Rod Stewart has spoken about his love for model railways in a new interview.
Speaking to Railway Modeller, Stewart revealed that he has spent almost 26-years building a huge, 124-ft-long intricate model of a city influenced by both New York and Chicago.
Later, after the interview was shared, Stewart rang BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show to refute accusations that he hadn’t made the model railway himself.
Sir Rod said: “I would say 90% of it I built myself. The only thing I wasn’t very good at and still am not is the electricals, so I had someone else do that.”
“A lot of people laugh at it being a silly hobby, but it’s a wonderful hobby,” he continued. You can see Stewart’s handiwork below:
Who was listening to the @theJeremyVine show on @BBCRadio2 at 12:35 today? What an amazing discussion with @rodstewart and Jools Holland about model railways, all on the back of our exclusive interview with Sir Rod Stewart in the December issue of Railway Modeller – out tomorrow! https://t.co/yC53hmhWCI
— Railway Modeller (@RailwayModeller) November 13, 2019
Make sure you pick up our latest issue – on sale this Thursday – which features an exclusive interview with Sir Rod Stewart and read what he revealed to us about his lifelong passion for railway modelling! @rodstewart #railway #railways #trains pic.twitter.com/2xoer8U7ce
— Railway Modeller (@RailwayModeller) November 11, 2019
Sir Rod Stewart has recently shared details on his huge model railway layout – and it’s absolutely breathtaking! https://t.co/g7MsEvGKJw pic.twitter.com/kSZRIauctz
— Hornby (@hornby) November 13, 2019
Recommended
Rod Stewart's secret hit track! After 26 years, the veteran rocker finally lets the world see his breathtaking completed model railway – a 124ft spread depicting an entire US city and inspired by the view from his childhood home pic.twitter.com/VFCIcqdR60
— Lilian Chan (@bestgug) November 13, 2019
Let Sir Rod build HS2. https://t.co/BM6zzMfSvy
— Brian Groom (@GroomB) November 13, 2019
Completely wow-ed this morning by the newly released images of Sir Rod Stewart's model railway. pic.twitter.com/xvdokcNcgH
— Daisy Froud (@daisyfroud) November 13, 2019
Speaking to Railway Modeller, Stewart said that he often worked on the model whilst on tour, sometimes requesting an extra room for his constructions in hotels.
“We would tell them in advance and they were really accommodating, taking out the beds and providing fans to improve air circulation and ventilation,” the musician said.
“When I take on something creative like this, I have to give it 110%,” Stewart added. “For me it’s addictive. I started, so I just had to finish. I’m lucky I had the room. If I’d have realised at the start it would have taken so long, I’d have probably said, ‘No! No! Nah!'”
Rod revealed that he works on the railway in the attic of his LA home.
Earlier this year, Stewart voiced his support for his “mate” A$AP Rocky following the rapper’s arrest and incarceration in Sweden.
Rocky was arrested in Stockholm on July 2 along with two members of his entourage on suspicion of assault following a performance at the Smash music festival.
Rocky received a message of support from Stewart, who said he was “dismayed” at Rocky’s alleged “mistreatment… at the hands of Swedish police”.