All I can say is WOW!!! They showed the cover of the December issue but then showed pictures of his layout which I presume came from the article. From the few shots I saw, his work is in the same league with George Selios for awesome urban scenery. He is a true artist and makes me proud that he is one of us.
It must be nice to have gotten the December issue so early like Jimmy Kimmel did.
My thoughts exactly!
He was in the Magazine a few years ago, boy it is Great Layout! Skyscrapers 5 to 6 foot tall with thousands of HO people!
He did not build it all, had a company do most of he bench, track, and wiring for him. But, as the show talked about he does do a lot of he buildings him self on the road. If I remember it is 20 foot wide and 150 foot long. At the time about 100 foot was staging with no scenery.
I have not seen a Scale City done any better than his. As a true gritty 1920’s feel to it.
My wife recoded it for me, that was nice of her.
Cuda Ken
I thought he took the chuckles and ribbing pretty good… [:)]
I remember his saying, from another article, that he would position his table near an open window to minimize the odor from glues etc.
Jarrell
It was very nice to see a celebrity of world caliber openly and quite seriously talking about the hobby of model railroading in the media. The disappointing, if not downright disturbing, part was the audience’s reaction of laughter that continued sporadically through at least half the interview. If even a famous and highly respected individual such as Rod Stewart is laughed at, I guess we can honestly see what the public’s attitude these days is toward our hobby. I’m sure if he claimed to play on-line fantasy football it would have been met with loud applause. Truly sad.
CNJ831
Not sure if Rod has talked about his hobby on shows like this before, but I think he was exceptionally brave to allow it to be brought up. Chuckles and ribbing aside, Jimmy Kimmel seemed to be like a lion holding back his desire to devour his prey. The audience was clearly waiting for Rod to be served up.
Overall I thought it was a positive (if not awkward) step forward for this hobby.
Wow, what an incredible looking layout! OMG! I can’t wait for the Dec. issue to see more.
Hey, it’s a talk show, Jimmy always ribbs everybody he interviews. I think Rod was very serious about it though, which is exactly how we are.
Rod’s a good guy, always been a fan of him since the good ole 80s.
I’ve got the past issue of Rod Stewart’s layout pics in MRR.
It IS a fantastical layout that must require a warehouse to store in and cost a fortune…one of which I helped him make by buying his albums.
He must have spent a lot of spare time building it.
It is good to get teh hobby out there more and noticed even if by odd people like Kimmel.
Oh, to dream, perchance to build…
If I recall the previous article correctly, the layout is in his home in LA.
He did the scenery but had help with the wiring & track.
Gordon
I too thought he handled it very well. Of course, he doesn’t have anything to be embarrassed about either. He obviously enjoys the hobby, takes it fairly serious at least, and is secure enough in his manhood and has high enough self esteem, that a ribbing or being laughed at by a few people doesn’t really bother him. And why should it? His occasional comment of “what are you laughing at” is not defensive, just meerly a normal friendly reaction when a group is laughing as opposed to sitting ignoring and being accused of steaming over the laughing, or just downright getting mad. The both and especially the latter, would put him into the bruised ego group. Those who wish the hobby would be accepted so they can be completely “manly”.
Myself, my hobby is Model Railroading. So that means I, play with trains, waste my time, make little models, ( can’t really describe the scrunched up eyebrow with confused look thing), act like a kid, and yes, I do sometimes make little noises that correspond with what I’m doing. Not all the time, but I have caught myself from time to time. I don’t care what anyone thinks, when they laugh, (which actually very rarely ever happens now that I hang around a much more mature crowd.) I just chuckle with them and say, “hey, you pretend you’re on some whatever sport is being played” of course they don’t pretend that, to which I respond " Same same. You like your stuff, I like mine, but I don’t jump up and down yelling and forcing everyone to stare at my pastime" To which they just don’t have much to say. But I don’t care what they would anyway. Not gonna quit, not gonna hide it.
Many of my non modelrailroading friends, which is all of them, occasionally ask how the layout’s coming along, (or as they say, “the trainset” Another something that doesn’t bother me) and think it’s neat looking commenting on how they wouldn’t have the time, or patience, or talent (that’s the one I laugh at) or the room, whatever. Basically, no one I
Great clip.
The woman that kept laughing in the background probably has a husband that models.
I wonder how many kids and husbands (Same?) will be receiving trains for christmas after that show. [;)]. The women were laughing but I can see them thinking a couple of things.
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If it’s good enough for Rod it’s good enough for the hubby
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A hobby might just keep hubby occupied and around the house more.
