Malcolm Furlow photo tribute. Noted model railroader and artist Malcolm Furlow passed away in March 2023. You can read his obituary here.
In this photo gallery, we’ll look at the variety of contributions he made to Model Railroader magazine and Kalmbach Publishing (now Kalmbach Media) during the 1980s.
The staff at Model Railroader extends its sympathy to Malcolm’s family and friends. We hope you enjoy this look back at his photography and modeling.
Malcolm Furlow’s first appearance in Model Railroader was as the winner of the magazine’s third color photography contest. This image was published in the January 1980 issue. Later in the same issue Malcom shared how he took the photo in “Model photography: It’s almost as much fun as model railroading.” Malcolm Furlow photo
Malcolm’s photography appeared on the cover of Model Railroader three times in 1980. This image, from the August issue, was taken on his HOn3 Denver & Rio Chama Western layout. The image was for Malcolm’s article “White water on the Denver & Rio Chama Western.” Malcolm Furlow photo
This winter scene was Malcolm’s third cover image from 1980. The caption on page 3 of the December issue read, “It’s Christmas Eve in the Rockies as No. 271 eases around a curve, taking her crew on their way to hearth and home. Malcolm Furlow, winner of MR’s photo contest last year, provided this striking winter scene. The heavily weathered locomotive is a Westside C-16 with snowplow added, and the cars (except the kitbashed tanker) are from Rail Line. Malcolm Furlow photo
In addition to being a popular contributor to MR, Malcolm also became one of the faces of Kalmbach Video. This ad from the May 1983 issue is for “Weathering Railroad Models with Malcolm Furlow.” Head over to Video Vault section of Trains.com Video to watch segments from this program.
Malcolm was part of an all-star lineup of panelists during Model Railroader’s 50th anniversary conference in July 1983. He’s shown here with John Armstrong (left) and John Kunzie. Model Railroader magazine photo
Malcolm is perhaps best known for his HOn3 San Juan Central project layout. This image was the lead photo for part 2 of the series, which appeared in the December 1983 issue. The series ran from November 1983 to August 1984 (except for January 1984, MR’s 50th anniversary issue). Malcolm Furlow photo
The San Juan Central series was compiled into the book “HO Narrow Gauge Railroad You Can Build.” The popular book went through three printings between 1984 and 1991. This copy is from our David P. Morgan Memorial Library collection, hence the label in the lower left corner.
Malcolm returned with another project layout in 1988, the HO scale Carbondale Central. The beginner’s layout was featured in the January, February, and March issues. Malcolm Furlow photo
In the late 1980s Malcolm returned to his art roots and became an internationally known painter. Russ Larson, then MR’s publisher, visited Malcolm at Houshang’s Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., during a work trip to the area in June 1998. Barb Larson photo
Malcolm’s last byline in MR was “Wild West masterpiece” in the September 2003 issue. The article featured his 1:20.3 Ferrocarril de Rio Mantañas layout. Malcolm Furlow photo
3-30-2023: is Furlow’s 1983 video available? It must contain a wealth of information! What could he do with today’s technology and materials?
A nice tribute. Thank you for this. My sincere sympathies to his family. He was a great selling point for me if he had an article in your magazines.
Bring Malcolm back!
Thanks
George