Who inspires you ?

[CBQ_Guy]

Hmmmm. Well, I suppose the answers on this would somewhat be tied to your age group. I know a lot of the ideas we take for granted nowadays were orinated by some of the "old timers" in the hobby many newer guys never heard of. For this I would suggest picking up some really old issues of MR just for fun. Though techniques can go out of fashion or be superceded with new technology, materials, etc., good ideas can last forever in many cases. And it's kind of a hoot to see where some of these "rules" originated; when they were new; and realize they had never been thunk or presented go the hobby prior.

Personally, I believe the one person I think of most when I recall my early days in the hobby is Linn Westcott. In fact, I'll be naming my main yard after him in tribute for all the good ideas and knowledge he's passed on to me when I first started reading MR back in 1966. I also have fond memories of articles and ideas I've learned and enjoyed reading from Bill McClannahan, Allen McClelland, Gordon Odegard, Dave Frary. I know there are so many more whose names aren't coming to mind right now.

One name which stands out to me, and which I've never seen anywhere else and nobody seems to remember, is a gentleman named Glenn Wagner. He wrote a series of articles on building an HO layout in the Boy Scout magazine called "Boy's Life" back in the 1960's. I actually tried to build this layout as a kid and I still have the book containing all the reprints of the articles I bought back then, but it's buried in my stuff down in the basement. In the articles, he had buildings you made yourself. They were correct size for HO scale and the idea was to cut out the windows, doors and signs to glue on your home made structures to make them look more realistic. Well that was fine, but I didn't want to cut up the magazines so I wrote him when I was around 10 years old or so, and asked him if there was another way. This guy mailed me back copies of the actual photographs used in the magazine, which meant they were better quality than appeared in the magazine. He also sent a typewritten letter of additional hints and encouragement. What a class act. I think he also asked me to let him know how the layout was coming along in the future. Since I never really got it going, I never had reason to write back to him. Now I wish I could contact him to say Thank You for the little extra effort he made to encourage and help a kid out in the hobby, but he's probably long gone by now.

Another person who comes to mind whose work fascinated and inspired me was Ed(?) Curran from MR. He's the king of kit-bashing/mingling as far as I'm concerned. I was constantly amazed how he had a knack for looking at various kits and in his mind be able to "see" not just how they could be combined into something entirely new and different, but also how various pieces of the whole could be cut up and put together with other cut up pieces of another kit to make an entirely new creation. I think that is some kind of gift because I don't seem to have it. His articles always impressed me. In fact, if Kalmbach put out a book containing just his work in this area, I would buy it in a heart beat.

I also enjoy reading anything by Tony Koester. Now I know it's not fashionable to admit this in some circles, and I don't always agree with everything he poses, but there is something about his style of writing, and the thought that goes into it, that just seems different and from a perspective one doesn't usually seem to get in our hobby. I have heard him speak a time or two as well, and he is one of those people whom I could sit and listen to read a telephone book, and be totally enthralled. I only know one other person like that, Bill Greenwood the former COO of BN. I don't know what it is but these two gents have that certain manner of speaking, whatever it is, that just drags me in, no matter what the topic. Maybe it's the oft made remark of "a thinking man's (model) railroader". These guys, to me seem, just SMART.

In a more modern vein, off the top of my head I like what Bill Darnaby has done with his layout, though I'm not personally a fan of TT&TO ops. I also like Bill Denton's Kingsbury Branch and also, is it John Pryke who had the series in MR awhile back on his urban modeling? I keep reading how Ian Rice is very popular and innovative in recent years, so I will have to go back and really look at his stuff. I used to skip over his track plans for a couple reasons. One, he's British and I just ASSumed since they model so differently over there (yeah, I know they ALL don't) that it's not something I would be interested in. Two, I don't like the way the layouts are drawn in the magazine - it's an art thing. I'm more of a technical guy, I guess, and I just want to see a neat track plan, not some artiste's cutsey concept of how a boring (to them) collection of lines and curves "should" be portrayed to the public. Three, at a glance his plans don't seem to have a section of straight track in sight. Anyway, like I said, since I am reading lately so many believe he has good ideas and concepts, one of these days I'm going to go back over some of his plans with an objective eye and see what's what.

