by Milan Mikulecký

Whenever someone passes away, everybody tends to remember them in a good

way. In the case of Petr Šámal, it’s easy

for me, I really experienced him only in

a good way. And I think that everyone who

knew him in connection with his passion –

plastic modelling – has it the same.

I admit that I am not worth much as

a modeler, the last time I finished a kit

was some thirty-five years ago. When my

children got to the age when it was time

to start developing their fine motor skills,

I had to admit self-critically that they

would acquire rather negative habits

under my guidance. Therefore, I called

Vladimír Šulc from Eduard, saying that

I would like to hire a modeler for my

children who would introduce them to

modeling in the twenty-first century. And

Vladimír gave me the phone number of

Petr Šámal, saying he runs a modeling

club in Písnice near Prague. That’s how

I first met Peter.

What surprised me there? First of all, the

number of children attending the club.

And then that even though today’s children

have a different attitude to authority

than we had, Petr and his colleagues

managed to “discipline” them without any

severe means. And most importantly,

that even for teenagers, Peter was an

unquestionable authority. I understood

that running a modeling club is not just

about building the kits, but also about

weekends spent at modeling contests,

looking for sponsors or negotiating with

the owners of the premises where the

March 2023

club operates. Petr was the soul and the

engine of it all. But it didn’t stop there,

as Petr also organized trips to various

museums. Once I had an opportunity to go

with them, it was the trip from Točná to

the Military Technical Museum in Lešany.

A driver for the historic Dodge WC 52,

which was to take us to the museum and

back, send us a last-minute apology. Well,

it was Petr who got behind the wheel, and

he bravely tackled driving a car without

a synchronized gearbox and many other

conveniences of modern cars.

Peter, besides aircraft built in various

scales, also liked the real ones. He

himself used to fly in the Točná Aero Club,

and when I offered him the opportunity to

go flying, he did not refuse. Although a lot

of time had passed since he himself had

been a student pilot of Blaník glider, it was

clear that he still had a feeling for flying.

When he took over the controls, I did not

have the slightest urge to correct his

piloting in any way. We had the opportunity

to fly together a Stearman, a Zlin C-305 or

a Cessna C 180 in bush flying modification.

Peter then surprised me, because he had

bought each of these aircraft as a model,

with the intention of building them in the

exact livery we flew together. I don’t know

whether he managed to realize his plan,

the illness he eventually lost the battle for

his life with came rather quickly (at least

for me, as Peter didn’t talk much about his

troubles) and in a form that caused him

to be hospitalized in addition to the pain.

I admit that we will all remember him

as a tireless organizer with his typical

smile. As a man who never refused help

to anyone who asked for it.

I have three children myself and I know

how challenging it is to take care of them,

to teach them something and to anticipate

everything they might think of. That’s why

I have lot of respect and awe for people

who are spending time and lot of effort

with children who might be strangers

to them in addition to their own. Peter

was one of them. He led them to a love

of history, to patience, and taught them

a whole range of skills that neither school

nor their family could provide. All this in

his spare time and with no expectation

of remuneration. In today’s performance,

money and success driven world, he was

almost a person from another time. Peter,

we’re gonna miss you here.

INFO Eduard

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