A REPLICA OF MARTY FITZHENRY'S HOME ! PICTURES

Guys, thank you for all your kind words that followed the great gift Alex gave me.  I am still at a loss for words.  I thank everyone.

Marty

Congrats Marty!

Marty's surprised look was priceless.  And what a wonderful job by Alex!

Alex, that is absolutely amazing.  I'm blown away.  What a perfect replica.  So very cool.  And here I am trying to make grass look right on my layout LOL.  BigRail

Alex and Dina,

Thank you for another great party and your generosity in allowing so may people to come to your house. Its takes a lot of work to throw a party like that. I enjoyed myself with so many great friends there, and the food was great. There were so many desserts that I felt I was at a bakery.

Marty receiving the scale model of his house as a gift from Alex was the highlight of an already great day. As a friend of Marty and Dotty's (and Ralph, Marty's cat) who has been to Marty's house many times over the last several years, I was truly impressed at the the level of detail of the model built by Alex. It was dead on, with the exception of not putting Ralph by the front door.

This is the kind of gift that you can't buy in a store. Its a gift that comes from the heart. If anyone deserved a gift like this, it would be Marty, for all his generosity to the hobby for many years, and no one more talented could have built it than Alex.   

Erol Gurcan

Since all of my layouts are temporary with a minimum of landscaping/scenery (unless you count Plasticville...) I've never really thought about trying to put something in that's "personal".  But this got me thinking: a nice way to document one's path through life (and then pass that to the next generation) would be to create a model of each house one has lived in.  As one moves throughout the course of life, you add a new model.  Just a random thought.

Hello everyone,   I thank you all for the beautiful comments on my build, and the open house  was a great day. But this thread is all about a great friend and a man who's helped so many in this great hobby. I'm so looking forward to Marty placing his model on his beautiful layout.

I'm re posting the video here...

Thanks very much, Alex

What a great gift Alex!

The planning and effort, plus we know Marty will treasure it.

What incredible people are in this hobby! Imagine if the world was this way.

Thank You Dina and Alex for hosting the party. I'm sorry I had to leave early and miss the presentation. Marty is one of the Good Guys. 

Jim D.

Very cool!  Nice job Alex.

Wow, this is awesome! Amazing work! Thanks to Marty for helping me a time or two also!!!

Its Amazing that Alex was able to assemble that with photos in 4 days! Congrats to Marty F. That really was a GREAT Present! And the party was awesome!

BTW Marty, You need to conclude this thread with a photo of the placement of the home on your Layout.... with the scale Vette in the driveway!

Hi Guy's and especially Marty,

Feel bad I missed Alex's & Dina's Party. Looks like everyone had a great time.

I saw pictures of the model as Alex was building it, he was so excited to do this for you Marty. I spoke to him daily as the build was going on. He said it was going to be a scale model of your house. It came out beautiful. The surprise on your face in the video I'm sure was all Alex wanted in return.

God Bless and enjoy!

Mike R

Boy, that looks so realistic I wouldn't be surprised if we see it on an upcoming episode of 

Heck of a job Alex!!  

Great gift!  Congrats Marty and Alex!

There is no greater love a man can do for another man then build him his house... in O scale  I am so jealous. Great job Alex, you are a dang good modeler. I enjoy your work.

John

locolawyer posted:

Alex and Dina,

Thank you for another great party and your generosity in allowing so may people to come to your house. Its takes a lot of work to throw a party like that. I enjoyed myself with so many great friends there, and the food was great. There were so many desserts that I felt I was at a bakery.

Marty receiving the scale model of his house as a gift from Alex was the highlight of an already great day. As a friend of Marty and Dotty's (and Ralph, Marty's cat) who has been to Marty's house many times over the last several years, I was truly impressed at the the level of detail of the model built by Alex. It was dead on, with the exception of not putting Ralph by the front door.

This is the kind of gift that you can't buy in a store. Its a gift that comes from the heart. If anyone deserved a gift like this, it would be Marty, for all his generosity to the hobby for many years, and no one more talented could have built it than Alex.   

 

Erol Gurcan

Well said! It would have been great to be there, what a gesture.

I just want to thank you all for such kind words that you all have posted.  I appreciate it very much 

Thanks, Alex 

This thread is a great example of why so many of us love this hobby

First, a wonderful and thoughtful gift from Alex

Second, a multitude of unsolicited heartfelt congratulations and best wishes from members of the forum

And finally, there is Marty, a skillful ambassador for our hobby, a good guy, and a deserving member for all his helpful suggestions

It just makes you happy to be part of it

Congratulations Marty

I had the opportunity to meet Marty & Dotty recently and visit with them (twice in 2 weeks!). While I was there they made a point to show me the house and tell me all about it. What a fantastic gift! 

