Malcolm Furlow: Rio Chama Western

Master model builder and artist, Malcolm Furlow, explains his model building concepts and demonstrates how to expand an existing layout. We thank Mr. Furlow for allowing us to upload and share this video with the world.

[@championsjourney9296]

Thank you for posting this. When I was in tenth grade, I bought the Model Railroader with the Rio Chama cover at my local hobby shop. It literally changed the direction of my life. Furlow was one of my idols as an artist and craftsman. I recall this video being offered, but never managed to buy one. What a treat to see his workshop. I hope at some point the follow in video becomes available.

[@tomt9543]

Check out Thunder Mesa Studio on KZbin if you loved the Furlow/Olsen work way back when! TMS honors these guys on a modern masterpiece of a layout! I admired the attention to detail these two had during their heyday, but I was polluted by the pull of prototype modeling, and never went in the direction they did. Now, in my 60’s, I’m downright fascinated by what they created! Freelance was sacrilege to me in the 70’s & 80’s, but now it seems like an open canvas to build what you like, regardless of whether or not it actually existed!

[@MichaelStVitus]

RIP Malcom. A great musician, artist and obviously, model railroader. You will be missed.

[@ocalicreek]

Thank you, Darryl, for uploading it, and please tell Malcolm how much his artistry in modeling is admired. It has certainly inspired me. I especially appreciate his understanding that our models can be a reflection of ourselves in as much as we build our interpretation of the world.

[@progressiverockvocal]

Malcolm is enjoyable to watch. He is a craftsman creating a masterpiece and we get to see the nuts and bolts of the process. And when you see this all happen from it's simple beginnings it can give people confidence to get involved.

[@leonbeckers1591]

Thank you Darryl for uploading this video. Malcolm was one of the guys who inspired me to model in narrow gauge. And that back in those days. I still model in HoN3 scale. I hope more is to come.

[@MosriteCharlie]

A man off many talents; musician, artist, expert scenery designer for Disney, has passed away. His legacy will live on.

[@DarkTerritory71]

I had to go look up Malcolm. I am a model railroader, but I dont really get into the magazine or famous people in the hobby. Strangely enough! I saw the MR mag that had his layout on the front cover, and I remember seeing that and drooling over the locomotive power and the details! Thank you for sharing this memory.

[@LandscapeRocker]

This guy is awesome, I love seeing the original techniques... not to mention his personality and the overall casual vibe of it all.

[@gtown150]

Malcolm Furlow, John Olsen, and a few others that mastered the artistic value of model railroading while keeping it fun and inspirational. San Juan Central, Jerome and Southwestern, still amaze me to this day. Simple, small, and achievable. There’s only a handful of modelers that patterned books after their creations namely John Allen, Allen Mclelland and Tony Koester. In my estimation, G&D line is the holy grail of masterful modeling in a time when supplies were extremely limited and you fabricated everything from scratch. I still peruse his book authored by Linn Westcott (another pioneer) and just jaw drop every time. Wonderful hobby it is indeed! Thanks for the upload.

[@tomt9543]

If you liked Furlow and Olsens work, and you haven’t checked out Thunder Mesa Studio on KZbin, you’re missing out! A treat awaits!

[@albertofranchi6408]

GREAT SUPER TALENT 360° FOREVER

[@dtj9923]

Thanks so much for posting this. I hadn't seen that much of the Rio Chama Western before, just a few old magazine pages here and there. This is really cool to see. I bought the John Allen G&D book and Malcom Furlow's San Juan Central book just a few weeks apart back in the very early 90s, that pretty much ruined me for life. Then I went to art school.. even worse. Both books are worn pretty thin 30+ years later. As a matter of fact I'm looking at San Juan Central again right now for ideas on how to cram an HO/HOn3/HOn30/HOn2 layout into a small spare bedroom. Yes all those gauges at once. Gonna be fun. I've always enjoyed Malcom's artistic, creative, fun approach to model railroading. He and John Allen have a lot in common in that respect. I think that they both taught me to stop counting rivets, use the model railroad like a painter's canvas, freelance, kitbash, build crazy stuff, and just enjoy the hobby. I'd put Lane Lane Stewart in that group as well, inspiring guys. -DTJ

[@philRminiatures]

Very impressive work, many details to enjoy...

[@kcsthebetterway]

Malclom used to play music at place called Humphreys back in the day at a little town called Shreveport, Louisiana. Thanks for sharing!

[@russellloomis4376]

You've gotten a new subscriber. Love this video thank you for posting. Going up is all im able to do with my layout. Unless i want to go into the garage.

[@nemmrrc]

Long live Malcolm Furlow

[@MichaelStVitus]

As of today, Malcom is building a model railroad in heaven.

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

Malcolm's large scale Mexican Hat Canyon layout from MR 2003 inspired me to try large scale inside, I remember the crap storm from a few readers against it and thought that was why we never got to see the finished product. I subsequently found out his painting career had taken off and that was likely why he never submitted a second entry. I always wondered, did he ever finish it? I would absolutely love to see how it came out. PS I'm about to embark on LS indoor layout #3 and guess who's layouts I looking back at again. :)

[@kimrok1]

What was the outrage over? Was that really 20 years ago?

[@sickofsnow1506]

OMG!!! This is amazing!!!

[@jimcnj]

RIP. This guy was next level before next level was a thing.

[@JoeIsCrazyWillman]

That comment at roughly 1:18:00 is why I haven't begun my bench work again for a new layout yet. I need a whole big plan first. I don't plan on just a couple inches, but rather up to 2' of elevation difference, and you can't really do that at a later date. Gotta be done from the get-go

[@Danvers97]

As of a few days ago unfortunately Malcolm furlow passed away from covid. Rest in peace good sir

[@davevan8864]

I miss Malcolm's work........thx

[@user-zg8ro4fm7m]

Ahhh…the establishment of “prime time” Model Railroading Magazine members / staff…didn’t care for Malcolm’s way of doing things…thus he left the hobby and all of us who like to think out-side the box where left in adrift…RIP

[@plymouth-hl20ton37]

RIP Malcolm 75😢

[@johnhirtle4300]

Looks to be mid 1970s?

[@jimkueneman5489]

80's

[@theart9163]

I swear, but for the hair, the look and voice is a dead ringer for SRV...

[@darrylhuffman1564]

Who is SRV?

[@theart9163]

@@darrylhuffman1564 stevie Ray Vaughn!!!

[@marshallgreen7815]

Bob Ross imitater. But he is a worse painter!

[@rgf425]

Was a second video ever done??

[@tenabob]

Isnt this copyrighted as it says in the beginning? Or did you get special permission to post this?

[@championsjourney9296]

@@tenabob The description indicates Mr. Furlow consented to have it posted.

[@darrylhuffman1564]

Malcom has given his blessing to posting this video.

[@darrylhuffman1564]

There was never a Volume 2