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BERUSTY -> RE: Post all your "crappola" here (3/10/2009 6:57 PM)
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Post all your "crappola" here...especially pictures of model trains!
You are reading this because you have some kind of interest in model airplanes and maybe you are even respectful of all things modeling or stuff created by modelers.
I have seen some pretty cool very detailed model airplanes, particularly the wonderful models in the AMA Museum. Each is special especially when one considers the planning, construction, detailing and sometimes...flight of these gems. I had an interest in model trains as a kid and had the 4 x 8 plywood "N" gauge mini city that offered hours of enjoyment.
I was invited to visit the home of a "Master Model Railroader" over the weekend and was told that it was pretty cool. The experience was just unbelievable, unprecedented and has me still thinking about the treasure, one man, Bill Leider, has created. Bill is the 188th "Master Model Railroader" in the world and is listed in the Library of Congress. The honor is earned by acquiring (8) certificates on subjects including electrical, architecture, engineering.... His little train layout contained in the entire basement of his suburban Chicago home represents 40 years of work, 10 building the layout and 30 building ALL of the engines, cars and buildings from "scratch".
When I mean "scratch", I mean, buy brass, cut brass, work brass, paint...from personal drawings to work of art. The prize of the collection, is a steam engine requiring 20 YEARS to complete including over 500 engineering drawings. He has chosen "O" scale, 1/4" = 1 foot. The layout is a journey through actual places he has visited, recreated with buildings with completely tricked out rooms with clocks, signs set for a magical April day in 1955 @ 4:00PM. Hundreds of lights, an over-all lighting system.
The layout has a digital command center featuring locomotion and sound allowing very realistic movement, circling the perimeter of the basement with sitting areas and work shop areas in the center. Each railroad tie is hand painted with a dozen steps, gorgeous murals, buildings with hand made shingles...crazy, crazy detail.
The couple of photos show my family holding a copy of Model Railroader magazine in front of the bridge on the cover of the magazine. The second photo is of a working gantry crane, turntable with optical indexing and the special steam engine discussed above.
Chuck, my host for the visit, tells me that the layout is considered to be one of the finest in the country and most if not all of the engines and cars are some of the finest in the world, the steam engine apparently condidered one of the finest working "O" gauge models ever created.
Rusty Dose
Modeler First
Bill would make an excellent scale model airplane guy!
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