A Modest Proposal: for a New group build, in Jim Sullivan's Honor
Hello again everyone. Most of you will know by now that we recently lost a great person, and fellow Imodeler who was also a well known and accomplished author. Topping this off, Jim was very passionate model builder too.
Jim Sullivan has written many books, some of which were covered under the Squadron Signal "In Action" series.
I light of the unexpected and tragic circumstances that recently happened, I am making a suggestion here, to see how this idea will be received. If enough interest is received, then I will contact Martin, the site owner / administrator, to get his blessing.
I know to some it may seem as though we have an excess of group builds, and this may very well be true.
This new one I am suggesting would follow in the same theme as our current group build we have called the "Jerry Crandall Memorial Group Build".
It could last for a year, and at the end we could post up a recap as we have done in the past with other group builds.
This idea would allow anyone to join, and build something in any scale, that was covered in one of the many books that our dearly departed friend Jim Sullivan has authored.
Chances are these builds would be of a US Navy subject, like a Corsair, Hellcat, or Skyraider. There could be other types as well...
We can iron out the details if this idea is well received. I would be willing to start the group, but as I have done in the past with some of my recent groups, I will be looking for assistants to help keep things running smoothly.
Also, I can make some minor changes to our current Korean War group since it will be ending soon. These changes will allow extra time for you all to complete your projects should this be a problem. I can make a new rule for the Korean War Group stating that no new projects can be added to the group after the original ending date, but allowing us to work on them and post updates until these projects are completed.
I will still follow the original plan, with the ending being "modified" as explained above.
Please let me know your thoughts on this idea.
Jim was a good guy, and even better friend. This is our way of showing the World what we thought of him.
He will be missed.
Thank you all.
Good idea!
Tom Cleaver (@tcinla)
Thanks Tom ! I'm hoping you will have something to add to the group when I get Martin's blessings. Take care, and I hope you are feeling better now.
Sounds good to me. I happen to be in the midst of building a F6F-3 Hellcat and I have Jim's "In Action" reference book right beside me.
Eric Berg (@eb801)
Hey Eric ! That's a perfect choice, and I have that same book. Great minds think alike ! π
When we start the group, (I have to contact Martin first and get his blessing), this Hellcat will fit right in.
I'll make it to where we are not required to have a totally new build. I will allow previously started models as I typically do.
Thanks for the comments and the pictures.
I think this sounds like a great idea for a group project. I've always loved the Corsair actually. I remember watching Baa Baa Black Sheep with my Dad and thinking it was the coolest plane I'd ever seen.
Brian Mennenoh (@brithebuilder)
Thanks Brian. It sounds like we had a very similar childhood, as I also used to watch the same TV show with my Dad back in 1976-78. Dad would tell me things like "this isn't the way it really was" and so on... but we both enjoyed the real "stars" of the show, which were the Corsairs and not Robert Conrad or Red West.
To this very day the Corsair is my all time favorite plane too.
Thanks for commenting.
Sounds like a wonderful idea, Louis @lgardner
John vd Biggelaar (@johnb)
Thanks John. I will contact Martin now, and see what the next steps will be.
It is a wonderful idea, Louis, to honor Jim. Count me in, also for any assistance needed.
Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
Thanks Spiros.
I know I can always count on you. You're a good man and even better friend. Chances are I will take you up on this offer to help. Thanks again my friend.
Sounds like a great idea. I seldom build planes, but I do have a Corsair somewhere in the stash, so count me in.
Rory Wilson (@rory)
Thank You ! One can never have too many Corsairs. I look forward to seeing you build it.
I've found a couple of subjects fitting my themes to honor Jim, so Louis, I'm in.
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Allan J Withers (@kalamazoo)
Hello Allan. It's great to see that you will be joining us when the group gets started. Those look like some excellent choices. Jim would be very proud to see these two.
Excellent suggestion Louis!
David Mills (@davem)
Thank you David. It's nice to hear from you.
I'm in, Jim was a wonderful man and was always available to offer advice or information when asked. I've got Cats and Corsairs in the stash. Some body needs one PM me.
Tom Bebout (@tom-bebout)
Hey Tom. I couldn't have said it any better myself. Jim always was kind enough to offer me some advice, or send me some pictures when I had questions. He was our resident "Go To Guy" with most US Navy WW2 - Post era related stuff.
Now you got me thinking about FAA Hellcats too.
I'll be looking forward to your entry / entries. Thanks again for everything.
I'm in. Might be handy if someone did a quick list in one place of all that might qualify...
Greg Kittinger (@gkittinger)
Hey Greg. That's an excellent idea, thank you. We can do a little bit of research and include the eligible types / subjects that can be built for the group, and include this as part of the group information.
Thanks for the interest as well. Take care my friend.
I'm going to be contacting the website owner / manager about starting this group, as we have had a very good response.
Once I get the "Green Light" from Martin, I will put the group together, and start the "Hiring process" for additional assistants.
Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
Spiros has already volunteered to help, so he's definitely going to be my equal / assistant, and he will have the same rights and administrative privileges as I will when we get this going.
If anyone else is interested with helping out, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you all for the responses.
Jim would be honored.
You know I'm in as well as to help. Excellent and very nice gesture on everyones part to participate.
Chuck A. Villanueva (@uscusn)
Thanks Chuck. I know I can always count on you. I sincerely appreciate this and I will definitely take you up on your kind offer. You're hired ! π
As soon as I hear back from Martin that is...
Tanks for doing this Louis!
Robert Royes (@roofrat)
Tanks Robert ! You know I had to do that...being an old Army Tanker as you know... π
Take care brother. I sent the message to Martin. As soon as I hear back from him I will let you know.
Do you have anything you could build for the group ?
Not as yet.
I am a little late to the comments section but I would be down for this group build!
David Butler (@dbutlr)
Thanks for the feedback. No worries about being late. It is all good. Thanks again.
Hello again everyone.
Tom Cleaver (@tcinla)
Eric Berg (@eb801)
Brian Mennenoh (@brithebuilder)
John vd Biggelaar (@johnb)
Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
Rory Wilson (@rory)
Allan J Withers (@kalamazoo)
David Mills (@davem)
Tom Bebout (@tom-bebout)
Greg Kittinger (@gkittinger)
Chuck A. Villanueva (@eb8010)
Robert Royes (@eb8011)
David Butler (@eb8012)
This is just a short note to let you all know the group build is now a "GO" and it will be happening very soon. I just received word from Martin that he approves, and he also thought it was a good idea too.
So now I am in the process of putting the group together.
If someone can start doing some research on the books that Jim has authored, it would be a great help.
Please look for this to show up in the "Group Build" section soon. I will also make another announcement in the headlines section once this is done.
Thanks again for the wonderful response.
I'm looking forward to seeing what we all end up building. I'm sure there will be multiple Corsairs and Hellcats... but that's OK too. Jim would be proud to see this, as the Corsair was his favorite plane. It also looks as if it might be the all time favorite aircraft for some of us too, myself included. π
Here is a link to the new group. It's called the Jim Sullivan Memorial Group Build.
https://imodeler.com/groups/jim-sullivan-memorial-group-build/
It's up and running now. So please feel free to join us. Everyone is invited. No formal invitation is needed to join.
Thanks everyone.
Thanks for this effort on creating this GB, Louis.
Thank you Louis @lgardner!