And for Rod Stewart’s Three Rivers City layout… also caricature style?
There is a lot of similarity, heavy detailing, but not as much dilapidation.
Jim
That’s an interesting point. I would love to build one, yet I’ve never found one that I could fit into my layout. They just don’t feel like they belong. As I understand it, the earliest generation of FSM kits were much like the Campbell and others, but with more cast details provided. From the pictures I’ve seen, they were more realistic looking than the diorama kits.
If George spends that much time on his layout and his FSM kits, he must not be married or has a wife that has a very independent life of her own. I spend 3-4 hours on mine and I am retired, but my wife occasionally mentions that I spend too much time in the ‘train room’. You have to have a balance with your ‘hobby’ and the rest of your life.
Bob
Honestly, Jim, there is a dramatic dissimilarity between George’s pike and Rod’s. The fact is that one is done entirely in the caricature-style and the other in realism. Let me point out some of the aspects separating them, while once again noting that no criticism is meant toward either modeler’s approach, or efforts. They are just different styles.
The F&SM is supposedly set in 1935, five years into the Great Depression. The Depression followed on the heels of the greatest boom-time America had ever seen, leaving one to anticipate expanding urban infrastructure to have been in outstanding shape just prior to the Crash. In contrast to this, George’s depiction of his mid-sized New England city of South Manchester, in its entirety, looks as if it has been in a state of severe decay and neglect for many decades. Typical of the exaggerated “caricature-style” the F&SM has been executed in are the broad photos on pages 62-63 and 68-69 of George’s heavily illustrated book The Fabulous Franklin & South Manchester, scenes that appear almost post-apocalyptic!
Similarly, many of the supposedly occupied frame structures on the F&SM are in such dilapidated condition that they are literally falling apart. As such, they would be unlikely to be capable of housing any meaningful industry. Yet they appear swarming with activity. Many of the older New England cities have, or had, areas that look tired and worn down, but until perhaps the 1960’s they never looked utterly abandonned and in ruins.
Another obviously over-the-top aspect is “population”. George’s city appears physically as a city of perhaps a couple hundred thousand. However, EVERY&n
Great List G Paine!! - I’ll add a couple issues in RED
I don’t have a few of the articles that you have mentioned. Alright, back-issue order time. Although his style is not the style of modeling I’m trying to achieve, I cannot help starting at the pictures of his layout over and over, and would love to see it in person. Maybe it’s more art than realism, but what great art it is!
I keep all of my favorite articles scanned on my computer - so when I’m in a “George Sellios” mood, I just open up that PDF, and browse away. It’s the best way to store articles, in my opinion. And no, I don’t share the articles with anyone, just like I don’t share music MP3’s either.
In a couple years, when we all have i-pads or equivalents for like 50 bucks, not only will I be able to browse my entire favorite-article collection on my laptop, but also leaning back on the couch.
Model Railroader
4/1986 The Fabulous Franklin & South Manchester
The most recent coverage of Georges Franklin & South Manchester that I am aware of appeared in
Try Fine Scale Miniatures Coaling Tower kit or Icing House. They are very detailed and yet are not caricatures. I have built both and they have a place on my new layout.
So many good points raised. It looks like it comes down to caricature vs real life modeling. I still have to say though, caricature or not, that I am blown away by the FSM’s detail.
I agree. You either like George Selios or you don’t. I love the level of detail that he puts into his kits. I have used that in my scratchbuilding efforts. Fine Scale Miniatures kits can teach you a lot about techniques to use while building wooden structures. I would advise EVERYONE to build one of his kits and then use the new techniques for the rest of your layout. I will be happy that you spent the time and the money.
It amazes me he hasnt gotten burnt out on this hobby spending that many hours model railroading. A true testament to dedication IMO.
George Selios started the present layout in 1985. Allen Keller has produced 3 videos regarding the Franklin and South Manchester (#2,24, &39). In these videos, George talks about building the layout including that he works about 3-4 months a year for 8 or more hours a day on the layout. He spends the rest of the time working on FSM kits,
Looking at those photographs of his layout in the Model Railroad Hobbyist, I would say that that is some pretty fine modeling. - Nevin