July 2006 27
by Dennis O. Norman
A public collection —
in a private home
IF YOU WERE around in the 1960s and the 1970s, you may remember the
title of this article as one of the lines used by the late comedienne Jackie
“Moms” Mabley. It makes a statement that is relevant to our interests.
How many of us have spent years collecting and preserving wonderful
kits, books, magazines, prints, paintings, and drawings of aircraft, only to
have these treasures languish, hidden away in filing cabinets, closets, attics,
and the like? Some of us may feel self-conscious about our collections.
Some of us simply might not have the space to display what we have.
If any of this sounds familiar, consider what one modeler is doing to
preserve and display one of the finest private collections in the world.
Joe Hauk is a 64-year-old Wisconsin native who sold his business a few
years ago and built a dream home for his family and himself. Joe grew up in
the tool-and-die business; his late father and grandfather were expert
toolmakers. Both also collected and built a variety of kits and made
exquisite scratch-built models of aircraft and of full-scale subjects. Joe has
happily followed in their footsteps.
He recalls watching his father and grandfather build beautiful working
replicas of steam engines, aircraft engines, guns, etc. His father once
dismantled a Luger pistol and downsized it to make a perfect, working
replica for 0.32-caliber bullets.
The Luger Co. had also considered a 0.32-caliber version and had
made only two before deciding to abandon the project for the larger
standard version. That means Joe’s father’s 0.32 Luger is probably one of a
few in existence. Joe proudly displays it with the other working replicas
his father made for the family gun collection.
I met Joe at the 2003 Dawn Patrol World War I Rendezvous Fly-In at
the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force base
in Dayton, Ohio. I was a vendor offering, among other things, old model
kits I had been asked to sell for modelers’ estates.
My article “Our Stuff” (in the August 2003 MA) had just been out a
couple months and Joe had enjoyed it. He was pleased to learn that
Built from a Cleveland kit Joe Hauk bought in
1955, this Great Lakes Trainer is still in great
condition.
A closer look at one of Joe’s display cases
reveals an interesting assortment of scale kits
from Berkeley’s excellent line.
A Fokker Dr.I in the markings of von Rabin’s Staffel
lights up a corner of a shelf devoted to Fokker
triplanes.
Flaunt It!
If you’ve got it,
Photos courtesy Joe Hauk
28 MODEL AVIATION
Caring for Your Private Collections
The National Model Aviation Museum (NMAM) is not the only
entity in the US that collects aeromodeling artifacts; many
modelers are also avid collectors of model-aviation heritage. Some
common collectibles are kits, engines, transmitters, and model
aircraft. With collecting usually comes preservation. Following are a
few tips from the NMAM staff to help protect your collections.
There are five major causes for object deterioration:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Light
• Human factors
• Housekeeping
Temperature and
humidity often go
hand in hand and can
have disastrous
effects on objects if
not kept in check.
Common results of
high and low
temperatures are
dryness, brittleness, cracking, and shrinking. Humidity can lead to
mold, warping, and corrosion if too high or brittleness and cracking if
too low.
For objects made from varied materials, the accepted museum
standard for temperatures is 65-75 degrees Fahreheit, with 70
Fahreheit being optimum. For humidity the standard is 45%-55%
relative humidity (RH), with 50% RH being optimum. Avoid the
extremes in both. Most important, avoid drastic changes in the
environment; these will strain your objects the most.
Light is an extremely damaging agent, yet it is one of the easiest to
control. The most damaging form of light is ultraviolet (UV). The
radiation from UV light penetrates all organic and inorganic materials
and alters their chemical makeup, resulting in fading, bleaching, and
discoloration. The damages from light are irreversible.
Easy ways to avoid light damage are to store your objects in
darker rooms with few or no windows, turn off lights when not in
use, and avoid the objects’ exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. If
possible, install UV filters on windows and light fixtures where you
house your collections.
The human factor is the most destructive of all the agents. You
harm an object with every touch. The alteration is normally so minor
that it is unnoticeable, but you will definitely see wear in time.
The immediate damage, besides a break, is fingerprints. Oils on
your skin will permanently adhere to an object’s surface and
eventually alter paint color, darken fiber, or tarnish metal. The only
way to reverse this damage is to polish, repaint, or clean the object,
all of which have the potential to create even worse damage.
