The Modern Who's Who of Model Railroading

After reading Niel’s editorial about famous modelers, I thought i’d come up with a current list of popular modelers. Here’s two I thought should be on the list of Modern Model Kings

Lance Mindheim - He has popularized secondary branches and relistic switching design into Model railroad

Pelle Soberg - The most renowned expert in building and detailing a layout. Noto nly the best Euro Modeler, but also one of the best World modelers!

Who else should be on this list?

Paul Scoles

MIke Confalone

Doug Foscale

MIke Rose

Besides a couple already mentioned…

Paul Dolkos

Bill Darnaby - Maumee Route

Cliff Powers - Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf (MA&G)

Dick Elwell - Hoosac Valley Lines RR

Bob Grech

I think Pele does some amazing scenery and structure work modeling modern railroading. I would be curious how well he’d do modeling the transition era.

Tom

Let me put in a vote for the Unsung Model Railroader.

That’s all the folks out there in the trenches who might not get noticed in esteamed [;)] magazines like MR, but who represents us all.

In the internet age, anyone can be a shining example to others, offer a great idea, or construct that astounding model – and get their stuff out there to help, encourage, or inadvertently discourage [8D] those afraid to put their toe in the water of actually building a kit or layout, detailing a favorite diesel model, or putting up some pics of their work so everyone can see.

In fact, the Unsung Model Railroader sounds a lot like folks I’ve been known to hang with on WPF.[(-D]

[Y][Y]

I second that![yeah]

Got my vote!

To my mind.

1.Lance Mindhiem.You gotta love his prototypical ISL designs and IMHO these designs should become a standard design that kills the "Time Waster Saver.

2.Tony Koester-still going strong as a prototype modeling advocate.

Those are the top two.I don’t really care for the come and go MR authors since I’ve seen a lot come and go over the last 58 years so IMHO they don’t have a place in any type of “who’s who” maybe a “Here today gone tomorrow” list.


I agree the unsung modelers that share their knowledge and modeling on this and other forums should be included in a who’s who and that who’s who should include all modelers of all skill levels and not just the top dogs.

Why in heaven’s name do I think that?

As we all know there are several thousand gifted modelers and we should also know there are unknown thousands of average Joe modelers.

So,why not give them time in the spot light of praise as well?

VOTE 1 the unsung model railroader.

This is the guy or girl you meet at the local model railroad club who has the help and answers you need when you need them it could even be one of us.

The ones that get put on a pedestal we end up to busy worshiping and treating there every word they print as holy text ,

We often forget they are ordinary model railroaders who are just very well practiced at the craft and do not feel able to ask them ERR just how do you do this bit?? and why.

Most of us just don’t even think we could equal them as they are the model railroad gods.

So I for one am sure I would not want that pedestal or the adulation that goes with it.

regards John

Nor would I John…

I never cared much for being in the limelight after winning a local catfishing derby…

I wouldn’t want that in the hobby…No sir not a’tall.

I really liked the stuff that Malcom Furlow produced. The fact that he is an artist shows through on the things I saw, that he produced. John Olson is another Model Railroader that I think highly of. I used both of these guys and Dave Frary as mentors when I started building my present layout in 1988. Both John and Malcom had a way of presenting the process of building a model railroad in an easy, clear; but, concise method and above all have fun with it!

I assume we are talking about current people, involved in the hobby and I don’t know if either John or Malcom are still involved. However, these were the guys who did it for me, along with the standbys: John Allen, John Armstrong, etc…

[:-^]

My Guy is Cliff Powers, his work is fantastic. I wish I could work with him with his modeling for awhile, there is a chance I could improve. But not to his standards.

And lets not forget some of our own.

-Dr. Wayne

-Grampy Trains (D.J.)

-Crandall

-Jarrell

-Tom White

These guys and others continue to raise the Bar for us and lead us to doing bigger and better modeling.

Thanks Fellas for Sharing and Caring. You are appreciated.

Johnboy out…and trying to improve

I’ll add another vote for Pelle Soeborg. At first glance it’s difficult to tell his modeling from the real thing. That’s what modeling is all about.

Stu

On the topic of Unsung Model Railroaders, the first forum member who comes to mind is doctorwayne.

I say this without his knowledge or approval but, what the heck, knowing Wayne as I do, he will be flattered.

There are other forum members who also come to mind, but I will leave it there for now.

Rich

P.S. Maybe we need a thread on Unsung Model Railroaders.

I thought this WAS a thread on recognizing Unsung Model Railroaders?

I was going to stay out of this one for a number of reasons, but I agree with Rich,

Wayne gets my vote way above all of those others.

But wait, is this allowed? Wayne does not use DCC, or sound, or even headlights!

And yet he runs trains with helpers - it must be magic.

He is by far the single modeler on this forum who I respect most as a person and a modeler.

Sheldon

Hi,

I sure don’t disagree with the previous posters. The quality work of some of “our own” is just amazing!

That being said, may I nominate Andy Sperandeo - a favorite author, modeler, and inspiration of mine for many, many years.

Maybe it is now, but it started out as a Who’s Who of Sung Model Railroaders. [(-D]

Rich

LOL, plus he owns at least one Bachmann steamer. [(-D]

Rich

Just about all the above mentioned, are a great inspiration to most of us, but the person who I rate at the top of the list by far, would be, George Sellios. I visited the Franklin & South Manchester RR many times.and each time I go I’m always finding something I hadn’t seen in my previous visits. The man is truly amazing.

Sam

I absolutly agree with you Sam! In my opinion there is no one better at the hobby than George Sellios!

I would also add Eric Brooman with his Utah Belt as someone who I admire for his scenery work.