2013 Layout progress review pics and video

Last year i really slowed down...  maybe 2 hrs in th evening  during the week and maybe a full day every other weekend..

Just like everyone else there are days when i dont even feel like doing anything with the layout , but will make plans and get material for when the "moment comes " and i feel motivated........Its just a hobby thats all...

Very funny Alex... Happy New Year to you and Judy........ Hope to get together again this year.....

Pat,  John Allen is a legendary HO modeler who created amazing mountains and canyons and scenery on his layout - The Gorre & Daphetid in the basement of his home in CA back in the 1950s/60s I think it was.  He was a photographer and documented his progress for several years. The book referred to is  a classic and well worth looking into..

theres the first of many problems...........

Patrick, if you haven't seen John Allen's work, it would be worth you're while to google it. He passed away, the house burned and I believe that it's all gone. I may be wrong. John Allen is the standard that many model railroaders look up to. We strive to approach what he did. He was unmarried and devoted enormous amounts of time to this.

Here's just a sample to whet your appetite.

The fact that folks are comparing your work to his is the most supreme compliment one can ever get in this hobby.

If you want to see more without lots of reading, here's a site that has images of all the slides that John took of the layout.

http://gdlines.com/GD_Gallerie...071_squaw_jul68.html

Here's one more pic which I couldn't resist. This bridge is famous and was included in some of the Kalmbach scenery books. It's pure John Allen.

Building bridges like this in our scale is almost impossible without a room with a 14 foot ceiling, but it's good for inspiration. I was inspired to do my inverted truss bridges by his work.

Patrick,

As Trainman posted, above, and per my post at end of page 13 of this thread:

(*) For those not familiar with John Allen (1913-1973). He was an HO modeler who created a stunning layout called Gorre & Daphetid (pronounced Gore & Defeated). The layout and John’s modeling were second to none. Unfortunately, a few weeks after John died of a heart attack in 1973, his layout was destroyed by a fire.

Alex

PS. And Happy New to you and Jacque as well. Yes, we are looking forward to seeing you later this year.

John Allen was the msot inspirational model railroader of his time.  I remember seeing his work in magazines a lot when I was a teenager starting out in HO.  He died a week after Roberto Clemente died, although I didn't know it right away as I did Clemente.  John Allen was to model railroading in his time what Roberto Clemente was to baseball in his time.  my wife bought me the John Allen book for Christmas 1984 I believe.  The web site mentioned above will give you a good idea.

it is quite a compliment, Patrick!!

Patrick,

I just watched your video, as always simply amazing. One of the best layout's I've ever seen, you're definitely one of the true craftsman of this hobby.  I hope like Alan said above I can see your layout in person someday.

Thanks and keep the pictures and video's coming,

Alex

Is the benchwork L girder? I do not see how the long span of the 2 x 4 are attached???

Yes he has started taking his layout down. Items for sell in the for sale thread.

WOW... it's hard to believe that Patrick first started this masterpiece layout in August 2010!!!    (This thread captures a lot of the highlights.)  And here we are in April 2014 -- not quite 4 years later -- talking about Patrick dismantling the layout.    Seems like just yesterday that he started the benchwork in an empty basement.

Some of us -- for a variety of reasons -- have only "dreamed and planned" about building a layout during this timeframe.    So seeing what Patrick has accomplished in this short amount of time is truly amazing and has been a terrific inspiration.  Such talent!!!  Can't wait to see what's in store for a re-incarnation of this layout in Patrick's new home -- especially since it appears he's selling off so many terrific buildings and accessories from this layout!!!

David

Very true David. I don't know how many times I have went to this thread trying to copy certain things he did, especially the mountains. I have a complete folder where I cut and pasted pictures from here. He was also very helpful answering some of my dumb questions via e-mails. Sure wish I could have seen it in person.

Where is the liquor cabinet going to be??