Abilene Veteran and grandson create model planes and memories

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC )- For Marine Veteran James Reese and his grandson Mark, model warplanes and ships are so much more than a hobby. The craft is a passion they’ve shared for over a decade. They now get together every Monday night to add another turbine, turret, or balsa wood strut to whichever model plane they’ve been chipping away at for the past few weeks or months.

“It’s been about 8 or 10 weeks we’ve been working on this one now. Well, he keeps working on it by himself when I’m not here, but I come over here Monday afternoons for a few hours and do anything that he doesn’t want to do, ” said Mark.

It all began with Reese, who started putting together plane after plane at age nine. Though he served six years as a Marine, he says his childhood dream was to be a pilot. Since that didn’t work out, he says the models are the next best thing.

“I’d work from 6 o’clock to 10 o’clock at night on this if my sweet wife would let me.” Reese joked.

Mark fondly remembers seeing his grandfather’s model planes as a child. He eagerly poured through his catalogs until, at the age of 11, he finally voiced a desire to start building as well.

“He was building the B-24 about midway through it; I said that I wanted to do it too, and he taught me little by little. I just kinda picked it up because he was doing it.” Mark said.

“Oh, it thrilled me for him to want to participate, so We’ve had a lot of fun together.” Added Reese.

The models they build are quite large and detailed, taking many hours of dedication to construct properly. Mark says the time provided is often spent doing more than just assembly but sharing stories and making memories.

“Every now and then, I hear something new, or I hear the same story. It doesn’t matter.” Said Mark.

“Grandpas are pretty good at repeating.” Reese laughed.

Each model completed represents a moment in military and U.S. history. Moments that Air Force Veteran and Owner of the Museum of Military Models in Clyde Warren Harkins has been shining a spotlight on since opening the museum a few months ago.

“The ships, the planes, the tanks, and everything all have stories. And the stories represent the people that served in those and sacrificed and some that sacrificed their all for the country.” Said Harkins.

The models in his collection differ from those made by the Reese’s, constructed mainly out of wood or plastic for display as authentic recreations of the machines they represent. While Harkins is not a model builder himself, he says he also appreciates the historical value of each one as a tangible link to the past.

“It just seems to bring [veterans] back. A way for them to focus on a different time in their youth. I had one guy come in on an LCT landing ship tank, and he pointed out where he used to be on it. It’s kind of difficult to describe if you’ve not been there.” Harkins said.

Moments in history right out of history, and for the Reese’s, many more moments to share in the present.

“I would not be surprised at myself that, y’know, that one day when I have kids to pick up an airplane and tell them how I did it with my grandpa,” Mark said.

“I’m so proud that he wants to come over and work on those with me. Last thing I want to do is sit down and do nothing, and Mark keeps me busy.” Said Reese.

Reese and his grandson are currently working on a model P-38 lightning. Once complete, they say they will begin constructing a Corsair that they’ve already purchased, both eager to delve into the stories that the model has been witness to and the many hours they will spend working on it together.

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