2 weeks ago I was invited to go see his Franklin & South Manchester layout. Over the last few years I have gotten to know him pretty well. I speak with him at least once every 2 weeks on the phone. I spoke with him and told him I would be in the area and he told me to stop by. See I have a son with Leukemia. Every year when the new FSM kit comes out my son hand writes George a letter along with a check telling him how much he enjoys building his kits. George has sent him all the Jewel Series kits and signs every one of them each year. I can’t begin to tell you what an amazing layout he has. Unless you see it in person you can’t describe it. He didn’t let me take any pictures of it because people were selling the pics of it that they took when they were there on Ebay. He also wouldn’t let me into the workshop were he makes the kits. He is a very down to earth guy and also very friendly. I will post the pics I took of all of us together. His new section will be in the December book. The attention to detail is outstanding. From thepics that you see in the books it looks to weathered. But in person it all blends in perfectly. His wife is as interesting as he is. I thought I would share it with you all. He also gave me a few weathering hints. [:)]
VERY COOL
LUCKY DUCKY
EMAIL ME HIS PHONE NUMBER [:P]
Of all the layouts and things I’ve seen, I think George’s is the one I’d like to see the most. You are very lucky and I hope for the best for your son.
You’re definately lucky, George’s work has always been on my list of favorites and love to see updates on the F&SM in MR and other places. George himself sounds like a great guy from your description. I was a fool, for a year or so I lived in Salem, MA which is the next town over from where George is and never made it a point to try and visit the layout.
I think its great that you all got to see the layout. Its also very cool that your son and you get to enjoy the hobby together and together got to experience the FSM. I’m glad to here the Mr. Sellios shared that with you. I think that when they talk about this being “the worlds greatest hobby”, this is the kind of stuff I think of. Thank you for sharing.
I recall visiting the layout a few ( 4? ) years ago…I agree with you that I’ve never seen better!..do you or anyone else know if George still has his open house day? I guess I could call him, and as I live nearby, probably make an effort to revisit, for it sure is worth it. Tom
Reminds me of Willy Wonka.
Well share the tips from the master!!!
Kinda hard to get tips when the workshop is off-limits now isnt it?
I am motivated by the encouraging story of the son with the blood problem. I think it’s awesome that one can participate this way in the hobby.
Weell I have to be the first to disagree on being one of the best layouts. I mean I think it is pretty good however it is just one big depressed era that I personally find pretty boring. I engjoy modern layouts myself and that is surely far from it. I went to see it about 1 1/2 years ago. I took many pictures with my camera phone too. The overall work is good but his type of modeling I am not attracted to. I see a few other modelers out there at the Springfield train show that models in a similar way and to me it is just in my words ‘OVER DONE’. He puts cracks in every part of all the roads and buildings which is just way too much abuse. The best part of the layout for me was seeing Batman ontop of the roof by the bullet riddled car said to be Bonnie and Clydes. Otherwise one of the nicest alayouts I have seen in a magazine and would like to see in person is the modern day Union Pacific in California by Pelle Soeberg. That is supurb and in my opinion the stardard of excellance
Well Goldmine, there is old, sage, advice to authors: “Write what you know about”.
I was through service in the Army Air Corps and college by 1950. That was the heyday of the New Haven Railroad, and other Class I railroads, for railfanning. Steamers still everywhere and the Alcos and the Electrics. That is what I know about, and that is what I model. To each his own.
On many occasions I have watched what was the Sante Fe dragging huge loads East and West with huge diesel consists and nothing could be more boring as far as I’m concerned. They are mostly trailer or container loads. How boring. Sure the scenery in the West is interesting, but it was more so when the Super Chief and El Capitan of old ruled the rails. Amtrak is a sorry derelict of what the nation’s Passenger network was in the post war years. I look back on a glorious time for the railroads in the transition erea, what are you going to delight in looking back on in the 2006 era? As I said, to each his own. Geroge Sellios models what HE KNOWS and boy, does he do it well!
Hitsua wrote: < Reminds me of Willy Wonka.> Really? I thought Willy Wonka was more realistic-looking. Cheers, Mark.
Back in the day that George models, that’s how things looked. It is not over-weathered. The era is the post depression era (the late 30s/early 40s)and everything was rundown and dirty then. Steam locomotives were not clean burning like today’s modern motive power. It wasn’t until the 1950s and 60s that roads got rebuilt and expanded and new buildings were built and old ones got face lifts. George’s modeling is definitley not overdone as you say, it’s just of a different time period and is equally as “authentic” as Pelle’s. If Pelle were modeling the same era, I’m sure it would look very similar to George’s and vice versa. Both guys are masters and know exactly what they’re doing.
There’s nothing wrong with preferring the modern era, but please don’t criticise someone else’s work out of ignorance. If you don’t like it because it’s “old” and you like the modern era, that’s fine, (we like what we like).
Not this old chestnut again! Sellios’ model is an exaggerated caricature of the 1930s and 40s - it is not, and never will be, a realistic or authentic representation of the reality of that period.
Someone who agrees that Sellios is not “The King Modeler” Mark you are right! I am not a hater because I agree the layout is NICE but it is not the best. but since some people are saying it is and he is the master I need to disagree.
I never said he was the best. But the detail he puts into it is outstanding. And I have seen some newer layouts that were right up there with his. I will have to say that he is greatly talented. The day we visited was one of the NON open houses. So it was me and my son and him. I thought I would share that because he didn’t have to do it. He is a very busy man. Even though my son was feeling sick from the Leukemia that day he sat down with him and talked for easly 45 minutes while I looked over the layout. Even gave him a hug when we left. Even left him run some trains (which he lets nobody do). I have to say that he is truely a great model railroader.
Yeah,every time I see pictures of some of his structures on his layout I think of “Sweetwater” in the Popeye movie and start looking for "Popeye,Olive Oyl and the rest of the gang.
That is a class act.
(OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming of the real important things such as insulting each others’ modeling styles. Even though people feel the way they do about others’ modeling, was this really the thread in which to share those thoughts?).
I think it is awesome that the visit was very good. I think the person who is not well must have gotten a big morale lift from that one visit. Cant we all see that some good was done here instead of raining on someone’s modeling since it might not be something one might want to see in the hobby?
Especially one who is ill and may no longer be with us in the future. Leukemia is a killer friends!
I myself like steam, many people I know model anything from the civil war all the way to 2006. That is FINE. Im surprised some of us chose to cast a cloud over this thread simply because they dislike an era being modeled.
I refuse to acknowledge some of the negative feelings floating about the thread. I say this: Run and model what you wish, if you like someone else’s work and find ways to show love go for it… if you dont like it try to focus on what is good and let it GO!
Wow. What a great story and thanks for shareing. That was very cool of him to open up and take the time to give you guys a great day. Excellent story indeed and I have to admit, I have a new found respect for the man knowing what he did. Hey, Im a Dad too! And, by the way, props to you for making that day happen for your son. Glad you guys had a ball.