his resources I too would have benchwork and wiring done by a professional because my pleasure in modeling is building structures, kitbashing locomotives and rolling stock. and scenery work.

   Anyway I am just amazed at the level of detail and the incredible amount of buildings.  Rod has truly captured the busy streets of New York City as they look to me every day.  This layout is as good or better then anything I have ever seen in the past forty years of reading this magazine.  Move over George Sellios!

    One more thing,  something left out from Rod's discography mentioned earlier,  Jeff Beck--Truth,  an album featuring Rod Stewart on vocals.

Bruce

[Anonymous]

Ive wondered how a Star would buy train stuff. Going into a shop to get some track and paint. Getting mobbed on the way out? Or do they have a go-fer fetch it?

They put on dark sunglasses, pull a hat down over their face, call ahead, and slink in the back door of the hobby shop.

[larak]

Next we need to get Rod on the forum!!!!!!

Perhaps he's already here using a pseudonyn or as a lurker?

 

[rrebell]

Next we need to get Rod on the forum!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

It's just a simply beautiful layout (so far). I can see futher follow up articles as the scenery progresses beyound the "downtown" area to the more rural scenes.

I've had the mag laying on my desk at work since it arrived Thursday. Even the boss was impressed!

[Anonymous]

Or, perhaps, he has a sense of humor!

I would say he does! Has anyone noticed the Grimm Reaper standing atop the market in the second picture?

Wow! I see it now!! Funny!

[Great Western Rwy fan]

I received My issue last week and all I can say is Rod's layout is AWESOME!! He has really captured that New York City feel with his modeling!!

[Jumijo]

 

Rod Stewart's layout is the most impressive piece of detail modeling I've ever seen by anyone. You can name whomever you like as a "giant talent" in the world of model railroading. But without question, Rod Stewart is right there with any of them.

As for Neil Young, mentioned previously, he is part owner of Lionel trains, and is a major technical contributor to it's command and Railsounds electronics. 

Jim 

[Pruitt]

What I liked most about the Rod Stewart article was how the author wrote the story.

They didn't fawn all over Rod Stewart the Rock Star, but instead presented the story as Rod Stewart the modeler. We all got a look at the real person behind the glitz, and his hobby too.

Attaboys to MR and to the author!

[Dallas Model Works]

The photography is a amazing as well, as are many of the shots in GMRR 2008.

 

[Dallas Model Works]

So, what will be the title of his next album? Do you think I'm CSX-y?

That would be a better title than Maggie Shay.

 Of course, now I wonder what he was realling singing about on The First Cut Is The Deepest.

[markpierce]

Rod Stuart's modelling is truly creative, as the artist he is.  His city's "canyons" are more impressive than John Allen's were.  As for myself, I too enjoy building structures even though my talent pales in comparison. 

(I don't own any of his recordings, but I did enjoy his concert in Concord, California a year or so ago, and my girlfriend often asks me to dance to his songs.)

As a habitual track plan analyst, I hope Rod has adequately considered his track plan to assure it meets his needs.  I see potential problems with: (1) the engine terminal being far away from the yard and generally inaccessible (this is less of a concern if the terminal is primarily "scenery"), (2) the freight yard lacking a switching lead and apparent arrival/departure, repair-in-place, caboose, and related service tracks, as well as needing to be double-ended, and (3) if Rod thinks he might be interested in switching activity, the layout could use more industrial sidings and complexity.

Mark

[SteamFreak]

I've known Rod was a model railroader since '96 when he signed the wall at Northlandz before going through the tour. I wasn't there, but some friends who were told me of the event. I believe he went through before it officially opened.

Nice work Rod, your skyscrapers are amazing. You certainly improved on what you saw.

The article didn't mention if he works on the motive power & rolling stock.

Nice to see one of the 'cool kids' finally sticking up for the hobby. 

 

[Printer]

Cool! thanks for posting the link.

Got all but one of Rod Stewart's albums over the years, if you don't count that "Songbook" stuff...

Can't wait to see this layout! I would've thought he paid to have it built, but it sounds like he did it himself.

If the title - something about Rod built this city - is a play on that Starship song....ah, cute?

 

This makes the "American Songbook" stuff a bit relavent. 40's music and a 40's layout. And btw, I have Vols 2 and 3 of the songbook series and enjoy the tunes. Reminds me of my parents and grandparents homes with that stuff playing out of the Victrola.
I've got a lot of Rod and the Faces vinyl stuff around too. Still have an old 45 of Itchycoo Park in the closet.

I'll have to find a Bookstore way over in St. Augustine and see if they have this issue. We don't have any bookstores in town. Or hobby shops. Nor a bar.

Scoot