To prevent harm, simply do not handle objects unless necessary.
And when you do, wear cotton or powder-free nylon gloves, which
are available at most craft stores.
Pests are the largest danger resulting from improper
housekeeping. All bugs and rodents are bad to have in your structure,
but some, such as termites, silverfish, many types of beetles, and
moths, are more damaging than others.
Many pests eat the materials that make up your collections.
Several live in the objects, and others are content to use the items as
bathrooms.
The best way to avoid damage from pests is good housekeeping.
Minimize dust and vacuum often with a machine fitted with a HEPA
filter. This is especially important where you house collections. Do
not eat or drink around artifacts, and thoroughly clean up any spills or
crumbs around the house. In addition, install tight-fitting seals on all
potential entry points.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the
preservation of your collections, please call me at (765) 287-1256,
extension 508, or E-mail me at [email protected]. MA
—Dan Brosz
NMAM Registrar
A corner of Joe’s basement shows the awesome nature of
his collection, including artwork, kits, photos, and finished
models of static-display, FF, and RC subjects.
Not all models in Joe’s museum fit into display cases, such as
this 10-foot-wingspan RC version of the D.H.1 from World
War I.
A small portion of Joe’s old model magazine collection.
They are in excellent condition, making you feel as if you
have stepped back in time.
This 8-foot-span model 1911 Curtiss
Pusher is a flying RC model. The
receiver and servos are cleverly
hidden in the pilot’s body.
July 2006 29
several rare kits had become available because of it and he purchased
some of them.
A few weeks later Joe sent me photos of his collection and a
homemade videotape in which he described in detail the museum he
built in the basement of his new home. The basement area is 2,100
square feet. As Joe was having it built, he placed the furnace and all
related equipment centrally and enclosed it from view. This made
what Joe describes as a “donut shaped area.” He had the ceilings
painted black to make them less noticeable. The floor was sealed and
coated brown. The walls were finished with plaster.
Joe acquired several large glass display cases which are illuminated
internally and externally. They are filled with the treasures depicted in
Joe’s photos. In addition, open shelving has been added for some of the
larger models, books, videos, etc. The walls are adorned with numerous
paintings, many of which are originals. Magazine racks have been
installed to display a number of well-preserved periodicals.
Joe’s museum is not only a place to see and enjoy his magnificent
collection, but it is also the vibrant center of his modeling activity.
Even his workshop is part of the scene.
Joe is currently building a full-scale replica of a Sopwith Pup,
which is beyond the capacity of his basement. Fortunately he has a
neighbor who restores old farm machinery in a newly refurbished
barn. The neighbor is also interested in aviation and has graciously
given over much of the finished second-story woodworking shop in
his barn as a place for the Pup’s construction.
To Joe and his friend the Sopwith Pup is the ultimate “model”
airplane project. They have done extensive research and have
purchased a set of detailed drawings, which they had laminated and
hung in the workshop for easy reference. The goal is to have the
Sopwith finished for the World War I fly-in in Dayton in 2009.
Joe is living the ultimate modeler’s dream and is an outstanding
instance of what can be done to present one’s collection. Most of us
do not have the space to show all of what we have collected, but
following Joe’s example we can creatively display some of what we
have. As do professional museums, we can rotate our treasures to
show different portions of them to the delight of our modeling friends
and ourselves.
Joe calls his museum “a public collection in a private home.” He
welcomes visitors to see and enjoy it by appointment. For more
information you can call Joe at (262) 542-8014 or (414) 254-1138, or
you may E-mail him at [email protected]. MA
Dennis O. Norman
[email protected]
As a tool and die maker, it is not surprising that Joe’s
collection includes vintage glow engines, steam engines, etc.
Joe’s aviation art collection includes prints signed by pilots
of the periods depicted. Notice the numerous model kits
displayed on and in glass showcases.
Some more of Joe’s aviation art. These are original images
that were used as covers for aviation magazines.
Just two shelves in one of the glass cases gives you an idea of
the range of possibilities for displaying small models and kits.
