Start on my Layout's "Detective Avenue."

It appears that Inspector Lewis is losing his tag-along, Sgt. Hathaway.

Lee Willis, 

If that is your real name, I believe that you are not just one person. You must be a small group of talented craftsmen who pretend to the outside world to be just one individual. No one person could accomplish so many outstanding and unique projects as you post on this forum. Is this just a ploy to make all the rest of us feel "inadequate"? Even the simplest projects take us "forever" yet you pop them out on a daily basis.

Level with us. There are more than one of you, aren't there!

Signed, the Tortoise

Lee

That is a great concept and you picked two of my favorite 50's TV detectives, the third was Peter Gunn.

 A very realistic 50's looking neighborhood.

Your talent and enthusiasm for this hobby really shows with this project.

Keep the photos coming.

Yeah, how disappointing.  We just finished watching the last season made.  But Laurence Fox is moving to Hollywood to, no doubt, be a success there,  but then Whatley has said he doesn't mind some time off, and they have said they would probably do one or two shows in 2014.  So - one can hope. We actually like Lewis, particularly seasons two through four, best of everything - better than Morse or Frost I think.  It's a shame. 

Lee, Great Idea but I'm disappointed that Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe and Charlie Chan didn't make the cut. The Maltese Falcon would have been a good name for a restaurant also! Still and all it is a great project. Keep us informed.

Lee, you are certainly a factory of ideas. I have no idea where you come up with all these themes, but they are surely entertaining. Nice job on the start of your latest project.

You had better never finish this layout as my guess is you would go nuts not having the ability to continually pump out new ideas.

Yeah, I gotta find some way to expand this street. Too many more to do.   I can wrap it around back of my uptown area and get buildings, but no parking places, for another six detectives or so.  I thinks Spade, Marlow, Poirot, Chan and Mr. Motto have to be somewhere on the layout.  And of course, it occurs to me that the place to put Columbo and his clapped our Peugeot is investigating in the Tacky trailer park!

How about Sgt. Joe Friday and Sgt. Ben Romero exiting the police station?

I can do that, along with Inspector Lestrade.  Hmmm . . . do you know if Friday and Ben liked Indian?

Very nice. You are one very talented modeler.

Lee.

Don't forget Inspector West, Superintendent Gideon and the Baron (John Mannering), all by John Creasy under several pen names.

George Lasley

Don't forget Richard Diamond, and his receptionist Sam (a.k.a. "Legs") who was never seen from the waist up. Maybe her lower half could be seen through a window on a ladder, while she's changing a light bulb or something.

How about Nick and Nora Charles and lets not forget their dog Asta. Really nice craftsmanship Lee.

Hey Endless, I see your at it again. Great Story.

Philip Marlowe is absolutely essential, as is his car, which if memory serves me correctly was a Buick business coupe - about a '36 or '37. He had a special spring-loaded panel fitted under the dash that held a .38 revolver. Push a button on the dash and the panel swung out to present the "roscoe." 

Great start! I will definitely be watching this block grow! Great idea. Terry

I too vote for Nick & Nora.   If you have a narrow building on this block, you could even add a bar called 'The Thin Man'. 

THANK YOU , EVERYONE, FOR ALL THE GREAT COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. 

 I PLAN TO TAKE EVERY SINGLE SUGGESTED DETECTIVE AND A FEW MORE AND PUT THEM ON THE LAYOUT - in time.  Further below, after the photos, I'll make some comments and respond to some suggestions. But first, I have three more detective cars and five more detectives now - including the car and detective that triggered the whole idea for all this "cowboys."

I appreciate all the suggestions.  The original idea was limited to detectives heavily associated with their cars: Morse and his Jag, etc.  I expanded it somewhat and now have decided to open it up to any and all famous fiction detectives, particularly TV and movie ones: my layout's scenery will have two themes; Veranda Turbine, on the layout in about a dozen small vignettes, etc., and as many detectives as I can cram into it.  Above, you see Nick and Nora Charles, and Nero Wolfe along with Archie and Saul.

If the original idea was detectives associated with cars, one has to wonder where Bullitt and Magnum PI are, and also Columbo, with his wonderfully clapped out Peugeot 403 convertible.  Bullitt and Magnum will be on the layout later this week.  Columbo is a challenge.  I can't find a model 403 Peugeot convertible (of the appropriate vintage), and will have to modify a 403 model delivery station wagon into his convertible, or scratch build the car - either would be a ton of work, so I may just wait it out to find a good model of the correct car.

As to Phillip Marlow, I'm having trouble determining and finding exactly what car he owns.  I've studied a lot of google photos and articles on him, and can't find a model anywhere that matches.  So, he will be on the layout this afternoon but with a '35 Ford 5-window coupe, close enough for now. 

Anyway, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane with his absolutely stunning '31 Daimler Double Six will be on the layout in a little while - working on that now. But I have to move something downtown, on Main Street - that car deserves to be easy to study !

If you can fit them: DCI Foyle, with his lovely driver Sam and his Humber.

The Big Sleep is my favorite Bogart movie. I watched it a couple of days ago.

Here is the Philip Marlowe car.

http://barnmegaparsec.blogspot...-big-sleep-1946.html

Thanks Gerry Burns - no doubt about it, an exact match.   Now I just have to find a model of one - not an easy task I'm afraid, but in the meantime, Marlowe is making good use of the '35 Ford coupe he has borrowed.

