Preflight Meeting Notes Frank Arrufat and the real Kathleen

Volume 13, Number 12
December 2010
Preflight
Submitted by Bob Niemiec
Thanksgiving is just a few days away and Christmas is a
little over a month away. This year seemed to fly past.
The last few meetings were concerned with fine-tuning
the judging in several categories. This seems like a great
way to become familiar with other types of miniatures other
than what we usually model. The bottom line that was
brought out was that the basics still had to be done correctly. No amount of super-detailing and/or scratchbuilding can hide a bad paint job or poor decal application.
As Ed mentioned in the Meeting Notes, our annual
Christmas will be held at the December meeting. Food and
liquid refreshment will be available. I also want to remind
everyone that we will be having our gift swap. If you want
to take part, bring a model, preferably unopened.
The Returning Modeler is making a re-appearance.
There will be a list of Internet links and also some of the
pictures of the models that graced our table will be in the
On The Table part of the newsletter. Usually, I only put
these in the web version, but Al asked if it would be possible to include some of them in the hard-copy version.
Our next meeting will be on December 1 at the First
Congregational Church in West Springfield, starting at 7
PM. Hope to see you all there.
may have breathed its last. They were unable to sell all of
their vendor tables. Many categories were empty. One
membe
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.
One positive note: the aircraft classes were well-populated
with some fine models.
Head judge Don Johnson led a discussion on the essentials of judging ships and boats. Although this is the category with the widest diversity among subjects, the conclus
i
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Next month we will enjoy our annual holiday party.
Members are invited to bring in edible or potable goodies.
Those members who wish to participate in a grab bag drawing should bring a wrapped gift.
Frank Arrufat and the real Kathleen
Submitted by Hal Marshman, Sr.
Frank is the Governor of the El Paso QB hangar. He
bought a tired old Chance Vought Corsair aircraft from the
El Salvador government in 1972 when he was a TWA pilot.
Frank dismantled it, crated it, sent it down to the port on a
banana train, shipped it to Long Beach, then trucked it on a
trailer and pickup truck to El Paso (Fabens airport and
house).
(Continued on page 2)
Meeting Notes
Submitted by Ed Potkai
Twenty three members or visitors attended the November meeting. Unfortunately, the square dancers have returned and we were back in the smaller room.
Members spoke about the two modeling events which
occurred in October. They were said to be like night and
day. GraniteCon was described as crowded, fun, a good
show. But there is concern that the IPMS Stratford show
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Table Of Contents
Preflight ............................................................................1
Meeting Notes...................................................................1
Frank Arrufat and the real Kathleen..................................1
Interesting Web Links.......................................................3
On The Table ....................................................................3
The Returning Modeler.....................................................4
Show Me The Trophy .......................................................5
Additional On The Table Photos .................................. 6-7
Page 1
had new colored tapes made up in authentic colors to label
the hydraulic lines.
Frank Arrufat (Continued from page 1)
Frank overhauled the engine after taking a course to
become an A&P mechanic at Northrop Institute near LAX
airport. He then proceeded to take apart almost every item
and piece of the airplane at his home. Many of us QBs in
ELPwou
l
ds
t
opbyFr
a
n
k
’
sh
ou
s
et
o observe and offer our
‘
e
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me
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e
rt
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r
s
.
Frank would totally dismantle every part, clean up,
prime, paint, repair and then catalog and store, awaiting reassembly. Everything had to be authentic. He would take
such detail as to dismantle toggle switches and have them
re-cadmium plated, rather than replace with a new one. He
After about 30 years, Frank retired from TWA and determined he would never be allowed to fly the plane, as he
did not have warbird tail-dragger experience and no one
would insure him.
So, he hired Jim Lane of Airpower Unlimited to put the
plane back together and fly it. Frank was out of money and
ideas. Thepl
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ol
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or
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$10,000 investment in 1972, Frank did all right! This was
s
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dt
obet
h
emon
e
yf
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woboy
’
sc
ol
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ee
du
c
ation. Well, his boys have long since graduated from coll
e
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ss
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e
!
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WW II. John Lane who did the last 8 years of work on the
plane, flew it to Oshkosh, where it became his 3rd Grand
Champion warbird, and his 2nd Corsair G.C.
Th
en
a
meoft
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epl
a
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er
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ma
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Ka
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,n
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photo at the top of this email is Frank and the real Kathleen
Arrufat at Oshkosh 2010.
(Continued on page 3)
Page 2
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Frank Arrufat (Continued from page 2)
I
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wster bomb rack, probably the first time a Corsair has flown
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Connor, John Lane, Frank Arrufat, and Bill Harrison (EAA)
doi
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Sept 28.
http://www.justnews.com/video/24796336/index.html
Opens in Adobe Flash Player
On The Table
Show-and-Tell from the Last Meeting
Pete Dawson: 1/87 scale Lilliput D11; Zillertalbahn.
Pete Dawson: 1/48 scale Eduard Fokker D.VII; scratch
built cockpit.
