Tim Jordan is a jet mechanic by trade. In his free time, he keeps busy with a "nerdy" hobby (his word, not ours).
For the past 16 years, Jordan has been building a model replica of Seattle in his garage.
His tiny town is stacked with familiar landmarks from the past and present: a model train carries classic 737 MAX fuselages to Boeing, chugging past a Dick's Drive-In, the Space Needle, the Triangle Bar in SODO, the first Starbucks at Pike Place Market, and even the Fremont Troll.
The original Lincoln Toe-Truck and Elephant Car Wash are long gone, but Jordan included them in his model, along with the historic firehouse on Capitol Hill that's now a furniture home decor store.
Jordan's attention to detail is incredible. He's outfitted buildings and street lamps with working LED lights that make his glow in the dark.
We asked Jordan to answer five questions about his hobby.
1. Name someone who inspires you:
I have a friend in the Netherlands named Ad Regtop who helped me create the Fremont troll that is displayed on my layout. He is a master model builder, and mainly uses clay to create his model railroad world. His work is fascinating, and always inspired me to do the same. His work is pretty amazing don't ya think?
2. Best place to go for inspiration:
I can honestly say my backyard! I have an amazing view of the Snohomish Valley to where I can sit and relax and ideas and thoughts can materialize with nature. Ironically just below this beautiful picturesque scene, there is a short line railroad down below that my friends operate (it travels from Woodinville to Snohomish - 12 miles of track) sometimes if I feel like it and I happen to be home, I'll run down the trail I made to the tracks and get a ride on the Caboose to the valley down below. I even have a custom replica of this very train that is used on my layout of Seattle. This train even showed up to my backyard wedding to where we got swept away after the ceremony. Who has a personal train in their backyard??
3. Are changes needed to help support what I am doing?
Yes... and the changes are already happening in the world of model railroading. Technology is actually helping with the art of 3D printing. The fine detailed characteristic of 3D printers helps modelers create their vision to make their ideas materialize. Basically you create almost anything with an idea, and a 3D software to help the printers make the final product. I custom paint vehicles made from 3D printers!!
4. What do you use for guidance?
I am part of the United Northwest Model Railroad Club. We all model the same scale of N gauge. We try and get together once a month to where we all work together and build a huge model railroad layout that is shown a few times every year at shows. There are also a lot of other model builder/railroad groups on Facebook that I belong to I which members are always sharing their ideas for others to see!
5. How can people help your cause?
In the model railroading world, there has been a huge decline of interest in this hobby. Sadly, technology is a huge part of why the younger generations have been blind to its existence. Also, the slow depletion of hobby stores in our area has been overtaken by online ordering. Fewer stores mean fewer places for kids to learn about the hobby of model railroading. I am hopeful that my involvement in this hobby will ignite the interest of little ones to do the same in what it has done for me. My highlight of the year is showing my model railroad once a year at a local model train convention. The look on kids eyes when they see my creation is enough for me to keep this thing going!