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
47 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,
and some say cats as we have become involved with cat rescue.
e-mail protechusalmp@yahoo.com
SOSS - www.angelfire.com/nj3/sos/
RAMAC - www.ramac.org/
NRG - www.thenrg.org/