I would appreciate your feedback on my model of Charles Ro Supply Co… As you can see the first floor, lobby, layout room, and top office have been detailed useing photographs that Mr. Charles Ro gave me permission to take. I am very much indebted to him for his hospitality and remind you that he will be at the Springfield MA Big E Show this Saterday and Sunday Jan. 26th and 27th, 2008. He is a CTT advertiser who supports our magazine.
Any suggestions you have that would make my photographs more appealing or useful to you are solicited. I do not have any o gauge modelers that I regularly see so your ideas are very important to me. Thank you in advance,
I saw the photo and was very impressed with the model of the Ro building. It looks just like the real thing! You even have the Lionel sign on the side of the building, and the loading dock with a truck parked up against it. You really nailed it! Been to C. Ro many, many times. Nice to have another Mass. fellow on the forum.Our ranks are growing!
Jim
P.S. if you have the layout on the second floor modeled and working in that building model, you are my modeling idol!
Thank you. The building model is only about 6 inches deep so the interior is compressed. The centeral lobby and stairs were modeled but the layout is a photograph against the back wall. When you look through the second story window it looks “real” because of the perspective. The railings came out very well and add to the illusion. The “half round window” on top has a photo of both Mr. Ro & his son that was published in CTT a while back. The “showroom” is before the major expansion. Thanks to Mr. Ro I took photos of the interior and pieced them together to replicate the wall shelves, counters, display wall, and the stocked free standing shelves. There is also a “life sized” photo of Mr. Ro, Mr. Madox, and myself taken at one of the open houses. I had to guess what the warehouse side looked like but I also included photos from a CTT spread on Ro’s history.
I regret that I didn’t paint the window frames green like the prototype. Also had to compress the parking to only 3 rows instead of 4 and shortened the area on the right of the building. You can not see it in the CTT photo but the second floor windows have the “vertical blinds” like the prototype…I used Evergreen siding and with the back lighting it looks like individual vertical slats. The decorative brickwork is darker than the prototype in photos but looks closer in person.
I was fortunate that Roger Carp called me and asked if they could just publish a photo in the CTT Phot Album, because they could not use the “structure how to” story I submitted. I hope Mr. Ro sees a little business because of the photo as he was very nice to let me photograph his shop. I have to admit I looked pritty silly measuring the building and writing down notes on a clipboard!
Paul: Don’t worry about looking silly…I used to do that for a living…uh…measuring buildings. While you are looking and sketching the top of the building, watch for the number of people that stop next to you to see what you’re looking at! [(-D] Now that’s silly!
Your picture on page 21 looks great - scratchbuilt - Wow!
BTW - Shrewsbury is my home town — wish I was still there sometimes. I remember a place called The Center Dairy Bar and a school called Beal that I attended— wonder if they are still there? Take care.
Yes Beal School is still there. The Dairy Bar on route 140 which was an actual farm barn was sold off and there is a large house sub division there now. I love living in Shrewsbury MA and feel most of the changes in town have been for the good.
I went to the train show at the Big E in Springfield today. I got to talk with Charles Ro briefly and gave him a blow-up photo of the model. Very nice gentalman. Per usual they were extremely busy with the large crowd of customers.
Also talked with Mr. Grzyboski, Kerk of Justrains, Chris Miller of animated neon sign fame. It is great that there are so many truely nice people in the toy train business!
I am finishing up a modification to a Lionel building to look like Edward Hopper’s painting “Drug Store” from 1927. Naturally it uses a Miller Engineering sign. I really like Hopper’s work and plan to do some of his other works also.
Still finishing up a story about building an Ash Conveyor. Then plan to do “Coney Island Hot Dogs” which is located in Worcester MA. That one will be a lot of fun to model!!
I always appreciate your comments on how to improve on my models and photos. Thank you all again for taking the time to comment.
