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Jodie did a nice post about the ATP Metroliner kit. I remember visiting Clint’s home and seeing lots of model airliners in display cases along with quite a few little propliners too. Only later did I figure out that they were Clint’s Metro kit. Over the years I bought and built two of them. The first had the three bladed props in a Rareliners bag and the second had four bladed props in a Sasquatch bag. After buying the Rareliners kit I met Bob Woodling who told me that he had designed and molded it as his only kit. They are unique, small, and with some work build into something nice. I think I still have one in my stash.
Speaking of ATP products I built a Northwest Electra with the ATP decal and resin fuselage. Does anyone know if the fuselages were made by Sasquatch?
Good ATP memories. The memories help remind me why we named the Airliners International Judges Best of Show award in honor of Clint.
Ken
Somewhere in a box of artifacts and curios I have one of the ATP Metroliner kits with Southern Airways decals, probably found in one of the cabinets behind the counter at Orange Blossom Hobbies. It’s a very simple kit and the plastic looks just a little murky, as you’d expect from the background story. If you wanted a Metroliner, though, that’s what you did. I was briefly tempted to build it, but never had the heart to disturb it.
There are stories out there about people getting unexpected extras, bonus scenes, etc. in copies of the vacuform “how-to” tape. I’ve never seen for myself, but not a whole lot would surprise me. Clint Groves was a character, legendarily so. I can never think of him without laughing at least a little.
Jodie Peeler
“In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake.” – Sayre’s Law
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I bought several kits from Clint in the pre-internet age, including the Constellation (Kadar), DC-7, and Electra 2. he also sold some original decal schemes. A great resource for the struggling airliner modeler! I remember his partial address, Abelia Court in San Jose CA. I believe for a social situation, he moved to the Bakersfield area at the end. A true enthusiast, carving out a niche in the modeling world.
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I too have many memories of Clint. I first interacted when he was producing duplicate slides. He was buying bulk film stock from Kodak and copying slides from his vast collection. They were good quality and he had a catalogue to choose from. Met up with him at several conventions and shows over the years. I still have a vacuform L-188 Electra from him in my stash.
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I bought several kits from Clint in the pre-internet age, including the Constellation (Kadar), DC-7, and Electra 2. he also sold some original decal schemes. A great resource for the struggling airliner modeler! I remember his partial address, Abelia Court in San Jose CA. I believe for a social situation, he moved to the Bakersfield area at the end. A true enthusiast, carving out a niche in the modeling world.
That’s good! I remember my address growing up, my phone number (Mom made sure!) and a dime in my pocket to call. The only address other than mine that I remember from my early years is Clint/ATP… 3014 Abelia Ct.! I mowed so many lawns to be able to get a package from that address! Visited once while on a camping trip, forced mom and dad to go. Only met his mom at that place, Clint must have been working. She was wonderful! After looking in awe at all of the finished models (way too long I’m sure) she kindly gave me some goodies to go with my now empty of $200+ wallet. Best camping trip ever!
I don’t always say “Proceed as requested”
But when I do, it is because I have no clue what you just said.Over the years I heard so many stories about the steady management that Clint’s mother provided to ATP/Airliners America while her son was working and doing other things, and that after she died it wasn’t the same. I started getting the Airliners America catalog in 1994 and it opened a whole world to me, and many were the orders I sent off to San Jose, including a 1995 order that included a decal for Pan American 707s from this brand-new company called Liveries Unlimited.
One of Clint’s recurring references was to something called Mun Ruc Ding. You might look through the catalog, for instance, and see a small drawing of a 747SP with a logo on the tail and “Mun Ruc Ding” titles on the fuselage. I tried for a while to figure out what it meant and I’ve heard at least two stories, one of them not fit for a family audience. I also remember hearing that some TWA aircraft were said to have been “zapped” with Mun Ruc Ding stickers that Clint had made, including the 767 that transported Pope John Paul II during his late ’90s visit to the United States.
Mike Sparkman was one of Clint’s best friends and used to tell the greatest stories about him, and the stories were made even greater by the way Sparkman would tell them. There’s no telling how many great Clint Groves stories went with Sparkman when he died. Part of why it’s hard to go to model shows or airliner collectible shows any more is because going to them reminds me of so many friends/characters who used to be fixtures at these things, but are no longer with us.
Jodie Peeler
"In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." - Sayre's Law
I started dealing with Clint around 1980. After going into a hobby shop in Tulsa and seeing ATP decals for the first time, I started calling in my orders and having lengthy talks with him. Those were good times! He’s the person who told me about using Future as a clear coat way back in 1980.
Interesting that Jodie mentioned the LU Pan American 707 decals; I just pulled those out last night to make a photocopy and test fit on the new X-Scale 707 kit.
Gene
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Good memories. I did an archive search and also found people’s memories/tributes written shortly after Clint had passed. All good. I sent Jodie a PM about her mention of Mike Sparkman as well. I either hadn’t heard or had forgotten that he’d passed. Though not as loud or brash as Clint, Mike was a great guy too. He and Tony Campbell would attend the Airliners Shows and “hold court” in the contest room. Mike never brought or entered a model but he and Tony were definite fixtures at the shows. RIP to all of the former airline modelers. I imagine everyone is continuing on with their “spirited” bull sessions in their next life.
Tom Stephany is another missing modeler from Airliners. He was just a few years older than me and passed from Parkinsons/Covid in 2020. He had been ill since I’d met him and honestly I thought it a bit of a miracle every time I saw him at a show. A true airliner enthusiast and a fighter. After Tom passed we named the best theme model award in his honor.
I’m looking forward to seeing quite a few familiar faces in Atlanta next month. What will the weather be like? LOL…..
Back to the workshop…The days are ticking away 🙂
Ken
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Sparkman and Tony Campbell would often make the drive over from Huntsville to attend the Atlanta-area shows. There was a group of us who would hang out at Jim Galloway’s vendor table, and it was never not entertaining or educational. So many of those folks from back then are now gone, and I miss them very much.
The closest I got to meeting Clint was when I was headed to San Francisco in the fall of 1999, and I mentioned it on the Airliner Modeling Digest. Clint sent me an e-mail and offered to meet me at the airport, drive me out to the shop for a visit, and then drive me back to the airport so I could meet my friend who was inbound from MSP. I was seriously tempted but had to decline since the time would have been very close. Having heard stories about Clint’s driving, however, it may have been good that I declined.
I may take a day trip to Airliners International this year, if for no other reason than to see if I see anyone I remember (or anyone who wants to admit to remembering me). It’s been too long.
Jodie Peeler
"In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." - Sayre's Law
Saw this yesterday in the Spring 1980 Airline Quarterly Magazine.
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Wow, that’s probably the ad that I got the phone number from.
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My friend Nick Veronico gave me a copy of Airliners magazine and I saw the ad for ATP. Called Clint for a catalog and “the rest is history”.
Ken
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I forgot to add in my post earlier a fun little bit. When we got to Abelia Ct, had to circle back twice to verify we were in the right spot. I thought we were going to a store! Found a pay phone, called and explained how must be in the wrong area. That is when Clint’s mom told us we were in the right spot, and come on over! So nice to let us in.
I don’t always say “Proceed as requested”
But when I do, it is because I have no clue what you just said.
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