07sig1.QXD 5/24/06 11:53 AM Page 29
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/07
Page Numbers: 27,28,29
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/07
Page Numbers: 27,28,29
July 2006 27
by Dennis O. Norman
A public collection —
in a private home
IF YOU WERE around in the 1960s and the 1970s, you may remember the
title of this article as one of the lines used by the late comedienne Jackie
“Moms” Mabley. It makes a statement that is relevant to our interests.
How many of us have spent years collecting and preserving wonderful
kits, books, magazines, prints, paintings, and drawings of aircraft, only to
have these treasures languish, hidden away in filing cabinets, closets, attics,
and the like? Some of us may feel self-conscious about our collections.
Some of us simply might not have the space to display what we have.
If any of this sounds familiar, consider what one modeler is doing to
preserve and display one of the finest private collections in the world.
Joe Hauk is a 64-year-old Wisconsin native who sold his business a few
years ago and built a dream home for his family and himself. Joe grew up in
the tool-and-die business; his late father and grandfather were expert
toolmakers. Both also collected and built a variety of kits and made
exquisite scratch-built models of aircraft and of full-scale subjects. Joe has
happily followed in their footsteps.
He recalls watching his father and grandfather build beautiful working
replicas of steam engines, aircraft engines, guns, etc. His father once
dismantled a Luger pistol and downsized it to make a perfect, working
replica for 0.32-caliber bullets.
The Luger Co. had also considered a 0.32-caliber version and had
made only two before deciding to abandon the project for the larger
standard version. That means Joe’s father’s 0.32 Luger is probably one of a
few in existence. Joe proudly displays it with the other working replicas
his father made for the family gun collection.
I met Joe at the 2003 Dawn Patrol World War I Rendezvous Fly-In at
the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force base
in Dayton, Ohio. I was a vendor offering, among other things, old model
kits I had been asked to sell for modelers’ estates.
My article “Our Stuff” (in the August 2003 MA) had just been out a
couple months and Joe had enjoyed it. He was pleased to learn that
Built from a Cleveland kit Joe Hauk bought in
1955, this Great Lakes Trainer is still in great
condition.
A closer look at one of Joe’s display cases
reveals an interesting assortment of scale kits
from Berkeley’s excellent line.
A Fokker Dr.I in the markings of von Rabin’s Staffel
lights up a corner of a shelf devoted to Fokker
triplanes.
Flaunt It!
If you’ve got it,
Photos courtesy Joe Hauk
28 MODEL AVIATION
Caring for Your Private Collections
The National Model Aviation Museum (NMAM) is not the only
entity in the US that collects aeromodeling artifacts; many
modelers are also avid collectors of model-aviation heritage. Some
common collectibles are kits, engines, transmitters, and model
aircraft. With collecting usually comes preservation. Following are a
few tips from the NMAM staff to help protect your collections.
There are five major causes for object deterioration:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Light
• Human factors
• Housekeeping
Temperature and
humidity often go
hand in hand and can
have disastrous
effects on objects if
not kept in check.
Common results of
high and low
temperatures are
dryness, brittleness, cracking, and shrinking. Humidity can lead to
mold, warping, and corrosion if too high or brittleness and cracking if
too low.
For objects made from varied materials, the accepted museum
standard for temperatures is 65-75 degrees Fahreheit, with 70
Fahreheit being optimum. For humidity the standard is 45%-55%
relative humidity (RH), with 50% RH being optimum. Avoid the
extremes in both. Most important, avoid drastic changes in the
environment; these will strain your objects the most.
Light is an extremely damaging agent, yet it is one of the easiest to
control. The most damaging form of light is ultraviolet (UV). The
radiation from UV light penetrates all organic and inorganic materials
and alters their chemical makeup, resulting in fading, bleaching, and
discoloration. The damages from light are irreversible.
Easy ways to avoid light damage are to store your objects in
darker rooms with few or no windows, turn off lights when not in
use, and avoid the objects’ exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. If
possible, install UV filters on windows and light fixtures where you
house your collections.
The human factor is the most destructive of all the agents. You
harm an object with every touch. The alteration is normally so minor
that it is unnoticeable, but you will definitely see wear in time.
The immediate damage, besides a break, is fingerprints. Oils on
your skin will permanently adhere to an object’s surface and
eventually alter paint color, darken fiber, or tarnish metal. The only
way to reverse this damage is to polish, repaint, or clean the object,
all of which have the potential to create even worse damage.
