Alfred (Fred) Huffman (1939 – 2010)

His career in modeling began as a youngster, building and flying his own airplane models. After graduating from high school, his first job was with an engineering firm, where he apprenticed as a tool and die designer. One of his company’s customers was A.M.T. a plastic model company marketing everything from stock car models to replicas of famous sailing ships. At AMT Huffman became involved in the art department and prepared diagrams for the instructions of the models. However, in 1963, the United States government tried to draft the Canadian and Huffman left A.M.T. and returned to Canada. In 1971 he decided to take a year’s leave and moved to Grenada, where he discovered sailing. Upon his return to Canada, Huffman’s fourth career evolved doing graphic designs around sailboats, which eventually led to awakening his model making skills. His models can be found in numerous private and corporate collections throughout Canada and the United States, in particular at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and the Royal Ontario Museum.