Edi
t
or
’
sNot
e
:Although I gave Hal credit for the submission, he got it as a forwarded e-mail.
Interesting Web Links
Submitted by Hal Marshman, Sr.
I especially teared up at the picture of the soldier dad
with his 3 children....the look on the dad's face and on the
face of his oldest child (son), said it all!!!!!!!
From the third graders of Tussing Elementary, Colonial
Heights, Virginia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5pfBUUZNbFM
Scott Jamieson: 1/72 scale Italeri UH-34D; too many
details to list.
Tony Kuralowicz: 1/700 scale Revell/Germany USS
San Juan; out of box.
VJ Day - Honolulu 1945 Now here is a tape that all
should view. This is fabulous restored amateur footage
from 1945 16mm
http://vimeo.com/5645171
From Vincent Farruggio
The Blue Angels were in town over the week end so I
t
h
ou
g
h
tI
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ds
h
ows
omepi
c
sIt
ook
.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cousinvinny/
sets/72157624708964585/
Computer version of Turkish A/L crash
http://www.tarpa.com/fdo-bcy/turkish2009.html
You airplane buffs may want to add this to your
favorites
http://www.aviastar.org/index2.html
Al LaFleche: 1/35 scale Dragon M-274 Mule; replaced
barrel on recoilless rifle with aluminum tubing.
(Continued on page 4)
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Page 3
On The Table (Continued from page 3)
Al LaFleche: 1/35 scale Bandai A.L.V.IN (Assault
Landing Vehicle INfantry); replaced kit Vulcan with
I
t
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t
;a
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dc
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pol
awi
t
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s
pr
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”on
hinges; added Dragon Maxon turret on Kirin risers in
be
d;r
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pl
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d“
Gu
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ms
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s
or
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chains; scratchbuilt interior; semi-digital camouflage
based on Berlin Brigade pattern.
Al LaFleche: 200mm La Meridiana Huron; replaced kit
feather with fly-tying feather; Bare Metal foil on gorget.
John S. Smith VIII: 1/72 scale Hasegawa P-40; rocket
tubes; fuel tank details.
Brad Wells: 1/98 scale Scientific Charles Morgan; solid
hull; easy build; not very accurate rigging-wise.
The Returning Modeler
Submitted by Bob Niemiec
Ed Potkai: 1/72 scale Revell PT-109;bu
i
l
ti
nt
h
e‘
80s
.
Ed Potkai: 1/350 scale DML USS Ohio.
Just when you thought it was safe, The Returning Modeler has returned. My first attempt will be an Italeri 1/72
scale Bf109F done up in North African Theatre markings.
I
t
’
sg
oi
n
gt
o be basically an out-of-box build, the exception
being the decal sheet.
I got the kit at the Club Table at our last show and the
kit lacked a decal sheet. Fortunately I have one that will
s
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et
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the basics and am not going to worry to much about addit
i
on
a
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ht
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in having a well-done basic model than a poorly done detailed one.
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have anything this meeting but I should have it ready for
January.
Ed Potkai: 1/25 scale MPC 1976 Dodge 100 Adventurer 4x4; MRC wheels; SATCO tires.
Ed Potkai: 1/292 scale Revell USS Burton Island; out
of box.
Al LaFleche –A.L.V.IN (Assault Landing Vehicle INfantry)
Page 4
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Show Me The Trophy
Updates from the Model Show Landscape
Baycon 7 November 2010
Name
Scott Jamieson
Model
Award
th
P-51
B-26
H-34C
Me-163
F-86D
Pfaltz D3
4
1st
1st
3rd
4th
2nd
Japanese Special Attack Craft
2nd
Kathy Knapp
Crew of the Travesty
1st
Ron Harrison
Bailien
1st
Bjorg
2nd
Huron de Lorette
4th
R.O.A.S.Ter
3rd
Creole Autumn
2nd
Red Headed Stranger
2nd
The Continentals
1st
Brian Knapp
Al LaFleche
Wings & Wheels
Outstanding Club Challenge
Long Island Figure Show 20 November 2010
Name
Award
Class
Model
Walt Damon
Gold
Open Flat
George Washington
Pat Deluhery
Silver
Master Painter
Card Game Flat
Herb Forgey
Silver
Master Painter
Sa
n
t
a
’
sRe
s
t
Don Johnson
Silver
Master Painter
42nd Highlander
Ron Harrison
Bronze
28 mm figures
Bjorg
Gold
Open Painters
Bailien
Bronze
Sci-fi/Horror
A.L.V.In
Bronze
1/35 Military Vehicles
M-274Mule
Gold
Open Painters
Huron de Lorette
SCAHMS Award
Display
Al LaFleche
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Page 5
Al LaFleche –Huron
Brad Wells –Charles Morgan
Ed Potkai –USS Ohio
Ed Potkai –USS Burton Island
Page 6
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Pete Dawson –Fokker D.VII scratch built cockpit
Tony Kuralowicz –USS San Juan
Wings & Wheels Modelers
Page 7