Jim, It is like going back into a time warp when you see the sign and go inside! I use to take my children there often. You feel like you are in the 1940s. The last time I was in there water color artist Don Sawyer was there selling his prints of the 280+ “Fine and Funky Diners and Eateries” of New England. He was at the Big E show too. Look at his web sight www.donsawyerart.com if you like diners and antique cars! Yes he has Coney Island too! His mounted prints are a steal at about $15.00 a pop. Way cool!
Just have to put the glazing into my Drug store and it will be finished. Then I plan to photograph it. Got to get some of these projects done. I have a million things to do on the layout.
I drove through Shrewsbury on my way to the Big E show yesterday. Well, I rode through with some buddies. Someone else drove. We had a great time. Still smiling!
You’re an outstanding modeler! It’s been a pleasure conversing with you and seeing your talent displayed.
I want to let you all know that this model of Charles Ro Supply Co. is now on exhibit at Mr. Ro’s store at 662 Cross Street, Malden, MA… There is also a poster with the story and photos of how it was built. If you are in the Boston area you owe it to yourself to visit his store to see for yourself all the products he sells, his wonderful layout, and this model. I truely hope you enjoy the experience.
Funny this thread got bumped to the top yesterday.
Last night on my way home I stopped at the Local LHS to see about some modelling supplies. Picked up some sheet styrene, plaster cloth, paint, and tunnel portals (see thread about videos for results of tunnel portal testing).
While I was there an older couple came in looking for Marklin HO supplies - not sure why they were stuck on Marklin, but that is of no recourse to me. Anyway they said they were driving by and she said ‘STOP! There’s a train store!’ LOL!. I told them that last year I made a special vacation - my wife was attending a conference - to Boston so I could say I visited Charles Ro and North East Trains at least once in my life! What a truely amazing place, I must say I found North East had more selection (probably because I found more stuff to buy there), but in all everyone at both stores were very friendly.
Some day I hope to make to Island Trains, JusTrains, Gryzboskis, and Train World. Actually that would make for a very nice 4 day weekend trip to NYC.
Did Chief put you in lockdown upon your return from the North and fully debrief you on your return about the treacherous Yankees? NorthEast Trains (Peabody MA.) and Charles Ro (Saugus MA.) are 15 and 25 minutes, respectively, from my place. I’d hate to hear what your carryon suitcase weighed but would love to have seen the looks you got going through airport security: “Dang! Check this out, Ralph. Never saw a pipe bomb quite like this one. Looks like a train, and it even has a remote detonator. Cuff that guy.”
We have some interesting local underground railroad history up this way North of Boston. At NorthEast Trains, you were 5 minutes from Salem MA. (the Witch City, trials of 1692, etc.) and Nathaniel Hawthornes’ House of the Seven Gables. Salem was at one point the largest commercial seaport on the East coast. And from either train shop you were within 15 minutes of the Wenham (MA.) museum which has a permanent train layout.
That’s great news. You must be very proud. I was looking through the March issue last night and my sons recognized your model as the place we go to buy trains. That’s a high compliment! We’ll be sure to look for it next time we go.
"Did Chief put you in lockdown upon your return from the North and fully debrief you on your return about the treacherous Yankees? NorthEast Trains (Peabody MA.) and Charles Ro (Saugus MA.) are 10 and 15 minutes, respectively, from my place. I’d hate to hear what your carryon suitcase weighed but would love to have seen the looks you got going through airport security: “Dang! Check this out, Ralph. Never saw a pipe bomb quite like this one. Looks like a train”
RockIsland, your post sounds like an experience I had. Sure is funny you would say that. Security loved the trains when I went through.
I’m going to try and get over to Charles Ro in the next week to see your creation. “Oh no, Charles, there’s another guy taking pictures, this time inside the store.”
Jack, If you look inside the model you will see that I detailed the interior with photographs that Mr. Ro gave me permission to take. There is also a photo inside there of Mr. Ro, Mr. Madox, and myself that was snapped during one of the open houses a few years back. Let me know what you think of the model after you have seen it in the flesh.
Thanks to you other forum members who have given me feedback!