SPA Modeler Member Interviews.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, Chris. What is a model builder? What defines a model builder? Those are good questions. One of the main reasons for having these interviews was to give to us all a chance to answer those questions. Everyone is so different and frankly everyone here is so talented, this has been important as a glimpse beneath the surface just to see what drives everyone.

By my count we may have two interviews left. The first is from Kari who as you know is recovering from a procedure on his back. I heard from him today but I didn't bring up the interview because he is focusing on his recovery. The other member who has not given an interview yet I'll keep as a small mystery for the moment. It may happen. It may not. Time will tell.

As an overview of everyone involved in the forum to date, that is it for now.

Thanks one and all.

[speedgraflex]

MEET TOM (BLACKSHEEP)




Welcome, Blacksheep. What Started You as a Modeler?

We have to go way back to my early years; I was about 6 1/2 or 7 years old. Every Sunday, my family would visit my grandparents on my mom’s side for Sunday dinner and stay for the day. Oftentimes, my grandfather would take my sister and I to Tolpa’s Dairy, a local Mom & Pop store in West Utica for comic books, candy, and/or frozen ice cream treats (popsicles, sundae cups, ice cream sandwich, etc.). Every once in a while we might head out to Kmart, Woolworth’s or nearby Stars store. It was at Kmart I got my first model kit. I believed it was the Monogram Tom Daniels Design Paddy Wagon kit. Oh I was excited and couldn’t wait to get back to grandma’s house. I opened the box and realized this wasn’t going to be an easy kit for a kid my age then.

After supper, it was time to head on back home. I asked my dad if he would, and I quote my exact words, “help me put this together” LOL! My dad said he would. In reality, poor dad didn’t have a clue on what or how to go about building this kit. When he opened the box, I had already pulled off all the parts from the sprue tree; no doubt I probably broke a few delicate parts in the process and left them loose in the box. Thankfully, my grandfather had seen what I had done and knew there’s a spark in me that made me want to do this. He must’ve told me dad, don’t worry about it. I’ll take the box. Just go on home. I have an idea.

So, the following Sunday after our Sunday meal, my grandparents, my mom, my sister & I hopped in his car and headed out to Kmart. This time in the toys department, my grandfather took me to the model kits aisle. He found three kits more simpler, suitable, and age appropriate for me to start out with - which now brings me to the question “What was my first model kit?”



Out of the three choices he found, I chose the 1/32 scale Monogram Snap-Tite Whiplash Chevy Camaro Funny Car kit. Remember those?

When we got back to the house, my grandfather, bless his heart and soul, sat me at the kitchen table and taught me how to follow directions on the instruction guide. He also showed me how to find the part on the sprue tree from the instruction guide, how to remove them with a pair of nippers and how to put it together by following one step at a time. He later showed me how to apply decals on the model kit once the kit is all assembled.

In later years, he got me my first Testors Basic Color set with thinner and paintbrush or two. He also showed me how to use a rattle can to spray paint my model kits once I mastered using tube glue. The rest is history. Here’s a kicker - my grandfather has never built a model kit in his life but he was a clock repairman by trade after he retired from Griffiss AFB as a civilian federal government employee in the mid 60s.



1/48 scale Hobby Boss Me-262 A-2a/U2


Preferred Scale

Aircrafts: 1/48 scale, bombers 1/72 scale, Armor: 1/35 scale, Ships: 1/350 scale if affordable, vintage ship kits: 1/720 scale, Auto: 1/24, 1/25 scale



1/35 scale Academy kit M3 Stuart “Honey”


Preferred Subject or Subjects

Aircrafts and cars/trucks were and still are my first love. I will build anything from armor, ships, and sci-fi as well.



1/25 Monogram California Street 'Vette


Favorite Model Built to Date

1/48 scale Revell Pro Modeller SB2C Helldiver


Hardest Model Built to Date

That’s a tough one to call since I do love a challenge of a difficult kit. I have binned or put a hammer to at least less than 10 kits in my 50 plus years in this hobby. So that disqualifies hardest model kits built to date. I’m going to have to say the AFV Club German 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun kit I’m currently working on. This particular kit looks to be a real ball busting kit due to many ill placed ejector pins - especially around tiny parts and it’s a very tedious build.


Holy Grail Kit

In actuality, I have several since I’m constantly on the lookout for vintage kits; especially the vintage Prehistoric Dinosaur Series kits. Vintage kits like MPC, Revell, and Monogram kits of my youth/teen years. If I were to pick one (two or three), they would be: 1/350 scale USS Enterprise CV-6 - it’s been on backorder for months now. Two Hong Kong Models 1/32 scale Lancaster Mk.I “S” for Sugar and the B-17E/F Flying Fortress kits


Favorite Model Maker

Auto/Trucks: MPC, Monogram, vintage Revell, Aircraft: Hasegawa, Tamiya, Kinetic, HobbyBoss, Other subjects, I have no favorite kit maker.


Favorite Glue or Glues

Testors Tube Glue, Liquid Glue: Deluxe Materials Plastic Magic (formerly known as 10 Sec Liquid Glue), CA Glue: Gorilla Glue, BSI Extreme Power Thin CA Glue ** Extra bonus - Favorite Putty: Deluxe Materials Perfect Plastic Putty


Favorite Paint

My number one brand is Model Master Enamels & Acrylics. Once all my Model Master paint stash are gone, AK Interactive Real Colors will be my go-to paint. I have several paint brand in my stash aside from Model Master and AK Interactive Real Colors: PollyScale / Pollyscale RR Colors, Tamiya, Mission Models - I rarely use them since they scratch easily once dried. I have a few other brands: Humbrol, Vallejo Model Color, LifeColor and Testors square bottles enamels

[Stikpusher]

Very nice in depth interview here Bruce! And nice to learn the backstory of Tom Blacksheep after all these years… and put a face with the name!

[keavdog]

Great interview. Cracked up when you took all the parts off the sprue

[Gary Brantley]

Good interview, Tom! And some great looking models to boot!

[Brandons_Iron]

Glad to know a bit more about you Tom. We have many of the same interests, but in this hobby that's not uncommon. Great interview and fantastic builds.

[LyleW]

Nicely done, Tom. Good info.

[speedgraflex]

I believe all currently active members here have had an interview; and I feel that through these interviews we have a much greater sense of our origins. If I did miss someone, let me know, but I’ve asked everyone on the member list that I could locate. Thanks to all who participated! It was an honor getting to know you better!

[LyleW]

Perhaps do some guest interviews, people in the industry you know?

[BlackSheep214]

Thank you all for the kind words.

Yeah, John…. what was I thinking pulling off all those parts from the sprue trees?
Here’s the funny thing about my dad. He worked at Chicago Pneumatic for over 40 years as a draftsman (engineer by today’s standards)

In case anyone is curious why my screen name is BlackSheep214. It’s self explanatory since I used to love watching Baa Baa Black Sheep during the 70s, plus I’ve read Boyington’s biography. Not to mention the Black Sheep Squadron and the F4U Corsairs. I need to build a few Black Sheep USMC Squadron aircrafts through the years. The Harrier, Skyhawk, F/A-18 Hornet(?), F-35, etc…