Model Building

Members Spotlight –

Michael A Eastman of the Saint Louis Gateway International Plastic Modeler Society (IPMS)

This is a list of questions usually asked when a Members Spotlight is put together for the Gateway IPMS Newsletter.

Where were you born and raised? What movement have you made since then?

Born and raised in Port Angeles, Washington.  A beautiful area of the Pacific Northwest with the Olympic National Forest south of us and Vancouver, B.C. across the Juan de Fuca straits to the north.  Later, my mom re-married and my stepfather was in the military.  We moved every three years after that, so you might say that I was a military ‘brat’ then.

Lived in Astoria, Oregon for a while where I attended John Jacob Astor Junior High.  This is the same location/school for the movie Kindergarten Cop with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the town where The Goonies, Short Circuit One and Two, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I and III, Come See the Paradise, and Free Willy I and II were filmed.

John Jacob Astor Junior High School

Also in town is a nationally acclaimed Columbia River Maritime Museum.  All up and down the coast are several WW II gun emplacements and fortifications for the Coastal Defense Plan.  The parks department has opened some, like Battery Russell, and they are a fantastic way to spend a day crawling around in dark, dank, concrete bunkers.  Also in the Pacific Northwest, there is also the Boeing Museum of Flight just south of Seattle that I enjoy going through every once in a while.  Then there are the Bremerton Shipyards outside of Seattle, Whidbey Island, McChord Air Force Base, etc.

Battery Russell

Bremerton Shipyards

McChord Air Force Base

Later, when I came back to visit Astoria I came across a rather large unmarked ship in the local scrap yard that proved to be rather intriguing – at the time, one of the worlds largest hydrofoils, USS Plainview (AGEH-1) built by Boeing.  It also was the United States Navy’s first hydrofoil research ship.  I am currently looking for the Aurora Model #727-250 of a similar hydrofoil, the USS Tucumcari (PGH-2).  You never know where your next modeling ideas originate.

Where did you go to high school (important to those from St. Louis)?

In continuation of the moves that our family made, we lived in Redmond, Washington not far from the future home of Microsoft.  Went to Redmond High School for three out of four years.  This is where I excelled in math, sciences and trained in drafting/architecture.  One of my high school projects for the Industrial Arts Department (IAD) was to design and build a steam turbine powered hovercraft.  I did the drawings and had the machine shop construct the castings necessary for the high-pressure turbine.  Received an ‘A’ on the project.

RHS Industrial Arts Department (IAD)

During my several wanderings about the area, I would end up outside of the local military base Nike-Hercules Site S-13/14 and watch as they would bring the missiles out of the hardened coverings.  Again, this missile is one of the inspirational sources for some of my modeling.

Later when it was time to move again, the decision was Saigon, Vietnam or St. Louis, Missouri.  I think the right choice was made.  I attended my last year of high school at Hazelwood (not Central, this was before the split of the school).  Our Hazelwood Class was composed of 1,107 students.  Coming from a school with 150 students to Hazelwood was scary.  I continued on with the math and physics, took electronics and woodshop in after school activities.  My wanderings would take me around Scott Air Force Base and Granite City Army Base.  I was offered to join the Honor Society and took part in the St. Louis Science Fair.  I graduated in 1971 with a scholarship in Physics.

Married? Single? Kids?

Currently married to Carol, who by the way was in my math class in Hazelwood High School and sat right behind me.  She would always take my math homework with her when Mr. Brown called her to the front of the room to show how to do a solution.  I tutored several of the other classmates in the math and science departments during this time.  We wouldn’t get together again until eight years later at University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL).  Only one son (27 as of this post), and he wants to follow his mom in Pharmacy/Chemistry as a career. (He ended up becoming a Neuro-Intensive Care Unit (N-ICU) Nurse at Saint Louis University (SLU) Hospital .)

What is/was your occupation and did you serve in the military?

To answer the second part of the question first: no, I have not served in the military.  I had wanted to attend the Air Force Academy or the Naval Academy to become a pilot/astronaut.  Instead I had received a Physics scholarship to UMSL.  This led to a varied career starting with high voltage electrical components manufacturing as a production drafter/specification writer/DNC programmer for a company called ITT Blackburn.

I also worked part time for University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) Physics Department drafting mathematical, scientific, technical and experimental results obtained from the physics labs for formal presentations and scientific publications.  I also constructed and performed maintenance on physics ‘black’ test boxes, control panels for ionic and molecular collision chambers, and fabricated wiring harness to liquid hydrogen and non-terrestrial atmospheres experiments.

