Inspiration- is what we need!

Good morning John,

 

I thank you for your very kind words, I'm honored.

 

Thanks again,

Alex

J Daddy: To your list, I would add Steve "SIRT" here on the Forum for his realistic weathering and scenery skills.

I agree, this is an easy one, ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

I would like to mention Rich Battista and his terrific 'Black Diamond RR' whose videos have been instructional and inspirational to many of us.

 

Another would be to me personally 'the Grande Master of Color' Marty Fitzhenry whose blazing sunsets caught my eye many years ago in photographs in the magazines. As we were building our A.T.& S.F. some years ago, I had images in my mind of wanting a very colorful backdrop reminisent Marty's..

 

Would certainly second the mention of SIRT and his amazing attention to detail. The grass, snow, and 'rubble' along his tracks and around his structures are simply beautiful!

How about my great friend Alan Graziano !!!!!!!!!

 

Alex

Here's a few not mentioned yet.  So many and sure I'll miss a few more:

 

Laidoffsick-his tutorial videos for Kadee installs, great layout updates (always learn something)and an all around great guy.  His engine facility is incredible.

RonH-Love his unique projects and he's one heck of a modeler.

bob2-beautiful scratch built brass locomotives.  Just impressive as h-ll.

WBG Pete-another excellent modeler and a heck of a great guy.

Gunrunner John-Need I say more?  What an asset to our forum.  Guy can do anything with electricity.  

Patrick H-Miss his beautiful layout and feel a part of miniature N&W History has been lost! HA!

JD Crawler-Another incredible brass locomotive scratch builder.

PRRMiddleDivision-His layout is like looking back in time at all those incredible PRR scenes.

Mike CT-Always helping with modeling tips and has a fantastic RR.

Erik C. Lindgren-Fantastic photographer.  Incredible knowledge of O manufacturing history.

Scratchbuilder 1-48-Another modeler who can build anything.  His projects are fantastic.  Love his 650 Ton coal station he posted.  WOW! 

 

Trainman 2001-I added one more.  Not sure how I missed him, but if you haven't read his thread, you need too.  He's a true craftsman and can make anything.  Not only is his layout coming along nicely, I watched him scratch build a power station and rolling stock. He can make anything and is a true master with brass and creativity.  What a talented man.  He's just a few hours south of me, hope to see his layout in person someday.

Your right, every car I have seen is a unique work of art...

I'll nominate John Sethian too... geat work here, John tell us about the building flats...:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex your right, really like the scratch build work Alan has done.

 

 

Jim Policastro, Andre, and George Selios, (even though he's HO, his modeling skills are amazing).

Don 

I second John Sethian. Great modeler.

 

Jeff C

Not doing to bad yourself J Daddy!

I know he hasn't posted in a couple of months, but leavintracks was a terrific contributor and his "Downtown" videos of stills were terrific.

The late Art Curran of Model Railroader got me interested in kit-bashing. This a variation of his kit-bash of a Lionel Coaling Tower....

 

 

 

 

Sorry, none are direct pics.....these are from my picture file.

 

Peter

Norm C.'s superlative detailing and weathering are the work of a MASTER MODELER! 

 

 

I agree, it's what literally brought me back to this hobby after 20 yrs of no interest.  First saw his layout on 'I Love Toy Trains" and I couldn't stop watching it.  

 

Norm did exactly what I always wanted to do with 3R trains but never thought possible back in the late 80s-realistic scenes with scale 3R trains. 

My being from central PA ,I am greatly inspired by the modeling of Dr.Neal Schorr. His version of the Middle Division is amazing.

 

Brad

For inspiration nowadays, I look to the Forum.....there are just too many of you to mention.....I am afraid that I will leave someone out unintentionally.....so, I won't mention names.....let me just say, my inspiration comes from here!!!!

 

Peter

Thanks Brad, yes Dr. Schorr is another great and I enjoy post of his layout.

 

 

It's difficult to recall the many, many great contributors to the hobby generally, and to this forum specifically.

 

If I made a top ten, I'd include Erik C. Lundgren (sp?).

