For a little while now I've been posting info and pics about this Brodak Zero project in the Building Techniques and Painting & Finishing sections here on Stunthangar. There are a
lot of modifications from the original Brodak kit and you can check out the aforementioned posts for all the meaty details about the model itself, please check them out.
What I haven't let on until now is the story of how and why I took on the project. Here goes...
I had been curious for some time, and sort of had the bug to build the Brodak Zero kit anyway. I had a lot of ideas in my head for modifications that I wanted to try out on it. I also knew that fellow Minneapolis Piston Popper, Jeff Welliver, had a kit on his shelf that he always talked about building it to replace the one he had and liked so well years ago. I'd never done so before, but I volunteered that if he handed me the kit, engine, and tank that he wanted on it, I would build it for him. "The Deal" I explained to him was that I would build and finish it all the way up to the point of being ready to start shooting color on it, and then hand it back to him to finish at that stage, no charge. He took me up on the offer. What I
didn't tell him was that all along I actually planned to
completely finish it, ready to hook up lines and fly, before I gave it back. That would be the suprise, I thought.
This was all back in the beginning of May 2010, and I started work on it then. As the build progressed, I had fun Emailing Jeff "Top Secret" spy and status reports with covert photos from "MitsuWilley Aeroworks" and we'd joke back and forth with the Japanese connotations as the Zero evolved.
Then, about the last week of July or so, Jeff went in to get some sore ribs checked out and after the CAT scan was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. This came as a complete shock. Early on the prognosis was good, but somehow I had a real bad feeling as soon as I had heard about it. Just one of those "vibes" you get. As late as mid October they were stepping up procedures, but were still calling it treatable. Maybe there was more to the story, but that's what Jeff was telling all of us flying buddies. Either way it doesn't really matter I guess, it all happened very quickly. Jeff Welliver passed away on November 3rd 2010.
At that time I had about 85% of the construction done on the Zero, but I was still a ways away from even beginning the finishing work. Jeff never did see the model at any stage in person, only through the "spy" photos.
As of last night except for a couple tiny details, I have the Zero completely done and ready to fly. From the very beginning I had intended to put Jeff's AMA number on the right wing since I knew he would compete with the airplane. After November 3rd 2010 I came up with another detail that seemed appropriate to add to that detail on the wing. You will notice it in the photos below.
Gonna miss you at the field Jeff, Sionara
Topic: Jeff's Brodak Zero is finished, here's The Rest of The Story (Read 5952 times)