31 articles · 1.7K karma · 13 friends · active 10 years, 8 months ago
Humbly proud to be the current VP of IPMS Ocala. Modeling since I was six years old, which means I've been at it for half a century! I find model building is relaxing (usually), informative (with a few exceptions), and a creative outlet for a guy who is stuck in traditions. I cannot understand why none of my eight children or fourteen grandchildren have taken up my hobby, but I'm still working on them. (I have two more grand kids on the way -- maybe they will become the first of the next generation of modelers in the Knowles family tree!)
I have used my models for educational purposes in schools and clubs. I particularly appreciate the big eyes as they see the contrast and comparison that a slew of models portrays. I also like finding the oddities and eccentricities of the real thing, and then build the model to illustrate it.
Special thanks goes to Ray Waddey, whose huge display at the Fredericktown Mall in the late 70s convinced my young bride that models are cool and not just toys. Thus she permitted me to build even if it took time away from her (within reason).
I build aircraft, ships and armor. My display cases are full and many projects are in storage bins.
I am best known for my many unfinished projects (due to too short an attention span with all the models available to be built.) I am also known for my story telling when it is Show-and-Tell time in our club meetings.
In September 1939, the German army taught the world the value of coordinating artillery fire with Blitzkrieg (a lesson the Allies learned well and turned back on their teachers). The 15 cm gun was their primary weapon, both in the towed [...]
Designed as a response to the Russian T-34, the Panther was considered by many to be the finest tank of WWII. Although it experienced significant teething problems in its earlier renditions, it was fine tuned into a dependable well [...]
The Ju-87 will forever be linked with the Blitzkrieg campaigns of WWII. It supported the armored spearheads of the Wehrmacht with deadly accuracy -- becoming known as Flying Artillery. The whistles on the landing gear pants lent a [...]
The Heinkel He-280 was the world's first twin engine jet fighter. She flew in early 1941 and proved she was a real thoroughbred, but was shelved due to military jealousy. You see, Willie Messerschmidt was in tight with Goering, and [...]
HMS Warspite was the most decorated ship in the history of the Royal navy. Fighting all the way from Jutland in WWI throughout WWII, she was in more violent engagements than any other battleship of the modern era.
Launched as a member of [...]
The Russians quickly realized the advantage of assault guns as anti-tank weapons. After all, their tanks were being eaten up by the German Stug series. Thus the excellent T-34 had its turret removed and a new upper hull citadel designed [...]
The Firefly was a replacement for the Fairey Fulmer shipboard two-seat fighter. The British felt that over water flights were too exhausting, so they added a navigator / observer to share the load with the pilot. This may have provided [...]
There are some moments in human history characterized by the drama of a noble vessel going down in horrible disaster. Such was Titanic. Such was Hindenberg. Fewer folks know the story of Roma.
She was the last of her class to be [...]
This is one of my earliest big ships and it was a joy to build. Despite Academy's heavy handed molding of the finer details, I found the model to be very satisfying. I was able to replace most of them with extra/alternate parts from the [...]
This is a buddy build with my good friend and master modeler, Rusty Rhea. He built the interior and landing gear, while i did the major structure and painting. Rusty spent 19 hours just on the seat, and 11 on the control yoke!
The idea [...]
