Pegasus Reborn!

 I have flown model rockets for many many years. Sometimes certain models need a bit of sprucing up. So was the case with my upscaled Estes Pegasus. So, I ordered some vinyl decals from a place called Stickershock and got right to work!

Well, not exactly. You see, I ordered the stickers four years ago. And then let the project sit. I finally got around to it last week. You see, there needed to be a complete repaint before those stickers could go on. So it was actually a big project. Here was the pre-resto pic...

Not bad, but the decals have yellowed and actually there were a lot of scrapes and scuffs that you can't see in this pic. Well...let's get to work!

I used my camera and stylis to mark measurements...

Then came a trip outside to put on the base coat of gloss white.

Then I needed to deal with the dings...

Next, I broke out the masking tape to lay down the gray...

...and remask for the black...

And then, after everything dried for a couple of days, the new vinyl goes on! And soon, you have the finished bird!

Nice and new! 

She flies on an Aerotech E30 motor. Hopefully we'll get her in the sky soon! Now, on to the next years long project!!!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

Firehouse Five...Revisited!

 A while back I shared my Ward Kimball signed Firehouse Five Plus Two Crashes a Party album. At the time there were still some questions about it. For example, it was signed by Ward to George Pal, who obviously had to be the film maker, but I wasn't sure if they were friends or what. 

"Well, there is this new dumaflatchy thingy called AI that you can ask purty near anything of and get a heapin' helpin' of info with the chick of a button!" (old prospector character spits- we hear hammer on railroad rail sound effect- he exits right)

Well thank you, Prospector Bob! 

Now where were we? Oh yeah, AI. I fed these pictures of my album into an AI program and got the following information...

"This autographed album is a classic piece of mid-century Dixieland jazz memorabilia, tying together Disney animation legends, Hollywood creativity, and a playful party vibe. Here's a breakdown of what it is, its context, and the personal inscription.

The Album: Firehouse Five Plus Two Crashes a Party!

Release Details: This is a 1960 LP (catalog number M12038) on the Good Time Jazz label, a specialty imprint founded by jazz enthusiast Lester Koenig (a Disney acquaintance who started the label specifically to record this band). It's a high-fidelity mono pressing (with stereo versions like S10038 released alongside), running about 38–43 minutes across 12 tracks."

I kind of feel like I'm cheating on an essay, but there's more. Like who exactly was on this album? Well...

"Ward Kimball: Trombone, leader, sound effects (Disney animator/director, one of the "Nine Old Men")

Danny Alguire: Trumpet (former LAPD fingerprint expert, Disney assistant director)

George Probert: Soprano sax (jazz musician who joined Disney later)

Frank Thomas: Piano (Disney animator, another "Nine Old Man")

Dick Roberts: Banjo (Disney artist)

Don Kinch: Helicon (tuba; musician and Disney sound man)

Eddie Forrest: Drums (Disney animator)"

But what about the signature, Mr. AI?

"The Autograph: Ward Kimball to George Pal

Inscription: The handwritten note reads "To George / from / Ward Kimball" (with an arrow pointing to the signature), personalized for George Pal.

Kimball, the band's irreverent chief, signed multiple FH5+2 albums this way for Pal—suggesting a friendly exchange between colleagues who shared Hollywood's golden era."

AI even said why Ward and George were friends...

"The Recipients' Connection:

Ward Kimball (1914–2002): Disney legend who animated Jiminy Cricket, the Mad Hatter, and Pecos Bill; directed shorts like Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953 Oscar winner). A train enthusiast and jazz nut, he formed FH5+2 after lunchtime jams at the studio revealed fellow animators' hidden talents. He was the band's constant force, adding vaudeville flair with washboards and sirens.

George Pal (1908–1980): Hungarian-born producer/director of innovative stop-motion "Puppetoons" (1930s–1940s) and sci-fi classics like Destination Moon (1950), When Worlds Collide (1951 Oscar for effects), and The War of the Worlds (1953). After emigrating to the U.S., he collaborated loosely with Disney circles (e.g., influencing early TV animation) and knew Kimball through LA's animation/jazz scene. Pal collected jazz records, and this inscription hints at Kimball gifting it as a nod to their mutual love of whimsical, boundary-pushing art.

Kimball once said in an interview:  “We’d play jazz at lunch, then go animate mice and ducks. George Pal understood that — he built whole worlds out of puppets and sparks. Same spirit.” "

So, yes, they were friends. Pretty good friends, it seems. And this album is a fun, and strangely touching, tribute to their friendship.

As for the value of the album? AI says that because it came from the George Pal estate, and has the signature to Pal, it raises the value above a typical signed item. And Ward signed relatively few items. It estimates it at 450.00+. Not bad, but I won't be selling any time soon. 

So until next time, keep searching for treasure (and don't feel bad about using AI to get info on it! ;-)

Book Look!

 As a collector, I have several books in my library that have helped me in my appreciatuin and understanding of my collections. The one I'm going to share today isn't new (having been published in 2005), but it IS one of the most interesting and insightful records of childrens' playthings that I have ever found. Here it is...

This is a fairly large book, being about a foot high and a bit more than that wide, but it's easier to handle than most "coffeetable books." Here is the inside of the cover...

As you can see, the strength of this book is that it talks about the people that invented the toys and games as well as the toys and games themselves. I've used facts from this book in previous posts, in fact. 

The contents are divided up by decade...but not entirely. As you can see, Wham-O and Marvin Glass get their own chapters.

Each chapter has a "Toy Timeline" that shows when toys came out.

And the illustrations are all beautiful. The slightly large format makes for some really nice pictures! 

So, who was the researcher that put all of this together? Why, an industry insider, of course. Here's his (slightly tounge in cheek toned) bio.

By the way, the sections are color coded on the endpapers. 

And here we have the glowing reviews! I must say, I agree with them.

So there you have it! This book is an unusual combination of a good read that actually has a lot of really good historic information included. I highly recommend checking it out  you can find it on Amazon in hardback for less than thirty bucks!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!