To prevent harm, simply do not handle objects unless necessary.
And when you do, wear cotton or powder-free nylon gloves, which
are available at most craft stores.
Pests are the largest danger resulting from improper
housekeeping. All bugs and rodents are bad to have in your structure,
but some, such as termites, silverfish, many types of beetles, and
moths, are more damaging than others.
Many pests eat the materials that make up your collections.
Several live in the objects, and others are content to use the items as
bathrooms.
The best way to avoid damage from pests is good housekeeping.
Minimize dust and vacuum often with a machine fitted with a HEPA
filter. This is especially important where you house collections. Do
not eat or drink around artifacts, and thoroughly clean up any spills or
crumbs around the house. In addition, install tight-fitting seals on all
potential entry points.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the
preservation of your collections, please call me at (765) 287-1256,
extension 508, or E-mail me at [email protected]. MA
—Dan Brosz
NMAM Registrar
A corner of Joe’s basement shows the awesome nature of
his collection, including artwork, kits, photos, and finished
models of static-display, FF, and RC subjects.
Not all models in Joe’s museum fit into display cases, such as
this 10-foot-wingspan RC version of the D.H.1 from World
War I.
A small portion of Joe’s old model magazine collection.
They are in excellent condition, making you feel as if you
have stepped back in time.
This 8-foot-span model 1911 Curtiss
Pusher is a flying RC model. The
receiver and servos are cleverly
hidden in the pilot’s body.
July 2006 29
several rare kits had become available because of it and he purchased
some of them.
A few weeks later Joe sent me photos of his collection and a
homemade videotape in which he described in detail the museum he
built in the basement of his new home. The basement area is 2,100
square feet. As Joe was having it built, he placed the furnace and all
related equipment centrally and enclosed it from view. This made
what Joe describes as a “donut shaped area.” He had the ceilings
painted black to make them less noticeable. The floor was sealed and
coated brown. The walls were finished with plaster.
Joe acquired several large glass display cases which are illuminated
internally and externally. They are filled with the treasures depicted in
Joe’s photos. In addition, open shelving has been added for some of the
larger models, books, videos, etc. The walls are adorned with numerous
paintings, many of which are originals. Magazine racks have been
installed to display a number of well-preserved periodicals.
Joe’s museum is not only a place to see and enjoy his magnificent
collection, but it is also the vibrant center of his modeling activity.
Even his workshop is part of the scene.
Joe is currently building a full-scale replica of a Sopwith Pup,
which is beyond the capacity of his basement. Fortunately he has a
neighbor who restores old farm machinery in a newly refurbished
barn. The neighbor is also interested in aviation and has graciously
given over much of the finished second-story woodworking shop in
his barn as a place for the Pup’s construction.
To Joe and his friend the Sopwith Pup is the ultimate “model”
airplane project. They have done extensive research and have
purchased a set of detailed drawings, which they had laminated and
hung in the workshop for easy reference. The goal is to have the
Sopwith finished for the World War I fly-in in Dayton in 2009.
Joe is living the ultimate modeler’s dream and is an outstanding
instance of what can be done to present one’s collection. Most of us
do not have the space to show all of what we have collected, but
following Joe’s example we can creatively display some of what we
have. As do professional museums, we can rotate our treasures to
show different portions of them to the delight of our modeling friends
and ourselves.
Joe calls his museum “a public collection in a private home.” He
welcomes visitors to see and enjoy it by appointment. For more
information you can call Joe at (262) 542-8014 or (414) 254-1138, or
you may E-mail him at [email protected]. MA
Dennis O. Norman
[email protected]
As a tool and die maker, it is not surprising that Joe’s
collection includes vintage glow engines, steam engines, etc.
Joe’s aviation art collection includes prints signed by pilots
of the periods depicted. Notice the numerous model kits
displayed on and in glass showcases.
Some more of Joe’s aviation art. These are original images
that were used as covers for aviation magazines.
Just two shelves in one of the glass cases gives you an idea of
the range of possibilities for displaying small models and kits.
