RIP John Alcorn
Noted scratchbuilt modeler John Alcorn died this past Sunday of complications of Alzheimers and congestive heart failure.
I first met John 45 years ago, when he walked into a meeting of Golden Gate IPMS in Berkeley, California, at the behest of his good friend and co-worker down at Stanford Research Institute, the great George Lee. He brought in a 1/32 Bf-109E scatchbuilt in wood that looked like it was injection plastic.
Over the next couple of years, he brought in bits and pieces of his famous 1/32 scratchbulit A-20C – the landing gear that worked just like the original, the gunner’s position that looked like he’d hit the real thing with shrink spray. Another year after he’d completed it, I moved out of the Bay Area and we saw each other sporadically at events until I moved down to Los Angeles and got involved in the movie business. Lost track of him till the 1998 IPMS convention in San Jose, where he brought his magnificent 1/24 DeHavilland DH.9, which won Best of Show. Connecting with him was like the last time we had seen each other was the weekend before. Stayed in touch with e-mail till the Alzheimers ended that
The best modeler and one of the best human beings I ever met. There isn’t a major scratchbuilder out there who doesn’t consider John a mentor.
The first photo is the Dh.9. The second is George Lee’sO3U that John finished after George died. It’s in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, with a couple other of his models.
Fair skies and a tailwind, old friend,
1 additional image. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on August 31, 2017
A true artist in the field indeed. Forgive my ignorance, but is that George or John in the photo?
Tom Cleaver said on August 31, 2017
John.
Christian WERY said on August 31, 2017
Thank you Jim, Thank you Tom.
Robert Aspinall said on August 31, 2017
A fitting tribute Tom.
Denis VANBRUSSEL said on August 31, 2017
Sad news, the Master of all scratchbuilders…..
Richard B Smith said on August 31, 2017
A Giant walked among us….
Rick Wilkes said on August 31, 2017
Got to meet John just once, a fine man, our hobby has lost one of its true Master Modelers.
Louis Gardner said on August 31, 2017
Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Tom. Alzheimer’s is a nasty disease. Hopefully someday there will be a cure for it. His work was amazing to say the least. He will be missed……………….
Editor said on August 31, 2017
Sad to see one of the true legends in scale modeling go. I only ever knew John from his books, but always considered him one of the Grand Masters of our trade. He will be greatly missed.
Jeff Bailey said on August 31, 2017
I would echo what you already wrote, Tom: “Fair skies and a tailwind …”
Gábor Szabó said on August 31, 2017
It’s very sad. Two of His books are long time on my bookself among the favourites. 🙁 He was a true artist.
Jack Mugan said on August 31, 2017
R.I.P. John
DE4EVER said on August 31, 2017
🙂 … Greetings … 🙂 :
Truly a master and an inspiration to us all , one of the few Grand Masters of this our hobby.