Wooden Excavator Model
- Thread starter Colin Giersberg
- Start date
Colin Giersberg
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That is the last of the images I will post here, unless Rob posts more on Facebook.
The story behind Charles is this. He built church pews for a living. Somewhere along the way, he built a bulldozer model (I have one of them). One day, he heard about a contest in his area for wooden toys if I am not mistaken. I apologize if some of the details are inaccurate, but it has been a long time since I talked to Charles, and then only by phone, and my memory isn't any better than before, so please bear with me. Anyway, he entered the contest and won 1st place. After that, he realized that he was pretty good at building models, so he started his new career doing this. He built several different models, all of the later models are all very detailed, just like the 5230B. I will post some images of those in separate threads, but I do not have much documentation for those, therefore, there will not be many images. All of his later models were sold, and this is his coup de grace. He kept me updated on the progress of the 5230B when time permitted, and it almost didn't get finished. Charles smoked, and I don't doubt that the fine wood dust he breathed in daily didn't help, but he developed lung cancer. Several treatments were given, and his health began to decline. He passed away in 2009, so Rob may have finished the model.
He did enter the 5230B in the kalamazoo Art Show in January of 2009. Out of 700+ entries, this model came in 4th place. I can't imagine how that could happen after looking at these images.
So long Charles, you were a fantastic modeler.
The story behind Charles is this. He built church pews for a living. Somewhere along the way, he built a bulldozer model (I have one of them). One day, he heard about a contest in his area for wooden toys if I am not mistaken. I apologize if some of the details are inaccurate, but it has been a long time since I talked to Charles, and then only by phone, and my memory isn't any better than before, so please bear with me. Anyway, he entered the contest and won 1st place. After that, he realized that he was pretty good at building models, so he started his new career doing this. He built several different models, all of the later models are all very detailed, just like the 5230B. I will post some images of those in separate threads, but I do not have much documentation for those, therefore, there will not be many images. All of his later models were sold, and this is his coup de grace. He kept me updated on the progress of the 5230B when time permitted, and it almost didn't get finished. Charles smoked, and I don't doubt that the fine wood dust he breathed in daily didn't help, but he developed lung cancer. Several treatments were given, and his health began to decline. He passed away in 2009, so Rob may have finished the model.
He did enter the 5230B in the kalamazoo Art Show in January of 2009. Out of 700+ entries, this model came in 4th place. I can't imagine how that could happen after looking at these images.
So long Charles, you were a fantastic modeler.
John Stevens
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TomGadwa1 said:
+1! Thanks for posting this here, Colin. I can't wait to show it to my son. Just one more example of how much talent there is all around us, and we don't even know it.
Regards,
John
Colin Giersberg
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I though I would bring this back up. There are somme long time members who never saw this and new members as well need to see this. It might even give them something to aspire to.
Colin Giersberg
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This model took Charles 3040 hours to build and there are 4000+ parts in it. Check it out to see for yourself. This level of workmanship demands that it be seen by more than just a few dozen people.
EDIT > For continuity
EDIT > For continuity
jmbfestool
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I don't know how I missed this thread.
Amazing work and detail!!! Really love the detail work
3040 hours Jesus. If you was working on a 8 hour day would of taken more than a year to make.
Don't know if I could have the patients on just one project like that! You would wanna sell it for atleast 40k to make a living from it lol.
Amazing work and detail!!! Really love the detail work
3040 hours Jesus. If you was working on a 8 hour day would of taken more than a year to make.
Don't know if I could have the patients on just one project like that! You would wanna sell it for atleast 40k to make a living from it lol.
Colin Giersberg
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Well, it has been a few more years since I last shared this fantastic model. Please look at each photo carefully and see some of the details.
Please keep in mind that I did not build this. I drew up a set of drawings in 1/16th scale that come no where close to this level of detail. Charles had access to a lot more information supplied by Caterpillar in my opinion.
Lastly, enjoy what you see.
Please keep in mind that I did not build this. I drew up a set of drawings in 1/16th scale that come no where close to this level of detail. Charles had access to a lot more information supplied by Caterpillar in my opinion.
Lastly, enjoy what you see.
squall_line
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Colin Giersberg said:
Colin-
I definitely appreciate you bumping this, as I had never seen it before while perusing the forum.
That said, it appears that the original attachments have been lost to the ravages of internet decay and can only be viewed in their thumbnail form in those posts.
I don't know if the mods can do anything to save them or if it would be worth re-posting if you still have the originals.
[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member] , thoughts?
