Incredible Urban Decay Modeling

[Noah Lane]

I just randomly came across this guy on Instagram. He appears to be more of an artist-modeler than a model railroader, but his urban dioramas are incredible!

http://www.hoodtimesproject.com/#!gallery/cobg

[tom mann]

Pretty great.  I recognize some of the kits.

[kalbert]

Those hipsters seem to be enjoying some nice modeling. Ironically.
It is good looking stuff. I wonder if we could talk him into some tracks on those modules? They look almost T-Track size. I have some of those buildings, mine are pretty crude compared to those.

[jagged ben]

N or HO?   Looks kinda in between to me.

[Loren Perry]

His "About" page says he works to 1/150 scale. I spotted a length of N-scale Gold Medal Models chain link fencing with barbed wire in the foreground of one of his photos. Great work and convincing atmosphere.

[strummer]

Terrific stuff. The clutter and junk of our day to day is usually lacking on our models; this guy nailed it.

Mark in Oregon

[peteski]

George Sellios of modern times?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That's all N. I was able to spot DPM, Life-Like, Kato and To mix buildings. Vehicles were Bachmann, Tomytec and CMW. The donut store, hotel and several others were pretty much stock with some additional painting.

The guy has an interesting eye for things, but nothing I would put in a gallery.

Also, upperclass blonds thinking they are worldly by shooting urban decay models with iPhones while munching on MM cookies kind of ruined the atmosphere for me. Sort of reminds me of a story I heard long ago about the old Packard plant in Detroit. Waves of hipsters enter the property to shoot urban decay with their Lomo and call it an art project. Anyway, many would encounter strange noises, think someone else was there and call 911. This if course put a lot of stress in the Detroit PD, and they would have to break off legitimate calls to respond to these spooked suburban gawkers.

[Rossford Yard]

Pretty cool idea, modeling as art.  Probably had to happen as artists are always seeking new mediums to be different.  Maybe the best N Trak clubs ought to set up in an underused art gallery for more exposure. Granted, more people go to the shopping malls these days.  Or maybe those of us who host open houses ought to add wine and cheese to improve the atmosphere......

Although, I do have to say, in this case, the details would probably have shown been better in HO.  Interesting choice of scale.

[Rich_S]

Even though this is very good modeling and I give the guy credit, this is also very sad. What were once busting cities and towns are now crumbling buildings and overgrown empty lots. I see this sort of stuff on a daily bases. It's was depressing enough to live through it, I have no desire to model the decline of America. Just my two cents and your mileage may vary 

[CrazyLynx]

Pretty cool stuff - definitely an eye for it.

I don't understand the hostility toward it here, though. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

No anger for the artist, just the gallery setting. Tom, Bryan and others here do it better. F***ing hipsters man.

[strummer]

No anger for the artist, just the gallery setting. Tom, Bryan and others here do it better. F***ing hipsters man.

Please, tell us how you really feel...

Mark in Oregon

[victor miranda]

k.... not going to let it go.

it is 'Art' because it was created to be 'Art'

If the things sell as miniature sculpture, we all gain.
more respect for our abilities.

On a personal outlook of the subject
I don't like the weathering and graffiti appearing on
recent models. I prefer the shiney new look.

so the scenes represented are not my taste.

I draws 'em as I sees 'em.
I gotta wonder that van gogh saw...

[jwb]

There's another guy who does this in HO http://www.peterfeigenbaum.com/gallery/index.php?album=model-rr exactly the same deal, model railroad kits weathered with graffiti and put on exhibit in a gallery for the white wine and brie crowd. Peter Feigenbaum, the HO guy, may well have given the N guy the idea!

What's a little sad is that the guy built an interesting model railroad while he was in high school, but then he went to Yale, where he apparently found that model railroaders were too dorky for words, and applied his talents to the art gallery routine. In some ways a loss for the hobby -- I e-mailed him, and he pretty much confirmed he's left the hobby.