I am a retired engineer from Caterpillar Inc. and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, I have a passion for all aspects of aviation, trains, nautical, sci-fi, art, military history, chess, travel, photography and flying large scale R/C aircraft.
I like anything Big and Powerful. I have worked on the design and building of some of the largest mining trucks in the world and also worked on the 688 Class and the Trident Submarines, the "Boomers"
My art background began at an early age, wanting to be an illustrator of books and magazines. I graduated from a fine arts school in 1970. Finding work in commercial art was very competive and difficult during this time. I Later became a civil engineer for Caterpillar and the U.S.Navy at Groton CT.
My passion for military art comes from my family and the veterans of WW2 or the "Greatest Generation". My dad was a flight instructor, two uncles serve under Patton, and another uncle in the Navy. I was friends with many pilots and soldiers that served in WW 2. Two of my artwork presentations "Heavy Flak over Luena - 1944" and "Hard Target" are based on pilots that my Dad knew and he later conveyed to me about these pilots missions. There are many amazing stories and one thing I learned from these men , that they are very humble and we're glad to make it home. As 1st Sgt. Keith Hazen told me of the 102nd Divion, "if I ever get home I will never complain".
I look forward to being a part of the fellowship here. Hope to learn a lot and enjoy seeing others works for inspiration.
Favorite Quotes:
U.S. Navy Submariner's Creed ~ "There are only two types of ships; submarines, and targets !"
Einstein ~ "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
President A. Lincoln of U.S. Grant ~ "I can't spare this man he fights."
Winston Churchill ~ "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"
Hyman G. Rickover ~ " Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience."
Cheers, Mike
Favourite Visual Artist
Andrew Wyeth, Leroy Niemann, Russell, Fogg
Favourite Movies
Gladiator, Hunt for Red October, Hurt Locker ,Zero Dark Thirty, Flight of the Phoenix
Favourite TV Shows
History Channel, Military Channel, Alaska Gold, Breaking Bad, Justified, Sons of Anarchy
Favourite Bands / Musical Artists
Doors, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Bob Seger, ZZ Top
Favourite Books
Civil War, Biographies, Miltary History, "Raise The Titanic", "Hunt for Red Octobe"r
Favourite Writers
John LeCarre, Clive Cussler, U.S. Grant
Favourite Games
Chess, Poker FSX Fight Simulator, Sudoko
Favourite Gaming Platform
HP Windows 7 with lots of Memory
Tools of the Trade
Photoshop, GIMP, Paint.NET
Other Interests
Flying R/C Large Scale Aerobatic Planes, Air Shows, YMCA, Photography, Travel