So after three years of unemployment and or massive under-employment and having to sell 99% of what was a pretty cool collection I was getting very tired and discouraged.
I have actually landed a great full time teaching job so my struggles are finally over and I can begin re-building my collection.
Anywho a few months back things were looking very bleak. I had to list the last of my props and I was down to about 6 high end pieces from over 100 originally.
There was no good job prospects and things were looking bleak.
Some time ago I had seen an amazing JSI F-14A Tomcat Jolly Rogers 1/18 Scale Model in Guy's collection show off thread.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=234423
I want to say, before I go any further, I want to share this as a story of kindness in a very bad time and a truly appreciated gesture. Please don't bother Guy to give you stuff. He is an incredibly kind and generous person and I will ask that no one try to take advantage of him. I know 99% of members here never would because you guys are awesome.
Okay so I had no idea these massive Tomcat models even existed and it immediately went on my list.
As a child I dreamed of flying the F-14. It is my favorite non fiction jet and really the only non fiction jet I love. On a trip to Washington D.C. in the 8th grade I got to go to the air and space museum. I had limited time and had to run like crazy to see everything while my classmates played on the huge escalator. It was one of the best experiences of my life and it's where I picked this up.
Of the F-14 squadrons the Jolly Roger is my favorite paint job.
I also had this book growing up that I wore out reading as well.
Sadly I knew from the start my dream would not likely happen as my eyes were never going to make it to adulthood at 20/20. Some years later I moved on and even avoided Top Gun for years as I had moved on and did not want to be interested in flying jets again.
My love for the F-14 actually started with the best F-14 and Air Craft Carrier movie ever,...The Final Countdown.
So, at some point I made a comment to Guy that I have a dream to have a JSI F-14A Tomcat Model in my collection on a shelf under a poster of The Final Countdown next to a poster of Firefox with a huge model of that jet on a shelf under it. It just so happens someone here is making a massive and incredible Firefox model which is my favorite fictional jet.
Guy, along with others know of my employment and financial struggles and so,...without any reason,..not knowing me and with nothing to gain but a thank you he gave it to me.:confused :love
He said there were a few minor repairs needed on it but he would like to send it my way. I said that is great and we can settle on a price but it would take me a while to save the funds.
He said, "Who said anything about money."
He insisted on giving it to me. Normally I would not except such a gift but at the end of a couple very long years of losing most of my possessions I accepted. I tried to convince him he could get good money for it even with the repairs but he said he had no interest in selling it but just wanted to give it to me. This man is going through his own struggles which makes it even nicer. I have not always been treated wonderfully by the world and although the model itself is an incredible gift the gesture means more than he will ever know. I can't say that I remember a time when someone, outside of my family, did anything so kind.
The crazy man would not even let me pay for shipping nor pay him for the money he spent having it professionally boxed up.
An incredible gift from a very unique person.
These pics do not even begin to do this massive 42" thing justice.
Thank you Guy.
Other than gifts from God, ya know wife, kids, etc
It is the kindest gift I have ever received and a truly appreciated gesture.
Tom
I have actually landed a great full time teaching job so my struggles are finally over and I can begin re-building my collection.
Anywho a few months back things were looking very bleak. I had to list the last of my props and I was down to about 6 high end pieces from over 100 originally.
There was no good job prospects and things were looking bleak.
Some time ago I had seen an amazing JSI F-14A Tomcat Jolly Rogers 1/18 Scale Model in Guy's collection show off thread.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=234423
I want to say, before I go any further, I want to share this as a story of kindness in a very bad time and a truly appreciated gesture. Please don't bother Guy to give you stuff. He is an incredibly kind and generous person and I will ask that no one try to take advantage of him. I know 99% of members here never would because you guys are awesome.
Okay so I had no idea these massive Tomcat models even existed and it immediately went on my list.
As a child I dreamed of flying the F-14. It is my favorite non fiction jet and really the only non fiction jet I love. On a trip to Washington D.C. in the 8th grade I got to go to the air and space museum. I had limited time and had to run like crazy to see everything while my classmates played on the huge escalator. It was one of the best experiences of my life and it's where I picked this up.
Of the F-14 squadrons the Jolly Roger is my favorite paint job.
I also had this book growing up that I wore out reading as well.
Sadly I knew from the start my dream would not likely happen as my eyes were never going to make it to adulthood at 20/20. Some years later I moved on and even avoided Top Gun for years as I had moved on and did not want to be interested in flying jets again.
My love for the F-14 actually started with the best F-14 and Air Craft Carrier movie ever,...The Final Countdown.
So, at some point I made a comment to Guy that I have a dream to have a JSI F-14A Tomcat Model in my collection on a shelf under a poster of The Final Countdown next to a poster of Firefox with a huge model of that jet on a shelf under it. It just so happens someone here is making a massive and incredible Firefox model which is my favorite fictional jet.
Guy, along with others know of my employment and financial struggles and so,...without any reason,..not knowing me and with nothing to gain but a thank you he gave it to me.:confused :love
He said there were a few minor repairs needed on it but he would like to send it my way. I said that is great and we can settle on a price but it would take me a while to save the funds.
He said, "Who said anything about money."
He insisted on giving it to me. Normally I would not except such a gift but at the end of a couple very long years of losing most of my possessions I accepted. I tried to convince him he could get good money for it even with the repairs but he said he had no interest in selling it but just wanted to give it to me. This man is going through his own struggles which makes it even nicer. I have not always been treated wonderfully by the world and although the model itself is an incredible gift the gesture means more than he will ever know. I can't say that I remember a time when someone, outside of my family, did anything so kind.
The crazy man would not even let me pay for shipping nor pay him for the money he spent having it professionally boxed up.
An incredible gift from a very unique person.
These pics do not even begin to do this massive 42" thing justice.
Thank you Guy.
Other than gifts from God, ya know wife, kids, etc
It is the kindest gift I have ever received and a truly appreciated gesture.
Tom
whenever I see jets like that though I think "macross!" ;p
