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Gallery
- Rodney
Williams
Hi,
my name is Rodney Williams. I was
born in Akron, Ohio U.S.A; and lived there until 1971.
My favorite aircraft is the "CORSAIR."
My father Harry was an engineer and worked on the Corsair fighter plane
at Goodyear Aircraft Corp; in Akron, during WW-II.
During
the 1930's & '40's, I built flying stick, and solid wooden models. Think I
quit the hobby about 1954, but I still have the hundreds of WW-II airplane
photos in my scrapbook. During my 68 years, I have had three professions;
"Architectural Home Designer," "Motion Picture Production,
Television, & Still Photography," and "Model Airplane
Building."
I
married Tulutululelei, a Polynesian lady in 1962.
Her stateside name is Caroline. We have been married for 38-years, and
have three children and just four grandchildren so far.
In
1971, I received an assignment to produce documentary films for America's
P.B.S. television network, so, my wife and I, plus our children moved to
American, Samoa, Caroline's homeland. As
a professional scuba diver, and underwater photographer, I spent most of my
spare time with the fish on the beautiful coral reefs.
In
1977, we returned to the United States, making San Jose, California our home.
Somehow, I got back into model building in 1977, and have been modeling for the
past 23 years. In 1984 I joined the local IPMS/USA model club, now called
Silicon
Valley Scale Models and IPMS/USA. Our
club web site is:
www.svsm.org
Soon,
I was encouraged to write a story about a 1/48 scale F-100D Super Sabre.
Lo and behold, "FineScale Modeler" magazine accepted my story.
Photojournalism came easy for me. I
wrote film shooting, and narrative scripts, so writing the story about my model
came natural. The photography and
drawing were a snap. I sold my
first model in 1984, during our clubs outing @ a local air-show. I've
been building and selling ever since. Clients would contact me after reading my
stories. I just finished my latest
project for a client. It's a 1/32
scale F6F-3 Hellcat. Click
here to read all about it!
I
do a great deal of hand-made scratch-building.
I have no sophisticated tools like a drill press, nor a milling machine,
they are "HAND-MADE." When
you see a few views of the F6F cockpit, remember there are 514 parts in it!!
I
am retiring very soon, and will move back to Upolu, Samoa, where you can still
find "PARADISE." It's
back to SCUBA DIVING, no more plastic cutting!
Will I miss modeling ? YES!!
But once I get back with the fish and coral, who cares.
It's been a wonderful 23 years. Of
course, I'll have e-mail, so I can see the latest.
Rodney
P.S.
in Samoa, you can see for a 100 miles, no smog, no sales tax, no property
tax, no winter clothes, nor heated homes. "It’s
short pants, no shoes, & no shirt!"
NEW:
09/03/03 Rodney's
latest article - "Building a Red and
White racing model" - 1/32 F4U-1A to the F2G Super Corsair - Click
HERE!
P51D
- #49 Racer
 
 
Goodyear
F2G
Conversion of Revell Kit
Now
take a look at both of the #57 racers - did
you see the difference?
Bet
not! The one on the left is 1/72, and the one on the right is the 1/32. One
cannot tell that one is one scale, while the other is a different scale! Look
close at the canopies. You will note that the one on the left is painted black
and white, while the one on the right (1/32) is painted red and white. I painted
the 1/32 per information on a drawing which was "WRONG."
After
the model was finished and sold, I received real color photo's of #57 (see
photos below - Ed.), which show the canopy painted black and white. The moral of
this story is: "NEVER TRUST ANYONE'S DRAWINGS, NOR WHAT COLOR'S THEY
RECOMMEND ON MODEL." I've found this to be true in many cases, even on the
F6F-3.
  
  
  
#57
was owned by Cook. It only flew during the 1949 air races. His employee Ben
McKillen flew it. Some say Ben owned it - not true! Photos show #57, #94 at the
1949 races. They were then left to rot at Willoughby airport, Ohio. They saved
the engine and prop from #94, but the local Fire Department used it for fire
practice, then dug a hole and buried the plane. #57
survived the past 50 years by the skin of it's teeth - it flew again at the
Reno, Nevada Air Races in September 1999.
  
Goodyear
F2G-1D
Conversion of Revell Kit
North
American P51D - The Duck!
Below
are views of Rodney Williams' latest 1/32 scale effort, a F6F Hellcat based on
the Hasegawa kit. I think this has to be some of the most precise and detailed
work I have seen!
Take
a look at his in depth article on the model - click
here
- Ed.
Keep
'em coming Rodney :o)
Iain
  
  
  
 
and
the final result....
 
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