My Favorite Hobby Shop

[Steve Scott]

I posted this on the other site a year or so ago but here 'tis again.  Venue is Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines circa 1966 or so.  I was in junior hi and my stateside uncle shipped me a Ringmaster kit with McCoy 35 redhead.  Built it and successfully flew it after training on a Cox PT-19.  I found if you can fly a ½A in the wind you can fly any 35 ship.

This shop was equipped with a building area in the rear - sort of like a large screened-in porch.  It was for the airmen who lived in BAQs who couldn't build in their rooms.  It was staffed with a fulltime filipino modeler who was an expert craftsman.  The shop stocked kits, engines (Enya 35s for $8???), covering (silkspan and silk), dope, props, fuel and accessories.  I watched a guy put a Hemstrought PT-19 through it's paces with it's Fox 35 breaking perfectly.  This guy then laid on his back and continued to fly pattern maneuvers.  Chuck Yeager was stationed there at the time and I attended school with his daughters - both who were older than me.  And no one complained about noise from airplanes, full scale or models.

[Glen Wearden]

I loved the smell of those old hobby shops.  The Air Force had a good one in, believe it or not, Vietnam, at Phu Bai.  Glen

[Doug Moon]

the cars in that photo are AWESOME!  I cant imagine driving around with all those kinds of cars all over the place!

[john e. holliday]

The one an only one for me was "Charley's Hobby Shop" in KCK at 18th and Chelsea.  If it was to be had he would order it for you.  Also depended on the supplier in KCMo as to if he could get it or not.  We had first "Big Irons" in KC for combat.  Needless to  say he is not there any more as some young man wanted money, but, did not want to work for it.  I seen Charley give a guy a couple of dollars just for sweeping the walk in front of the store.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Michael Brooks]

I have to agree that "Charlie's Hobby Shop" was probably my all time favorite. Loved the smells. Hobby shops just aren't like that anymore. I'm not even sure the building is there now.  I know I missed it a lot when we moved to Springdale, AR and the nearest hobby shop was in Tulsa. Thank goodness for Sig mail order in those days! Dad and I used to also frequent a hobby shop in Quindaro (sp? Spell check's no help.) but I never liked it nearly as much as Charlie's. Seems like it was run by a guy named Byron but, after almost 40 yrs., I could easily be wrong.

[Paul Smith]

There was a nice GI hobby shop within Camp Gaylor in Saigon.  I learned to process both B&W photos and coloutr slides there.

Among other things, they had model airplanes.  I completed a Dumas Corsair that had been abandoned by one of my predecesssors.  Flew it in both South Vietnam and Thailand, then repatrioited to the US and Canada.

I, in turn, abandoned an original 54" I-beam wing to the next owners of the base.

[john e. holliday]

I have to agree that "Charlie's Hobby Shop" was probably my all time favorite. Loved the smells. Hobby shops just aren't like that anymore. I'm not even sure the building is there now.  I know I missed it a lot when we moved to Springdale, AR and the nearest hobby shop was in Tulsa. Thank goodness for Sig mail order in those days! Dad and I used to also frequent a hobby shop in Quindaro (sp? Spell check's no help.) but I never liked it nearly as much as Charlie's. Seems like it was run by a guy named Byron but, after almost 40 yrs., I could easily be wrong.

Michael, it seems I should know you then.  Yes it was Byron Meriwether that had the small shop on Quindaro.  You would not want to be anywhere around the area now even in daylight.  Byron passed away a couple of years ago and I helped Wayne get rid of the control line stuff.  He was 91 and still sharp as a tack.  I think medication did him in after my last visit with him.  By the way did you visit him whem he moved up on Central Ave and had the slot car track?  Later,  DOC Holliday

[Michael Brooks]

Doc, I don't know if we ever met in KC. I started in the late '60s. Dad and I usually flew on one of the baseball diamonds behind White Church Elementary in Bethel. Once in awhile we'd flew on the football field at Arrowhead Jr. High. We moved when Dad took a job in Springdale, Ar. in the fall of 1969.

Now that I think about it, however, I may have met you at a Gluedobbers contest a few years ago. Did you ever fly an orange Sheeks Beech Staggerwing?

Mike

[john e. holliday]

That was me.  The Staggerwing is still in Tulsa as I gave it to Elwyn Aud.  May build anothere one if the mood hits me.  See ya later and have fun,  DOC Holliday