<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gregg Mahlkov: I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Belmont Shores Club layout, which like the Reid brothers, is an attempt to model actual countryside, only in California instead of Pennsylvania and on a much grander scale. This was to be one of the largest model railroads in the country, and in N scale to boot! Have not seen much about it lately though. <hr></blockquote> I'm surprised you actually mentioned it Gregg! The Belmont Shores club layout is located right next to the Long Beach/LA harbors. I am in Whittier, California which is about 30 minutes from LA and 45 from the clubs layout. Any way, they host an open house I think twice a year with a swap meet. I have seen the layout numberouse times and I can say that the parts that are done are spectacular!! Seems as though in the last two years not very much has been completed though on the newer part and the harbor part of it. If George Johnson of Deluxe reads this post he might be able to give you more insite on the layout, as he is a member. Oh, and they have a website but I am not sure of it at the moment.
The layout that inspired me the most is Robins 27 x 11 foot double decker. I have been following his construction for a couple of years now and he is doing a fantastic job. I am going to tear my present layout down and build a around the wall double decker with a helex between decks. With finances the way they are it will take me some time and I doubt if I will ever get it finished but it will sure be fun building. I plan to build it in module form so if I kick the bucket, it can be taken down and one of my grandchildren can have it. By the way, the wife and I just got back from Washington state and while there made a run up to Canada and had a nice visit with Robin. He came out from Georgtown to visit a new Granddaughter just north of the boarder.
My bug bit with the Belmont Shore Line, and the layout featured on the first N-Scale Railroading issue; Bret Overholtzer's MKT. Very nicely done, simple, *I just had to have a collection of autoracks like his...* and the capability for long, smooth mains, long tains, and capability to just let'em run. I want to build a layout, but may only just build a oval that I can run trains on. It's all I really want to do. *and all I can afford* That MKT just captivated me. My hat's off to Bret, if he's logged in!
Inspired layouts Without a doubt the two biggest influences on my modeling style are Dan Lewis and Art Fahie. Lewis's Three Sisters Railroad and modeling of the Milwaukee Road in Harlowtown,Montana gave me a taste for period modeling.And Art Fahie's Niagara and Pearl Creek Railroad made the appeal of urban scenery too good to pass up.The Kingsbury Branch(forgotten who the modeler is:embarassed: ,he certainly deserves the recognition) also presented what could be done with a "switching" layout in a reduced space.These gentlemen inspired my layout style.You know that modeling is inspirational when you have read the same article 15 times and still look at the pictures for hours always finding something new.Great question Colonel.
Back in the dark ages, probably Gorden Odegard and the Enfield & Ohio, that left a mark. Read that one to death. The one that left the biggest 'mark' was David Haines on the Raton Pass layout - and that's still my standard for prototype work in ATSF - not just the trains, but the entire scene and town. That set the design and operation standards for everything I've tried to do. The more I study ATSF the more I marvel at that layout and the design philosophy.
for me it was the n-scale mohawk division that was in the dec 93 issue of model railroader,thats the layout i'm building now.
Well, it's nice to see my opinion hasn't changed over the past four years and nine months! :biggrin9xs: :cat:
I will have to think a bit on the question, but the one that almost made me LEAVE the hobby was the Gulf Summit by Atlas.
There hasn't really been a layout that sparked my interest to build. I bought a N scale set when I was in 5th grade and have stuck with it. Now, for inspiration to continue construction, I would have to say Jeff Ashby's layout, which is absolutely magnificent. Even though he models those big bumps in the ground in the east, and I do flatland, his attention to detail and natural talent for scenery is just marvelous. I could go there and just study detail for several hours (and I already have!).
My favorite layouts have to be: Paul Brennecke's Grand Road ( I was privileged to have visited this layout) Brian Morgan's Selkirk Division Lance Manhiem's Monon layout and finally Grant Eastman's awesome SAR. Sorry if I misspelled anyone's name. These are not listed in any particular order, but are all number one on my list. I hope to see more of these layouts in upcoming N Scale Railroading issues...hint..hint....
Grant Eastman's sar (yes, all lower case) is incredible to behold.. Size DOES matter! I had the privledge to operate on it a few months ago. What a treat! And smooth operating! Same goes for Mike Dannemann's Moffat Road.. Mike's got great talent in scenic and terrain modeling. His kitbash jobs aren't half bad, either... Mike's also an accomplished artist as well. His work on GN E7's is beautiful, and his house is lined with masterpieces. His talent shows in his backdrops as well.
I vote for Mike Danneman's Moffat Road empire that appeared in a few issues of N Scale Railroading a couple of years ago. Prior to that, interestingly, my all-time favorite layout was HO and it appeared in the December 1980 issue of Model Railroader built by none other than 16-year old Mike Danneman in his bedroom. Here's a link to see a photo of that layout.... http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/9595/cat/500/ppuser/5731 More recently, I am simply overwhelmed by layouts I see being built by TrainBoard and RailImages members. Talk about some talent frequenting this board....whew!!! I don't where to begin listing favorites. Cam
Scott Teague Mike Danneman Gran Eastman Daryl Kruse David Haines Lance Mindhiem Bernie Kempinski Paul Brennecke Reid Brothers Bill Denton and probably 50 more but these seem to be my absolute favorites. Jeff
Scott Teague`s Pokey and anything by Bernie Kempinski. I use those 2 guys for motivation. And the Clinchfield. That got me interested in N back in the early 80`s...
Several that Jeff mentioned are high on my list, but Jim Younkin's woo woo woo&S is on the top. Jim's scenery and modeling has inspired me over the past ten years or so to always dig in and try something new.
There are three for me. the Gulf Summit, the first layout I ever built sucessfully, The Clinchfield which made me really want to build a bigger layout and the MR Burlington Northern which is just the right size for the room I have.
Brian Morgan's Selkirk Division and Mike Danneman's Moffat Road have always interested me. The BN layout done some years back in MR was a corker. The only thing I didn't like about it was the scenery, or more likely the autumn (fall) scenery.