I think it is really neat that Rod has opened up this part of his private life to the public. His layout is byfar one of the best featuring city life, albiet NYC. He may not have bulit the foundation by himself, but the modeling is his forte. This is a guy whom would walk the city streets of Chicago after 1am, in the morning, in the winter. starring at bulidings to get ideas. He would set up shop in his hotel room, windows open, with a coat on, gluing and painting. Then get on his Gulfstream jet, fly the built stuff back to LA and put it on the layout and then fly back to Chicago and perform the next night. Sounds like a deep passion for the hobby.
Many times I thank God for whom I am. I have so many hobbies I can’t find time to do them all. And a loving and encouraging wife. I have so many friends,family and co-workers that have nothing in the form of a hobby. Except for watching sports on TV. And I almost forgot the deer hunting. They don’t know what they are missing.
I found out recently that my manager is big into building model aircraft. Highly detailed and show material. I would have never thought this of him. The two of us talking were like a couple of teenage modelers.
I hope we can see more of Rod’s layout. Maybe Allan Keller would inquire about shooting a clip if Rod would be so kind. Any chance of this Rod? Sure would be nice to have copy of this fine layout. on DVD. And don’t forget Milwaukee’s Trainfest is coming up Nov 13-14. Let me know if you would like a tour guide, my wife and I would be honored.
A couple of observations about both the clip and previous comments:
First of all, Jimmy Kimmel is a talk show host, and I don’t think he got the Dec issue early. I think it more likely went something like this: Rod Stewart has a new CD coming out, let’s get him on the show (or even Rod’s manager saying, “We’ve got a new CD coming out, you’re going on talk shows”). At which point, Jimmy Kimmel’s production staff probably figured out that Rod is in the Dec issue and contacted Kalmbach to get some copy. Alternatively, Kalmbach staff could have found out about the Jimmy Kimmel appearance and contacted the show to get some free exposure.
As far as the “actual” mag is concerned, finished cover artwork, which has been completed for at least a month now, could have been printed and bound to some other paper, another magazine, or anything of suitable thickness and strength. While it could have been an an early copy from the actual production run (they’re probably about ready for mailing), movie and TV producers would be concerned with showing something that people would THINK was the magazine, not necessarily the actual mag. Happens all the time.
Being too lazy to go dig up the previous edition with Rod Stewart in it, I’ll go from memory. IIRC, the layout is in a room of his LA home, and while he does operate it, the only thing he builds is the buildings and some scenery. I think friends designed and built the train part for him.
While it is statistically likely that an audience the size of Jimmy’s contains at least one boor who would laugh AT Rod for “playing with trains”, I agree with the previous poster who said that the repeated laughter sounded like a woman’s knowing chuckle, as if a close relative or husband had a layout. Moreover, I thought the general laughter at Rod’s appearance on the cover of MR was more due to it’s absurdity – most people would expect a gossip or a music publication. And it quickly subsided w
I noticed all the laughing stopped when he had concert tickets to give out. I loved Rod’s line, “We used to trash hotel rooms, now all I need is a big table…”
I get ribbed about the trains, we all do I bet, and Rod S handles it in just the right way: jokingly but he shows he really is enthusiastic about the hobby. He doesn’t back off one bit or say “well yeah you’re right I guess it is sort of dumb.” And the results in the photos spoke for themselves even to somone who knows nothing about the time and effort and expense and all the other things we typically point out to justify that it really isn’t a child’s activity at all. The best response to mockery about the hobby is fantasic results.
I am sure it was well worth whatever effort and expenditure it took for Kalmbach to have the issue of MR in Rod’s hands for the TV show, even if they had to create a “dummy” issue. He also dropped a couple of names of fellow rockers that I think add to the list of “celebrities who like model trains” list.
Dave Nelson
Did anybody else notice the part of the conversation where Rod mentioned the names of other rock stars who are model railroaders?
I saw the clip and later forwarded to my aunt and uncle who are huge fans of his music. They thought the same things I did that he handled himself quite well about his hobby activities. I thought Jimmy was quite impressed by the pics of his layout. I am glad Rod became a “spokesperson” sort of for the hobby.
I would guess that all hobbies, as they are described here and there, are great levelers that enjoy among their hosts those who are rich, famous, and highly accomplished. I am happy to see another famous person have the limelight for a short time to express how model rails can impact a person’s life.
This hobby is as much about being as it is about doing. It is very much a part about whom we choose to be.
Crandell
As Jimmy Kimmel mentioned, Frank Sinatra was also an avid model railroader and Sinatra was the King of Cool.
"nuff said!!!