Well I'm sure I've left numerous people out, like Lee Nicholas whom I just thought of whose staging "mole" concept is of particular inspiration to my operation, but I'll end here.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Allen McCelland. Although I had a tour of his new layout last April I'm very excited about the January issue of MR. Others (not in any order) would be John DePauw, Lee Nicholas, Mike Ritschdorf and all the layout owners in our round robin group.

[JeremyB]

I would have to say Eric Brooman, when I first got into Model Railroading his layout was then first one I saw in a Model Railroader and since that Day I have looked up to his railroads as the finest and when I see the Utah Belt It reminds me of those days when this hobby was new to me.

[Anonymous]

It's gotta be John Allen. He did scenery and weathering like no one ever did before. Plus he home-made and modified most of his equiptment, including one of my favorites of his, his 0-6-6-0. [:)]

[Anonymous]

A long and notable list of people have inspired and directed my modeling.

First off would be my dad. He got me into this great hobby at the age of 4, and I havn't looked back since.

Second Would be my friend Mike, who taught me to see model railroading with an artistic eye rather than a purely technicle one. (Wheathering should be considered its own fine art form)

The third person to inspire my modeling is my friend Dan. He has a talent for making the barest of benchwork look finished. I don't know how he does it, but I wish I could do that.

Finally here are some well recognised names that have also directed my modeling.

First is Allen McClellend. While I have no intention of modeling an Apalachian Coal hauling road, (Wyoming coal hauling road different story [8D]) His concept of beyond the basement, as well providing purpose for the railroad to be there have been chords that resonated with me early on.

Second is John Amrstrong. His "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" should be considered a classic text that is a must read by all model railroaders. I have gone through two copies of it as I keep referring back to it again and again.

Third is Mike Rose, (Well known to Railroad Model Craftsman readers) His desire for accurate model freight cars, and willingness to kit bash, scratch build, or just plain rework existing kits to get it is in keeping with the modeling I like to do, and it is inspiring to me that there is at least one other person out there doing it.

Finally, there is Al Kalmbach. He started the magazine that hots this very forum, providing a way for modelers to comunicate their thoughts and ideas to the rest of the model railraoding community.

James.

[Hawks05]

the person who inspired me the most is my friend. he's the one who got me interested and started in the hobby. he is always willing to help with any questions. he gives advice on what to buy and what not to buy.

thats who inspires me the most.

[vsmith]

My list of huge influences....

1. Lane Stewart's Empire & District Railway,

He did a number of articles in the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette on modeling in very small spaces with an insane level of detailing. Got me interested in resurecting my narrow gauge interests after many years out of the hobby.

2. Joe Crea's Pitkin Tram,

seeing this layout inspired me to try doing large scale indoors in a tight space.

3. Malcomn Furlow, Do I really have to say why???

His San Juan Central was like Lane Stewarts Empire & District, the inspiration to get back into the hobby after many year of doing nothing else but buying the occasional NG&SL Gazette or MR. His Mexican Hat Canyon railway is a huge influence on what I'm doing now, which is large sclae indoors, to do whatever looks like it would be fun to model and dont get anal-retentive about things.

That its all about fun and enjoying what you do, challenging yourself and trying different things that one might not have thought possible , not to be afraid of truely freelancing a layout. I have Lane and Malcomn to thank for that.

Not your usual list of influences but what the hey, were all different right?

[Anonymous]

My own " top 10" list will probably date me a bit.
#1 John Allen.

Then all these others, but NOT in any order, were my main inspirations along the way :
Jack Work
Eric Stevens
E.L. Moore
Gordon Odegard
Doug Smith
Frank Ellison
Ed Ravenscroft
Linn Westcott
John Armstrong

regards
Mike

[Jetrock]

I tend to keep going back to Linn Westcott's book on the G&D and John Allen, and I consider both of those folks to be major sources of inspiration even long after they were gone--Allen for his artistic flair, Westcott for his enthusiastic and prolific writing and neat ideas.

