I can see myself getting hooked on SPA, there's a lot going for it like you said. Unfortunately I won't be available on 9/15-16 or I'd take the trip Knoxville. I'll have to wait until 10/6 for that first SPA experience.

That "somewhere out there" is in Connecticut. I'm not too far from WEDJ (the designer of the Peppermint Patti), and we plan on getting together next weekend for a little fun. I remember as a kid, going with my father to NJ to visit Tony Bonetti. They were pretty good friends back then. I also remember checking out his Troublemaker and thinking how cool it was. Some other oldtimers in my club is Pete Reed (now in NH) and Bob Wallace, I've known them since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Another modeler from our club, althought he passed away many years ago, was Jerry Wagner (WEDJ might also remember him). He was one the of best modelers I ever met. He loved designing his own planes and was the best craftman I ever saw. Too bad he's not around these days.

This vintage pattern bug has biten me pretty hard and I'm really excited about it. Like you said, it give purpose to flying. I'm glad to see interest in the Perigee, as it's one of my favorites.

FB