Then there was the construction-building slump and I jumped from Blackburn to Monsanto as a chemical intermediates production plant draftsman/chemical research assistant.  After several years there I found that they were not going to hire me until I had a degree.  “Company policy, mind you.” My manager indicated.

I had finished a long project and needed to break out and went to Emerson Electronics and Space Division working as a configuration and data management assistant.  This is where I got involved with Threat Emitter Simulator System (TESS) - Use of F-5 Radar and an Optical Acquisition Sensor; Tactical Radar, Threat Generator (TRTG) - Army device for training aviators; Ground Radar Emitter for Training Aviators (GRETA/ASE) -, Army Simulator Equipment; Fire Controller for aft M61-A1 Vulcan Gun (AN/ASG-21) - on B-52 Bombers; FIST, HUMMER, HAMMER, EMERLAC-30, M113, Mini-TAT, etc.  Then I received my B.S. in Physics and my bosses refused to give me a raise or elevate me to an engineering level.  They said, “you were able to do the job without a degree and you can continue to do the same even with a degree.” I started looking for my next position elsewhere.

I then got a better offer from McDonnell Douglas to work in their Aircraft and Astronautics Divisions.  I worked on several projects over the years starting with TOMAHAWK Cruise Missile and all the variants, and then switched to the Harpoon Missile and SLAM - Sea Launched Anti Missile (AGM-84A/B).  I also conducted some high temperature metals/composites research for NASP - National AeroSpace Plane. After doing missiles I was put into a crash course to work on F-15, F-18, and the T-45 Trainer.  Ultimately I was picked to work on AV-8B Harrier and Night Harrier, then on to the A-12 Avenger II.

After that project was cancelled I went for several years doing contract work for a variety of companies including a stint at the Army Troop Command (ATCOM) as a Senior Engineer/Analyst, System Administrator, System Data Base Administrator.  This is where I got involved with CH-47D Chinook, MH-47E Special Operations Forces Chinook, AH-64 - Apache and Longbow Helicopters, H-60 - Blackhawk Helicopter, UH-60 Utility Blackhawk, and LH-X Comanche, Special Operations Aircraft (SOA) - (OH-58D AHIP, MH-60K Special Operations Forces Blackhawk).  Unfortunately came the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), and I was out doing other contract work again.

I worked briefly for the Defense Enterprise Integration Services Project - Systems Integration Management Activity for the Department of Defense (DoD).  This is where we were putting all the defense enterprise support together for the Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and the Army.  There were many other companies (non-military) that I had worked (still working at), but not as interesting to mention.

How long have you been in this club? Are you a member of other modeling clubs?

When I first came to St. Louis, I asked several storeowners in the Webster Groves area about any modeling clubs like the IPMS.  They did not know of any at that time.  I found one hobby store in Webster Groves that had a kit called “The Pilgrim Observer” for $25.  I didn’t have the funds to buy it that day, so that night I asked my parents for a rather large loan of $25 to cover the cost of the kit.  I went back the next day and it was sold!  The storeowner did not have any others.  I finally bought one fifteen years later for about $65.

I was pretty busy with work and school for the next few years, building just a few kits here and there.  After I started work at Monsanto in ’74, I was talking to a draftsman by the name of Charlie Wadsworth.  What caught my attention was that he had several pictures of his model aircraft with realistic backgrounds posted over his drafting board.  He had mentioned that a group was meeting at Del Miller’s house and had grown too large so they moved to the back room of a hobby store in Des Peres.  This is where I went with Charlie, and I have been coming to the meetings ever since then. 

I’m not really a member of any other modeling clubs, but I do attend them when my schedule allows.

When did you begin modeling?

I don’t remember when I started to model.  My grandfather (on my mother’s side) built wood models of rail-trestles as a representation of what he had done for his job, until steel came into play and put him out of work.  There wasn’t a need for timber/wood plank trestles anymore.  I remember him having a wonderful wood shop attached to the garage, with all the equipment powered with leather straps on pulleys from a central engine.  A Model-A truck would be parked in the garage.  There wasn’t any electricity.  They had wood stoves for heating and cooking, candles for lights.  The smell of toast made on a wood stove, with real country butter and homemade jam spread from end-to-end comes to mind each time I remember the place.  This is where I learned to work in wood and build simple wooden toys and birdhouses.

