Oh I like this.
Don't fret too much about running the GB in a sense as I think members will carry it along.
If I could, a few suggestions.
- those lost members deserve a bit of an introduction from the builder.
- respond to every post, as you have time, it builds morale.
So, here is my entry.
John Tilley was a cornerstone of the Ships forum here for many years. Dr. Tilley was a professor of Naval History at Eastern Carolina University and was an expert on the Continental Navy and the United States Navy from the colonial period through the Civil War.
John was employed at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News as an assistant curator for some years. He drafted a number of plans of ships for the United States Coast Guard during that time as well.
He was not a prolific builder, and often found sardonic humor in his few (excellent) builds, which was a source of both delight and instruction to us.
Among his friends both in person and through this forum were Al Ross, Bill Morrison, and others who enjoyed John's Chestertonian banter.
I've collected some of the more interesting threads in which he shared his views. I don't think he ever actually started a thread, but he sure could contribute.
An example about the Revell Beagle:
"Unfortunately this kit is just a reissue of one of the more notorious marketing scams in the world of modeling. ...
I rarely muster up the effrontery to advise other modelers about which kits to buy, but in this case I think virtually every serious scale sailing ship modeler would agree with me: avoid this piece of junk like the plague.
The situation is especially lamentable because the Beagle was an historically important, attractive ship - and more than enough information to build a fine model of her is available. But so far as I know there's no kit on the market that even remotely resembles her."
And so forth.
John had started a model of the Model Shipways "Taurus", a steam powered tow boat from around 1900 or so. The plan was to build her as the tug "George (? initial) Tilley" in honor of his father who was an architect.
I have that model and will build her for this GB as the "John A. (Andrew) Tilley".
Since the model is in HO scale and John was born in Ohio before finally settling in North Carolina, a ficticious operating company such as the Carolina and Ohio Railroad would be appropriate, stack letters C&O, colors red and gold I guess.
John passed away in 2017 at the age of 67.
Respectfully,
Bill