I will Not make this short, Ya;ll need to know why.
Hello fellow forum Members!
I am writing this open letter so everyone including AARON and TIM also know where I am coming from. I live in New Braunfels Texas. There doesn't seem to be any fellow modelers around here I can visit with. Well, there's one, But He has personal things to do so I don't make a pest of myself. See, that's the problem. Within a visiting area of say twelve square miles there's only one that models other than Trains. This will possibly be to long for some of you, that's okay too.
Although I like the Train models and I do have some involvement I do not nor have I ever had them be the main focus of my models. I prefer good kits but I''ll take the Bad ones too. I love to take a Sows Ear and make a Silk Purse out of it. That is what makes it fun for me! Oh, and before you comment remember, My primary focus is and always be things that float! Wether Warships , Civilian Ships, or Winged Things/W/Floats! and others. I prefer others, because I have just a passing interest in them. I only like certain types for sure. I am not one that can either afford or must jump up and buy the latest 1/350 release with all the detail up parts. My mind due, to one, my age(79) and upbringing make me think twice, maybe three times before pulling the trigger. Secondly, and most important, except for one certain Warship, I don't want any more. I already have a close to unmanageable stash. What I don't get built in plastic, paper or wood will be donated as soon as I pass. And everything costs so much
My son HUMPER and I spend hours talking on the phone about models and everything else. This and Museum time is the only time I get to talk about them unless you count the Museum. But there too the conversation is limited to trains, scenery and, Train types and scales. I like to just sit a converse about the models, the companies that make them, how to do something and how to undo something and how best to do a certain step or maneuver to make my models unique or interesting.
In doing this I am likely to have a cup of coffee nearby and be sitting in my car with that so's I can have a cigarette while conversing. Never mind my bad habit. As I said to the Doctors I started when I was 12 and I don't have any intention of quitting. My present living is not conducive to a glass of wine or a cocktail while I relax. No, I cannot Afford to change that, that's okay too. I just like to talk about the hobby in my words, and share both my Memories and Knowledge. No matter how many times it is said each and every person has a different way of handling the basics and the more esetoric methods of building and detailing models.
Now this is important, I also want to hear everyone's solutions of high and low times while building, either scratch, modified or Box stock. In a conversational chat. Not some rote telling like it's coming from a script, What's the fun in that? Now as far as our esteemed folks AARON and TIM. They were babes in arms when I was building my first models. They are smart, fun to be around and an absolute blast off camera. This I know for fact. Proff. Tilley and I spoke of them many times.
They have the kind of access I just wish I had. Sixty some years building and forty of those for clients and I am still learning! Tech is financially passing me by, My poor old Brain can't step up to the plate on Tech either. So I only use it where I have too. Sitting on a porch and talking, laughing and reminiscing about what was and what will be and what is in the model world is a relaxing thing to do, But, it's hard to do when there are few who don't have the time for that. Model shows are fun but hard to get to when they are happening and usually, I don't have the free cash for tickets or buying from a vendor when they have something I want at a fair price!
I don't travel to San Antonio because that city and where you have to go is too hard to figure out and burns to much motor fuel at today's prices! So Far no I.P.M.S.at New Braunfels Civic Center, even though we are known statewide as having the best Train show and Vendor's pervue in Texas for a town close to San Antonio. Twice a Year, at that ! Thank You for both your Patience, Friendship and Love, I gotta Go!