Fortunately I survived and mom calmed down when she finally found out - years later, when I took over as the companies =  "Powder Monkey" ( That's the Guy That Does the Blasting ).    Including my duties as one of the dump truck drivers - which also meant I pulled trailers and also ran the loaders.    Generally, I was capable of doing most anything they needed done.    And later I got into "Over-the-road = 18 wheelers and ran all 48 States, plus Canada too.    But in my spare time, modeled  plastic car & truck and trailer- kits, usually from AMT or Monogram.    So anything mechanical, I naturally wanted to know about or Operate, whether it was the real thing or just a miniature version - didn't matter, I was Interested.     But I was forced into early retirement after a truck wreck in Feb. of 1980, which broke my back in three places, thanks to a "Wrong-way Driver."    They never caught them and I was forced off the road on I- 55, right under the overpass at Lincoln IL.    And spent over a year "In & Out" of the hospital ( in therapy ), while re-learning to "Walk & Chew Gum", as they say = AT THE SAME TIME!"

    From that point, I modeled - full time and got into r/c airplanes, but quickly grew bored with those.    The high expense of rc fuel, plus the crashes & repair costs, being mainly why I quit rc airplanes.    But mainly it was because =  "You can do just so-many "Loop The Loops" before your bored and = I WAS! .... To the point, I was even doing Knife-edges - down Corn Rows, playing chicken or "Follow The Leader" with friends.    Our biggest fun, was playing r/c combat, with some rather expensive rc model airplanes.    But I always wanted to do stuff = Nobody Else Had Done, or only a few had tried.    Then one day as I glanced through a friends old issues of model boat magazines, I realized = "Nobody's Building R/C - TOWBOATS!".... Well, hardly anyone, back then.    So from that point, things lead into years of study and research on towboats, their designs, shipyards and their steamboat history.    And because this was so - unusual, a subject for modelers, "I was asked to write articles covering "Real Towboats & My Replica's" for the model magazine = "U. S. Boat & Ship Modeler".    You may recall my work and if  you still have issues - in your collection, check the last few issues = "Fall 1992" to the last Addition.    Cause Joe E. Brown whose been my buddy - for many years, also helped write many of those articles too.    And we took turns covering Small & Large" Towboats and had a very large reader response.

    Since then, I've been asked to write for other magazines, but declined, while still very honored - they keep asking.    And like my friend "John L. Fryant", Joe E. Brown & I, were all somewhat pioneer's - in this field.   We chose to give our full attention to model towboats and barges and then I created - this website.    Building it, has helped provide others with full details, photos & drawings that show how I create a model.    So this site, is an "On-Line Library Book"  = SO TO SPEAK.    "Literally a written BOOK" that continues to help others, along with hobby companies to design new kits and develop them.    Which naturally widens our choices, and some think = I'm kinda nuts for doing this - FOR FREE! ..... But I learned all that I know, listening & following examples of others that gave their info = Freely.    "So why should - I Charge You?"    And to be honest, "I simply couldn't do all this, without the support of my -"ISP" = KTIS. NET and You.    And KTIS helps me to run & maintain this site, and your continued visits, emails and support, proves its all Worth-it.   

 So Thank You for all your support.......Old River Bill