I told you I’d be celebrating National Aviation Day. And all this weekend.

We loaded our table at the Wings Over Camarillo Airshow today. And I was knee deep in airplanes. And not just any airplanes. I was surrounded by magic.

More tomorrow. Come see us there.

https://wingsovercamarillo.com/

(Please click on the thumbnails to view the full sized images)

These are interesting times. The studio is slow. No orders and this is typical for August. However the world is going slowly mad. People are nervous and confused. I won’t go into the details as to why. We don’t do that here. But anyone paying attention to what’s going on in our world will clearly understand.

So I have been doing some August cleaning that has been much needed. Making plans for a new mask sculpture and getting ready for the airshow this weekend at Camarillo Airport. 

https://wingsovercamarillo.com/

It’s a wonderful airport (aren’t they all if you love aviation) only 18 minutes from my home. Seems it’s calling to me slowly. I have been attending Civil Air Patrol meetings in preparation for my membership in CAP. I’ll be heading up their Cadet Rocketry program and assisting them on missions. That means going up in their Cessna 182 which I look forward to.

So I’m prepping rockets to put on display, getting out our launch equipment, making up flyers and signs for our table.

I also finished the Super Orbiter Transport in time for the show. I can’t wait to launch this rocket.

It looks like we may have our launch site at long last in Simi Valley. I’ll know more this weekend. 

In addition to all that I’m prepping a work area upstairs to build my Luscombe 8E Silvaire. I’m drooling to get this started. The upstairs got pretty messy and after an hour of cleaning I have plenty of workspace for the project(s). I have several planes to build this year.

I still have a painting to finish and more to start this year too. Even when there are no orders there’s plenty to do at SNG studio. Because in our philosophy of things it’s not possible for one to ever in this life to be bored. 

  In these trying times I find it of great comfort seeing Artemis sitting on the pad about to go on its journey back to the Moon August 29th 2022. All our hopes and dreams.  

Back home today from over a week in Visita staying in the motorhome. Busy week at SNG Studio and for me personally. 

Things are moving at long last with our quest to find a Rocket Launch site. I think we have found one. 

I have my first meeting with the Civil Air Patrol this Tuesday at Camarillo airport.

Thursday I’m going to Point Mugu Naval Air Station by invitation on base to see maneuvers.

This weekend is the Wings Over Camarillo air show we were invited to. We will have a table there to meet the public in the STEM Pavillion. https://wingsovercamarillo.com/

I’ll finish up this Super Orbital Transport for the airshow this week. Gloss white goes on today and decals.

I have a new plane to start. A Luscombe 8e Silvaire. 53 inch span. Beautiful kit and plane.

 

I’ll also be building this lovely Sebring MG bridge from https://www.racetrackscenics.com/#/ for my slot car track.

Next week I’ll start the new mask of the Ray Harryhausen 7th Voyage of Sinbad Cyclops!

Great things ahead!

Great to be back.

Just to let you all know I’m still here but entertaining Mary’s grandchildren until this Sunday. Monday we are back online and filling your orders for masks, props, and other items. If you order now they will be made next week.

We will also be at the Camarillo Airshow next weekend. https://wingsovercamarillo.com/ We were invited by the airshow and given a table for our rocketry and model airplane group.

It’s open to the public. Come visit us and enjoy the show.

I’m currently building this Estes Super Orbital Transport for our table in hopes of attacking young people to our section. We will be in the STEM Pavilion.

Life is an amazing thing. It really is. Since I was a small child and I saw my first airplane in the sky I wanted to fly. I flew rubber powered airplanes and made rockets. I watched every space launch and movie from “Strategic Air Command” to the Disneys “Man in Space”. To quote Pink floyd I could never “escape its irresistible grasp”.

I didn’t have the notice from my parents. They didn’t kindle my interest or take it seriously. That was a shame. But I never stopped trying. I’d make rockets out of cardboard tubes and use C02 to launch them. I would do whatever I could to get a little piece of me up into that sky.

I grew up. I went to Hollywood and had a wonderful career but during that time I had a building table where I built model airplanes and flew my socks off. I never stopped looking up. Today I’m still doing it and will until I drop. I don’t think any of us will ever know why the sky calls us like it does. But it’s in your soul. Once an aviator always an aviator.

I have regretted never getting a private pilot’s license, a PPL. I had many opportunities and the money to do this in my career. But Hollywood was demanding and time was always hard to find.

