E St. Kruiser50

On the 9th of Nov. at a Denny's Restaurant, in Clackamas Oregon, there will be a model contest, run by one of the SABA members. AT THE REQUEST OF BOB'S WIFE JAN, much of Bob's finished models and partially finished models, and just a ton of parts, will be put up for sale there. There will probably be at least 3 tables full of his things. You can buy one part, or if the price offered is right, the whole collection, but you will have to come to the location. FYI - This is not the dis-mantling of a very respected and loved member of our modeling communities life-long collection and passion. Jan, his widow, wants to give people who knew him, or knew of him, the chance to share in, and enjoy, owning a piece of modeling history, and have his bits and pieces live on in others projects, and be able to talk about it and be proud of it. Very simple!! All the best - Dave

This is a very cool thread. I enjoyed reading all the responses here For me , same as a lot of you guy's, never really quit, but did slow down at times for all the same reasons most of you guy's did. Grew up in SoCal. Started building around 1949 or '50 on military, but when I saw my first 1 to 1 custom, that was it for me. Model cars only from then on. Most model car stuff then was 1/32 scale plastic or wood kits. Carve your own. By my teens, the 25th scale models were coming into existance, and I was doing customs, and the hobby shop owner, John Brunson, later to be the one who started and owned Lancer Co. of slot racing fame, used to take us guys to L.A. to enter the major contests there. Had my stuff in mags pretty regularly, including the '62 Winternationals. Met George Barris at the L.A. sports Arena, and was presented awards by him several times. In my mid teens, two older guy's that I knew, who were big time car guy's and racers, took me under their wing, and took me to car shows and the drags pretty regularly for years, and because of them really helped shape the rest of my life. Got into street rods and customs because of them. Never forgot 'um. Wayne Alexander and John McKnown. After high school and college, my buddies and I continued with street rods and motorcycles, and of coarse - models. John Brunson had just started Lancer Co. and went to work for him as a pattern maker after college. What a blast I was going to design skyscrapers, but one visit to Lancer and I was Toast - LOL One last contest after I got married, before I moved to Oregon, and of all things it was judged by non other than Bob Paeth, but we didn't meet. Fast forward to the mid 80's, and I meet Jairus Watson, and he invites me to a SABA meeting, and their I meet Bob Paeth, and I just happened to take the model he judged and won best in show with, and he went crazy. Very fun night . Fast forward again after raising 5 kids, retired, and single and still building, but realize I can do this now as much as I want, and to what ever level I want. For a wonderful hobby, this is the best time in my life. Great friends, I belong to two model clubs, and I found eBay and love it, and the mags are just the greatest, and these forums are amazing. To me this is probably the all time best in model building history. Been building 58 years now, and really never had this much fun until now, thanks to all of you guy's who make up this hobby. The Treehugger

You do extremely nice work I checked out your website, and I think you should do a post on your scratch-built "KIDZILLA" pedal car. That is just so cool

Last night was our monthly SABA model club meeting, of which Bob Paeth was a member and founder. It was a great evening of memories, wonderful stories and shared tears. His wife Jan was there with her daughter Wendy and son-in-law Jack. And they shared stories of wonderful personal family moments. The whole evening was mostly about celebrating Bob's life, as will be the memorial on Nov. 2nd. The time is yet to be announced. What's so cool is that Bob left so much for all of us to laugh about, remember, and to celebrate. Thanks BOB

Hey Sulley I like the Merc. Love the POIPLE. Great color, stance, and everything man. Fantastic job - Dave

Me too George Tijuana Taxi also. And the 2 Munsters kits, the Stogie and, and, and - Well you know . I feel like a kid in a candy store

Sorry George I already got 5 kids and a dog,and they'all get most of ma stuff . 'Sides, I think yo wif mighten miss ya just a tad, an I gots' no rume fo her here seppin mebbe closern youd like - LOL Even the cat's gott hisn favor ite piced out See whats Ima meanin Gorge?

