JOHN S. GILL

THE THIN LINE BETWEEN INSANITY AND THE INSANE,

it's no fun being sane

IF YOU LIKE CARS, BOATS, AIRCRAFT, AND CATS

I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS SITE

I HAVE ADDED A LITTLE OF MY LIFE

AND I WILL ADD AS TIME ALLOWS

Too see the latest I am working on go to

The PHOTO GALLERY under CONSTRUCTION

I am a member of:

SOUTH ORANGE SEAPORT SOCIATY ( SOSS)

NAUTICAL RESEACH GUILD, INC. (NRG)

ROXBURY AREA MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB ( RAMAC)

ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS (AMA)

I have been building models since I was less than 2 years old. These began with my fathers help and were plastic models of early cars and trains. My sister’s godfather was a carpenter and got me interested in HO model trains. We built the train cars from wood kits. I received my first model boat kit at two years old. This Sterling kit was started right away but was not finished until I was about 5. I still have the model and run it with a radio that I purchased in 1956.

At 8 years old I froze my fingers and all most lost them. I built a model of the USS Essex aircraft carrier and even won a local model contest. The doctor told us that had I not been building models I would not have use of my hands today.

The first year that I was in the Navy I was stationed aboard the USS Essex and we picked up the Apollo 7 space capsule. I became interested in radio control when I went to a local hobby shop and saw an R/C boat. In 1955 you had to build your own radio system, which I did and it even worked once in a while. Since then all of my models are operational. I have become known as a master modeler and have built models for television, movies and museums.

I have been awarded more than 150 trophies and citations for model building. My interests are varied, so the models

run from a 1/64 scale NASCAR (3in long) to A 1/144-scale battleship USS NEW JERSEY (72in long). Some of the models are kits or started as kits, about half are scratch built. I have also written for some of the model magazines (R/C boat modeler, RCM, Boat & Ship, Hobby Merchandiser). I also race HO slot cars and have won for contours several times.

A small selection:

Dusseldorf- fire boat-1/25 scale, modified kit, pumps 375 gph. 25 functions.

Amphicar - scratch, 1/8 scale, land or water, horn, lights

Wave Jumper scratch-1942 Century runabout, horn, lights

Dixie II - scratch - 1904 race boat, 1/12 scale.

FITCH 1878 first steamboat.

I probably have the one of the largest, if not the largest, collections of radio control models in the country. These are available for display in museums and special events.

I have built over 1200 r/c models during my life. Most for personal collections.

My personal collection, that includes:

103 boats

54 aircraft

18 cars

9 trucks

All are fully operational.

This does not count the models that are under- construction. I am usually working on 10-30 models at a time.

I also collect miniature outboard motors, stamps, coins, N guage trains, HO slot cars (I still race)

and some say cats as we have become involved with cat rescue and transport.

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