Hiya,
Just today I recieved word from my LHS that another WWII veteran passed away.
Blackwolf had made a post earlier this month of him falling ill. His name was Mr. John Bishop.
MAN, I have known this kind gentlemen since I joined my local IPMS club about 10 yrs ago.
I was indeed truely sad to here of the news. He was one of those people that you looked up to in all respect.
A devoted modeller, his way of modelling was to scratch build. Talk about craftsmenship…
Please take the time out and thank a Vet today, time is slipping away and the numbers are getting smaller.
So here is to you Mr B… Thank you for the best tens years of friendship…
Flaps up, Mike
‘Mr. B.’ will be missed…
John Bishop was not only a veteran but an accomplished model builder. Actually, ‘accomplished’ does not do this modeling man justice…
Here’s a couple shots of his scratchbuilt Fokker D.VII in 1/32…
The large wing you can see in these photos eventually turned into this, a scratchbuilt Consolidated PT-3… I think this was 1/12…
Image source/credit: Rocon 2003 Gallery on Webshots
John was noted not only for his excellent scratchbuilt models, but for the excellent scratchbuilt ‘totenboxen’ in which he carried those models and for the ingenious method of transporting them to shows on the exterior of his Miata. (As John used to say, there’s barely room for an old man inside that dang thing, let alone a totenbox…)
John was also known for his dry sense of humor, his wit (which many did not appreciate or understand sometimes…) and also for his general good companionship. I dunno the extent of his education but he struck me as a learned man, unorthodox but learned, and he was truly a man of the world.
I was mistaken in my earlier post when I stated that he was a decorated veteran. There was a bit of confusion on my part as to who was ill, as we have had two ‘elder statesmen’ in our club who were WWII vets and who were eternal pals. I was initially under the impression that it was the other fellow who was ill, this fellow being a decorated combat veteran. To the best of my knowledge, John was a bit too late to see action, was not a combat veteran and received no decorations other than for his general service… but he was a veteran, nonetheless, and we in the USA are all indebted to this fellow for his service.
When you meet a veteran, if you do nothing else, shake his hand…
Fade to Black…
Mike and Steve,
Sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. He sounds like a good guy.
My condolences to you both on the passing of your friend.
Eric
Condolences on the loss of a freind and a very accomplished modeler. Sad to see another Veteran leave us.
Regards, Rick
Condolences and best wishes. May “Mr B” find eternal happiness in that “big hangar in the sky.”
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Sorry to hear about your lose. The numbers of vets are dwindling by the day and I would hope that we can get all their stories before they pass. - Calvin
Thanks guys… do appreciate your posts. Mr. B. was a cornerstone in the club and the next meeting will be a sad one, no doubt. I haven’t made a meeting in months but the month of May will be different.
Fade to Black…
sigh, death, always taking the better of us…
I’m sorry about your pal[BH]
Very sorry to here about the loss of your freind. May he rest in peace.
As a son to a WWII veteran, news like this hits home even harder. I agree that we should make an effort to thank every veteran we encounter.
I can’t help but to literally interrogate any veteran I run into. They hold a wealth of information that is quietly slipping away from us. Of course most of them kindly oblige my inquisition…even my own father.
Thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers gentlemen. Even though he may be in the big hanger in the sky, he will never be forgotten…
As Steve had mention he was very wise in his ways(humor was great) and how he went about doing them.
Either I or Steve, will have to see if we have any photos of his totenboxen[;)]
From what I remember Mr B telling me, he went in to the Army and somehow made the rank of Lt if I am not mistaken and had a few tanks under his belt State side. This is how he had put it.
After the war he went on to become a talented draftsmen… When he would start a project, he drew up some very elaborate drawings/plans to help him along the way.
Even though I only knew him for a short time, I learned the ropes of modelling and they will forever stay with me for years to come.
Take care Mr B… long live the “Totenboxen”…
Flaps up, Mike
Very sorry to hear of the loss… may he indeed rest in peace… and he and his family (including his IPMS family) will be in my prayers.
John was a great friend to all that knew him. He made all of our meetings special with his descriptions of his models and what he was going through to get things done. He was never one to hold back on his secrets when building and always had a smile on his face. John told me once that he was the last person commisioned as a Cavalry Officer in the Army. Seeing how it was late in the war and we really did not have any horses left to speak of, he was probably right. John was one of those gentlemen that came from the old school, treat people as you would like to be treated. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.