07sig1.QXD 5/24/06 11:53 AM Page 29
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/07
Page Numbers: 27,28,29
July 2006 27
by Dennis O. Norman
A public collection —
in a private home
IF YOU WERE around in the 1960s and the 1970s, you may remember the
title of this article as one of the lines used by the late comedienne Jackie
“Moms” Mabley. It makes a statement that is relevant to our interests.
How many of us have spent years collecting and preserving wonderful
kits, books, magazines, prints, paintings, and drawings of aircraft, only to
have these treasures languish, hidden away in filing cabinets, closets, attics,
and the like? Some of us may feel self-conscious about our collections.
Some of us simply might not have the space to display what we have.
If any of this sounds familiar, consider what one modeler is doing to
preserve and display one of the finest private collections in the world.
Joe Hauk is a 64-year-old Wisconsin native who sold his business a few
years ago and built a dream home for his family and himself. Joe grew up in
the tool-and-die business; his late father and grandfather were expert
toolmakers. Both also collected and built a variety of kits and made
exquisite scratch-built models of aircraft and of full-scale subjects. Joe has
happily followed in their footsteps.
He recalls watching his father and grandfather build beautiful working
replicas of steam engines, aircraft engines, guns, etc. His father once
dismantled a Luger pistol and downsized it to make a perfect, working
replica for 0.32-caliber bullets.
The Luger Co. had also considered a 0.32-caliber version and had
made only two before deciding to abandon the project for the larger
standard version. That means Joe’s father’s 0.32 Luger is probably one of a
few in existence. Joe proudly displays it with the other working replicas
his father made for the family gun collection.
I met Joe at the 2003 Dawn Patrol World War I Rendezvous Fly-In at
the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force base
in Dayton, Ohio. I was a vendor offering, among other things, old model
kits I had been asked to sell for modelers’ estates.
My article “Our Stuff” (in the August 2003 MA) had just been out a
couple months and Joe had enjoyed it. He was pleased to learn that
Built from a Cleveland kit Joe Hauk bought in
1955, this Great Lakes Trainer is still in great
condition.
A closer look at one of Joe’s display cases
reveals an interesting assortment of scale kits
from Berkeley’s excellent line.
A Fokker Dr.I in the markings of von Rabin’s Staffel
lights up a corner of a shelf devoted to Fokker
triplanes.
Flaunt It!
If you’ve got it,
Photos courtesy Joe Hauk
28 MODEL AVIATION
Caring for Your Private Collections
The National Model Aviation Museum (NMAM) is not the only
entity in the US that collects aeromodeling artifacts; many
modelers are also avid collectors of model-aviation heritage. Some
common collectibles are kits, engines, transmitters, and model
aircraft. With collecting usually comes preservation. Following are a
few tips from the NMAM staff to help protect your collections.
There are five major causes for object deterioration:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Light
• Human factors
• Housekeeping
Temperature and
humidity often go
hand in hand and can
have disastrous
effects on objects if
not kept in check.
Common results of
high and low
temperatures are
dryness, brittleness, cracking, and shrinking. Humidity can lead to
mold, warping, and corrosion if too high or brittleness and cracking if
too low.
For objects made from varied materials, the accepted museum
standard for temperatures is 65-75 degrees Fahreheit, with 70
Fahreheit being optimum. For humidity the standard is 45%-55%
relative humidity (RH), with 50% RH being optimum. Avoid the
extremes in both. Most important, avoid drastic changes in the
environment; these will strain your objects the most.
Light is an extremely damaging agent, yet it is one of the easiest to
control. The most damaging form of light is ultraviolet (UV). The
radiation from UV light penetrates all organic and inorganic materials
and alters their chemical makeup, resulting in fading, bleaching, and
discoloration. The damages from light are irreversible.
Easy ways to avoid light damage are to store your objects in
darker rooms with few or no windows, turn off lights when not in
use, and avoid the objects’ exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. If
possible, install UV filters on windows and light fixtures where you
house your collections.
The human factor is the most destructive of all the agents. You
harm an object with every touch. The alteration is normally so minor
that it is unnoticeable, but you will definitely see wear in time.
The immediate damage, besides a break, is fingerprints. Oils on
your skin will permanently adhere to an object’s surface and
eventually alter paint color, darken fiber, or tarnish metal. The only
way to reverse this damage is to polish, repaint, or clean the object,
all of which have the potential to create even worse damage.
