Fiddlers Green

Pima had the ribbon cutting on the newest hanger yesterday. The old guy has not eatten or been up to the free bar that much in a long time. The n ew hanger has the SR-71,F-107, B-18,PBM-5A(only one left) and 5 other types. The only display completed so far is the one around the PBM. there are fantastic models and artifacts. The 6' model of the yamato that was given to the PBM pilot who first spotted the yamato before it was sunk is on display. I talked with a lot of airplane people and had a great time. I go to the museum a lot and have always been facinated with the 200 or so wooden models on display. Each one is maticuously detailed and I have often wondered where they come from. Well as I was standing in front of a new display of beautiful float planes. This fellow older than me started to explan all of the details of the planes on display. Then he told me that he has made almost all of the models in the museum. I talked with him for about an hour. He makes the models for the museum at materials cost but charges more than one thousand dollars per model to otherr companies.

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cowboy

I wonder if he did the ones at the local musem here too? There are about 40 different models. All are hand-crafted out of wood and VERY detailed. Most look better than the best plastic.

I'm going to have to get down there again some day. Any new planes out since last May?

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We have enough youth. How about a "Fountain of Smart".

I think three planes and a couple of helocopters have been added. At the opening I saw the most beautiful bi-wing plane I have ever seen, it was new and no sign was on it and no one I could find knew what it was. But one guy said that he knew that they had been woring on it for over 7 years, It was all made of wood and that they have had a difficult time getting the same kind of vintage wood. You have to see the new hanger .

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cowboy

What helicopters? I'm always a sucker for helicopters.

Any idea on what the new biplane is?

What the heck, any pics?

I can't walk by any plane or chopper without trying to figure how to turn it into a model.

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We have enough youth. How about a "Fountain of Smart".

To heck with the Pima Air Museum then. You'd go into an OCD-induced coma if you even drove by the AMARC*!!

*http://www.amarcexperience.com/Default.asp

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Edward Merica
AKA "The Sarge"

Went to pima today. Bill the model maker says he has made around 40 for other people but can not remember where they all are now. New info on bi-plane Still no sign up. Talked to guy who worked on it some. He said that although there is some wood in it it is metal tubing and fabric covered Waco cabin model and built in the 1930's. It was in work a long time because of priority. I saw an army bi-plane in another hanger that looked a lot like it except that it was open cockpit. it was a Waco UPF-7 also built in the early 1930's. still no signs on the helo's, because of old age I forgot to ask. Bill flew a B-26 in korea and had some great stories. Half of the fun of going there is talking to the volunteers they all have great stories.

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cowboy

As a younger aviation nut, we used to drive down to Tucson to visit my brother, and every time we'd drive right down the main road that has AMARC on one side, and the aircraft scrapyards on the other side. That's all I remember of those trips. I also remember trying to jump out of the back of the truck a few times, too.

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We have enough youth. How about a "Fountain of Smart".