Hi guy's I built this a few month's ago on "The Workbench" thread, but never posted it here as finished, after adding a few final things. I detailed the body and top with a lot of detail painting, detail work on the interior , the Chevy engine, and especially on the convert top, and the under-carriage, and late model drive-line. Lot's of taping over and over to get the trim right on the top. The snaps were 27 mini straight pins, and more on the body for side windows and various bolts. I tried to keep the body pretty much bone stock in appearance, but as a street rodder, couldnt resist the wheels/ tires set up. I built it as I'd drive um'. That's how I approach most of my stuff. This is a beautiful real car and always loved the stock colors, so these are close.

Gotta luv' ya George . You're right though, these new kit's are sooooo cooool, Thet're just screeeemin' ta be bilt. I like the way you look at life my friend, you need to move here to Oregon and I'll teach ya to "HUG TREE'S. THEY REALLY DO HUG BACK - HONEST - LOL

Hi all Over the years, a lot of them, and because of my style of building, I limited myself to the type of kits I bought and worked on, probably like most of us. Then for some reason while recovering from hernia surgery recently, and being pretty limited for a while on activies, except EBAY - hee hee , I discovered that my tastes were broadening, and the Tom Daniel, Roth and Barris stuff started to look real appealing. In fact, over about 6 weeks I bought some of their older stuff and now with the Tiquana Taxi, Rommel's Rod, the Bathtub buggy and a few other must have's, that I will probably never have time to build, but will hopefully own at least two each, I will at least have the joy of opening them up periodically and feeling the "Goose Bumps" of a kind that only comes from opening a treasured kit. Up until now I wanted to build everything I have, to many though, so that'll never happen. But just the idea of getting to own some of these re-issues, including the munsters stuff is just way too cool to pass up. Build um' all? Who knows?? But to just to have them - my happy feet are dancin'

All this is tooooo good to be true. My happy feet are dancin'

So many wonderful people here, who knew Bob, have said so much about this humble giant of a man. For me, he was a friend, and I'd like to add a few words of praise. This last year Bob was there for me when I was struggling with post traumatic stress from childhood issues. I decided to step away from our club, SABA, for a year,and try to deal with life. I told Bob about it and he said "well that's fine, but your not stepping away from me. What can I do to help?", and indeed he was there for me often giving fatherly advise and being his jovial self at the same time. Something we all loved about him. Everything he said made so much sense. He was always such a calm easy going person, that never seemed concerned about tomorrow or his own well being. he just figured that things would eventually take care of themselves. Something hard for someone like me to comprehend, who has always been a Type "A", driven, emotional, intense, and worried about everything. An yet over time I started healing because of his caring advise, and laughter, and his wonderful joy of living. You couldn't be around Bob without changing for the better. Over this last year, the gift I received from Bob was learning to slow down, love people much more, give everyone the benefit of doubt we all deserve, laugh a whole lot more, and don't take life or others so seriously, and do what you can to make others happier. For me, that's a lifetime of learning - LOL He became a role model, that helped me enjoy and appreciate life like I never had before. And he left me with the desire to be a better person because of the influance I saw him have on others and the happiness he so easily brought into other peoples lives. For whatever time I have left, the legacy he left behind for me, will be to try to live up to the standards he lived, that challange my life, to be kinder, and more like him. Rest in Peace my friend - God Bless

New password - Same George Gotta love it.

Thank you deeply for your service and your sacrifice. I'm glad that model building is filling a special need in your life. We're all grateful to you. God Bless you - Dave

Beautiful job . Don't see Indy cars here that often. Thanks for sharing. I hope to see more Indy cars here in the future, as it's a nice change of pace.

