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Rod Stuart in December 2007 MR

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Posted by steemtrayn on Sunday, October 28, 2007 9:39 PM
So, what will be the title of his next album? Do you think I'm CSX-y?
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Posted by steemtrayn on Sunday, October 28, 2007 7:42 PM
So do I, I just wish I bought more of them when Trainworld was unloading them for 20 bucks.
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Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, October 28, 2007 7:12 PM

No he didn't, I have big shelf full of them.

TheK4Kid 

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Posted by steemtrayn on Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:37 PM
This article should inspire many of us to build lareg city scenes, but we'll need a new source of material since Rod bought up all the Bachmann buildings.
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Posted by jxtrrx on Sunday, October 28, 2007 1:37 PM
You guys have me wanting this issue... but alas, the local Wal-Mart is still displaying the Nov. issue.  Patience. 
-Jack My shareware model railroad inventory software: http://www.yardofficesoftware.com My layout photos: http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a33/jxtrrx/JacksLayout/
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, October 28, 2007 11:45 AM

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 Smile [:)]

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Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, October 28, 2007 11:34 AM
 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.

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 

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Posted by bsteel4065 on Sunday, October 28, 2007 10:05 AM

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! 

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Posted by tomytuna on Sunday, October 28, 2007 7:03 AM
I looked and read the article yesterday...I look at Rod as an ambasador for the hobby just as there are many people out here who are not as "Famous" and do great things for the hobby..as far as ambasadors go check out the tour de chooch....Tom
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Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Sunday, October 28, 2007 12:17 AM
 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)

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!

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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, October 28, 2007 12:01 AM
 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

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

• Ten things you may not know about Wikipedia • Jump to: navigation, search
"We Built This City"
"We Built This City" cover
Single by Starship
from the album Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Released1985
Format7"
GenreRock
Length4:38
WriterBernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, Peter Wolf
ProducerPeter Wolf, Jeremy Smith
Starship singles chronology
 "We Built This City"
(1985)
"Sara"
(1985)

"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.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:56 PM

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?

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Posted by btdrum on Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:28 PM
Apparently musician Neil Young has a giant layout in his house too. One of my students (I teach drums in the SF Bay Area) got a tour of it with his Boy Scout troop when he was younger. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get details of a layout from someone who doesn't know trains (especially when they were 12 when they saw it!)
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Posted by Budliner on Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:12 PM

I think tracklayer is Rod

 

 

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:56 PM

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.

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Posted by wrconstruction on Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:03 PM

i think its great that he actually did it and didnt pull the i have a billion dollars and will pay someone to build it. could you imagine packing up all that stuff from hotel room to hotel room. wonder if he's on stage thinking about his next move on the project and how soon can he get back to it?

 

if i recall there are quite a few actors and such that are model rail roaders

Old Trail Industries
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Posted by graphitehemi on Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:54 PM

 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? Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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Posted by accord1959 on Saturday, October 27, 2007 3:18 PM

He got started in HO, or the present layout in 1993, I'm not sure which came first, but as far as the layout itself, he had 2 guys from his local hobby shop convert the wiring from DC to DCC and had some help with the L-girder supports and with the track plan, but all the buildings and detail work are of his own hands, really magnificent, he truely is an artist in more than 1 way.

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 27, 2007 1:53 PM

I recieved the issue today and was floored by the amount of information in the article. I enjoyed the disappearing watch story the best.

There has to be a second article when the Scenery phase is finished in the future. Im curious to see how Rod takes the scenery work. Would it be built on a Hotel table and dropped into place?

That Gulfstream is the key to it all. I cannot imagine having to fly Commercial on the schedules presented in the article.

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Posted by LudwigVonDrake on Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:26 PM

I've just got my copy, not read the article yet but the pics are stunning.

Rod Stewart - legend of Railroading and music!Bow [bow]

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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:11 AM
Rock's Regal Rooster digs trains.  That's just too cool.  Thanks for posting the link, now I've gotta get that issue of MR.
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Posted by Budliner on Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:47 AM

Excellent! I bet Rod reads all the posts

were not worthy

I think we are in good company

 

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Posted by dragonriversteel on Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:41 AM

 

  Folks,

     I was floored by the amount of detail and craftsmenship that Rod has pulled off. I admit that I too first thought,he had someone build it for him. Well Mr Steward...should you read this post, I was trully wrong.