John

I am a relative newcomer to the OGR forum but an O-gauge modeler since I was a youngster. In the short time that I have been following the forum, I have seen Marty's comments and assistance to others what seems like hundreds of times. And his mentions of the model catenary on his layout, which he has been building for 35 years, and the technical knowledge which he shares with others on the forum, have led me to admire and respect him  - and I have never met him. Best wishes Marty. Enjoy the "house."

MELGAR

I was at Alex's house for the unveiling, it was pretty special.  Marty was speechless, that's somewhat hard to do.

MELGAR posted:

I am a relative newcomer to the OGR forum but an O-gauge modeler since I was a youngster. In the short time that I have been following the forum, I have seen Marty's comments and assistance to others what seems like hundreds of times. And his mentions of the model catenary on his layout, which he has been building for 35 years, and the technical knowledge which he shares with others on the forum, have led me to admire and respect him  - and I have never met him. Best wishes Marty. Enjoy the "house."

MELGAR

Once you meet him, you will know you were right all along!

Nobody could have done it better than what Alex did.  I constantly have people visit and everyone loves the house.   Yes John, I was speechless because it was something Alex wanted to do.  No B-Day ore occasion.   I am very thankful to have Alex as a friend.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I was at Alex's house for the unveiling, it was pretty special.  Marty was speechless, that's somewhat hard to do.

Yes, I too liked Marty's reaction. Completely genuine.

I'll say, it was an amazing piece of work by Alex, I was pretty floored when I first saw it as well! 

Wow, what beautiful work.  I'm really impressed with the detail and the layout in the basement is a special touch.

Alex, you are way past good at your craft.

I went back today and watched this video again. I am a You Tube Junkie, and this video is  well done and a lot of model train fun.

Check it out: Gary

First time I saw this.

Really great job on the model! And, that video was a lot of fun to watch!

Alex and I were in contact for many months as he planned this project and I supplied info and pictures. I'm glad he got it done in time for his open house and the presentation could be shared with our friends. Yup, Marty was definitely surprised and more than pleased. 

This is the first time I saw it too, it's beautiful!

This was a great day with many great forum friends, never forget the smile Marty had in his face. 

Thanks, Alex 

Home is where the heart is. And Marty's heart has always been with all of us O gaugers. Congrats to both Marty and Alex.

Alex, That beautiful model says as much about you as it does about your modeling abilities - all of which are topnotch. Your thoughtfulness and kindness towards your friend shines through every inch of that structure. You have everybody's respect and admiration for your skills and for your sense of how to treat a friend. BravO!

FrankM

Alex

 You know next year everybody coming expects either a house or a box made of 2000 toothpicks smuggled from the emperor of Japan

Question, is there a photo of the layout that's inside that house?

These are the pictures I sent Alex, the ones that he downsized to put into the model. These area all facing the back of the house, as if you're looking through the front basement windows, from left to right:

These are pictures of the other side of the room - facing the front of the house. The sitting area to the left of the stairs. The model of 30th Street Station on the upper level is also an Alex Malliae creation. The highly detailed Dunkin Donuts to the left is custom made by a modeler friend of Captain John (Xenides) in Rhode Island. The "Dotty's Store" to the left and "Marty's Train Depot" to the right are Ameri -Towne buildings that can be purchased as kits through OGR. 

The area to the right of the stairs -facing the front of the house. Yes, that is Mike Reagan's old Train America Studios sign in the corner. Mike gave it to Marty and it's signed by  the TAS guys: Mike, Phil Hull, Mike Pennline, and Brian Tusin.

Moonson posted:

Alex, That beautiful model says as much about you as it does about your modeling abilities - all of which are topnotch. Your thoughtfulness and kindness towards your friend shines through every inch of that structure. You have everybody's respect and admiration for your skills and for your sense of how to treat a friend. BravO!

FrankM

Hi Frank 

I thank you so much for your beautiful words !!!!! 

Thanks, Alex 

bluelinec4 posted:

Alex

 You know next year everybody coming expects either a house or a box made of 2000 toothpicks smuggled from the emperor of Japan

It's a bowling bag ball, I'm mean a bowling ball bag !! Lol 

Alex