Has MR or any other periodical ever published a complete profile, with track plan, of Robert Smaus’ HO layout focused on Southern California produce operations? I’ve seen a number of terrific articles featuring his fine modeling, but never a story on the layout as a whole.
I’d appreciate any known citations to stories.
All on a flanged wheel,
Chris
I sure wi***here was one, but I don’t think there is.
Check the MR index. In October 1989, MR had a feature on his previous layout - 3ft x 11ft. It was pretty cool!!!
I remember a series about building his Port of LA layout and an article about a downtown LA layout.
Step one: click the link at the top of this page labeled “index of magazines”
Step two: enter “smaus” as a key word and click “show authors only”
Step three: read down the page that results until you find:
SP in LA
Model Railroader, March 1999 page 66 – Capture the essence of a time and place with selective compression
He’s harder to find on the web, but here is a links page from his site
http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/trains_2.html
Enjoy!
Jon
Wow - is this a picture of his whole layout? I was under the impression his home layout was much larger. That guy is the master at getting a lot of detailed modeling in a small space!
http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/MRmap.html
Does anyone know if this is the layout he was refering to in the article he wrote about model railroading in the garage? (I don’t have either articles - time to pick up a couple more back issues…)
Edit: Ahhh, I just noticed the “garage door” callout on the bottom of the pic. This must be the layout. Since I’m planning on doing some garage MRR’ing, I think I better pick up that old issue (big Bob Smaus fan here).
Funny thing - I don’t see the citrus stuff on this layout that was mentioned in the recent MR special 50’s mag. Maybe a new layout / addition to this one?
Come on Bob, what gives? Maybe I’ll have to email him on his site.
Thanks for the link Jon! Ever Bob Smaus started writing articles for Craftsman, I’ve considered him one of the best modelers out there. I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of his articles!
Yes, this is the layout in the garage. The MR article gives the dimensions as 12 by 19 feet. I have been there on an NMRA layout tour and it was even better in person. There were a few other visitors and I could not wait around to have a long talk with him, but he seemed like a nice guy, too.
The citrus area is on the end of the peninsula near the town of Arroyo, IIRC. There is a pointer to it in the MR article, but the trees are not drawn in. He photographed it very well for the more recent article … it gives the impression of being a larger space in citrus than there actually is.
Jon
Thanks for the info Jon.
Do you recall if his garage was sort of turned into a real “room”, like drywall, sealed walls, etc.?
His work is so nice, I find it hard to imagine it’s sitting in a garage that gets as dirty as mine!
I also think Robert Smaus is one of the best. I have seen lots of articles in both model railroader and railroad model craftsman.
Sometimes smaller is better, you do seem to beable to reach a far greater level of detail on a small layout. Has Robert has done.
DOGBONES RULE!
Rich
Bob is a sharp guy and good writer. His articles in the hobby press are always enjoyable. I believe he recently retired as the gardening editor for a big newspaper, possible the Los Angeles Times.
The garage is detached, IIRC. The house looked to be a bungalow type from the 30s or 40s. The garage was certainly neater than average, but I don’t think it’s drywalled inside.
The garage door was open for the tour (it’s the only way to reach the part of the layout at the bottom of the drawings). I don’t think a car would fit in the remaining space, but I don’t remember for sure. He has written in the past about the dust challenges of a layout in the garage.
Jon
I have been enjoying Bob Smaus’ writing in RMC and MR for a few years, and I am delighted to see his website. Thank you for the discussion and for posting it.
All the best
conford
Yes, he was/is (?) gardening editor of a large paper. Bob was also the co-host of the original PBS program ‘Victory Garden’ with Jim Crockett, and took over as host after Jim passed on. The show suffered greatly when Bob left it.
He brings as much knowledge and enthusiasm to model railroading as he did to ‘Victory Garden’. Our hobby is much richer for his contributions.
Darrell, weedily quiet…for now
I hold Mr Smous in high regard and consider his modeling very well done. And I consider what he has to say with alot of weight becasue every once in a while out of the ton of good Ideas he illistrates I find two or three that I can use for my layout. However I can only give just credit attention to his work because He models a prototype in a reagon of the country I do not think I will get to in my life-time. If I do, then I know where his stuff is. I think that his exellent use of his fairly crampt space successfully depicting a large reogon is highly commendable. I think his layout is as successful as the V&O because of a clearly defined vision, well defined goals, and careful selection of prototypical elements to achieve them. Maybe in the future he can add on to his garage and show off more of his exellent talent.
James