First Layout Finished

Spider!!!

Lookin good   The alley next to the diner is my favorite scene

Spider! Spider! Thanks Spider!

Right across the street from that scene is  your spot . . .

Well worth the wait!! The detail just sucks you in to each photo looking at every little nook.

Sorry Allan, but 12 pages would not began to be enough space to cover this one!

Can we get a "Great Layout Adventures" film crew out there ASAP???

Nice detail work Frank. Thanks for the photos.

Some stunning pics Frank, well done indeed.

The thing that most people don't see in this layout is the stories behind each structure.  Use Spiders as an example.  Its named after a character in the movie Goodfella's.  Frank and I are fans of this movie and used to trade lines back and forth in threads.  There is a scene where he gets shot in the foot and was one of the lines we traded.  So if you look in front of Spiders bar you will see a guy on crutches because he was shot in the foot.  Hence his tag that it is my place. That is only one story  Nearly every structure in the picturess has one.  There are a million stories in the naked city

Probably not, but I suspect that's way more pages than it'll see in the competition.

And a "Great Layout Adventures" video would almost certainly have followed IF a feature had appeared in our magazine first.  Our contributors and supporters obviously merit first consideration.  When possible, we try to coordinate release of print and video versions so there might even have been a video available as early as the fall York Meet (for example).  But that's all water under the bridge at this point.

Shows how out of the loop I am. I never knew "Great Layout Adventures" existed.

Yep...next one out, in time for the April York Meet, will be #9 in the series.

Allan's bin dangling some nice carrots, Frank; few could resist those strokes.

If you've already sincerely given your word, to another outfit, that's important!

I don't see why two different features; including, a well-done video, couldn't be worked out. There's some uniqueness, in this case. You/Frank is well-known in this community; even has his own forum and his layout has been a point of interest, on more than one online forum.

Sometimes, a vein of gold runs through two properties; and both landowners get rich.

Rick

Fantastic!

Frank having had the pleasure of watching your layout being built over the years, let me say how well the end product has turned out my friend. Simply outstanding!

Frank

Your layout build postings across 3 different forums has kept me entertained for years.

Thanks for all of your hard work and for posting the story. Great story and a beautiful layout! Congrats on the upcoming CTT spread too! Bring on the video crew.

Thanks!

Rick....very nicely said.  No reason why both magazines couldn't provide its readership with a spread on a single owner's layout.  Frank's layout could fill several books and videos!!

Alan

Wow, very impressive.   I started in 2004 and mine is nowhere near as "finished" as yours.  Great job!

Thanks, Alan.

Rick

Actually, there are several reasons for not doing so, including, but not limited to, any pre-arranged agreements that may exist and which may be unfamiliar to those who have not been published before.

And keep in mind that there are a number of very fine layouts out there, large and small, complete (if there really is such a thing) and as yet incomplete.  My goal is to give exposure to as many of these as possible over time and to cover the diversity that makes this great hobby what it is.

Frank's layout is certainly a very fine one, but I like to think that there are many fine layouts in our hobby, some of which have already been published and some of which may be still emerging or undiscovered.  We have not yet begun to exhaust the potential candidates.

I've raised the bar for CTT's presentation of Frank's fine craftsmanship, so now let's first wait and see how they handle it.  

needless to say...a great layout and frank is one heck of a friend to many of us.

frank has always been willing to offer assistance when asked.

i've been following his layout for many many years and cant wait to see it in a magazine or video etc.

terry...

Frank

Just realized this post was about your layout!  Great job, of course. Thanks for posting all those photos in one spot.

John

Spider! Spider!

Marty E just asked me about "Marty's News" which I built when Marty used to hang out with us in 2006 or so. Still there after seven years, but I suspect his arm is tired by now:

That little news stand was one of the first things I scratchbuilt - and it looks it . . . .

While looking for that photo of Marty's News (I must have ten thousand photos of this work in progress), I found this souvenir of a familiar guy who I bumped into at the local hobby shop one day back in 2006:

Wow

this picture is showing the early days of your layout.

So now you can seat and enjoy the view.

Andre.

Hi Frank,

Your layout looks great!

 Love the Spider story except we both know he didn't end up so good...

 "this time your gonna dig the hole"

What you need are some MTH hoppers on that bad boy!

Frank - I too didn't click on this thread until just now. I'm really glad that I didn't miss it. As others have said, I have followed your progress and been inspired by your work.

Your layout is beautiful! I especially like the stories behind the scenes as that is something I am also trying to do, but unfortunately without the eye and talent that you have.

Thanks for sharing your pictures, your how-to-build advice, and your friendship. This hobby is better and more fun as a result of the way that you share it.

Art  

All of us here at our house applaud you 

The secret is safe with me, although I have been tempted . . . .

Nice work Frank! It all turned out great.