I've become fond of Iain Rice's articles recently as I've gotten back into reading MR.

The town where I live gives me lots of inspiration--the more I dig into Sacramento's history the more I want to make models of it...

[AggroJones]

Ron Kuykendall and his all of his western glory! [:)] I enjoy the articles he's written over the years and I have GMR vol 21 that tours his 5 layouts. He inspires alot of my modelling. [^]

George Sellios. I love his over weathering and over detailing. Every thing is over done, and looks spectacular. If only I could see the F&SM in person. [:D] For an eastern road, New Haven rules!

And finally, ME. I look at the work I've done over the years and marvel. I'm not trying to sound conceded, but, I rule! [:D] I impress my self, mostly on accident.

[DSchmitt]

John Armstrong layout planning and prototype operation. In addition to his model railroad books he wrote a text book used in college transportation planning classes on railroads

Jim Fitzgerald Or as some of us call him Mr NTRAK. He didn't invent NTRAK but but has been the major force in promoting it and N scale in general. If it wern't for him N scale would not be what it is today in participation and number of or quality of products.

John Allen
Frank Ellison

[Anonymous]

In my first 7 years in the hobby, I was inspired by the popular names listed above and others. What inspires me now is more hobbyist posting what they have done on forums. In particular, Sunday Nite Foto Fun in the n scale forum at Atlas has shown me volumes and inspired me volumes. Tutorials on forums have moved me to scratch build when I initially thought I had zero talent there.

Interestingly, even the guy who posts photos of his crappy layout moves me, because I know I am seeing a guy who is producing something not so great now, but if he continues to be motivated by his own enthusiasm, will move on to better modelling.

So for me now, it is the guys struggling with the same problems or who have "been there and done that" but are willing to help others out, who inspire me in the forums I visit. Guys like Brakie (Larry) who has probably ten thousand posts in all the forums he visits, perhaps I under estimate his count. Or West Coast Don who isn't active on the forums right now, but started Sunday Nite Foto Fun at Atlas. Or how about Shamus (Paul Templar) who is very active and knowledgeable at the Gauge Forum. Or the Colonel at Trainboard.com working his magic from Australia. Or how about the older Gentleman (Watash - Wayne) from Texas on Trainboard who still runs his trains with car batteries, and wanted to know at a respectable "elderly" age whether he should switch over to DCC. Or how about Dave Koch at the Atlas DCC forum who has had some lumps in life, lives a bit isolated on his farm but helps people with their DCC questions. Or even well known Linda Sand who lives at the Layout Design Sig at Yahoo! Groups. These are the guys and gals who inspire me now, and many like them.

[Anonymous]

right you are. john allen was the first to show the way and did a fine job of it. second on my list is gordon odegard. his attention to detail in every sense and application was fantastic. art curren and ben king have influenced me in many areas. john armstrong did not design my current railroad, but his influence played a major role. the current reigning clic has also had some influence on me. koester, sperandeo, mcclelland, lionel strang(elove), iain rice, hediger have all generated growth in my knowledge and modelling skills. but it is gordon odegard that has had the greatest influence on me. he was not the editor of a fancy highgloss magazine, he was the essence of prototype details, and he was an exceptional craftsman with the ability to share his skill. model railroader may never have another like him, and a shame it is. the hobby is poorer for his passing.

[Anonymous]

John Allen, Eric Brooman, Pete Thomas and Walt Huston, Jim Younkins (the latter three are well-known N scalers on the West Coast), Jim Hediger, Blair Kooistra, Phil Ehlers, Lou Ullian, Allen McClelland and Tony Koester are my chief influences, in no particular order with the exception that John Allen tops the list.

One thing I found whether at MR or in "private" life is that I draw inspiration of some degree from almost every modeler and model railroad I see. There's always a new technique to learn.

Paul Schmidt

[eastcoast]

[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]
Hey.
Who in the hobby world inspires or has inspired you the most
in regards to your layout or your hobbying ventures. [?][?][?]

[:p]
I have always liked the work of John Pryke. VERY inspiring
and I have read most of his articles and books. AWESOME.
[:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]