I just finished reading all these posts, and laughed so hard at some, I had to wait to comment. Been 20 in my heart for a long time, even though I've been buildin' for 58 years. My dad got me started when he'd go to the hobby shop for H.O. stuff. I started with military, but soon discovered cars, as I grew up in SoCal, and that was the end of me. I was hooked for the rest of my life - model cars and real cars. Raised both my boys building model cars too. Sure was fun A grown man playing with toyz - YOU BET!! Keeps all those creative juices flowin'. Sometimes I get so excited about a new idea or model, I lay there at night and can't go to sleep - just like when I was a little kid, with my flashlight and new model under the covers, hopin' my dad wouldn't catch me - LOL Hope I got about another 30 years to go, cuz I got about 500 kits yet to build - EEEHAH

Ya Harry - I was havin' withdrawls. Couldn't hug a tree or even get near one. I'm O.K. now. Hugged me a coupla' good one's

Hey Wayne How are ya my friend? Thanks for posting the pictures. I made a glossy copy of the 2nd one with me next to Bob and him getting his KLINGON award at the last GSL. That year he and I drove home together, like you and he did a time or two before. I went to the hospital to see him early this morning. He woke up and smiled and waved, but his time is short. The nurse said if he stayed stable, he may be able to go home today and be with his family. A huge loss to the hobby, but a wonderful friend to all. Your truely one of the GREATS BOB. We love you and we'll miss you-

Hey George Good to hear from ya . Hope all is good with you and yours. Never had surgery before, so this was a new experience. Thought I'd be up and off to the races in a couple of weeks - WRONG . But I was back driving in less than a week - OUCH !! Gettin' up in my 4x was a joke - shouda' seen me . Oh well. Doin great now. Got some fun projects to get back on and finish, as well as my new TOYZ. Thanks for sayin' hi - Dave

Man, I feel for ya. I had an inguinal hernia fixed back in February of '02. It actually was the reason I got back into the hobby as an adult as I had some time off from work to recover and not a whole lot to do. Glad to hear you've recovered well.

Hi all Got stupid some time ago moving machinery around. Had to go in and get some plastic mesh put in so my guts didn't fall out LOL Anyhow, feelin' great and got a few toys comin' in the mail from eBay, so I'm like TACO BELL - GOOD TO GO

Sad news for all of us, and a shock when Jan called me. Bob and I have been friends for years, and belong to the same club. We only live a few miles apart, and just had breakfast together a week ago. What a joy to have known him all this time. I am going to the hospital in the morning to say good bye to my friend.

Hey Zed Looks beautiful. I love everything. Guess that's why I "Sorta Cloned" your idea . Got all the trim on mine cut loose and chromed. Now ready to get back on the body work. The hood get's opened and there'll be a full engine and chassis. Thanks for approving of several of us using your "original design". Again very beautiful and love the stock version to see the original and compare the two. VERY COOL All the best - dave

RETIRED - AND LOVIN' IT I'm enjoying the freedom that retirement brings. Alot of new things I want to do, and some I am already doing. I'm still very young and healthy. Now I'm not tied to a committment or routine. I've always had a passion for art and restoring things like cars, antique furniture, and restoring very old two story houses with character and personality. My artistic passion I now express in my model building. So much fun. In restoring, now I enjoy working with the poor and homeless, helping restore their lives, collecting food, clothing, bedding and mentoring at a local men's mission, where their goal there is to restore these men to wholeness again and to healthy self suffeciency. I belong to a couple of model clubs and we just had our summer b-b-q. Lot's of great food and friends. I read quite a bit at times - mostly mens books on self-improvement and self-awareness. I have really good friends I love to spend time with and eat good food YUM , tell lies and laugh a lot. They're great! - Other days my hobby is just being lazy - LOL I just bought some pattern wood and fiberglass resin and matt, to totally build a model from "The real scratch" like when I was a pattern maker - in my other life LOL. My big next non-model goal to do in the next couple of years, is to go to Ireland on vacation for a month. I'm part Irish.

Harry - I think you missed your calling :lol: My sides hurt so bad from laughing