Got my first Comet rubber job around 1948 and never stopped until flying full scale got in the way in 1971.  During those years I ended up flying c/l with a true passion.  Flew more than I studied while in aviation electronics school in Navy Memphis but still passed, then a lull while in Quonset Point, RI.
That lull lasted from 1961 until 1964 and then it was full passion building again.

Flew a lot of local combat, some stunt, and continued until that 1971 time when a Tri-Pacer wanted a new owner and I took it on.
The lull in c/l lasted way longer because somehow I ended up getting my commercial, then the CFI, then started a flight school, then bought a Piper Pawnee and flew that as a business for two years.
Lost my medical in 1978 and c/l re entered my life not long after.
 
Started stunt again in 1989 and never looked back until my wife got cancer in 2013 and I could not take the time from caring for her to fly.  During those next three years the fire went out and I have "retired" from modeling altogether.  At 84 years of life and with a thriving custom guitar shop I'm getting all the building time I want, but with two unflown c/l stunters hanging from the big shop ceiling, the love never is far away.

Modeling has been such a beneficial part of my life that I will never get 100% away from it!  I wouldn't trade my c/l time for any other experience in the world!

Yes model plane keep us going.   At least you have something to keep you going.  Is the wife okay or did I miss something?

Yes Doc, the wife is more than okay because she is in Heaven with Jesus.  I lost her in July of 2015 after 51 years of wonderful wedded bliss. Thanks for asking.
I have remarried since and God is still blessing my life here on earth as I look toward my next step to home.