Background
Westcott, Linn Hanson was born on July 13, 1913 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of Linnaeus Hunt and Regina (Hanson) Westcott.
Westcott, Linn Hanson was born on July 13, 1913 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of Linnaeus Hunt and Regina (Hanson) Westcott.
Student Comnock College, 1931-1932, Pasadena Junior College, 1932-1933, Carleton College, 1933-1935.
Starting with publication of his contest-winning track plan in 1934, Westcott enjoyed 46 years of association with Model Railroader, serving 16 years as Editor (1961-1977), and following that as Editor Emeritus. He wrote more than 100 feature articles and nearly 200 editorials during the course of his career with the magazine, along with eight books and two booklets on model railroading which had combined to sell more than 2 million copies by 1980. Westcott made many innovative contributions to nearly every aspect of the hobby, and was creative and forward thinking in layout planning, modeling of equipment, scenery techniques, and electronics and control systems
Among the most well-known of his concepts, the"L-girder" technique for building strong and lightweight benchwork to support layouts is still popular today, largely because of its flexibility and economy, as is his "hardshell" method of building landscapes.
Linn also pioneered a scenery finishing technique known as zip texturing which is widely used. He travel widely in the United States, making extensive documentation of prototype railroad structures, equipment, and practices.
Westcott was also an operator of John Allen"s Gorre and Daphetid railroad in Monterey, California. After John Allen"s death, he compiled a book entitled Model Railroading with John Allen using much of Allen"s correspondence, photographs and writing.
The book was published in 1981.
Other books by Linn H. Wescott include: HO Railroad That Grows, How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork, HO Primer - Model Railroading Foreign All, 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders, Track Plans Foreign Sectional Track, and How To Wire Your Model Railroad.
Member National Model Railroad Association Author books steam locomotives and model railroading.
Married Harriet Kron, July 15, 1939. Children: Jane (Mistress Geoffrey Mathews), Paul Arthur, Russell Linn.