Jack

To Mr. Frank53

You have proven beyond any reasonable doubt, that model railroading is a true form of art that cannot be denied.  With your layout, you've created a living being and it will remain  immortal long after all of  us  are dead and gone. Are you tired yet? Your insanity is at the perfect measure. What I like the  best about this thread after the amazing photos, is the subject of the message. I can't wait to see what you do next, assuming you have the energy left to improve on your own perfection! Congratulations and kudos to you. You are a master of the art of model railroading.

Perry Richmond

WOW!  This is an amazing layout.  Love the structures and scenary.  Great job.

Thanks for sharing.

Seeing this thread dredged back up from page 100 or whatever it was I see I owe out a lot of thank yous and acknowledgements back to many folks here, so here goes:

Perry - I am very appreciative of your comments. I recall you were banging in that last nail when I was just starting with the "track hanging off the wall" as Marty would say.

Likewise, my Kitbash King Pal Jack Smith who gave me fistfuls of great ideas though your excellent work.

Chug - Thanks for having that sharing go both ways - I have really enjoyed watching your layout come together and your good fellowship along the way.

John Sethian - Whose layout and advice along with Ray Mansfield's moved me from plywood central to taking a shot at a more realistic layout.

Couldn't find two better pals than thop Terry and AG Andre Terry is one of those "best friends I never met" and if you see details in these photos you like, they probably were handcrafted by Andre the BrassMaster.

Thanks Tranz4Mr Kent for digging up that Plasticville for me and countless other favors.

And thanks VA Golfer Paul for extending your friendship to me - now get that billboard installed!!!!!

Spider! Spider! - What a pal, who also provided me with some great Silk City products to "test drive" and that visit to Paterson remains on my bucket list.

Sam - Pity Friday Note TrainChat died off - always had a ball.

For years I've admired Vulcan Fred's work and stole more ideas from him than he is ever going to realize and thank you for your encouragement and willingness to share your incredible work and techniques.

Fencing with Mr Pink (Monsson) is becoming an Olympic Sport, and makes me hungry for a cucumber on my Big Mac - while marching in a parade. Thanks for your comments and helping me keep my wit sharp and my antenna tuned - Mr White.

PS: Makes me want to go out and wrestle a grizzly bear and drag the carcass back to camp. 

If you want to see a great layout in a small space- graz is your guy - one of my all time favorites and thank you for your comments.

Thanks also C&O Keith - whose incredible sticktoitiveness on the most unique and challenging projects amazes me. Not to mention I love his Lionel Lines collection.

Jim Policastro - trust me, I have stolen more ideas than you are ever going to be able to steal from me. Thanks for your always helpful demeanor and friendship.

Jim & Leslie M who create some of the most masterful scenes you will ever see - I am so appreciative of having you folks as friends.

And likewise Kooljock Jon whose postwar masterpiece gave me plenty of great ideas and is providing some of my excess post war a good home.

Texas Pete - A real photo pro - thanks Amigo for your photography comments.   

Leaving tracks Alan - I can't think of a finer compliments than "If I were a miniature person I would want to be on Frank's layout for sure!" You might change your mind when you see some of the silverfish I've spotted living in the ceiling tiles. Thanks for your encouragement and kind comments.

And thank you Chessie, Retired to Rail, trainut09, Dave Allen, Super O Bob (whose last Super O Layout made my eyes cross), big triuckpete, LIGV Scott, BKT, budgerman, MilwRdPaul, Wild Mary Nick, Curt, David, Bryan, SureFire, DonJones, drodder, Alex Mallie (whose scratchbuilt structures continue to amaze), Hondo, NYCJoe, brr, wston1156, Patrick (whose tenacity is amazing), TMack, mikemike, David, Mackb4, Bobby, Passenger Train Collector, Rick Bivins, Loyal2Lionel, Pennsyk4 (we go back a way to remember my sister's 2006 visit), ACL Fred, Car Guy, Steve, Matt, Greg Houser, Pine Creek, Drew (another guy who goes way back and has built a fabulous railroad), Ron Blume (who might finally stop YELLING at me), Brewman (from whom I have robbed many photos), Larry, Casey, Patapsco, Texas SP, Spence, Cliff, Motts, Dan, Dewey, Mike W (a pal from way across the pond), Mike Caruso, dorfj2, Dave, Rich, Clem, Dave Minarik (who doesn't need me to say his work is amazing), Lee, Pat, Dennis, Michael V, Easton O, Cocoloco, Peter Condro and Rick B of the North - thank you all for taking the time to post your comments. 

Postwar trains and track never looked better!  Great work, Frank.  You must be proud.  And glad to see you back on the OGR Forum.  Cheers.

Frank....I believe that your recognition and thanks to all of those above is one of the most thoughtful I have ever seen.  You certainly deserve the notice and praise....

Alan

layout looks amazing !!!

Congratulations on a fine job! To my eye I see a lot of George Sellios' Franklin and South Manchester Layout detail and feel here and I was wondering if you took inspiration from him for your work. Thanks.

    --Bob