Richard "Dick" Diamond's ride was a red & white 1958 Ford Fairlane with a built in car phone. Front seat was red with a wide white stripe going down from the head rest.

It will be a while - pre-ordered - but I got a red and white '58 ford convertible - promised later this year. 

Thanks.

I've been flipping through a few Philip Marlowe stories to see if I can nail down what kind of car he drove. The '38 Plymouth in the Bogart movie may or may not be the same as in the book. The Plymouth in the movie does have the flip-down gun holder described in the book. Unfortunately I can't find my copy of The Big Sleep. The one reference I've found so far is in Finger Man, a short story written in 1934, in which Marlowe refers to "the 1925 Marmon touring car I was still using for transportation." Specific references to Marlowe's car are few; he often refers to his "heap" or some similar description. 

 I still think there is a reference somewhere in one of the novels to Marlowe driving a Buick business coupe, but even if I'm right it will be hard to find. 

Lynley's Interceptor is nice, but his Bristol 410 is GRAND!!!  You just GOTTA find one someday.

Beautiful work and a brill idea.

His driver Sam, whose name in real life, is Honeysuckle Weekes, yes! Good suggestion, but Lee, surely Inspector Clouseau should feature, in a burning building perhaps, or burning Citroen car.

The Bristol 410 is a car I really don't like that much - yeah, I know, but . . . I've always loved the Jensen Interceptor.

Dave Allen - I love Foyle's War.  And the lovely Honeysuckle.  Sigh . . . . Superb.  Yep, have to get him on the layout.  We haven't seen the final, I think 7th, season of Foyles War yet - the one where he goes to the US after the war.  Its on pre-order and arrives in a month or so.  I fear it will stink - not England, not WWII - just not Foyles War.  But we'll watch Michael Kitchen in anything.

What about the inspector's Silver Hornet???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEFfISdA8LQ

I know there is a 1/43 2CV made so it would not be too hard to customize!!!

Lee....that Sierra looks just like my Topaz I had back in 84.....nice work!

With all these British DCI's, you should include DCI Jane Tennison, and a package liquor store.

Thanks everyone. Ultimately, I can't put all the famous detectives on my layout, so I've made up the list below which includes most of my favorites and which I know I can fit on the layout. Charlie Chan, Clouseau, and Mr. Moto didn't make the cut, among others. 

All the cars are either on hand here already, or ordered and on their way as of this morning.  Materials for all the buildings are already on hand and on their way. In most cases I know just where the detective, house or car, will go.  I will have to move an existing building, however, to build 77 Sunset Strip, but then it is worth it. 

This is a long term project I will work at a bit here and there, I'll probably add a detective or two each week, for, as you can see, the foreseeable future.

Detectives whose names are in italics and already on the layout.  I'm sure there are typos below (Lynleys name is Thomas, not Timothy, etc), but . . .

I have taken liberties with a few of the cars:

• In the series Adele Bradley has something like a '28 Rolls or Daimler formal state sedan: given my layout is in the '50s I got her a '50 rolls formal state limo instead.  Priny Fisher has a big open Hispano Suiza - I could not find an appropriate model Hispano, so she will do with a V16 Cadillac on similar proportions.
• John Steed had several different Bentleys and franly I can't remember the models, but I decided he'd definitely want the "Blue Train" (my favorite Bentley) so he gets that, And Travis McGee - well, I was unable to find a Rolls Royce pickup truck for a very good reason, but, my trusty bandsaw and I will modify a '54 Rolls sedan.
• Philip Marlow is going to do with that '35 ford until I find a '36 Plymouth, which I figure could take a while.
• I can get absolutely correct vehicles for both Leaphorn and Chee, but I have a wonderful dark red Dodge Powerwagon with big knobby tires that I figure Leaphorn would appreciate, so he gets that. 

Columbo would be a good fit and Ellery Queen drove a late '30s Packard coupe

Lee, you really cannot consider that your list is complete without Gene Hunt (Life on Mars/Ashes to ashes.) and the famous red Quattro! 

N.Q.D.Y. - Well, like I said, there is just not room for everyone.  Neat scene from the show, though! 

Forty Rod - Columbo is on the list and will be on the layout when I get his car.  I had to order a panel delivery version of the car and will have to modify it into the convertible.  Will take a while.  Ellergy Queen I will find a way to squeeze it, I have a Packard convertible somewhere.  Might be the right year. 

Lee, what about Jim Rockford?

1977 Firebird Esprit

The old homestead.

Jerry

I like what you're up to Lee! I have to admit I like the older detectives the best, but the Rockford files car, trailer and detective would look great hanging around your trailer park! Terry

Hmmm, Yes,  I have to make room for Jim Rockford.  I like James Garner - he's done three of my favorite screen characters: Bret Maverick, Pete Aaron, and Rockford.   An important factor is that I can squeeze Rockford onto my layout by converting one trailer space in my tacky trailer park - frankly I think I can re-do one of the existing trailers, so I will add him.  

Not as easy as to find a model of the regular, clean, no-tacky-on spoilers and such  Esprit (as opposed to a Trans Am, which I ccan buy in every color), but I will keep looking).

For Travis McGee, there's an article on the only "official" pick-up conversion of a 1920 'Silver Ghost' at http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2...ce-pickup-truck.html

Except Travis's was an ugly shade of blue.