cwelkie
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2010
- Messages
- 174
- Reaction score
- 62
It seems I've neglected the call for an introduction long enough. I've spent a lifetime trying to do things rather than "clubs" and have lurked in these parts long enough to realize that this collection of forums truly is a community - just like the masthead says. What a community it is too, simply overflowing with support, good advice and inspiration. Thank you having me and setting the bar so high.
About me ... well I've been tearing things apart and putting some of them back together all my life. My folks are of a farming/homestead heritage so "why pay someone for something you can do yourself?" was ingrained early. Another creedo along the same lines went something like, "Every expert had to learn what they know ... so can you."
My lifelong interest in vintage aviation has seen expression through (mostly) scale r/c modeling since the mid-70's. Along the way I did "pickup" a private pilots' license but the $200 "drives in the sky" got a little difficult to justify a few years back.
Somewhere in there I built a Hummelbird - a low wing single place, all aluminum homebuilt with 1/2 a VW engine (yes, I really did push the crankcase through my bandsaw).
Motorcycles have too, always been in my life. Motocross as a kid ... until you had to dress up like a hockey player ... and then road riding The past has included rides up and down the west coast a number of times. On one ride in the early-80's my wife and I decided to stop in Los Angeles to get married on the way to Mexico. The current ride is carrying vintage plates 'cause I can't bring myself to get rid of the ole girl, an '81 XV920. I spend a bit of time keeping an '86 Jaguar XJS running - summer driver only.
My shop has, like many, grown and developed over the years. Surplus equipment and re-purposed gear all have a new home. I am spoiled. It's a pretty well equipped 24'x32' toy box with lights, heated floor and a washroom that's only used for doing - not storing (i.e., cars and such). Wood (for the models mainly) shares space with metal - sad but true.
Like many I started off with a couple steam engines (wobblers) built onto their own boilers ("Tubal Cain's" books). That lead to a Crusader from Home Shop Machinist magazine:
and then to a Webster:
The tool set expanded, both physical equipment and skills until I completed an Aeronca E113 from Chernery's drawings and casting. What a wonderful project that was! I'm so grateful that I could build one of Mr. Chernery's designs. (I'd love to do his Cirrus too but ... without castings it will have to wait awhile... please share if you know of a set needing a new and caring home!)
The current build (when I'm not working on a 1/4 scale Nieuport VI) is a 1/4 scale Gnome based on Stephen Wessel's wonderful 1/3 scale drawing set. Still not done but the internals are complete ... just accessories, prop mount and valve train to finish ...
The last few photos are of the shop for those that are curious (with some showing the hanger/ceiling).
Pardon the long post (but you asked for it <grin> and for pictures too!).
Thanks again for having me.
Charlie
About me ... well I've been tearing things apart and putting some of them back together all my life. My folks are of a farming/homestead heritage so "why pay someone for something you can do yourself?" was ingrained early. Another creedo along the same lines went something like, "Every expert had to learn what they know ... so can you."
My lifelong interest in vintage aviation has seen expression through (mostly) scale r/c modeling since the mid-70's. Along the way I did "pickup" a private pilots' license but the $200 "drives in the sky" got a little difficult to justify a few years back.
Somewhere in there I built a Hummelbird - a low wing single place, all aluminum homebuilt with 1/2 a VW engine (yes, I really did push the crankcase through my bandsaw).
Motorcycles have too, always been in my life. Motocross as a kid ... until you had to dress up like a hockey player ... and then road riding The past has included rides up and down the west coast a number of times. On one ride in the early-80's my wife and I decided to stop in Los Angeles to get married on the way to Mexico. The current ride is carrying vintage plates 'cause I can't bring myself to get rid of the ole girl, an '81 XV920. I spend a bit of time keeping an '86 Jaguar XJS running - summer driver only.
My shop has, like many, grown and developed over the years. Surplus equipment and re-purposed gear all have a new home. I am spoiled. It's a pretty well equipped 24'x32' toy box with lights, heated floor and a washroom that's only used for doing - not storing (i.e., cars and such). Wood (for the models mainly) shares space with metal - sad but true.
Like many I started off with a couple steam engines (wobblers) built onto their own boilers ("Tubal Cain's" books). That lead to a Crusader from Home Shop Machinist magazine:
and then to a Webster:
The tool set expanded, both physical equipment and skills until I completed an Aeronca E113 from Chernery's drawings and casting. What a wonderful project that was! I'm so grateful that I could build one of Mr. Chernery's designs. (I'd love to do his Cirrus too but ... without castings it will have to wait awhile... please share if you know of a set needing a new and caring home!)
The current build (when I'm not working on a 1/4 scale Nieuport VI) is a 1/4 scale Gnome based on Stephen Wessel's wonderful 1/3 scale drawing set. Still not done but the internals are complete ... just accessories, prop mount and valve train to finish ...
The last few photos are of the shop for those that are curious (with some showing the hanger/ceiling).
Pardon the long post (but you asked for it <grin> and for pictures too!).
Thanks again for having me.
Charlie
;D
