My name is Jim Whitley, I am 56 years old and live in Conyers, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. I took an early retirement in December of 2001 after twenty-eight years as an aircraft mechanic with Delta Air Lines. I started modeling around 1953 with Aurora, Revell, & Comet plastic kits and Comet stick and tissue flying models and have been at it ever since. My primary modeling interest is aircraft…all subjects, all eras, all scales. I am a long-time IPMS member and am looking forward to helping host the 2005 IPMS/USA National convention here in Atlanta.
Hi, Jim. I live down the road from you in Athens. Which IPMS chapter are you affiliated with? Welcome, by the way. Hope you enjoy the forum. Looking forward to the Nats in Atlanta again. - Ed
Thanks for the welcome, guys. Hey, Ed, we’re practically neighbors. I was with IPMS/Atlanta for about twenty years but stopped going to meetings about three years ago while working tons of overtime. Got to get back with them… a great bunch of guys. I’m presently a member of IPMS/Marietta and have started going to IPMS Northmen meetings as well. I have been one of the Saturday afternoon regulars at AAA Hobbies in Marietta since they opened, and since I retired I help out in the shop from time to time.
Were you a member of the Atlanta chapter when they met at Uncle Charlie’s in Decatur? I was active with them til about 1980. Lost interest for a long time and I’m back with a vengeance:) The Northmen put on quite a Regional this past Spring! - Ed
Ed, I can’t recall the year I joined, but it was around that time. I do remember that Ron Edwards was President. Some of the notables were Phil Perry, John Ficklin, Rick Abercrombie, Don Harris, Mac Cobb, Ken Lundquist, Bob Sigman, Bud Colvin, Bill Ficke, Mike Mason, Sam Lyons, Frank Mitchell, Joe Wilkinson, Ray Wheeler, W.B. Baldwin, Steve Bryant and a host of others. I still see most of these guys on a more or less regular basis.
Charlie’s was one of my all-time favorite hobby shops. I started doing business there in 1967. I drove up from Moultrie, in south Georgia about three or four times a year to get supplies and visit friends in Atlanta. I became a weekly customer in 1973 when Delta hired me and I moved up here. It was a true family run business…Charlie, Mrs. Morrison, his son Charles, and a couple of his daughters. It was sad when the landlord sold the property and didn’t renew the lease. I rarely go to downtown Decatur anymore, but when I do I get a pang of nostalgia for the old Decatur Speedway.
Jim, I thought your name sounded familiar. I joined up in 1968. I remember all of those guys. Got to see a few of them at the last regional for the first time in over 20 years. Glad there’s still a few of us still out there from the old days. I haven’t been back to Decatur since the shop closed down. I hated to see that place disappear. That coincided with my falling out of the 1st model building phase of my life. The Army had just a little bit to do with that. Got back in a few years ago and I’m having too much fun. Good to hear from another legacy from the old days. Stay in touch. Feel free to contact me offline if I can be of any help with anything. - Ed Shelnutt
Welcome, Jim!
I’m a little up the road from you in VA., but remember a great time in Atlanta at the '93 Nationals (my first one). Really looking forward to being there in '05, Lord willing.
Got back in a few years ago and I’m having too much fun. Good to hear from another legacy from the old days. Stay in touch. Feel free to contact me offline if I can be of any help with anything. - Ed Shelnutt