Eric Lindgren?

Yes, very nice modeling...

 

 

Yes, yes, and yes.

Don't forget our own Lee Willis, his recent conversions of semi-scale equipment is inspiration alone.

Brian (Passenger Train Collectors) has THE layout(s) for train lovers and Ron H has been doing fantastic work, as well. His N scale middle rail should be copied by every manufacturer.

The old colloquialism doesn't apply, inspiration is way more than just 1%.

Thanks,
Mario

I really have to agree with this.  There is so much talent here that to name just a few would be impossible.  I enjoy the variety of layouts from the scale stuff to tin plate to ....well all of it. 

I concur. Seeing all of the wonderful photographs of scenery is one thing I really enjoy about this forum. Beyond the model railroading, the photography skills demonstrated is incredible. I have a folder of saved pictures from posts here on the forum. Time and again I find myself realizing, "I have that kit, look how that guy finished it".

 

I want to do recognize Dewey Trogdon's yard area. It was his track work that caught my eye and inspired the yard area I am currently constructing. The space on his layout is virtually identical to the space I have. 

 

As for Sirt; well I find myself double checking to make sure I'm not currently on the "Real Trains" forum.

 

Christopher N&W's scenery just makes me homesick. If I can approximate 10% of what he has achieved, I'll count my layout as a success.

 

Gilly

Christopher N&W does some nice stuff... enjoy his modeling...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...ed&v=kW5sBP37bUM

 

 

 

 

Hope you forgive me when I stray from just modeling J Daddy, but oh so many, and I'm already wondering who I'm forgetting, this is hard.

 

Trainman2001- Our scratch building shop teacher.

mwb- "The Gritty life" Life being the key word. Nothing looks "too stiff".  

Lee Willis- If he is doing it, it must be fun.

Marty Fitzhenry has "thee" layout, inspiring because I wanted to see a working catenary done that well since I was a boy (I saw a 15' experiment, it worked awful. To high, and the pantographs springs, too strong, shoes too "flippy", & it beat & bent it in hours). I think odd reaching positions will likely keep me from ever doing one. (But, I think of it every time I touch a wood dowel [GN style]) 

Passengertraincollectors layouts look so "right" as a whole.

Ace, Electroliner, and DavidfromDearborn for keeping things ultra small, ultra fun.

Walt, Mich&OhioValleylines, Suzukovich  - Carpet layout champs.

Eric (?oops)- has been fun to watch.  (you know... "thee" YouTubeEric)

Elgaucho's tin plate layout photography floored me.

There are some "new guys" that I like, names escape me there too.

The "Face Book likes" guy from Michigan, with the sweatshirt, and shades.

 I would love to see more out of him, and that camelback(name?).

 

My favorite modeler isn't in O. He's modeling G scale Chris Walas.

It's the sculpting of figures mostly. The tutorial is great. I have only a wild hunch, a name, and the state he does exhibits in, but there is also a great movie special effects guy, who goes by the same name. I wonder if G scale is his hobby?      

  

It often takes tech to model today. It brought me here.

GunrunnerJohn- Another case of "do you have to ask?"

Dale H- for showing a more "traditional tech" side, and lots of drawings 

Dale Manquen- for MANCO upside down strength magnetic traction. Which may have led me here. And pointing out other alternative paths too.

 Marty Fitzhenry for quietly reading, and saving us when we are stuck.

Oh man! ADCX Rob on saves too! Him, Hot water and Poppa Steve seem to pull rabbits of hats with coolest info on old stuff.

Ace again too-"outside of the box" low buck tech thinking! Now that's fun!

Mixey, moonman, and the other SCARM players. Its 3d "building" is a great planning tool, allowing some dabbling ahead of time, with the inspirations we get.   

 

And here we go J Daddy hang on.....

 

  In your tiny avatar photo, you are the spitting image of my Grandfather while I was growing up (I wish I looked good in that haircut).

  Add to that the straight forward Detroit attitude you seem convey with a grin, and to be honest, its one strongest reminders of my oldest train mentor that I could ever hope to have online. Thanks for posting.