My dad built bamboo and paper line controlled planes.  They were huge!  Many had twin engines, and a few others had four.  There were DC-3’s, B-17’s, B-24’s, B-25’s, B-29’s and a host of other smaller planes.  As I found out in later years (since he never said anything to us kids about the war and I had to piece most of the story together from other people), they all represented the planes that he had worked on and flown in during the war.  He was a mechanic, and when manpower was short, a navigator and then a gunner.

It was the B-29’s that he was in that proved to be the most dangerous.  The first time that his plane was shot down, he and most of the crew survived and was picked up in a couple of days.  The second time, most of the crew did not survive and he was by himself on a raft for a week.  The third time, and the last, most of the crew didn’t survive and he was again on a raft by himself.  This time was different.  He suffered from a 20mm round through the leg during the time he waited for rescue.  It was close to a month before he was found and finally shipped home.

Out of all of this, I would say that modeling is in my blood.

Do you remember your first model? What was it?

My first model would be a wooden train that I built with my grandfather.  In later years I liked to build balsa and tissue aircraft with my dad and started with the P-51.  I picked up my first plastic kits at a Safeway store in my hometown of Port Angeles, Washington.  I covered a range of aircraft, cars, and ships just to get a feel for the plastic.  Later when I lived in Redmond, Washington, whenever I could convince my parents to take me, I would go to Eagle’s Nest in Seattle or AAA in Renton for my models.  These were the first dedicated hobby stores that I would go to.

What is your favorite subject to model?

It seems to be real Space first, Science Fiction next, then Aircraft, with a mixture of a few others here and there.  Most are unique or exotic.  I do not try to pin down to a particular area because my interests are too broad.

Do you have a favorite scale?

Working towards a 1/48 scale in most areas of spacecraft/aircraft, but of course a 1/48 Saturn V would be out of the question (for now!).

Do you have any absolute favorite kit you've built? Why?

There is a couple actually.  The AMT Amtronic Futuristic Multi-Duty Vehicle is one.  This is where science fiction, cars, and aircraft all collide together that just appeals to my design esthetics.  The other would be the X-15 from Special Hobby, also for the history and being on the edge of technology at the time.  Then there is my main focus, the Gemini Spacecraft, because I actually worked alongside the engineers that had built them.  To actually have worked in the environment that created those spacecraft was invigorating.  Also the Revell Apollo Stack, because it is in one of my favorite scales and what you could do with it for detailing.

Any idea how many kits you've built? How many on display?

I’ve lost count of how many that I have built.  None of the earlier ones are on display, most were destroyed by an unfortunate circumstance.  And I have built for other people, so those I do not have anymore.  I will have to get rid of a portion of my “stash” in order to make room in the display case that I have (I bought this from Kirk Skaggs when he moved out of town in ‘91) and I have made blueprints of other display cases that will be built in the near future.

All right, honestly, how many kits in "the stash?"

I don’t have a final count, as of yet.  Roughing it out by space would be around 350 to 400 square feet (that’s square, not cubic) of models.  Its like you wake up one day and realize that you will be over 250 years old before you will finish all of them, so many will be used for selling or trading.

Do you have any modeling prizes?

I’ve entered very few contests, but I do remember when I received 1^st Place in the May Open Contest in 1993 for the Senior Advanced Miscellaneous.  I enjoy building models and looking at the techniques that others use.  I spent many years photographing the local contests and enjoy watching others win.

Other hobbies?

Woodworking comes to mind, papermodels, photography, computer programming, and electronics, reading science journals, technical writing, watching Japanese Anime and collecting Japanese Modeling Magazines.  I guess you would call it a hobby.  It started many years ago in a local Hobby and Toy Show on Natural Bridge.  (This is where I bumped into someone named Chris Saulet).  An out of town dealer had a few copies of Hobby Japan and I was hooked ever since.  This combined military, aircraft, and science fiction model building in one slick format.  I started searching for more and have most of the Hobby Japans from that time to today, number one and up of B-Club, and almost all of the Model Graphics that I could get my hands on.  I’m still-hunting for those that will fill in the gaps.

