Photo 1 Photo 2
An HO scale fire call box at a street corner. While this bank is a kit the painting was so superb I had assumed it must be a scratch-built structure. I particularly appreciated the two era-appropriate billboards on the side of the building - note the delicate lamps and the parking sign.
Photo 3
HO scale wooden building in un-scenicked area
Photo 4 Nicholas Kalis Photo 5 Nicholas Kalis
These massive steel girders holding up a railroad overpass are part of the engineered world that are often seen in real world urban setting yet rarely modeled - bravo to Rubbo for capturing this in HO scale. The pigeons are an added touch of realism.
Photo 6 Photo 7
Electric Transformers in front of accurate retaining wall HO Scratch-built Clock Tower
Photo 8
The colorized postcard displayed to the left of this passenger railroad station is just wonderful.
Photo 9
A scratch-built passenger station has an aura of authenticity.
Photo 10 Nicholas Kalis Photo 11 Nicholas Kalis
HO brick Signal Tower HO scale Water Tower
Photo 12
The upper level of Rubbo's HO layout
All Photos by Nicholas Kalis May 2023
Visit
Before discussing his models, I am sure my fellow visitors will agree that New Jersey's Any Rubbo is one of the finest hosts one will encounter in the model railroad community. A group of us visited Andy in his abode in May 2023.
My photos tell it all - Rubbo has one of our nation's most spectacular layouts - a double decked layout connected by an enormous helix; the upper deck is the one for which scenery is complete (Photo 12) This is prototype modeling at its finest; not to be missed is his brick signal tower (Photo 10). While Andy is a retired airline pilot, one could be excused for imagining his occupation was artist. Perhaps my favorite feature of this layout is the unusual Wheatena water tower (Photo 11) - just to be clear - this is not some fantasy detail - this water tower actually existed (I would need to check with Andy as to any remnants of the prototype remain).
I liked how Rubbo utilized a colorized post card on his fascia (Photo 8) to allow visitors to compare same with the actual model he built. I also like how Rubbo modeled the often seen but seldom modeled in Photo 6 (the long bank of electrical transformers. His scratch-built clock tower in Photo 7 merits the cover of any model railroad magazine. Rubbo even has a second deck under. construction. - the helix is already in place.
Revised August 9, 2023
Revised January 14, 2024
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