So here I am 70 years old. Still looking up at the planes flying out of Oxnard airport, Camerillo, and point Mugu. Wishing I could be up there.

Yesterday I received an email from the local Civil Air Patrol Squadron 61 stationed at Camarillo Airport. One of my favorites. They asked me if I could join them to assist with their cadet rocketry program and model flight. I said yes. Camarillo airport is 15 minutes from my house.

Ricardo of the Squadron called me and we had a very long talk about all this and airplanes. He and his wife both work in military aviation. Ricardo is like all of us. A died in the wool aviation wing nut with a solid passion for all things that fly.

He encouraged me to join the Civil Air Patrol. I didn’t know this could be done by someone like me but he assured me it could. He also told me I could go on missions in their aircraft. Also, using Microsoft Flight sim 2020 I could get formal training in learning how to converse with the ATC. They have software that plugs in and allows you to talk with a virtual ATC with real air traffic controllers and virtual air traffic. 

What this all may lead to is flying with them. Getting some stick time and maybe a PPL at long last. If nothing else I’ll get to wear a flight suit and get up there. Up there where I have been looking since I was 3 years old. To say I’m excited is an understatement.

I have my first meeting with the Squadron August 9th.

The moral to this story is never, never give up. And keep that inner child alive and well. And be ready. There are always great things ahead.

Quoted from the Civil Air Patrol page:

Squadron 61 contributes to the Civil Air Patrol’s mission as America’s premier public service organization for carrying out emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide. As the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP’s vigilant citizen volunteers, including the members of Squadron 61  are there to search for and find the lost, provide comfort in times of disaster and work to keep the homeland safe. The Squadron is part of a compliment of 60,000 members who selflessly devote their time, energy and expertise toward the well-being of their communities, while also promoting aviation and related fields through aerospace education and helping shape future leaders through CAP’s cadet program.

“Supporting America’s communities with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development, and promotion of air, space and cyber power.”

I want to thank everyone that has been so kind as to contribute and donate to helping us with the making of our next film.

I love short films. To me they are a true art in film like no other. Unlike making feature films you may not have a huge budget and crew but you do have absolute freedom as an artist.

Thank you!

https://igg.me/at/a-conversation-with-my-father/x/18791283#/

We just raised our prices for the first time in 9 years. The cost of shipping has gone so much we had no choice. We raised everything by 15 percent. 5 percent lower than the national average.

These are worse than hard times and I hope you’ll understand. The price of rubber, plaster, and resin is all up.

I’m enjoying my time off with the grandkids. Mary and I took them to the harbor that’s within walking distance of our home. Rosie and I watched the seals. This one male seal has the right idea about how to enjoy life. He was just laying on his back in the water peacefully floating and enjoying.

I also started back on my ME P. 1101 RC jet. Installing the landing gear is a challenge to say the least. The actual WW2 German jet had the landing gear located in this rather difficult location but I worked it out and now I can do the other main gear.

Nose wheel will be sticking up into the duct but I’ll vacuum form an aerodynamic blister for it to smooth the airflow. 

This is a kit I made back in 2003. One of the first electric composite RC jets back in the day. I’m building this one with all new modern equipment. The old Wemotec unit is just for placement. I have a new E-flite motor and fan inbound. This will run on 4s.

It’s officially Grandchildren for the next two weeks. I will try to work between the lines over the next two weeks but it will be sketchy. 

I did get to my Sunday flying yesterday and flew the little BF-109 with its new landing gear. It flew so well I flew it several times. Nice and smooth like a larger plane. I am very pleased. It was a great day of flying. All 3 planes flew well for many flights.

  I’ve started a new build while I wait for my Luscombe Silvaire kit to arrive. This is what the plane will look like when built. 52 inch span with opening doors and full cockpit interior. I plan to install lights too.  

This little WW2 Zero has a 17 inch span. It’s an amazing kit built just like a large kit in miniature. It has ailerons, rudder, throttle and elevator and can be flown indoors and outdoors on calm days. I’ve had this for a few years and its small size makes it ideal for a build at home.

All orders are fininshed and the Seemore will be shipped today.

We have our first production meeting at the end of August. In the meantime the actors are reading the script. Mary and I are making plans and sharing ideas. Dr. Chris Landon is a producer on the film and we are using his location to shoot the film both interior and exterior.

More about this film after our first production meeting at the end of August.