 Outstanding work,all of it!!!!

 Must have takin years and ungodly amounts of money for this masterpiece. Sure would like to see it in person.

 Patrick

 Beaufort,SC

 Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}

 

Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb

Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.

Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.

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Posted by John Busby on Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:05 PM

Hi vail and southwest

Yes he does have another Railway that one is in the UK that one is the LMS whats on the layout I do not know.

regards John

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Posted by GAPPLEG on Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:35 PM
Got the issue today, WOW !  He states he built the buildings and so forth himself in hotel rooms.  900 ft double track mainline. The detail in the city scenes is very good, he is meticulous there is no question ablout that. Won't tell all but he is an outstanding modeler. Tongue [:P]
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Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:39 PM
 wjstix wrote:

 trainboyH16-44 wrote:
Makes me wonder whether I should have gotten a guitar instead of a pair of Athearn SD40-2s when I was still in the single digits...

If you did, you'd be like me, and have TWO hobbies you can't afford now - musical instruments and trains !! Laugh [(-D]

BTW I've been trying to remember where it was, but I thought I saw something on hobby shops a while back on TV (I bet it was when Train World was featured in "The Sopranos") and the hobby shop guy they interviewed talked about how many celebrities liked trains. He said something like "Rod Stewart was in here about a year ago and bought a bunch of the big G scale trains. Rod said 'my hands are too clumsy for the little trains'."

So...either he got good really fast, or had someone build the layout for him??

Or, perhaps, he has a sense of humor!  (humour, in his case)

 

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:36 PM

 trainboyH16-44 wrote:
Makes me wonder whether I should have gotten a guitar instead of a pair of Athearn SD40-2s when I was still in the single digits...

If you did, you'd be like me, and have TWO hobbies you can't afford now - musical instruments and trains !! Laugh [(-D]

BTW I've been trying to remember where it was, but I thought I saw something on hobby shops a while back on TV (I bet it was when Train World was featured in "The Sopranos") and the hobby shop guy they interviewed talked about how many celebrities liked trains. He said something like "Rod Stewart was in here about a year ago and bought a bunch of the big G scale trains. Rod said 'my hands are too clumsy for the little trains'."

So...either he got good really fast, or had someone build the layout for him??

Stix
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Posted by TheK4Kid on Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:36 PM

Like someone else said, they are just as human as the rest of us.This is quite true.

Guys, my other hobby is full scale aviation and model aviation.
I belong to a national aviation organization, and have had the chance to meet some of these people, and for the most part, almost all of them are really down to earth people,and great folks to get to know and be around.

When I was about 12 years old, I was at a model airplane meet near Chicago.Broke my airplane, and a guy by the name of Paul Harvey helped me repair it.
Met a guy a few years ago at an airshow and got to talk to him at length, and he had several of us almost rolling on the ground laughing with hysteria due to his great sense of humor.His name was Jim Lovell.

It's not what you do for a living, it's something you are passionate about and enjoy sharing it with others,regardless of what walk of life you come from.I can understand Rod Stewart's statement about doing it himself, otherwise it's just not the same.
I feel exactly the same way.
I'm sure if he's like the rest of us, he(Rod Stewart) just enjoys the times you can set down, unwind, and work on his model railroad stuff, and have some time to yourself and do something you love to do.

TheK4Kid 

 

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Posted by SilverSpike on Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:34 PM
Nice article on Rod and his model railroading interests. Looking forward to getting my Dec 07 issue in the mail soon. I hear some arrived today in the mail, hope mine is sitting in the mail box awaiting!

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:18 PM

Yah, just dont get too star struck when one is easing a extra out of your yard. Strip out the glitz and showboat stuff and they are people like everyone else.

Having said that, I have ran into a few and never fail to completely wipe the brain, stand star-struck and unable to introduce myself etc.

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?

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