Checkmate on Ready Five

It’s an early evening during the fall of 2010, aboard the USS Enterprise in the Persian Gulf. An F18 Super Hornet assigned to the renown Checkmate Squadron VFA 211, sits in Ready Five status, poised, fully armed and ready for immediate launch. Rolling clouds of catapult steam in the cooler evening air engulf the deck crew preparing the Hornet for launch.

The catapult officer and team have completed their launch check list while the ordinance officer has verified weapons check. Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) awaits go signal.

This oil painting is a tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Navy assigned to air craft carrier duty. This painting has been reproduced on canvas 20” x 40” in Limited Edition format of 211 prints, as a tribute to the Checkmate Squadron VFA 211. Each print is uniquely artist enhanced in oils, highlighting the aircraft, the deck catapult steam and sky detail, creating the feel of an original oil painting. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist.

$395.00 plus HST, S&H.
20 in. by 40 in. Canvas Print
Limited edition run of 211 prints.
Price is subject to change. Call or visit Panther Hobbies to place your order.

The Canadian Via Vintage

On a cold crisp January late afternoon in 1980, the west bound Canadian powers its way along the Bow River speeding toward Lake Louise. Stalwart General Motors FP9 6504 and its compliment of sister B units, haul the Canadian’s traditional family of stainless steel coaches without effort or hesitation as it completes its journey across Canada.

The Canadian was the last regularly scheduled transcontinental train operating in North America, until its government termination during the early winter of 1990. The Canadian proper, was originally spawned, owned and operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was under the direction of VIA rail until its unfortunate lack of government funding and its resultant eventual demise. On January 14th 1990, the last of the regularly scheduled Canadians, departed from their respective east west locations to complete their final journeys across this great nation.

This oil painting captures a lasting moment in time, the Canadian in its true form, displaying its traditional stainless equipment, as it traverses the terrain of its original route. This painting is a tribute to a great Canadian tradition, the train that Canadians relied upon, photographed and modelled for decades.

This painting was created to not only further etch the memory of this great train but to salute a Canadian legend.

$350.00 plus HST, S&H.
24 in. by 36 in. Canvas Print
Limited edition run of 65 prints.
Price is subject to change. Call or visit Panther Hobbies to place your order.

The Royal Couple

It’s a clear crisp morning during the winter of 1959, as Royal Hudson 2839 steams out of Toronto’s Union station on a scheduled west bound passenger service run. This class H1c engine was one of the select few numbered Hudsons, that was allowed by King George V1, a train enthusiast, to display the Royal Crowns on the running boards. A similar Hudson 2850, had pulled the Royal Train across Canada in 1939, thus earning the distinction of “Royal” for the C.P.R. Hudson engines.

Engine 2839, assigned to the John Street facility, was as familiar a Toronto sight as the famous Toronto landmark the “Royal York” Hotel, which earned its “Royal” distinction many years prior. For twenty plus years the pair were a synonymous couple on the Toronto scene. Clouds of billowing steam and daily railroad activity was a common sight for Royal York guests. Together they signified a slice of Canadian history.

Hudson 2839 disappeared from the Toronto landscape in 1960 and was later restored and sold to the Southern Railroad in 1972 for excursions and later museum status. The Royal York remains and transitions through many eras, however, there was a time when the “Royal Couple” was the talk of the town.

$395.00 plus HST, S&H.
24 in. by 30 in. Canvas Print
Limited edition run of 75 prints.
Price is subject to change. Call or visit Panther Hobbies to place your order.

Racing the Storm

t’s a typical Canadian prairie scene in the winter of 1978, as the east bound Canadian Pacific’s action red “Canadian” thunders past grain elevators awakening a frozen Alberta landscape. In spite of the bitter cold, a couple of workers heading home after a hard day, take a moment to wave at the Canadian as it roars past. The A, B, A set of matching FP7 units at the head, effortlessly keep the Canadian just ahead of schedule. A huge winter storm moving in from the west can be viewed on the horizon, as the Canadian presses on to avoid any winter storm delays.

This common scene will become an historic event as the vintage Canadian’s years are numbered. Action Red, although colourful, became the forerunner to the last regularly scheduled transcontinental passenger train operated by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Canadian, a Canadian rolling land mark, will eventually be taken over by government funded VIA rail.

The historic route of the Canadian through Calgary, will be cancelled and moved north to the Canadian National route through Winnipeg. The Canadian also became a conglomeration of mixed colours VIA blue and yellow and the Action Red. This was the end of the C.P.R. stainless steel flagship that had traversed Canada since the early 50’s.

$350.00 plus HST, S&H.
24 in. by 36 in. Canvas Print
Limited edition run of 75 prints.
Price is subject to change. Call or visit Panther Hobbies to place your order.