Kudos

[E7]

Just some praise for one of the elder statesmen of this board, Bob Turner. One look at stuff like the Woody D&H challenger restoration and you know he is the real deal. One of the really good guys in the hobby!

Rich

[bob turner]

That was nice, Rich. I demur; there are far nicer folks in this hobby.

For one - Maroon! I am not going to dwell on what he did for me last weekend - suffice to say it took him almost two full days to accommodate and entertain me.

And Michaels Ross and Walter in Fort Worth - gracious hosts who allowed me to gaze with approval on their spectacular railroads, where their track was fully tie-plated with four or more spikes per tie, over very long distances! And the trees! Just absolutely WOW!

And Dennis Mashburn, who gave me a lot of castings for my various efforts over the years.

And yeah, Woody Mathews, who back in the 1980s took the time to introduce me to many fine Seattleites in the hobby.

I am an ok guy, but I am not sure I am sufficiently nice to entertain anybody for two days!

I am doing OK at 84 and a half - just completed two adventures in antique airplanes, involving very long and sometimes technically difficult flights from the Canadian border to San Diego, and from San Diego to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I might be getting too old for these kinds of adventures, but I survived both, and look back with satisfaction.

Jim showed me an "ATA" model, nicely done by our friend Alf Modine (RIP). It is of a CNW H Northern. It really got me all jazzed up, and ready to commit blacksmithing on a heavy brass boiler. We'll see. Hundman did the drawings long after ATA produced the model.

[up148]

I am doing OK at 84 and a half - just completed two adventures in antique airplanes, involving very long and sometimes technically difficult flights from the Canadian border to San Diego, and from San Diego to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I might be getting too old for these kinds of adventures, but I survived both, and look back with satisfaction.

Honestly, that's amazing Bob!. I'm 8 years your junior and wouldn't even consider it in a car....although flying might be safer than driving these days. I don't care for traveling these days and prefer to be a homebody.
Nice job my friend.

[E7]

Bob,

Sometimes I have trouble walking across the room, and I'm a mere 78! LOL

Mr. Modine was indeed one of the greats. Maroon and his brother (Jim and Pete) are good guys for sure, and VERY talented! If I knew half the stuff they do, I'd be happy! We have an abundance of talent on this forum and I am humbled for sure!

Rich

[R.K. Maroon]

It has been a busy week in a busy month, so I am slow to respond (and not just to this thread). It was great to get a visit from Bob. The kudos for him are well deserved -- it is no simple thing to pilot a plane as small and (relatively) slow as a Piper Cub from San Diego to North Texas. Here is pilot and plane upon landing:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wgjy3m53s9lzlvcrqpcwh/Bob-Turner-and-Piper-Cub-in-Graham-Texas.jpg?rlkey=wticxnm0wir8adaxiv5elifbn

and yes, that tire he is standing next to is going flat. There is a story there if Bob cares to share it.

Jim

[sarge]

Bob looks as trim and happy as the hanger cat looks fat and happy! (Could Cat be pleased with himself for having sharpened his claws on that off-side tire to excellent effect?)

I'll add my voice, not only regarding this little backwater forum but all those years of writing for OSN. A large body of knowledge shared over the years.

Don't sell yourselves short, either of you. Maroon, you've done a lot of myth-busting about the history of the scale over your tenure with OST. If not for your efforts, we'd all be believing that horrible little book White River published, that bit of fiction that is a classic example of the maxim, "Funny how history so often doesn't reflect the experiences of the participants."

GRIN!

[up148]

Being a private guy I'm sure you don't need many more posts to keep this thread going, but both you and your aircraft look fresh, healthy and way younger than you are. You're doing something right my friend. I like those rough field wheels and tires and it make your cub look anything but it's namesake.

Is your panel updated? I can't imagine flying all over the country without at least some state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.

[texas&pacific]

I still have a short, hand written letter from Bob Turner from 30+ years ago, stored with a Kasiner Observation kit. I never got the opportunity to visit with Bob in person, but I had been able to buy things from him on and off over the years. One day I happen to be chatting with him on the phone and somehow mentioned I was assembling a Kasiner passenger consist and had been (unsuccessfully) looking for a full length, fluted-side Kasiner Observation car. He said something like, "let me dig one up..." Sure enough, I believe he went through his own stash and found me one, which I promptly purchased from him. Still have it, and the note. He had always been a great resource for O scale knowledge and fellowship, along with parts and odds-n-ends that seemed untraceable for us folks trapped in O scale deserts.

I know Dennis and Kathy Mashburn well and have kept up with both over the decades. Wonderful folks to know! Had the opportunity several times to drive down over to their home and visit, and they always received me with an open invite. I got to see Dennis' layout and shop. Dennis mold and casting skills are top-notch. He was making bits for Sunset/3rd at the time and also had an affinity for PA's and Big Boys. I enjoyed our long evenings and meals filled with O scale lore. Big hearts and always willing to share...!

[bob turner]

Thanks, you guys.

Kasiner did make some nice items back in the day. My "Daylight" is mostly Kasiner, with several "Speer" cars and one B & C.

Yes, the aviation career continues. I typically do ten landings a day, often in a 1941 Stearman biplane. The true thrill of the last several years was the opportunity to instruct in a 450 Stearman. The standard Stearman has 220 hp, so the 450 is more than double. It is supercharged, and while I never had the courage to pull the nose up to 75 mph (stock Stearman climbs at 60 mph) at 90 indicated we were going up at a 50 degree angle. I call that "straight up!"

I have owned the same Piper Cub since 1962, and did several transcontinentals in that aircraft with only a compass, watch, and charts. No com or navigation gear at all. Once west of Abilene it is always wise to be within gliding distance of a travelled road.

These days, navigation is by GPS, and often the charts stay folded.

Private companies absorb government data and, for a price, make it easy to find. I am "resisting," since government data ought to be easily accessed for free (we pay for it), but now. with "pop-up" restricted areas and fighter jet intercepts, it helps to have real time data on board. I did use a product called "Foreflight" on this trip. Pure magic, and usable on Southwest coming home.

Working on my B & O FAs this AM; then off to the airport.

[up148]

Double post

[up148]

Well, the old adage is true. "There are old pilot and there are bold pilots, but there are no old & bold pilots". Congratulations on a well used and traveled aviation career.

There were several Stearmans that flew out of the Grain Valley, MO airport back in the 80's and 90's and watching them fly was soooooooooo cool. The sound of those radials starting up and taking off just send vibrations down your spine.

[SWrailroader]

Bob,

84yo, I am surprised. You are proof that hobbies and staying active(flying, working on cars and planes) keep the mind and body young. When I saw you in SD I guess you were 81 at the time. My impression was that your age then was in the mid 60s. For someone like myself on the verge of retirement your example is inspiring.

Rob