Hoping I’m not excommunicated from the forum for this post, but I confess I have been taking a shameless shortcut to putting a few airplanes of interest on my shelves . . . diecast. It’s the fault of my local hobby shop really that had a Postage Stamp brand AVG P-40 that looked pretty good in the box, and since I had recently finished reading the book “Flying Tigers” by Daniel Ford, the little plane caught my eye. Since then I have discovered that there is an amazing spectrum of options out there in the diecast medium. And so I have picked up a few that compliment some interest areas of mine such as James Stewart of Hollywood fame who was also a B-24 pilot during WWII, Korea where I spent some time during military service, and Vietnam which was my dad’s war. Because my primary interest area is ships, I’ve been loath to expand the unbuilt stash to include airplane models, but there is the temptation . . .
model for an experiment, but couldn’t find a plastic kit to start with that was an old enough year. Came across this at Walmart of all places, and purchased it, Going to try to replicate this old VW van that belonged to my grandfather and was used in his business.
Well,it’s not modeling,but there’s nothing wrong with displaying collectibles,one thing I wouldn’t do is buy someone elses complete model and display it,but that’s me.
Those VW vans are awesome. One of my first learning experiences with a manual clutch was out in the California desert learning to drive a friend’s VW van - what a party mobile! My pastor has one in mint condition, it’s a beauty. Looks like VW has introduced a modern electric version, but at $50K way beyond my budget; besides, it has no where near the nostalgic character it should to truly evoke the orignial.
Also learned to drive in a 68 VW Wagon, with a manual. Quickly learned you were never going to pass anyone while going uphill. Downshifting around a corner with manual steering and the speed limit changing from 55 to 35, well, my mom’s eyes were never open wider. After that clutch I can drive pretty much any car with a manual (floor or on the tree), so it was an adventure that worked out.
Nothing wrong with the die cast miniatures. I have one shelf where I have a mahogany P-38 that my mother gave me years ago. I looks like a P-38 even though some of it is not quite right.
Owned a 1977 bus once, and even with a 67 horse engine getting on the freeway was always interesting. I can’t imagine how it must have been for a 36 horsepower engine!
