My latest project is something dear to my heart.  When I was a teenager my favorite shop was the hobby shop.  I think this is still true.  I decided to build a diorama of a hobby shop I may have visited as a grade school kid in the early 1950s.  The ones I frequented then are now gone, so this is from memory, and a composite of several in the detroit area.

It is in 1/24 scale to give me something large enough for detail, yet not too large a diorama project.  The shot below is an early shot, when the structure was nearing completion.  I realise this is not half of the job.  Replicating the stock and display stuff is the real job.  Still, I am particularly proud of the magazine rack in the back, just visible through the lower half of the front door.  In it are replicated covers of actual Model Airplane News and Air Trails issues of the early fifties.  I will post further pictures as the project moves along.

I believe the first model I finished was in 1946 or 1947, a Guillows balsa flying model of an Aronca Chief. This was before the era of plastic models and I built mostly flying models (at least they were supposed to fly- certainly not all did). I did build some shelf scale models, called in those days "solid models" from their construction, which was whittled out to shape from basswood, pine, or balsa. The kits generally consisted of blocks cut to planview and profile, leaving the finish carving to the building. The kits included white metal castings for details such as propellers, and gun turrets for ships. In scale models I built all types of models, airplanes, cars, and warships.

I went into control line and freeflight models, but also built scale models when plastic kits came out. I built my first sailing ship models when I was in high school (I also tried HO trains then). I continued my modeling in college to whatever degree I could in a dorm room. I did manage a couple of UC airplanes, and a scratchbuilt plank on bulkhead frigate.

After college, and after I got a decent job, I tried RC flying. This was still the days of single channel rudder only, with rubber band powered escapements. I have drifted in and out of RC flying through the years- the multi-channel proportional control just doesn't seem to agree with me that well.

I used to say I modeled anything that moved under its own power.  However, one of these days I'd like to do a few horse-drawn vehicles, so I guess more accurately now, I model anything that moves.

Ready-to-fly models are nothing new.  Just after the war ended- I think late 1945, there was an air show at a local airbase.  Someone was selling 10 cent gliders that flew very well.  Soon I found them in toy stores and hobby shops.  These were the famous Jim Walker American Junior gliders with cambered wings as well as dihedral steamed in.  A decade or so a company sold replicas of these, and I bought several.  They are now a treasured part of my collection!

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Today I do non-operating ship and race car models, with an occasional airplane.  I also do flying aircraft models.
 
 
 
 

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my email address is stauffer@usfamily.net