For anyone interested Rod stewart's HO layout - Grand Station & Three Rivers - is featured in the Feb edition of Model Railroader Magazine. I have just received my digital copy so it should be on the newstands soon.

I'd probably be more interested in Penny Lancaster's rolling stock.

 

Thanks Col, I'll keep an eye out. I bought the issue that it featured in a few years back.

G.

What, again? 

Sorry, but as this is (I believe) the third time it has been featured, I'm not impressed, especially as Mr. Stewart apparently pays someone to build and maintain the layout in his absence and merely adds 'bits'  to it during the times he is 'between tours'.

To each their own I suppose, and evidently what Mr Stewart is doing is viewed as being 'real railway modelling'  (it must be, to have him feature repeatedly in that particular magazine), but it does beg the following questions:

1. At what point does railway modelling cease to be a hobby?

2. Is what Rod Stewart doing actually 'railway modelling' in the form that we  generally understand the term? 

3. Does paying someone to do your modelling (and then taking the credit for what is done), constitute 'real' railway modelling?"

Everyone will inevitably have their own views and answers to these questions, but it does make one wonder.

Komata

Spot on Komata, you got to have blood sweat and tears to be a railway modeler, must be brilliant for the persons paid to keep the model railway in tip top condition.

Rod Stewart must be in different countries for most of the year and to keep it up and running is going to be hard for him, but do you really know what he does to the model himself? he just might be a guy that does like building and maintaining his railway, his model his rules, we are all different.

Interesting points made by Komata. Hadn't thought of it like that before. Same must be true of Pete Waterman?

If I watch football then I'm not a footballer. Makes sense.

I think that it is fantastic that rock legends are interested in model railways, and that the likes of Rod see fit to share it with the world via valid model railway publications. It can only do the hobby good.

Go Rod! No Mandolin Wind couldn't change a thing.... couldn't change a thing, no no!..... 

It saddens me to see the "That's not REAL modelling" punditry, so popular elsewhere, wafting into NGF.  But I guess you can't have a season of goodwill without the smell of sprouts

Curiously enough, when he is on tour, he spends the time in his dressing room and during the evening building models for his railway.

Quote from: Malc on December 28, 2013, 09:28:54 AM
Curiously enough, when he is on tour, he spends the time in his dressing room and during the evening building models for his railway.

In which case he is a railway modeller then. Not just a model railway fan.

We need to be a bit circumspect before we condemn what used to be called "cheque book modellers". Surely the basis of a model railway club or group is that it exists so that talents can be pooled and called upon as required. The difference in Rod Stewart's case is that he pays for this assistance and his personal input is limited, presumably because of other calls on his time. I have no idea what the set up [financially] is at Pendon, but there you have an army of experts who have been recruited to produce exquisite models showing the level of craftsmanship to which we would all aspire given the time and means. There have been many layouts, over the years, owned by wealthy individuals who see no disgrace in "buying-in" expertise which they do not personally possess. Don't overlook also that this also provides work for model makers. Our magazines contain numerous adverts for baseboard builders, weathering experts, kit builders etc whose existence we presumably accept as legitimate. All Rod Stewart and others of his ilk have done is to make maximum use of their services.

In my view "celebrity" layouts should be applauded as they are more likely to be featured in the wider, non- railway, media and help to dispel the "anorak" image that the general public so often attach to this hobby of ours.

[Steps down from soapbox......]

Am I also right in thinking that I've seen a US style layout attributed to Mick Jagger?

pfff, typical English moaning about nothing.

what does it matter that guy loves his model trains and for me I don't care if he build it him selves or pays somebodu to do it.

Id the definition of a railway modeler is that you have to build it your selves 99% of the members are not as we all buy ready to run track, fully assembled trains etc etc.

for me the definition is somebody who loves trains, loves watching them and loves making things how big or how small it is.

but this is just my 2cents, back under my stone now it's safer

Although I do indulge in modelling, I get more pleasure in running trains. We all get different things out of our hobby, to me it dos'nt matter how much we make or not, we all have a passion for railways!

Certainly didn't think it would spark this sort of reaction - let's cut the arguments guys & gals - Mods please feel free to lock this thread is you feel it is getting too heated.

The thread was started to draw attention to pictures of someone's layout. Obviously it will debated who does what and so on.The same can be said for most layouts. My Dad has helped with the wiring, my wife has done some of the scenics, but I still call it mine.........

Should we not be pleased to see any layout published ? So let's enjoy it for what it is not who it is.

Quote from: tutenkhamunsleeping on December 28, 2013, 09:24:52 AM
It saddens me to see the "That's not REAL modelling" punditry, so popular elsewhere, wafting into NGF.  But I guess you can't have a season of goodwill without the smell of sprouts

Smell of sour grapes more like

We all "buy in" to a certain extent - RTR stock, buildings, signals, etc. I don't understand electronics much so I chose to buy signal-sequencing units from Heathcote instead of build them. Does that make me less of a "modeller"? I think not

As said by others, do we really need to indulge in this sort of bashing of other modellers on NGF? I don't think so. We all have our own views and interests and should appreciate that others may differ in theirs. As Malc has stated Mr Stewart spends his spare time in hotel rooms making buildings for his layout - would you rather he spent that time partying and trashing the room instead like a sad stereotype? Personally I think it's good that famous people share their layouts as it can only show the hobby in a better, less 'nerdy', light

Don't think it needs locking - some need to lock away their green-eyed monsters that's all


Paul