Jeremy,
VERY WELL DONE. YOU DA MAN !


Jackjet

Jeremy,

You to me have encapsulated many things but the most important is that "it is OK" to get upset about the loss of a jet. To me one of the enjoyable parts of the hobby is the "challenge" of building it right, painting it right, then flying it right. By nature I am not overtly competitive to others, but I compete against myself all the time, and if I lost a plane, I have lost my challenge.

Do Olympic runners get upset when they come second, yes they do. Do Olympians make our world a better place, not really. but we all marvel at their determinations, sacrifice, dedication and skill. Oh, do those not apply to us!!!??

The people who say, well you fly jets you can afford to lose something.......... poppycock and balderdash.

My jet is the result of a 15 year determination, occuring by the good grace of my wife for my 40th birthday. My car wont get replaced this year, such is the sacrifice!!! I think those that make such comments apart from insensitivity, are probably displaying an envy and jealousy. Why comment at all if so minded, to me just irritating views.

I think the definition of "toy" is many and different, I prefer to think of my models as working flying devices but I do go out and play so Toy fits, but then is a surf board a toy too!! I don't care what people think, it is my interest and challenge, and it cheers me up to watch other modellers, saddens me when any model goes in as I can understand the anguish of a failed challenge.

With your painting skills and finishing capabilities more dimensions are added. Many people marvel at the artwork on customised cars and trucks, I marvel at your finishing capabilities for models, every bit as challenging as traditional forms of art work.

I am sorry that you did not manage to realise your dreams due to nature not giving you your eyes. Sometimes we have to realise challenges are beyond us in some ways, but I admire your honesty, determination and enjpyment of your surrogate, and think like you, its precious to you and others should wholly respect that.

I am glad the Canadian dollar is moving up, apart from wishing to visit and tour the place, I can't help thinking that it might offer retirement capabilities in due course, as this land in the UK is just becoming crowded and the quality of life lowering. Mind you, I hate the cold!!!

Right on Mr Ferguson, go get that Bandit!!!

Well, the good news is, the rest of my Bandit parts showed up, so now I can start building my dream jet (ok, dream sport jet, one day I'll have that huge F14 :P ) LOL

Out of sincere interest, how do you go about working out one of your magnificent schemes. I know you kindly were going to give some advice and many quite rightly thought you should make a book out if it and get something else back, but just how do you start.

I am starting a T-33 BVM kit, first jet (really, how mad is that eh?!) and have the stock scheme as David Gladwin had in the world masters a few years hence, and that frightens the hell out of me!

You do have to take in to account that I am a drummer, so although we may have more than jets in common, talent is something that does differentiate us (just ask the rest of the guys in the band!).

Gazzer

Gazzer,
As for the scheme itself, I really just kind of look at the jet and try to envision something on it, it's easier when a customer comes to me with an idea, then I just have to bring that idea to life. As for actually starting the paint, I do have that painting tutorial on here somewhere, and I will be doing another one this winter, a much more comprehensive one than the last one was.
Jeremy

That's where my first problem starts then....... imagination, I am drummer remember!!

Gazzer

Hi Jeremy,

I wasn't going to respond to this thread because everyone has already said pretty much how I feel. But I kept thinking about it. I was getting misty just reading all the responses.
I think you did a fabulous job on describing how you feel and how the majority of us feel.
Thanks Jeremy for being you.


Wayne

Thats right Jeremy-out side people really downsize this hobby or any hobby for that matter. They think its dumb,childish,stupid, a waste of time or money, and when they say that I just say its to complicated for you to understand.

Jeremy -

What a great post and thread you have started and I'm really glad that I've read it and add my two cents to it as well. What you wrote can be applied to the entire hobby, not just jets.

My dream to fly in the USAF crashed in grade school when I had to start wearing glasses. But, this past month, I was able to get myself a P70 to power my "future" dreams whenever I can save up the $$$ to get an airframe to stick it in.

Thankyou for the reminder of why we 'play' with our toys no matter how old we get.

My dream started while growing up on a farm in Central Kansas (Flint Hills) during World War II. Most afternoons two groups of P-40s would mix it up in a huge dog-fight and P-38s did low level (tree top) rat racing over our house and farm. I knew from then on I wanted to fly like that.

I realized my dream and entered Air Force pilot training in March 1955. I was in the last class to fly T-6s in primary and went on the fly the F-94C after graduating from pilot training.

My first solo in a PA-18 and a year and half later in the F-94C were probably the most exciting flights of my career. The F-94C because there were no dual control trainers so we went to 10 hours of ground school and then went solo in an airplane that would break the sound barrier in a dive.

Currently I am building a turbine powered model of the F-94C. I have flown RC for 52 years and am looking forward to that first solo of my model F-94C with as much anticipation as any first flight I have ever made. Reading the previous posts really enforce my realization of how lucky I was to live my dream.

Sid Gates
AMA 725

Jeremy,
Every time I hear someone refering to a jet or any model airplane as a toy, I get mad. But at the same time I do undestand that way of thinking due they ignore all the dedication, care, illusion, Passion, love (why not?)...or the history behind each one of us, etc, ect , that we all have to put to keep our planes in the air or just resting in the leaving room to see it everyday....
There is no waste in all you stated and as a matter of fact....I will love to have a shot of what you were drinking...or smoking[X(] before this article

Miguel

Well said Jeremy

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