Over the years I have grand fathered a Space Frontiers Group, the St. Louis Animation Fandom group with John Donnigan and Floyd Masagawa, talked to the Aviation Historical Society on hyperspace projects with Mike Burke (X-15 and X-20) and participated in several space events held around in St. Louis in the past.  I have attempted to go to all of the Louisville, Kentucky Wonderfests that I can afford. I went with Chris Merseal on several trips. This turned out to be from #2 up to #26 until the gas prices increased. Table rental increased from $25 per table to $250 at the show.  I would still love to go and meet a lot of contacts from Facebook.

Have you held any club offices? Any regional or national level offices?

Actually no.  My work schedule precludes me from attempting to hold any offices, regional or national.  I have volunteered my services for other non-office positions in the past, judged a few shows, gone on road trips (I remember the ones with Gil Godfrey up to the Chicago Shows), trips with Mike Mackowski to Chicago as well, MMSI with Chris Merseal (and several other regional/nationals), Scott AFB displays and held the title of Crazed Plastic Editor for the second longest time.

Gemini

This was posted on Facebook June 25, 2016 on a Gemini kit that I built for someone a long time ago (July 1992):

Thought some people might like this. I don't just do woodworking, grunge or drawings. Gotta build. (Carol said that I have been teaching the Basement Trolls on how to build spaceships.)

This is a generic Gemini that I did for a presentation to a retired McDonnell Douglas Engineer that worked on the Gemini Project (I have most of their names). I made it from the Revell 1/24 kit, with my own modifications. The nose was entirely scratch-built, all thrusters are drilled out, scratch built horizon sensors, door interiors scratch, antennas also scratch-built, many details added to inside (hard to see), markings all hand painted except for the US name and flag. Mounted on a plaque with a nameplate. This was all before there were resin update kits, LVM Etched Metal Interior or 3D printers. I see many glaring items that need fixing, so planning on getting this done right in the future.

1. Interior doors are scratch built.
2. Horizon sensors scratch built. 
3. New outside thrusters rebuilt and drilled out.
4. Both rear adaptor thrusters are drilled out. 
5. The nose RCS motors are also drilled out (had to keep track of the angles).
6. The nose transponder and antenna is scratch-built.
7. Several outside antennas on the equipment adapter were scratch-built.
8. All nose markings are hand painted. 
9. Experiment Package S-8/D-13 in front of right door is scratch-built. (Red colored)
10. Mounted on a plaque with nameplate. 
11. Interior details added but you cannot see in these photos. 
12. I really need to work on the back end where the gold cover is. 
13. Need to add more detail to the retro and equipment sections. 
14. Next one will show the details - I'm ready for it.

The start of it all: Crazed Plastic Publications from the St. Louis Gateway International Plastic Modeling Society (IPMS). For more details and background, visit my page Crazed Plastics Publication.  The issues that were presented for the Gemini are listed here starting in 1983 (36 years ago as of the posting date of this blog article). 

CP 17 March 1983 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part One - By Mark Zimerman and Mike Mackowski

CP 18 June 1983 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part Two - By Michael Eastman and Mike Mackowski

CP 19 September 1983 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part Three - By Michael Eastman

CP 21 March 1984 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part Four - By Michael Eastman

CP 22 June 1984 Gemini-Titan Booster - By Michael Eastman

CP 23 September 1984 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part Five - By Michael Eastman

CP 24 January 1985 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Spacecraft - Part Six - By Michael Eastman

CP 27 October 1985 Accurizing Revell's Gemini Astronaut In Space - By Michael Eastman

Later, all these articles and more were gathered together to create a Space In Minuature (SIM) Booklet that Mike Mackowski published. For a copy of it go to: Gemini - SIM #2.

Michael A Eastman 

Commented on a post on Facebook from December 28, 2016.

Michael Mackowski - 

December 28, 2016

Left: Revell kit, Center: MOL kit, Right: Gemini B kit

Jim Spellman Which one is the most accurate?

Michael A Eastman Youch! Looks like the molds for the Revell kit are worse than the ones that I acquired several years ago. Revell does need a lot of work to get the details correct. I do like the detail on the Gemini B, a bit exaggerated on the shingles and the RCS ports, but do not have one to confirm the dimensions. (You're tempting me to get one, aren't you.) As for the MOL nose, it looks very understated in the details. Keep up with the pics of the build, following closely.

Michael A Eastman  Did a quick check from the photo:

Michael A Eastman  And for comparison, I looked at the 1/24 scale, with the Gemini SIM Booklet as a background. The details are a little crisper in this scale. Of course the 1/24 scale MOL would be too large to put on a shelf.