Years ago.....around 1966-67?...or so....
It was LUCKY DAY when I first had the opportunity to met the amazing Harley Bracken of the old Boeing "Historical Service" at a model contest in Tacoma Wa.
I think it was Benny Madsen who introduced me to this genius who's love and passion for detailed Display models led the pathway for my second career at the Boeing Company.
During those years, many of my fellow stunt model addicts such as Joe Dill, Gary Letsinger, Bob Parker also help "OPEN THE DOORS TO THE WIND TUNNEL" where I had the pleasure of just being around model builders with skills and talent that I could only begin to understand or have hopes of becoming a better model builder. Talk about a humbling experience...but at the same time...at long last have "a job" that I loved to get up out of bed before the sun came up...and be at the bench at 6:AM!
THANK GOD! Since being a night person...and an outside travelin' wholesale photofinishing saleman for camera shops and drug stores throughout Ore. & Wa. before joining the Boeing Wind tunnel model team...the thought of GETTIN' OUTTA THE SACK BEFORE 8:30 IN THE MORNING WAS TOTALLY NOT MY NATURE.
TO MY TOTAL AMAZEMENT...Harley BRACKEN invited this old SHULTZIE...for a tour of the amazing archives that was hidden away in the old 2-63 bldg. at Plant 2 in Seattle.
Not only did he give me some pretty amazing photos to take home with me....my real prize was A FULL SIZE "BLACK PRINT DISPLAY MODEL 80-A that he and the amazing R. PARKS had produced in Feb. of 1965.
WOW! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS...I FOUND THIS OLD GIFT PLAN, yesterday in an old box of stunt model plans...Although I was more than thrilled, I was also quite alarmed to see how yellowed and degraded this once pristene plan has become.
What a treasure however for ANY DISPLAY MODEL BUILDER...who is seeking the ultimate model for a building project. This has got to be a REEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAL CHALLENGE.
THE MODEL 80 SPECS. ARE: Fuslage length is around 28 inches or so...but the plan is 14 feet in full length by 36.
Check out these attachments for a good daily surf.
first one is a scan of the 80's Parker-Bracken beauty (photos to follow after processing)