One of my heros

sotoolslinger · March 28, 2009, 03:59:38 PM

Here is my oldest surviving model

I built it about 5-6 years ago because my father in law told me that his father built P-51's at Dallas during the war and that had always been his favorite plane

I used all my (very rusty) skills and built him this for Christmas that year. He loved it

This weekend I have been helping clean up around his place as he is now confined to a nursing home .
I found this

That is Lucien Virgil Franklin standing in front of one of the many 'Stangs he built.
Salute to one of my heros

Rafael · March 28, 2009, 07:27:25 PM

Wow. That's a very nice photo. My respects to the gentleman. I hope he's well taken care of. It's always hard. I know you'll treasure that find very dearly.

Rafa

sotoolslinger · March 29, 2009, 02:00:34 PM

Thanks Rafa and thanks from my family

Zeke · March 29, 2009, 02:10:57 PM

Neat. The guys who built this kind of thing for the front lines are some the unsung heroes, that's for sure.
I wonder how long it took to make a Mustang back then? Probably not much longer than our plastic versions I bet...

Kind regards to your old man.

sotoolslinger · March 29, 2009, 02:39:03 PM

Thanks Zeke

I'm not sure of the actual production rate but it was probably faster than mine

cthulhu77 · March 29, 2009, 03:35:31 PM

Neat photograph, and a warming story !

sotoolslinger · March 29, 2009, 03:53:25 PM

Thanks G

BlackOps · March 29, 2009, 04:54:02 PM

Great gesture Ron. Thanks for sharing the build, the photo, and a little bit of history

sotoolslinger · March 29, 2009, 05:00:59 PM

Thanks Jeff. I married into a great family

BlackOps · March 29, 2009, 05:07:33 PM

So did my wife

Shhhhhh, don't tell her I said that!

Rafael · March 29, 2009, 05:08:07 PM

From what I gather, Ron, you have been a son to this man. And your admiration and respect tells. Not a Father-In-Law, but the real deal. That's a rare occurrence. As happened to me with my wife's mother. Love does that.

Rafa
(love that Mustang!!)

John Howling Mouse · March 29, 2009, 05:34:56 PM

Salute, Mr. Franklin!

sotoolslinger · March 29, 2009, 05:53:17 PM

Thanks Y'all

He makes a lot better dad than mine did

Makes hot daughters too

cthulhu77 · March 29, 2009, 07:34:32 PM

+1

noxioux · April 01, 2009, 08:41:01 PM

I have to say, this is one of the big reasons I'm into this hobby. When you can tie both your hobby, and the lives of your friends and family together, and stick it somewhere in the context of history it changes everything.

One of the best excuses for building a model is to do it for somebody like that.