It's late November, but we're still talking about late August and the 2023 NMRA National Convention in Texas. During that week, I was fortunate enough to visit the outstanding layout of Mike Armstrong and it was a thrill to talk to him tonight about how his Rock Island Mid-Continent Route came to fruition. Mike shares the story of growing up in Iowa and the many influences during his youth that led to a successful prototype and model railroad journey. If you're a fan of big layouts and negative space, this episode is for you!Check out the Rock Island Mid-Continent Route on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@rimodeler7963Find more about this outstanding layout in the June 2023 Railroad Model Craftsman:https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/rock-island-mid-continent-route/Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcastCheck out our website: www.aroundthelayout.comFollow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayoutSend us an email: aroundthelayout@gmail.com