To prevent harm, simply do not handle objects unless necessary.
And when you do, wear cotton or powder-free nylon gloves, which
are available at most craft stores.
Pests are the largest danger resulting from improper
housekeeping. All bugs and rodents are bad to have in your structure,
but some, such as termites, silverfish, many types of beetles, and
moths, are more damaging than others.
Many pests eat the materials that make up your collections.
Several live in the objects, and others are content to use the items as
bathrooms.
The best way to avoid damage from pests is good housekeeping.
Minimize dust and vacuum often with a machine fitted with a HEPA
filter. This is especially important where you house collections. Do
not eat or drink around artifacts, and thoroughly clean up any spills or
crumbs around the house. In addition, install tight-fitting seals on all
potential entry points.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the
preservation of your collections, please call me at (765) 287-1256,
extension 508, or E-mail me at [email protected]. MA
—Dan Brosz
NMAM Registrar
A corner of Joe’s basement shows the awesome nature of
his collection, including artwork, kits, photos, and finished
models of static-display, FF, and RC subjects.
Not all models in Joe’s museum fit into display cases, such as
this 10-foot-wingspan RC version of the D.H.1 from World
War I.
A small portion of Joe’s old model magazine collection.
They are in excellent condition, making you feel as if you
have stepped back in time.
This 8-foot-span model 1911 Curtiss
Pusher is a flying RC model. The
receiver and servos are cleverly
hidden in the pilot’s body.
July 2006 29
several rare kits had become available because of it and he purchased
some of them.
A few weeks later Joe sent me photos of his collection and a
homemade videotape in which he described in detail the museum he
built in the basement of his new home. The basement area is 2,100
square feet. As Joe was having it built, he placed the furnace and all
related equipment centrally and enclosed it from view. This made
what Joe describes as a “donut shaped area.” He had the ceilings
painted black to make them less noticeable. The floor was sealed and
coated brown. The walls were finished with plaster.
Joe acquired several large glass display cases which are illuminated
internally and externally. They are filled with the treasures depicted in
Joe’s photos. In addition, open shelving has been added for some of the
larger models, books, videos, etc. The walls are adorned with numerous
paintings, many of which are originals. Magazine racks have been
installed to display a number of well-preserved periodicals.
Joe’s museum is not only a place to see and enjoy his magnificent
collection, but it is also the vibrant center of his modeling activity.
Even his workshop is part of the scene.
Joe is currently building a full-scale replica of a Sopwith Pup,
which is beyond the capacity of his basement. Fortunately he has a
neighbor who restores old farm machinery in a newly refurbished
barn. The neighbor is also interested in aviation and has graciously
given over much of the finished second-story woodworking shop in
his barn as a place for the Pup’s construction.
To Joe and his friend the Sopwith Pup is the ultimate “model”
airplane project. They have done extensive research and have
purchased a set of detailed drawings, which they had laminated and
hung in the workshop for easy reference. The goal is to have the
Sopwith finished for the World War I fly-in in Dayton in 2009.
Joe is living the ultimate modeler’s dream and is an outstanding
instance of what can be done to present one’s collection. Most of us
do not have the space to show all of what we have collected, but
following Joe’s example we can creatively display some of what we
have. As do professional museums, we can rotate our treasures to
show different portions of them to the delight of our modeling friends
and ourselves.
Joe calls his museum “a public collection in a private home.” He
welcomes visitors to see and enjoy it by appointment. For more
information you can call Joe at (262) 542-8014 or (414) 254-1138, or
you may E-mail him at [email protected]. MA
Dennis O. Norman
[email protected]
As a tool and die maker, it is not surprising that Joe’s
collection includes vintage glow engines, steam engines, etc.
Joe’s aviation art collection includes prints signed by pilots
of the periods depicted. Notice the numerous model kits
displayed on and in glass showcases.
Some more of Joe’s aviation art. These are original images
that were used as covers for aviation magazines.
Just two shelves in one of the glass cases gives you an idea of
the range of possibilities for displaying small models and kits.
07sig1.QXD 5/24/06 11:53 AM Page 29