Re: MAINLINE MODELER a different point
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Greg Martin
Nelson and Schuyler,
Just to remind Schuyler the charter issue was the beginning of Bob Zenk's
SP PA article where by he took a piece of Chicken Poop and created a lovely
Chicken Soup! The work stands up to anyone's work even today BECAUSE Athearn's
nose is much closer than other offerings in styrene.
Scratch building was a passion of Bob's and I can understand the passion as
my own brother was of the same clan, he felt that a boxcar was just, in the
smallest is common denominator, just that, a box. If you recall my brother
Ed Martin scratch built not one but three "Q" stock cars and presented one. Bob
was not to be out done and re-created the same car in a different technique.
My brother liked the "lark" and would jump scale and modeling O Scale
often or Proto 48 and has several projects in that scale.
I believe that Bob's passion for styrene scratch building came
directly from his relationship with the late Al Armitage, a long time styrene
scratch builder, a tool and die man for Revell and draftsman, left handed to
boot. (Right in Schuyler's league of champions) Those that know how to tell will
find it in his drawings. Bob tried desperately to get Al to model a project for
Mainline, but Al told him that he was just not interested at his age, and
I hear the same from Bob now... I hope I can be like Richard Hendrickson and
continue to model until I have to take the mail train home...
Dave Nelson, I am not sure how far back you go with your collection of
Mainline, perhaps not as far, but the further you travel the more you
engage. The articles that most impressed me were the articles that Mont
Switzer would present, he became a mentor to both my brother and myself, truly
inspiring... He modeled at "my level", attainable excellence...
Let us not forget the exquisite articles presented by Bob Chapman,
his mastery of pen, his accomplished eye for photography and
his knowledge through research of subject and his close calculation
all lent itself to a very exciting article even if you hated the C&O or
L&N or the PRR. Truly amazing another comrade and mentor, these you could
truly challenge yourself with.
The volumes of prototype articles that found their way into the pages are
outstanding, like Martin Lofton's article on the PRR F30a and the other works
presented by countless authors...
To focus on Bob and not look into the heart of Mainline is a pity.
Again, let me remind you all that in Bob's own words he believed that
Mainline made this fellowship smaller and let me remind you that in my
opinion some may say we may be small but we are mighty...
Greg Martin
Eventually all things merge into one and a river runs through
it. Norman Maclean In a message Schuyler Larrabee writes:
It didn't start that way, Dave. Bob Zenk's articles in the first few
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