I think tracklayer is Rod
Childhood memories are easily lost except some very strong ones. I keep thinking about that Starship album on cassette somewhere in my pile of stuff from that time. "We Built this City" or something like that. Is this the same Rod?
Falls Valley RR wrote: Childhood memories are easily lost except some very strong ones. I keep thinking about that Starship album on cassette somewhere in my pile of stuff from that time. "We Built this City" or something like that. Is this the same Rod?
Rod Stewart was not a member of Starship.
We Built This City
"We Built This City" is a song written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf and recorded by the group Starship. The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, best known for his longtime collaboration with Elton John. The song features Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick on lead vocals, and the single version reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 16, 1985. The city that the band is singing about in the album version of this song has been generally thought to be San Francisco, California (the traffic report in the bridge references the Golden Gate Bridge), and in Japan it has been sold with Japanese title "Sisuko wa Rokku Sitii (SF is a rock city)". But according to Starship singer Grace Slick, it was actually written about early-1970s Los Angeles.[1]
In April 2004, the song was awarded "the #1 Most Awesomely Bad Song Ever" by Blender magazine,[1] in conjunction with a VH1 Special of The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever. In order to qualify for the distinction, the songs on the list had to be a popular hit at some point, thus disqualifying many songs that would by general consensus be considered much worse. Blender editor Craig Marks said of the song, "It purports to be anti-commercial but reeks of '80s corporate-rock commercialism. It's a real reflection of what practically killed rock music in the '80s."
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
Falls Valley RR wrote: 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)
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.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
Good for you Rod!
Great layout and great work. Good to see! Do you ever get to see Julie Driscoll? The Steam Packet with Brian Auger and Long John Baldrey was the best band that no-one in the States ever knew about. Yes, I remember the Hoochie Coochie men and the Birdcage in Portsmouth. And the Oddfellows hall and the Marquee way, way, way before Maggie May.
Good on you Rod. Great work!
Falls Valley RR wrote:It's not about the money, the article makes it clear that it was a enjoyable pursuit of the hobby for Rod. It is written he takes the mornings to go all out on the hobby and the rest of day with the family. Then it's the Gulfstream to his Job.When I fired up the FSX Game and ran the Lear 45, you were out of Chicago and into St Louis within the hour and perhaps to Dallas by the third hour. 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)It is nice that some very fortunate people can share the hobby, I mean; that layout is slightly bigger than my home and would require it's own building with full utilities.Makes me very content with my small space.The one thing I particularly enjoyed from the pictures was the apparent adaptation of the Walthers REA Buildings into what appears to be a Market similar to what I have been to in the Produce business. I could be wrong.Did anyone notice the slight problems in the overall shot of the stations, downtown etc in the background? It was almost like you needed a humongus 100 gigapixel camera to take it all in without running out of field view and focus.
It's not about the money, the article makes it clear that it was a enjoyable pursuit of the hobby for Rod. It is written he takes the mornings to go all out on the hobby and the rest of day with the family. Then it's the Gulfstream to his Job.
When I fired up the FSX Game and ran the Lear 45, you were out of Chicago and into St Louis within the hour and perhaps to Dallas by the third hour. 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)
It is nice that some very fortunate people can share the hobby, I mean; that layout is slightly bigger than my home and would require it's own building with full utilities.
Makes me very content with my small space.
The one thing I particularly enjoyed from the pictures was the apparent adaptation of the Walthers REA Buildings into what appears to be a Market similar to what I have been to in the Produce business. I could be wrong.
Did anyone notice the slight problems in the overall shot of the stations, downtown etc in the background? It was almost like you needed a humongus 100 gigapixel camera to take it all in without running out of field view and focus.
Being a pilot myself, Rod's plane would follow ATC ( Air Trafiic Control) instructions, but Gulfstreams fly in the 30 plus thousand altitude airspace, and Gulfstreams fly at approximately the same airspeeds as airliners.Most Gulfstreams possess intercontinental flight capablities, which means non-stop flights, let's say from Van Nuys California ( home to a lot of Gulfstreams) to Paris France or London England.A far cry from my airplanes capablities of 90 to 110 miles per hour from 3500 to 7500 feet cruising altitudes, since I do not carry onboard oxygen.My navigation capablities are onboard GPS -Navcom radio, and a compass, plus I don't fly in bad weather.Plus it makes it possible for me and sometimes some of my other flying buddies who are also into trains, to enjoy TWO passions at once, FLYING and MODEL TRAINS, by being able to visit somewhat distant train shows and hobby shops.So a train show or visit a really cool hobby shop at 200 to 300 miles distance isn't a real problem. A nice Saturday or Sunday weatherwise, pull the airplane out of the hangar, and off we go!
Leave in the morning, be home for supper!
TheK4Kid
Fascinating article, especially how Stewart did the buildings between concerts and family time. Stewart, Neil Young, Mandy Patinkin, the late Frank Sinatra, and several other high-powered entertainers are all fascinated by trains and have (or had) the layouts to prove it.
I hope MR will do a follow-up article on the layout itself. Stewart's eye for detail is certainly admirable.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
No he didn't, I have big shelf full of them.
One Track Mind wrote: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?
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?
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.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
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
steemtrayn wrote: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.
Craig
DMW
The photography is a amazing as well, as are many of the shots in GMRR 2008.
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!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
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
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
graphitehemi wrote: Vail and Southwestern RR wrote: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?
Vail and Southwestern RR wrote: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!
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!
rrebell wrote:Next we need to get Rod on the forum!!!!!!
Perhaps he's already here using a pseudonyn or as a lurker?
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
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.
hoborich wrote: 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
Printer wrote: 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??